Let’s Cancel: “SPOILERS”

My stance on this issue (along with most of the internet) shifted to it’s most polarizing point upon Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s adoption of a “spoiler” secrecy campaign in their promotion. The very vocal minority heeded to Mark Hamill’s contributing tweet, “The #WaitForVIII is nearly over! Let me take this opportunity to personally ask you to keep all that happens in #TheLastJedi a secret for as long as is humanly possible. Thanking you ALL in advance – mh  #LooseLipsSinkStarships”.  This would be followed 3 years later by a tweet from the jedi master to ironically “spoil” the mandalorian for friends of mine who are fans, “The fact that we were able to keep my involvement a secret for over a year with no leaks is nothing less than a miracle. A real triumph for spoiler-haters everywhere! #LooseLipsSinkStarships  #STFU”

I generally have one stance on finding things out early and one only. If what I am about to watch is good enough, then it will still leave an impact regardless of how much I know. I am the Star Wars viewer who has seen many shows and movies reference a pillar in the franchise that is inherently a “spoiler”, “I am your father,” before seeing the original 3. Despite it’s repeated use as a gag, in other words, my knowledge of this did not hinder my experience when I would go on to watch the original 3 Star Wars films. Just because I saw where the big drop on the roller coaster was while waiting in line, didn’t make it any less thrilling when I finally got on.

Ever since then whenever I am among groups of friends at conventions, theaters, bars (remember those?) who want to talk about something I haven’t seen, I have to equally express my interest in the conversation the group wants to have as well as emphasize that I DO NOT care about finding things out early. My caring about “spoilers” for something I want to see is outweighed by wanting to not be that one person in the group that grinds the conversation to a halt. A conversation that realistically wouldn’t occur with that same energy again.

I didn’t ever feel the need to write about any of this until I witnessed and interacted with the stigma of (among other fandoms) the Star Wars fandom in a convention group page. I posted a mandalorian meme that I thought was funny that resulted in a 2.5 week ban. I at first thought maybe it was offensive to some people or the admin and I was willing to accept that. And then I saw the notification telling me the reason I was banned was for violating a “10 day spoiler embargo”. I’m sorry, am I Jeans Guy? Because I don’t remember signing an NDA with Lucasfilm before working on the fucking show. The “spoiler” in question was Baby Yoda being referred to as Grogu. I had no idea that held the same weight as Mark telling everyone he was in the season finale for Mandalorian. I would 100% understand this if this was leaked, I was waiting in line with strangers to see it and someone yelled, “BABY YODA IS GROGU”! But since we all get the same information at the same time thanks to streaming services, there you go…

Throughout my social media in general any posts of fans that actually want to have a discussion of the show they enjoy are swiftly met by an animosity that has been programmed by the people who spearhead the Disney canon movies. Fans calling you a “bitch” are among the more flattering things you will be called for having the nerve to talk about something that is out for anyone to see. I would not be so baffled by this if these same clusters of hateful people didn’t make exceptions to their own rules like talking about Richard Brake or Bill Burr being in an episode together or about what Grogu eats.

They aren’t spitting this venom at terrorists, corrupt politicians, or gay conversion therapists. They are spitting it in their own faces… The lesson for other fandoms to learn from the star wars fandom is to not get in your own way. Any fans reading this that are feeling called out need to also remember there are critics for outlets out there who like what you like and would love to fully express that. The universal adoption of a “no spoilers policy” does act as a forcefield from criticism (positive, negative, or constructive).

Long story short, the posts we make online about the things we enjoy or don’t, should be met with the same passion that we dish to the people we interact with in our everyday lives. To call something a “spoiler” is to imply that what it’s a part of is no longer digestible if you find out about it. I know it’s a lifeforce, but art will never replace food…