Forum:Overhaul of Spoilers Policy

This overhaul of the Spoilers Policy is now in-effect as of 12:00pm PST on Thursday, August 12th.

Hello everyone, hope you've been enjoying your summer and anticipating Halo: Reach as much as I have. Alright, enough with the commonfolk/icebreaker talk, let's get down to business. Last year, myself and volunteers created, voted on, and passed the Spoilers Policy put in place shortly before the launch of September 2009's Halo 3: ODST. And while it was a relative success considering how fast we put it into place as an official policy, it did have some flaws — major ones.

Namely, this is concerning the time that spoilers are allowed to linger on the wiki prior to the launch of a game. While the span of the week before launch is usually filled with spoiler-filled reviews, videos of all the cinematics and missions on YouTube, and "Snape kills Dumbledore" running rampant across the internet, and particularly the Halo community. However, it still manages to seep in where you least expect it, and those who wanted to help maintain Halopedia prior to launch fall victim to those users who are impatient twats. That's why i'm proposing that we do the exact opposite of what we set in motion last summer, and ensure that major releases for our loyal users aren't tainted.

This will include:
 * No spoiler content whatsoever will be allowed onto Halopedia until the day of the official launch for a major release (i.e. games, films/shorts, and novels) in North America, Europe, or Australia. However, this will still exclude official information released by Bungie, 343 Industries, and Microsoft Game Studios.
 * Starting from the launch date to a months time in advance, the spoiler template will be used for those who still haven't had a chance to purchase the product; while those who have bought it will be able to freely edit the wiki, albeit with restrictions as per above.

Simple enough, right? This is a policy followed on many major wikis and websites, and I feel like many here would appreciate a similar policy put into place. Voting will commence immediately on this issue, and will end one week from now on August 12th. Please feel free to enter any additions you feel are necessary or critiques of the reversions i've proposed to the Spoilers Policy.

Thank you for reading, and have a great day!

Rawr,

Voting
Please use the following templates proceeding your vote statement:
 *   — To be used for those who are in agreement of the proposal above.
 *   — To be used for those who can't make up their minds for the proposal above.
 *   — To be used for those who are against the proposal above.

Support (22/4)
* - I think this is a sufficient compromise between knowledge hungry readers and those who want to "go in dark". -- FATGUNN 02:41, August 9, 2010 (UTC)
 * — As per my statements above.
 * - God yes! (twss) The Veteran without a sig
 * — Second Lieutenant   Keith Johnson  [[Image:7thHelljumpers.jpg|20px]] com link 21:06, August 5, 2010 (UTC)
 * — I don't see why not. All it means is a thing that says there's spoilers at the top of the page. Que   Sera,  Sera  21:10, August 5, 2010 (UTC)
 * - Agreed. Colonel Grade One.png Col.  Snipes  4  50 Colonel Grade One.png 21:26, August 5, 2010 (UTC)
 * - Makes sense. Template + simple rule = happy. [[Image:Noblelogo.png|27px]] GySgt. Gonzalez   -Comm Open-   -Body Count-  01:33, August 6, 2010 (UTC)
 * - I agree. Hopefully I won't have to slink around the website with my eyes half-closed anymore <_< >_> -- Fluffy Emo Penguin 06:00, August 6, 2010 (UTC)
 * - I don't mind the infrequent spoiler, but I support this. But I think it's best to "Lock down the page" for admins to edit only, so idiotic users won't corrupt the article for all those other well-meaning Halopedians and others alike. :) Dark Neptune 06:25, August 6, 2010 (UTC)
 * - The best thing about this proposal is that it will prevent content that is not officially from Bungie nearly becoming official content on Halopedia which later turns out to be fake. --
 * - Be nice to not know all the twists in a new game from now on, even if the French get too eager again...--The All-knowing Sith&#39;ari 17:06, August 6, 2010 (UTC)
 * - Black Mesa.jpg Halo-343   ( Talk )   ( Contribs )   ( Edits )  19:01, August 6, 2010 (UTC)
 * --Invincibilityhud.svg Ultra Force  19:43, August 6, 2010 (UTC)
 * - simple, logical, effective. No downside! --  Specops306   Autocrat     Qur'a 'Morhek   00:29, August 7, 2010 (UTC)
 * -It will be nice for a new spoiler system to be out into use (I was tempted to oppose this but figured it'll be better that way since I've been known to leak spoilers to everybody now and then with the help of wikipedia ;-)--ASEC 07:59, August 7, 2010 (UTC)
 * - Why not. - JEA13  [ iTalk  ] 08:37, August 7, 2010 (UTC)
 * - Major.png Nìcmávr  ( Tálk  ) 08:45, August 7, 2010 (UTC)
 * - Great! I don't like spoiling things for my self, this will make it easier to avoid spoilers. --Reddy645 13:30, August 7, 2010 (UTC)
 * - I suppose, since curious people can't seem to keep their dirty little eyeballs off the page.  Smoke Sound off! 16:09, August 7, 2010 (UTC)
 * - I suppose, since curious people can't seem to keep their dirty little eyeballs off the page.  Smoke Sound off! 16:09, August 7, 2010 (UTC)
 * He doesn't have 50 article edits. Que   Sera,  Sera  00:43, August 11, 2010 (UTC)


 * - This being beneficial to those who wish to stay in the dark, I can't disagree. - TheLostJedi  03:05, August 9, 2010 (UTC)
 * - Don't even know why I opposed in the first place. Commander Silver Leaf.PNG Kougermasters   ( Talk )   ( Contribs )   ( Edits )  06:23, August 9, 2010 (UTC)
 * Sounds good. Warhead xTEAMx 21:45, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

Neutral (2/1)

 * Maybe a little less than a few months, maybe a month. This is a Wikia after all. Monetary issues shouldn't be weighed in. 600px-Dharma Wheel.svg.png Chakravartin My Wheel Shall Turn 20:58, August 5, 2010 (UTC)
 * I'm not sure. How exactly would we be able to stop people from being spoiled? I doubt that every edit would be searched and spoilers reverted - even on Halopedia.-- Forerunner 16:02, August 7, 2010 (UTC)
 * I don't really care whether I get spoiled or not, so same here. - 22:18, August 10, 2010 (UTC)

Oppose (2/0)

 * - if you are going to have spoilers then just dont read the pages with them-- simple enough.
 * User is not eligible to vote.


 * - Halopedia is an encyclopedia, people come here for information. If people don't want spoilers, then they can simply not read the spoilers - we should have all reliably cited info available for all readers. G35cpe 05:13, August 8, 2010 (UTC)
 * That's the thing, many of us who are on here constantly (whether in an Administrative or janitorial capacity) don't feel like seeing them. The normal user such as yourself can shrug off Halopedia for awhile prior to launch. Those who were elected into the Administration don't have that choice.
 * We should contain all info, as noted below - most encyclopedias (and Wikipedia FWIW) contain spoilers. 96.52.53.138 02:18, August 9, 2010 (UTC)
 * Why should we? It's not like Halopedia needs to be the spitting image of every fan encyclopedia on the known internet. And in my opinion, there are two distinct types of spoilers. That which are released just prior from a leak and those that are written after launch. We want to prevent those coming from the cocks who think it's fun to ruin an experience for those who remain loyal to this site and make it better on a daily basis.


 * - Bungie warned us. Commander Silver Leaf.PNG Kougermasters   ( Talk )   ( Contribs )   ( Edits )  05:37, August 8, 2010 (UTC)
 * Bungie also doesn't release major spoilers prior to release, nor does 343i or MGS. And if I remember correctly...this isn't Bungie.net.
 * No need to be covertly rude and condescending, Tony. I know we're not Bungie.net; we're an encyclopedia of Halo knowledge... all Halo knowledge. I'm mostly opposing the spoilers policy used after the release of the material, anyway. Commander Silver Leaf.PNG Kougermasters   ( Talk )   ( Contribs )   ( Edits )  23:36, August 8, 2010 (UTC)
 * How was I being rude and condescending? And if your only opposing a specific part about the policy, then I suggest you reconsider your vote and propose a change to the policy as requested in the original statement.
 * Sorry, just me typing before thinking. Perhaps you're right :) Commander Silver Leaf.PNG Kougermasters   ( Talk )   ( Contribs )   ( Edits )  06:20, August 9, 2010 (UTC)


 * - Same reason as G35cpe. In addition, spoilers are going to happen regardless of what you do. Although logical, it would be time consuming to deprive the knowledge to Halo fans and fanatics. Just let it happen. It will anyway. [[Image:Tianasquare.jpg|60px]] EtErNiTy92   Revolution!  02:38, August 9, 2010 (UTC)

Comments
''' Please keep your comments civil, short (five-word minimum), to the point, and good. Thank you! '''

Random comment: Which spoilers template is going to be used?   (and   ) or   ? - JEA13  [ iTalk  ] 20:56, August 8, 2010 (UTC)


 * The HideSpoilers option. It's the most effective and is an incredibly clear indication of spoiler content. Plus it makes it easier for janitorial cleanup in case spoilers are leaked onto Halopedia, quick in and quick out.
 * Totally agree. - JEA13  [ iTalk  ] 08:43, August 9, 2010 (UTC)