Comments on: Don’t tell me the ending! Spoilers and gender difference

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:48:07 +0000

I despise knowing the ending of things – it ruins it for me.
My husband is constantly leaning over in the theatre to tell me who is going to end up being the killer, etc.
But, my mom always reads the summaries for her soaps, too.
A bit hard to determine if this really is a gender variable.

By: Chipping the web - drop it -- Chip’s Quips

Chipping the web - drop it -- Chip’s Quips — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 02:38:48 +0000

[...] answer Paul’s question here, but that would spoil the [...]

By: Paul Raven

Paul Raven — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:42:34 +0000

Interesting stuff – I’m a lot less bothered by spoilers since I started learning about the mechanics of storytelling, but I still like the excitement of a fresh new book, wondering where it’s going to go – and it adds to the value when a story still manages to surprise me. But we need some female perspective here – what about your significant others, gentlemen? And what of the lady readers of VCTB?

By: Robert Hruzek

Robert Hruzek — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:44:06 +0000

Now that is one interesting question! I have to admit, I like to be surprised by a new book, TV show or movie. But once seen, heard or read, I still enjoy it again and again. There are movies and books I’ve repeated dozens of times.

It’s a different sort of pleasure AFTER the surprise is gone. Maybe more like satisfaction, I’m not sure, but that’s why I’ll always go back again for a good story.

I’m not sure what that means, though.

By: Sterling Camden

Sterling Camden — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 20:26:13 +0000

Part of the art of story-telling is in how you surprise the reader with the ending. That’s why I rarely reread a book. The story is spoiled if the ending comes out too soon. And I am male (last time I checked).