That rebuttal is about as strong as the original article (not very ).
Aemon Send a noteboard - 11/08/2011 10:15:36 PM
The author does a good job of pointing out the weaknesses of the experiment in question, but provides no real arguments as to why its conclusions couldn't be true. In fact, this is all he really gives us:
"Here, I just flatly disagree with the implication that someone would enjoy this “kind” of story more if they already know the ending."
and:
"...the best way to enjoy the “Twilight Zone” episode “Time Enough at Last” is to have no knowledge of the ending."
In other words, "you're wrong." Flat out opinion with no supporting rationale. Furthermore, he accuses the study of only taking one kind of enjoyment into account, when it seems to me that he's the one guilty of that. He says:
"...but that enjoyment is simply not the same as the intended enjoyment."
It appears that he's saying, "there is a right way to experience a book." The study (as far as I can tell) just asked people which version of the story --spoiled, or unspoiled-- they preferred. People can prefer things for a thousand different reasons.
Anyway, I agree with the guy that this study should not by any means be regarded as the final word on spoilers (but it doesn't look like the researchers intended for that, either). I just don't think he should dismiss it out of hand without bothering to argue the other side. Is the study authoritative? No. But it does seem to hint that we may not mind spoilers as much as we think we do, and I think that's pretty interesting.
"Here, I just flatly disagree with the implication that someone would enjoy this “kind” of story more if they already know the ending."
and:
"...the best way to enjoy the “Twilight Zone” episode “Time Enough at Last” is to have no knowledge of the ending."
In other words, "you're wrong." Flat out opinion with no supporting rationale. Furthermore, he accuses the study of only taking one kind of enjoyment into account, when it seems to me that he's the one guilty of that. He says:
"...but that enjoyment is simply not the same as the intended enjoyment."
It appears that he's saying, "there is a right way to experience a book." The study (as far as I can tell) just asked people which version of the story --spoiled, or unspoiled-- they preferred. People can prefer things for a thousand different reasons.
Anyway, I agree with the guy that this study should not by any means be regarded as the final word on spoilers (but it doesn't look like the researchers intended for that, either). I just don't think he should dismiss it out of hand without bothering to argue the other side. Is the study authoritative? No. But it does seem to hint that we may not mind spoilers as much as we think we do, and I think that's pretty interesting.
Interesting article: "Spoilers don't spoil anything."
11/08/2011 08:33:42 PM
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It's probably one of those things that works "in general"
11/08/2011 08:43:03 PM
- 1098 Views
I sometimes find spoilers can ADD tension (a *MAJOR* aDwD spoiler contained within!!!)
12/08/2011 03:02:18 AM
- 1011 Views
Here's a rebuttal.
11/08/2011 09:02:06 PM
- 1261 Views
That rebuttal is about as strong as the original article (not very ).
11/08/2011 10:15:36 PM
- 1252 Views
I think in many cases there certainly is an "intended" way to enjoy a book...
11/08/2011 11:17:30 PM
- 999 Views
Tor.com has a vested interest in us not getting spoilers
12/08/2011 03:24:20 AM
- 926 Views
It really depends on the story, and of course on the reader.
11/08/2011 11:03:01 PM
- 1060 Views
I pretty much agree with your opinion here. It depends on the spoiler and the book.
12/08/2011 12:45:02 PM
- 953 Views
It depends on what you want to get out of a story
19/08/2011 12:16:42 AM
- 939 Views