Commentary

COMMENTARY: Spoiler Culture; What is Wrong with You?

HOUSTON FORWARD TIMES — It varies between movies, television series, and even surprises on musical projects. It appears that no one is safe from spoilers. Stay off social media, they said. Fine. Cool. Then, of course, I innocently turn on a podcast to distract myself from the heinous traffic situation in Houston only to have one of the hosts casually throw in a major spoiler to a film I’d yet to see in a segment UNRELATED TO THE TOPIC AT HAND

Published

7 years ago

May 10, 2019

Grace Boateng

By Grace Boateng

I now understand why superior beings from more advanced galaxies and various dimensions won’t communicate with us lowly humans. It’s because we are simply the worst. How are we the worst, you ask? Well, a singular aspect of popular “garbage-dom” is people’s incessant propensity to spoil plot twists and important details of entertainment.

It varies between movies, television series, and even surprises on musical projects. It appears that no one is safe from spoilers. Stay off social media, they said. Fine. Cool. Then, of course, I innocently turn on a podcast to distract myself from the heinous traffic situation in Houston only to have one of the hosts casually throw in a major spoiler to a film I’d yet to see in a segment UNRELATED TO THE TOPIC AT HAND. Wow. Great. Thanks. That’s my fault, I guess…because I already knew people will find a way to let you down.

I have experienced spoilers in many forms. There is, of course, the coworker whose social interactions are limited to the work-space so they blurt out major spoilers once they hear anyone in the “office” (I use that term loosely, we don’t all work in an office) has begun watching something they’ve watched. There is the person who gets a kick out of provoking other people so they throw their spoiler in with a bunch of other unwanted predictions to pretend like they aren’t spoiling anything. There is the individual who has no self-awareness and as soon as they hear the title they say what happens in the end. I’ve even experienced a person screaming out the ending to the film in a movie theater full of people as the film was playing. Trash behavior.

The way we consume entertainment has certainly evolved over the years. With the rise of on-demand streaming services, the availability and immediacy of the entertainment we consume is like nothing we’ve seen before. I feel like we’re a decade away from having films and videos uploaded into our brains. The other thing that has added fuel to the fire is social media, which, inadvertently, has given everyone a voice. What happened is that in an effort to participate in this virtual community, people are using their newfound “voice” even though no one truly has anything to say. That’s why it has become an echo-chamber of the same memes and jokes and spoilers and rinse and repeat.

I didn’t grow up wealthy or anything like that so going to the movies was rare and a treat. We didn’t have cable so I wasn’t able to participate in watching a lot of the shows of the day. I still managed to get around to watching things on my own time, unspoiled. That is the truth. Things are different for me now. I am able get to the theater more often and stream the shows that are important to me. I check my own privilege and I am mindful that everyone’s priorities and money situations are different and should be respected. Instead of spoiling things for other people, I simply suggest they check it out for themselves when and if they get the chance. I am happy when I am able to direct someone towards some form of entertainment that brings them joy.

There is a new trend now though…it’s a trend of shaming people who haven’t had an opportunity to see the latest movie, or catch the most recent episode of a show. What’s worse is the people that are doing the shaming are completely unapologetic, which is just pathetic.

Here’s a suggestion. Instead of ruining things for the people coming behind you, how about you let people enjoy things, in their own time, and go find you some brand new business. Deal?

This article originally appeared in the Houston Forward Times.

Grace Boateng

Posts by Grace Boateng

Related Topics:books cable tv commentary entertainment Film Grace Boateng Houston Forward Times Jokes memes movies podcast spoilers Television Texas TV videos

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

March 22, 2026

Oakland Post

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC