Why are we obsessed with spoilers?

[thebigbadfox]

So I saw the rumor of the Rock for the Rumble appearance story... and it got me thinking.
Why are we (the IWC) so obsessed with finding this stuff out in advance?
I am going to the Rumble tonight and have been going to wrestling shows since early 90's... I remember going to shows and being surprised actually by appearances b/c I didn't have internet and sites like this didn't exist at first. I remember when the Undertaker showed up once unannounced and it was insane.... and a total shock.
If the Rock appears now I will not be as surprised... (I will go crazy but not as much if I didn't know)...
Now some would say don't read spoilers but we all know anyone that frequents this site is here to read rumors and spoilers.... Why have I and others become so obsessed then because it ruins the SUPRISE? How come I cannot gather myself to not look?

 

[Navi]

I didn't know he might be there tonight. I try now not to read the dirt sheets the day of a PPV so it is a surprise. That's my suggestion to you, don't read them. The rumour mills are running overtime right now and with the crap about Goldust retiring and then not retiring, I don't know what to believe until I see it.

 

[L@RISANO]

It's become a habit of ours, more or less.

His last appearance worked well because not many people knew he was in Brooklyn at the same time as the show was. Obviously, we'll be expecting him tonight, if he comes.


However, personally, once the appearance is well done, I appreciate it immensely and usually watch it quite a few times. Ntm, whilst a surprise is always nice, it isn't a must for me overall. Just the way I am, I suppose...

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

So I saw the rumor of the Rock for the Rumble appearance story... and it got me thinking.
Why are we (the IWC) so obsessed with finding this stuff out in advance?
I am going to the Rumble tonight and have been going to wrestling shows since early 90's... I remember going to shows and being surprised actually by appearances b/c I didn't have internet and sites like this didn't exist at first. I remember when the Undertaker showed up once unannounced and it was insane.... and a total shock.
If the Rock appears now I will not be as surprised... (I will go crazy but not as much if I didn't know)...
Now some would say don't read spoilers but we all know anyone that frequents this site is here to read rumors and spoilers.... Why have I and others become so obsessed then because it ruins the SUPRISE? How come I cannot gather myself to not look?

There is more than a quiet irony that you have posted a potential spoiler in your opening sentence...

Anyway, I think the biggest driver in the obsession with spoilers now is that so many people have tired of the mainstream wrestling product that they look for spoilers to decide whether it is worth their while to invest their time. The very suggestion that the Rock might appear will persuade people to watch - if the rumor wasn't there, they'd miss out on the 'surprise'.

 

[rmp0012002]

I don't want to know what the outcome is, I want to be surprised. Why go to or pay to view a card when you know the outcome of every match before hand. So smarks can run around telling everyone like they're in the business. Having a discussion about what could happen or they want to happen is fine but a promotion like the WWE leaks out too much information and they really telegraph everything they do. I want to be swerved and shown something I totally didn't see coming.

 

[jeffrey9800]

I didn't look before RAW this week... so didn't know Sting would be there... was probably the best Raw in the past 4-5 months for me....

Have no idea why I came here today to spoil what could've been an awesome surprise... I believe he'll win the Rumble and we'll have Brock vs Rock....

Those who report the news or spoiling surprises don't help the business they love and write about (And complain).

I find it kind of stupid to spoil surprises... its so dumb... anyways... anything for clicks,

 

[Radical Canadian Goose]

When it comes to the Royal Rumble, I tend to be surprised whether an appearance was "spoiled" or not. There are so many rumoured participants every year, that I get surprised when a surprise entrant enters, because, I take these rumours with a grain of salt. This year whether it's The Rock, RVD, Bully Ray, Chris Masters or any one else who has been rumoured that comes out from behind the curtain I will be shocked and happy.

As for why I am obsessed with spoilers. It helps me decide whether or not to watch the program in question . Life gets hectic when you get older, and sometimes you can't fit watching WWE programming into said hecticness. Reading rumours and spoilers helps me decide whether or not to make room for WWE.

 

[bioshock]

Well thanks for giving out a spoiler that I hadn't heard about, didn't even want to see any Rumble spoilers. Really need the title changed for this thread, cause this threads all about RR2015 spoilers IMO.

 

[Mr.Maikeru_Sawyer]

to put it simply and as short as possible for those who this comment regards...

because people have become lazy and want instant gratification.
one simply can't wait for the show to air and must know what is going to happen so they look cool

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

to put it simply and as short as possible for those who this comment regards...

because people have become lazy and want instant gratification.
one simply can't wait for the show to air and must know what is going to happen so they look cool

More irony, someone referring to laziness who isn't using any capitals...

Can't agree, how does reading a spoiler make you cool?

Just knowing a spoiler isn't a guarantee that you'll be gratified, logic would actually dictate it's more likely to have the opposite effect because said spoiler would have to deliver to a higher standard due to anticipation whereas that anticipation isn't there when it is a surprise and the initial shock is more likely to make the event better.

 

[TJ Matics]

Majority of the IWC are obsessed with spoilers because without them they can't "guess" what's going to happen next in the programming and then call it predictable and lazy writing.

 

[mikefabs]

i feel like now the spoilers are sent out on purpose to bring viewership up.

think sting at survivor series that shit leaked the day before and why else would it leak if wwe didn't want it to

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Spoilers, when it comes to some fans, strike me as a major oxymoron. I mean, how often do you hear someone complain about how predictable WWE has become, yet they spend their time trolling for spoilers so that they'll know, possibly know, have an idea, etc. of something that's gonna happen before it happens? It's just something that's always bugged me because, in my eyes, these are the fans that can't be pleased and often complain just for the sake of it.

I try to stay away from spoilers: I don't read TV tapings prior to the airing of the show, I don't read spoilers on "possible surprises" coming up for ppv events, etc. Sometimes, however, a spoiler sometimes is revealed without even having to click on the link to read the story. For instance, when Sting popped up at Survivor Series, I didn't know ahead of time because I tried as much as possible to avoid anything that might give away any potential spoilers during that week.

 

[thechamp27]

This guy has got it right. They want to know the spoilers so they can complain about it and cry like everything else that happens. The part that really irritates me is when they read the spoilers and then go to the events and chant the person's name like they are so witty and clever.

 

[thechamp27]

Wish I could like this 100 times. So true, and I love these people saying, "I only read spoilers to determine if I watch or not" Lmaoooo If you watch the show for one person you are not a fan and are only embarrassing yourself. I don't watch the show for a spoiler, I watch it because I am a fan.

 

[Radical Canadian Goose]

Wish I could like this 100 times. So true, and I love these people saying, "I only read spoilers to determine if I watch or not" Lmaoooo If you watch the show for one person you are not a fan and are only embarrassing yourself. I don't watch the show for a spoiler, I watch it because I am a fan.

Did I say I watch for a certain person? No. I have 1 tv in my household, and my wife and I take turns watching what we want. We also do not have a PVR. By reading spoilers and determining that it may be a good show, then I get the opportunity to watch wrestling as opposed to spending time watching one of her shows and/or doing repairs/house/yard work.

 

[chicagokmc]

Given the internet/social media/"now" society in which we live, its extremely hard for surprises. someone will always say something. regarding wrestling spoilers, if its taped like smackdown, I read the spoilers in advance. live shows I try to watch as they happen; however, I'm not going to shut myself down for a day to avoid a piece of news. If I find out that someone is in the city of the ppv or something like that, oh well. That won't affect how I view the show.

 

[Logisticalbooker86]

I am more excited now that Rock is confirmed. The Rock is my favorite wrestler of all-time. With that said...

HOLY CRAP, HE DOES NOT NEED A RUMBLE WIN IN 2015...

If Rock wins the rumble, I will feel totally deflated. The potential build is not even exciting, despite the quality mic work that would be done by Heyman/Rock. A main event of Rock/Brock would have a short term gratification, but it would stunt the growth of the future yet again, and that is EVEN IF Rollins cashes in on the winner to take the title.

Please WWE, resist the temptation of setting records this year and think about the future. If you want to do Rock/Brock fine, but it does not need the title.

As for spoilers, they have become the nature of the beast, if not for dirt sheets we now have Twitter and all kinds of other ridiculous social media to reveal surprises. If a return/surprise is executed properly it should be applauded, regardless of whether one knew it was coming.

 

[thechamp27]

Did I say I watch for a certain person? No. I have 1 tv in my household, and my wife and I take turns watching what we want. We also do not have a PVR. By reading spoilers and determining that it may be a good show, then I get the opportunity to watch wrestling as opposed to spending time watching one of her shows and/or doing repairs/house/yard work.

First of all, nobody asked for your life story dude. And second, my suggestion to you is to remove your balls from your wife's purse and watch what you want. Nobody would stop me from watching the Royal Rumble or Raw or anything else, including football. As a matter of fact, my girl is picking up pizza and wings for the rumble tonight and she is gonna watch it with me, because thats how a man runs things.

 

[Radical Canadian Goose]

First of all, nobody asked for your life story dude. And second, my suggestion to you is to remove your balls from your wife's purse and watch what you want. Nobody would stop me from watching the Royal Rumble or Raw or anything else, including football. As a matter of fact, my girl is picking up pizza and wings for the rumble tonight and she is gonna watch it with me, because thats how a man runs things.

I'm sorry if it sounded like I need her permission. I however treat my wife with respect. I watch Raw and the PPVs on a regular with her. I was referring to smackdown , Impact and whatever else has spoilers tbh. But, hey whatever dude, thanks for being a D Bag on your 3rd post

 

[JJ15776]

Because they're there.

People are impatient. They don't want to wait to find out what happens. That's always been the case, it's just that spoilers are now easier to find than ever. And because they're so popular, plenty of websites try to find them. Unfortunately, that ruins the enjoyment, but people don't have the foresight to realize that.

Today was my first time checking this website in a while...over a month, I think. And let me tell you, it's really made the shows more enjoyable. That wasn't why I stopped coming here, that was mostly because I got fed up with the idiots that overrun these boards and the comment section on WZ, but it's been a very nice result. I had NO IDEA Rock was anywhere near Philly, and that made his return awesome for me. Same with Bubba Ray, DDP, etc...I don't know if their returns were spoiled, but if they were, they were still a pleasant surprise to me.

If you want to enjoy the show more, I suggest avoiding spoilers. And if you want to stop feeling like mankind is doomed to be overrun by numbskulls, I suggest avoiding websites/comment sections entirely.