Everyone is getting very angry about spoilers right now, aren’t they? If you’ve been near a social media website, I’m sure you’ve seen some people complaining about others spoiling the latest episode of Game of Thrones for them. If not, you will have seen the people complaining about the people complaining about having been spoiled. So much anger.

Look, people are going to want to talk about something they’ve enjoyed watching. Sharing enjoyment is a thing we can’t help but do, we want to talk with people we like about things, it happens. Now, the easiest way to avoid such spoilers would be to say “well, just don’t go on social media then” which, while accurate, is a little bit smug. Let’s try and use twitter to explain what I mean. Granted, this is how I see twitter, but I don’t think it’s far off. Essentially, if you don’t direct a tweet at a particular person, you are talking to everyone. Think of it as shouting in the street. Would you shout Game of Thrones spoilers aloud while in the queue in Sainsburys? Maybe you would, I don’t know, but if you wouldn’t, why does that make it different to do on twitter?

And even if it does, what does it cost to preface your spoilery tweet with another that says something like “by the way, I’m about to tweet about the latest episode of Game of Thrones publicly”? It costs nothing. Yes, you don’t have to think about the people who haven’t seen it yet. Sure, they run the risk of spoilers by being online at all, but it’s not like its hard to give a warning.

But don’t think I’m getting all grumpy at you for wanting to talk about something you loved. There’s plenty of chiding to go around. Even if my methodology were to be followed universally, you have to go into the internet expecting to run into spoilers about something so popular. You may not have to like that this is a thing, but you should prepare nonetheless. If you can avoid twitter, then do. Certainly don’t go anywhere near imgur. Protect yourself.

Both sides of this argument are being a bit daft really. Just relax. Be excellent to each other. Just take tiny precautions so as to give each other a chance to not offend yourselves. It’s not hard.

Although, that said, this doesn’t include people who talk directly to you and WON’T SHUT UP ABOUT SPOILERY THINGS, or people who use the argument “The book came out fourteen years ago” when talking about the TV adaptation. The latter is particularly arrogant. Would you spoil that same book if you knew someone was reading it for the first time? That is exactly what you are doing when you spoil Game of Thrones for someone. So don’t use that argument.

Just be nice. Both of you. Now kiss and make up.