Do you all think it's OK for users to give out the ending to Harry Potter books?

Question

I e-mailed this person that putting out spoilers about Potter was mean and immature. She angered me completely. I had not yet read book 7, which she gave the ending too, nor have many read book 6 - she gave the ending to that as well. I told her that she must be suffering a personality disorder to put the book endings into her questions. I am so angry that she had the gall to ruin these books for everyone who sees her question and in return I was told this: "Maybe you should go live in a cave so you don't hear anything about it! You can't expect the world to stop because you are running behind."

What do you think? And do you know of a way to report this kind of thing - not to Yahoo, they won't do anything, but to some site that deals with spoilers sans warnings?

TwinsMa has blocked me from the questions so I cannot link to them here but that's fine - don't look for her questions unless you've read all the books already. Spoilers abound.

I am asking this in R&S because that is where she posted her questions.

Emiliano, to be clearer there WAS NO SPOILER WARNING. Just in case you missed that the first time. And I did NOT know the ending nor does it matter WHAT the ending was. I am disgusted that this woman would ruin these novels for those of us who haven't read the books and have more respect than to hack publisher's sites.

Sieglinde - I see no reason why I should stop using the Internet to stay safe from spoilers someone would put into a question in Yahoo Religion & Spirituality. I have steered clear of Books and will not go near any Potter sites, but my life shouldn't have to stop because some jerk was too selfish to add a spoiler warning and so mean-spirited as to put the endings into the question itself. It is not just me she ruined the book for. One of the guys on here mentioned that she had ruined it for his daughter, who was crying uncontrollably, and almost every adult called her out on it. She was asked politely to delete the questions herself before anyone else had their adventure spoiled. She refused.

AUNTIE B. - I know that she is telling the truth because she gave away the endings to the other books as well. You can go and check out her profile if you want. I do plan to enjoy reading the new one however I'm still really angry she ruined one of the most important plot lines. She's wrong.

Answer 1

I think its fantastically mean-spirited. It's exactly at the level of running around telling 4-year-olds that there is no Santa, or phoning up strangers to tell them their spouse is cheating on them. Mean, mean, mean.

And you should STILL read the books hon. There are so many wonderful details in the plot that can't be taken away by spoilers.

Answer 2

Spoilers are mean people. And the idea that you are "running behind" when the book has only been out for a week is absurd. Not everyone can afford the time and money go to the midnight party and buy the hardbound book the minute it is available. The first three or four, I waited until they came out in paperback before I read them. Some people even need to wait until they show up in used bookstores, or are given them as gifts.

I would not worry about someone telling you "the ending." First of all, there is an epilogue. So if that was what she told you about, it didn't tell you much except perhaps who was still alive at that point. Secondly, there is so much complexity, and such an interesting read, that even if you accidentally stumble upon a fact or two, it won't really be ruined for you. And also, how do you know they are telling the truth? I saw a lot of so-called spoilers (not whole passages, but bits about who died, things like that), and hardly any of them were true. One turned out to be, but how would I have known that one was true when there were so many different ones?

Don't worry about it, Cookie, my dear. Just enjoy your books when you get the opportunity. Book 6 and Book 7 are both very, very good. Better than chocolate chip cookies!!!

Answer 3

Are you joking? What is wrong with you people. I'll admit that a lot of people thought it mediocre, but it was a good way for Rowling to end the series. She tied up all the loose parts that were from the Sorcerer's Stone up till the ones that she created in Deathly Hallows. The only thing that wasn't so glamorous was the Epilogue (Nineteen Years Later). The original epilogue was longer and more detailed, but I believe JK wanted people to create their own assumptions; however, she had an interview which discussed what happened to harry, Ron, and Hermione with their jobs and lives...as well as other characters. It was a GREAT book.

Answer 4

Yes, it really sucks! But by now, (maybe I'm a cynic!) I've just come to expect that on the 'net. It used to happen ALL the time when i was into the X-files...On the official forum,people would post spoilers, just to be jerks, but if they DIDN'T put "spoiler alert" first, they were kicked off the forum.

I don't think that'll happen here, mostly since this ISN'T the official HP forum, but also because it's so rampant. I tried the HP series and only read the 1st and 3rd books. I'm not a big fan, but I still think it's lousy to download a whole book and post it online! THERE, they have some legal clout and should use it.

So, does Harry die or what???! lol...just kiddin'!

Answer 5

It's terrible how some people just want to spoil the fun for everyone else. Given how highly anticipated this book has been, this lady was downright selfish in her inconsideration of the many people who have not had a chance to read the book yet. If she had to comment on the book, she could have done so without giving away the ending; reviewers do this sort of thing all the time. I imagine that she is one who enjoys the feeling of being the first on the scene, but what a small manner in which to get her little moment of attention.

You called it right, Thrice: doing this was mean and immature of her, and her response to you was undignified.

Answer 6

I don't know

If harry potter dies at the ending (and this is not a spoiler, because i don't know the ending) than who gave it away was the author herself, she said this would be the ending to the series, and if it is than you should be mad at her.

Paz de Cristo

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I never read one harry potter book and never saw one movie, and not because of the :"its EVIL" argument, its simply not my stile.
I remember when book six came out and i was mentioning to some friends that there was a t-shirt with the books ending written on it. One of my friends who was reading the book at the time overheard it, and i ended up spoiling the book for him. I'll tell you, I felt so incredibly horrible, to this day i try to make up for him. Its just an awful thing to do, and i felt really really bad with it.

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Me, Thrice-Baked- I was not trying to justify the other persons behavior. I don't think what she did was nice. Believe me, i stoped waching lost because i pretty much knew everithing that was going to happen and i still feel like punching some people over it (well, thats an exageration, but i know how you feel, dude).

I sincerly hope you can still enjoy the book

Answer 7

I think that it is horrible!! I've been hearing a lot about this type of behavior. I would never give away the ending, be it book or movie, to someone who has not read or watched it. It is definitely selfish and immature to ruin another person's pleasure just for spite.
Thank God I have not heard it personally, though, as I am currently reading the 7th book. I have read the other six books - 3 times each! I just love them!

Answer 8

A bad spell upon her! But I think there's one already. If she thinks the whole point of a story is how it ends, she must think the most important thing about her own life is its end - her death. Poor sod! What a lot she'll miss. Like life, the value in any book isn't only in the end, but in the process - in the reading, not the conclusion. I'm waiting to get the last two books back from my grandchildren so I can read them. They're not telling me anything - although it wouldn't matter to me if they did.

Answer 9

No. I am not okay with ruining the books! I'm so far behind, I don't even think I've read number 5 yet. Of course, I already know one of my favorite characters dies, because no one can keep their trap shut. Same thing happened with the Davinci Code (which I'm barely getting to and avoided watching the movie until I had read it.) Too bad I already know what the whole book is about!

But sorry, I don't know of any way to punish spoilers. :(

Answer 10

I totally agree with you. I was planning on taking my time reading the last book and enjoying it at my leisure. But then everyone started spreading spoilers and I rushed through the book just so I could finish it before some jackass ruined the ending for me.