Real Fans Watch

Sippey put to rest forever the debate about spoilers sometime in 2008 with the simple declaration "Real fans watch."

And they do! My Twitter profile reads simply "My twitter stream primarily features Lost spoilers," which for a time was true. Remember, Twitter was created to facilitate unimportant brief exchanges, comparable to instant messenger status & away messages. Twitter proposed a new level of discourse sandwiched immediately between disposable ideas and sneezing. For better or for worse, now it matters.

Cultural criticism (neé OMFG SMOKE MONSTER) in the public domain should lead to casual intellectual exchanges which strengthen our democracy (and blogging!) Unfortunately, it's no longer that simple.

1. Time Zones. Sippey & Ed (& Others &c) are fans of Lost as I am, and they follow me on Twitter, so it would not be fair to tweet anything until the show is over for them, which is two in the morning my time, so for all intents & purposes tomorrow. Therefore...


2. Twitter is no longer appropriate for "real-time" conversation that may includes spoilers, only "real-time if you are inconsiderate or only have friends in time zones easterly to Greenwich" conversation. The "real-time" conversation has moved to Hot Potato. This is somewhat reasonable and convenient because I have no friends there. They should have different "events" for different time zones since different air times are different events.


3. I unfollowed @vespa59, because he lives in Hawaii and saw the Lost premier last Friday. He posted something that could theoretically be considered a spoiler. (I love that guy, and I will refollow him tonight).


4. Poor Josh doesn't have a TV at all. We may need to make a special exception or set of ground rules for him, but I think it's reasonable to expect TV ownership (especially with Free HD signals that make cable unnecesary).


5. Friday Night Lights is airing exclusively on Direct TV, my friend Matty copies it from his DVR to a VHS and Adriana and I watch those episodes on Thursday. For citizens (and non-crazies) FNL will be airing starting in April on NBC. Since no amount of time-shifting will bridge this divide, I have a devoted twitter account (@FNLDjacobs) to discuss the program.


6. A possible solution is for everyone to get Direct TV, so folks in San Francisco can watch the NYC affiliates and their prime time broadcasts.

 

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Comments

[nataliepo]

this is a great post even without the gratuitous lady gaga pic. (which got my fav, btw)

[David Jacobs]

The Lady Gaga pick actually wasn't gratuitous, there is a puzzle but no one has unlocked it yet!

[adriana]

Here it is: Lady Gaga and Elton John are wearing Smoke Monster Couture by Esau.

[David Jacobs]

Yup. And the other images are all call-outs to posts in the past week. Adriana actually figured it out last night but, you know, comment or it didn't happen.

[Andrew Anker]

I have DirecTV, unfortunately it doesn't let you have remote network feeds anymore (not for like 10 years). If you live in an area with an affiliate (which is anyone living remotely close to a city), you have to get only your local affiliate.

[Anil Dash]

This is somewhat reasonable and convenient because I have no friends there.