What the producers seem to be really unhappy with is the sites that posting spoilers solely for the sake of making money, and that they have no scruples when it comes to divulging entire synopsis of episodes instead of teasing them with a few minor spoilers, like a promo would (though TPTB have complained before that at times ABC promos have given too much away).

Damon made a great analogy once – Reading a spoiler is like turning to the last page of the book. Sure, you’ll know what’s going to happen, but you’ll miss out on the entertaining, thought-provoking, emotional journey that gets you there. That journey is what makes LOST so graet.

Does anyone read the last chapters of a book before reading from the beginning? I’ve got to agree…just settle back and enjoy the ride for what it’s worth. Or, if you just simply need to know, don’t spoil it for all the other people.

I also think there’s this myth around the idea of some intrinsic value of being “hard-working.” It matters much more what you are working for and how you go about it. Charles Widmore is pretty hard-working, I imagine.

“…There are definitely merits to everything Darlton has to say about the topic, but it is so wide sweeping that it risks offending even casual fans…”

What I am getting at is that the fans and supporters of those sites may be offended by the venom. That’s all. If you have been visiting for any time at all, you know that my position on spoilers is that they need to be tempered into good teases…

“The idea that spoilers promote the show is ridiculous.”

True. But spoilers promote your site. I doubt any Lost-related site could compete with the others if it didn’t provide spoilers somewhere. Even if they’re “hidden,” or “only by choice,” you gotta have the spoilers.

Anyway. After all that I also would like to say sorry…I don’t mean to rake you over the coals, Doc. Somebody peed in my Cheerios today or something.

If you were *completely* humble about what well the water comes out of, you wouldn’t have felt the need to express “the other side to this.”

But you did. And…I mean, the blue bar at the top of my browser says “Lost News, Lost Spoilers” when I come to your site. I don’t blame you for getting defensive.

But look on the bright side. At least they said “mercenary” instead or “parasite”!

All that said…once again, I like your site, Doc. But I also hate spoilers, and I hate the inevitable backlash every time the prodcuers express how much they hate them as well. It’s not a new thing.

That doesn’t mean that DarkUFO isn’t hardworking, I think his site is great. I used to go there every single day and was one of the MOST active members in the comments there, before there was a forum or anything. I contributed directly to his Find815 site, which got even more traffic than the actual Find815.com. There’s just something about the fact that he posted ruiners before they were released anywhere else that, well, ruined his site for me.

Also, I can’t believe that Lostfan108 managed to scoop the finale last year after the insanity that came from him doing so the year before. I really hope they stopped him.

While I can understand that there are certain sites out there which pretty much give you scene by scene what is going to happen – this site doesn’t. And it is my choice to read the “spoilers” or not (here) – and even then they are just glimpses into what is on tap for our viewing pleasure – kind of like an appetizer – not the full main course.

Did you make any money off that book you wrote, Doc? Without LOST there would be no book.

I don’t personally read spoilers. I persoanlly enjoy this site. But I have to say…face it, man. Your work is completely based on someone else’s creativity. Without that show, there’d be no docarzt website, no docarzt book, nothing.

I’m happy they inspired you, but the ultimateb respect is due to the source of whare all that inspiration came from.

“The other side to this is… wow, I just can’t believe they went there. There are some hard working individuals in the scene…”

Yeah, how dare they. I needed a good laugh today. Thanks man!

“We would greatly appreciate it,” Lindelof said, “if you’re live blogging or talking in any way about the episode you’ve just seen, if you could just tease your readers and not spoil what’s coming.”

That doesn’t sound like you, Doc. You don’t “give everything away” and you for the most part just tease your readers about what’s coming.

I have to disagree with you though on spoilers, Doc. Spoilers do promote the show. Though it ruins the surprise and the excitement you’d feel watching it on the show for the first time, a good spoiler still makes people say, “I have to tune in to see that!” Much like the promos at the end of the show, it gets people excited about watching the show itself. It was actually a promo for Confidence Man that made me tune in the next week and really get hooked on the show.

Full disclosure spoilers on the other hand, do much more than whet the appetite. They give away the twist, but that doesn’t stop people from watching, it only lessens their pleasure on viewing (though they enjoyed hours of speculation after reading the spoiler itself). They’re going to watch to clarify what they read, to see how the actors play it, to see it in context. The only person who’s suffered is the person who spoiled themselves, and they don’t seem to mind. It’s not like losing their job and family over their spoiler habit. And they keep tuning in.

It’s a different story though when someone purposely spoils someone else. And that’s the risk you take having any spoilers out at all. It’d be impossible for some not to leak out to non-spoiler sections sadly. In this case, the person who suffers is the person who tried to remain unspoiled. That’s your real case against spoilers, not that their existence on websites doesn’t promote the show.

In addition, websites might not hit as many people as a 30 second spot on ABC, but a website keeps the excitement going 365, 24/7. You can pop on a Lost board any time of day, any day of the year, and find people to chat with about the show. And they do a better job of keeping the show’s momentum going than a 30 second spot ever could, especially on a nine month hiatus. And spoilers are a big part of that.

I’m torn on spoilers myself. I know I enjoy the show more when I don’t read them, but I also know it’s hell waiting nine months to see the show with nothing to discuss. One thing I do believe though is that sites like this, for better or worse, DO promote the show.

If it were not for the spoilers I never would have started watchin’ this show.

If a day would come when there where no more spoilers I would lose interest and stop watching.

Ahhhh Spoilers! Keep em coming!