On Tue, 11 Mar 2003, Matthew Hunter wrote: @> > This policy has much to recommend it. I tend to prefer to err on the side @> > of too much spoiler space rather than too little; my fingers aren't going @> > to be damaged by hitting return a bunch of times, whereas someone's @> > enjoyment of a book could be seriously ruined by spoilers. So what's the @> > objection to having the space? If there are people out there who are just @> > too lazy to scroll down to where the text starts, I have absolutely no @> > sympathy for them. @> @> This argument has been hashed out here before, but it boils down @> to the fact that, if spoiler protection never expires, than every @> single message to a mailing list such as this one will require @> spoiler protection. @> @> *Every single one*. Really? This one wouldn't. Based on my (admittedly limited) sample of messages on this list, the traffic can be broken down into the following categories: A) Discussions about non-Dragaera things. (spoiler space, politics, history) B) Discussions about general topics. (Morganti, the method in which Paarfi is accustomed to expressing his thoughts, how to make Klava) C) Discussions of specific books. D) Bad jokes. Only category C really needs to be marked, and that actually appears to be the smallest category (as you'd expect it to be, unless a new book has just come out). Category B tends to contain things that the author is actually trying to convey to you, which remain consistent across all the books, and which are revealed at or near the beginning of any book which involves them at all. A new reader will probably find discussion of this kind of topic more helpful than harmful. Obviously there's a judgement call about whether things go in B or C (if, for instance, the next book reveals that Morganti weapons /can/ be forced to disgorge souls they've eaten, that particular revelation ends up in category C because it contradicts everything we currently know about them), but what the hell. Anyway, this is all just my opinion. The only thing that really bothers me vis-a-vis spoiler space is when someone removes space that somebody else decided was necessary (except when the topic has drifted enough that the spoilers aren't present anymore).