Spoilers

[ciphergoth]

Someone should invent a calibrated standard scale by which spoilers can be measured, something like the Beaufort or Richter scales so you could just write "Level 1 spoiler ahead for Battlestar Galactica webisode The Face of the Enemy" and people would know what you meant...

And how could I forget to link to Penny Arcade 2005-12-05: As Regards Spoilification

Comments

With Specific reference to TV shows but possibly useful for movies.

[alan1957.livejournal.com]

Spoilers, it seems to me, concern either characters or plots. So a two pronged scale may be necessary...for example.

1. Spoiler Concerning a Major Character.
2. Spoiler Concerning a Recurring yet Peripheral Character.
3. Spoiler Concerning a One-Off Character.
A. Spoiler Concerning The Main Story Arc.
B. Spoiler Concering a Seasonal Story Arc or Individual Episode plot.
C. Spoiler Concerning a minor or sub-Plot for an Individual Episode.

Example, in the fictitious Series Amanda.
Amanda dies in the third episode in a plot-twist that seems to negate the plot of the pilot, and previous episodes. This is a 1A spoiler.
Or, In episode six a background character is eaten alive by squirrels. This is a 3C spoiler (unless the squirrels are important in other episodes which would make it a 3B spoiler).

I would also include a 4D category for 'spoilers' about writers/actors etc 'Real Lifes'.