The Walking Dead: The spoiler issue

The issue of spoiler sites being addressed by AMC is back in the news and hotly debated on The Walking Dead forums. Here’s my take on it for what it’s worth.

First of all, we’re talking about spoilers of things that have not aired. Not people watching something and telling about it before another person has had a chance to see it.

We’re also not talking about speculation. We’re talking about true spoilers. Leaks and other information found out before the show has aired and published.

I’m not a lawyer and I do not read the spoiler articles so I’m going by what I know and what I believe to be true. If you are truly speculating based on public information, I don’t see that as a spoiler.

Beth’s death. The Walking Dead – AMC /

For example, this morning, Xander Berkeley tweeted that he landed in Atlanta and he was psyched for season 7 of filming of The Walking Dead. I wrote that I assumed that meant that Negan hasn’t killed him. Yet. I don’t think that’s a spoiler and I don’t think AMC will come after me for that.

If I broke into the filming area and trespassed and found out who was on set or if I found a source who was willing to disclose information to me or if I found a call sheet that the wind took or if I found out information in some way that was not public, then things get trickier.

The spoiler sites have been eerily accurate, to the dialogue and scene, I understand, for many an episode for the last few seasons, which leads me to believe that there is, indeed, some sort of leak.

Now, many argue that it’s free speech. That AMC should go after the leak. I would counter with this: What the spoiler sites have is stolen property. Yes the leak is the thief, but the site is in possession of stolen goods, which is in and of itself a crime.

Michonne and Rick Grimes – The Walking Dead, AMC /

If a hospital has confidential records and there is a natural disaster that somehow has files strewn all over the sidewalks or even a hacker, is it legal for someone to gather them up and publish them using the argument that they didn’t steal them; they found them. Is it free speech? Even if somehow your answer is that it’s legal, which I highly doubt, it’s pretty damned shady.

The other argument, is that we wouldn’t need spoiler sites if they didn’t leave us in suspense. I don’t even know if I should even address that. It’s pure entitlement. Nobody owes you anything.

The other part that amuses me is that the spoiler people are surprised that the cast and crew don’t like them. Of course, they don’t like them. They work hard for the millions of fans who love the show to have even 10% of people intent on ruining the experience for the other 90% and causing them to take extreme measures to keep things secret.

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I can hear it now…well if they wouldn’t leave us hanging…obviously you’re hooked and love it if you want to know. Try to have some trust and patience and respect. And it’s irrelevant whether or not I liked it or am curious. I won’t use inappropriate means to find out. And I don’t want to know until I watch.

Lastly, in the spirit of full disclosure, there were writers and other sites in our large network who used the spoiler sites as sources in the past to write articles. I never wrote any or read any. Our parent company received notices from AMC last season and we were told to stop this practice. It was over.

I was thrilled! We were finally spoiler free. The other spoiler sites dug their heels in and became intent on spoiling even more before they were shut down for the finale. Now they claim that they wish AMC would have come to them and talked to them differently. I find it hard to believe that they would come to some sort of compromise because AMC said, “pretty please”.

But I’m an open-minded person. Perhaps they would have. Perhaps they will. I don’t judge people for wanting spoilers or reading them or being tempted by them. I don’t think they have a legal leg to stand on. But that’s for the lawyers to sort out.

Next: Keep the zombies in my zombies show

Until then I will continue to avoid them as best I can. I have been accidentally spoiled 3 times now. I don’t like it. I use my Twitter mute button if I even suspect a spoilery Tweeter. Once the show airs though, it’s on you!

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