I absolutely DETEST being told a spoiler! Can't believe the results of that study. But it is in the U.S. and I find it difficult to give creedence to a poll of 30 people!
Imagine knowing the plot of The Usual Suspects, L.A. Confidential or Atonement? It would be a massive let down.
i like spoilers, in the same way that i always read the last few pages of a book first (not as easy to do with a my kindle).
i find if i know the ending then i can relax and enjoy the book/film/whatever rather than racing through it to find out what happens.
I'm sure I would have guessed it at some stage during the film, Postdog, but knowing it in advance meant I couldn't enjoy the moment when the penny dropped.
well that film actually spoiled another film a few years later. Won't say the name but it was a similar premise and within minutes I was wondering if it would turn out as expected. It did.
Mind you, saying that has reminded me of the old TV series "tales of the unexpected" - it actually got so it ended as expected.
Some films hinge on not knowing the ending or the twist so a spoiler would totally ruin it. Reviews rarely spoil a film but I tend to follow imdb's marks out of 10. If a film is 6.5/10 or higher its usually worth a watch but there are some exceptions.
I once mistakenly ruined The Phantom Menace for a huge Star Wars fan at work. I had assumed as he was such a huge fan he would have been in the queues for the very 1st showings. To think he had waited many many years for that pap!
I've been accused of being a 'spoiler' when I've divulged the way a story is going to end say in a soap. The thing is I've read it in the TV mag for all to see, so I don't call that a spoiler.
A spoiler would be if I told you who did it in "The Mousetrap" which has been a well kept secret for over 50 years. (I saw it 50 years ago & still remember.)
I agree with ethandron, it doesn't worry me if I see a "spoiler", cos to me they are not spoilers. If I'm reading a mystery, I always look at the end, to see whodunit, then I can relax. Same with films/tv, I like to know what happens and no, I don't feel guilty if I give the plot away. As jem says, its all in the TV mags anyway.
I like spoilers for Corrie and then I can decide whether I want to watch it or not and don't have to sit through episodes that don't interest me.
I don't like spoilers for films though, but I have been known to read the end of a book shortly after starting a book to decide whether I really want to read all through it - especially if I can't get into a book after 50 or so pages.