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Forums: Index > The Wizengamot > Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts Spoiler Alerts


In a recent Pottermore video JKR expressed her hope that the HP fandom, as a community, watch out for each other and keep the secrets so that the unique play experience could be preserved for everyone. As the wiki here will likely be a source for these secrets, I think the least we can do is provide a spoiler alert on pages that have content taken from Cursed Child. Other ideas that might help address JKR's wishes?

On a related note, should there be a spoiler alert for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film) related pages? We're already getting plot points and character details that some may wish to avoid and should be forewarned about. Given 2 major updates to the HP universe this year, it makes sense to choose a consistent approach now in advance. Thanks --Ironyak1 (talk) 13:28, May 25, 2016 (UTC)

Spoiler alerts have no place on wiki's, because by their nature, the wiki is a spoiler. A notice on the front page is more than enough, I hate spoiler templates on principle as they don't belong on wiki's. --Sajuuk 14:59, May 25, 2016 (UTC)
I agree.  If you don't want to be spoiled, don't go to the wiki. Pretty simple.  Wva (talk) 15:27, May 25, 2016 (UTC)
It's interesting how this has changed over time, with wikipedia slowly moving away from spoiler alert warnings after much discussion. For this wiki I would point out two particular issues:
  1. The extensive use of the {Pottermore} spoiler warning on a few hundred articles. If spoiler alerts are not to be used, then these need to be cleaned up?
  2. More importantly, the request of the creator of this material to be good stewards and help avoid ruining the experience for other fans. While I think JKR's request is difficult to fully abide by, I feel that it is encumbant upon us to at least consider options that both allow for users to still use the wiki, but have some warning when they near potential spoilers, especially from these early previews of Cursed Child. This seems important to JKR, and as a basic sign of respect and gratitude towards her and all she has given us, I think we should consider some possible solutions. --Ironyak1 (talk) 15:54, May 25, 2016 (UTC)
There is no need to place a notice template across hundreds of articles just to warn about spoilers. A notice on the homepage is more than sufficient, given that people will see that page first. If they complain about spoilers, it's their own fault and is, quite frankly, not our concern, as we should not cater to people who don't want spoilers. And JKR does not read this wiki, neither have any involvement in it, so we can just as easily ignore her request, as it has no relevance to a wiki. --Sajuuk 16:43, May 25, 2016 (UTC)
Given that this wiki is the first result for thousands of Harry Potter related google searches, there is no reason to believe that most people enter through the main page and would see a spoiler alert there. Also, we have no idea what JKR's involvement is with the site, if any, either as a reader or editor. For all we know, Seth Cooper is JKR (which would explain a lot ;). Although ignoring her request is an option, showing some respect for the creator of this Universe we hold dear, and her concerns, seems to be more appreciative and help support her faith in the fandom looking out for each other.
My specific suggestion is that any page that derives material from the Cursed Child play have a spoiler alert at the top until 31 July when the screenplay is published and everyone has equal opportunity to be informed from the source material. After that, they can be removed, along with the {Pottermore} warnings if a "no spoiler alert" policy is adopted.
I've pinged the admins on this so we'll see if they have an opinion. As for the work involved, I am happy to handle the posting and takedown of the spoiler alerts, including {Pottermore} if that is decided. Cheers --Ironyak1 (talk) 18:43, May 25, 2016 (UTC)
I actually have mixed feelings about that. I tend to agree with SuperSajuuk, and we do have a spoiler warning on the main page (though I must say it was in a far more prominent ‎position in previous revisions of the page), though I can understand them when there's the potential for so much new, outstanding, game-changing information (what if Harry dies at the end of the play, and the spoiler is given away by his dates on the very first line of the article? -- I'd sure as hell be pissed to find out about something like that that way!). As Ironyak pointed out, the average casual reader would access the wiki through Google searches, and would not necessarily be aware that there could be things on the article that they are reading that they rather not read yet.
That said, there is a precedent (not just {{Pottermore}} but also {{Wonderbook}} and {{Wonderpotions}}, which have progressively been changed to {{Pottermoreold}}, {{Wonderbookold}}, and {{Wonderpotionsold}}, respectively, but should be done away with altogether by this point, in my opinion).
All in all, I'd (mildly) support having Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts spoiler warnings because it really doesn't hurt the wiki, and we'd be the good guys.
And no, I'm not JKR (I've entertained the notion of her popping up every now and again and adding a new tidbit, only to find it reverted minutes later because that specific factoid was nowhere to be seen in the books) -- though her being around here would almost certainly bring around Verifiability issues similar to when people edit an article about themselves on Wikipedia. --  Seth Cooper  owl post! 15:25, May 27, 2016 (UTC)
Overall, I am most concerned about Cursed Child both because JKR has made a direct appeal to the fandom and because for the next 2 months there will only be a small set of people who have access to, as you put it, game-changing material that could have major reveals. This limited source raises a whole set of Verifiability issues in itself, which is something we'll need to sort through. Without a leaked recording of the play, would all CC related material get taken down as unverifiable anyways?
I raised FB (film) and {{Pottermore}} more as trying to sort out the current mixed approach to spoiler alerts. FB (film) info is currently based on commonly & freely available material so far so everyone has an equal chance to be informed and is less concerning to me. As you said, {Pottermore/old}, {Wonderbook/old}, {Wonderpotions/old} appear to be relics largely from the days of protecting game play value and should be removed at this point IMO. (I'll add that to my list in place of unpiping QTA/FB/TBB (real) ;) Cheers --Ironyak1 (talk) 16:15, May 27, 2016 (UTC)
I would not object to adding spoiler templates to articles based on content from The Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts for a reasonable length of time.
Personally, I've never had a problem with being spoiled – I like to know what I'm getting into and believe any good story can stand on its own – but, for many, the element of surprise and the sense of discovery factor into their enjoyment. I think it's a basic courtesy to do what we can to respect the wishes of fans who want to avoid being exposed to Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts spoilers. Especially when the solution is as simple and hassle-free as adding spoiler hatnotes.
The Harry Potter books and films have been out long enough that I think we can take it for granted that anyone comes to the Harry Potter Wiki is either familiar with the plot of the books/films or doesn't mind having them "spoiled." But, at this point, I don't think we can safely assume that people who come to the Harry Potter Wiki are actively seeking out information on The Cursed Child or Fantastic Beasts. Someone could Google "Hermione Granger" looking for the name of the elf-rights organization she founded in the fourth book and find our article. It would be very easy for them to accidentally stumble across Cursed Child information from there. They might not realize the article contains Cursed Child spoilers until it's too late.
I'd recommend leaving Cursed Child spoiler templates up until August 31. Many fans won't get to see the play, and will only be able to read the script book, thus leaving the spoiler notices up a month past the official debut of the play would hopefully give people a chance to read the book without being spoiled.
I remember seeing spoiler templates on Wookieepedia right after The Force Awakens came out, so, evidently, it can't be said wikis never use spoiler warnings. The difference between Wikipedia and Wookieepedia/Harry Potter Wiki/etc. is that the latter are built by and intended to be read by fans rather than a general audience. Thus, they are an outgrowth of fan culture, and tend to reflect its unique values and concerns. Fan wikis will thus place more value in guarding against spoilers than general-interest wikis like Wikipedia. Starstuff (Owl me!) 23:00, May 27, 2016 (UTC)
Just popping in to say that yeah, at Wookieepedia the rule is actually still to add a spoiler tag on anything that originates from material that's either not yet been released or material that's been out for less than a month. And for the new films, the official rule, recently instituted, is actually now two months and with a specific, eye-catching template that lets people know immediately that it's a spoiler from the new film or related product and not just a general spoiler from some other comic based on a TV show or something that doesn't have anything to do with the film. This was proposed by me and ratified by the community. So, yeah, I personally agree in general that spoiler tags do have their purpose and I wouldn't mind seeing such tags here for material related to Cursed Child or Fantastic Beasts. ProfessorTofty (talk) 01:11, May 28, 2016 (UTC)
An interesting read (and no doubt people will complain about it): wikipedia:Wikipedia:Spoiler#Why spoiler warnings are no longer used.
Spoiler warnings do not improve the wiki in any way, not to mention they have no relevance on a wiki that discusses a fictional series. A single warning on the homepage suffices all "spoiler warning" needs, you don't need to plaster it all over the articles just to satisfy yourself. But I guess nobody will be interested in my opinion or care about it. --Sajuuk 10:31, May 28, 2016 (UTC)
The article on why spoiler alerts are no longer used on wikipedia is what I was obliquely referencing when I mentioned the change over time. Given that it reached the point that the 3 Little Pigs had a spoiler alert, some changes clearly were needed. I think Starstuff's point about the differences in audience and limiting the time these alerts are posted helps support a more nuanced approach here than the strict ban wikipedia decided on after their discussions.
I've mocked up a couple for Cursed Child: {{CursedChildSpoiler}} and CCSpoiler. These are just drafts, and I'm not attached to either, but I figured it's an opportunity to discuss some design options that may carry over to future template changes I've been considering. Other ideas and examples are most welcome of course.
For the old Pottermore and WonderX alerts, are we agreed that these should be removed or is there more discussion or a vote needed? --Ironyak1 (talk) 12:16, May 28, 2016 (UTC)
Just to wrap up this topic for now, there are 2 spoiler templates at Template:CursedChildSpoiler and Template:FantasticBeastsSpoiler. If anyone runs across a page with information from these two sources please add the corresponding spoiler template at the very top. Thanks to User:Seth Cooper for setting these up! Let's revisit the need for Template:CursedChildSpoiler around 1 September after we've all had a chance to read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child a few dozen times ;).
As for cleaning up the old Pottermore and WonderX alerts, maybe save that for a future clean-up topic and figure out what else may need to be removed or replaced at the same time? Cheers --Ironyak1 (talk) 02:01, June 7, 2016 (UTC)
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