As Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame hit theaters and Game of Thrones’ longest episode to date arrived on TV, the two releases raised the concern of spoilers among viewers. It’s understandable to want to avoid a situation in which the viewing of a movie or TV show is ruined or literally spoiled, but the obsession with avoiding spoilers is a problematic one.

The most valuable part of a story is its telling, not its surprises. Unexpected moments can be valuable assets, but stories’ integrities should not depend only on twists. It says something really bad if a three-hour movie could be ruined by a few pieces of information to be found on social media.

If others want to discuss a piece of pop culture, shouting about spoilers or complaining on social media is not the answer. 

Those interested in avoiding spoilers have the responsibility of removing themselves from the conversation until they’ve seen the movie or show. Still, those who try to ruin their friends’ enjoyment of a story are being bad friends.

Spoilers may actually enhance stories, according to a University of California study presented by Gizmodo, and viewers can still feel suspense in a movie even if they know what is going to happen, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy reported. Spoilers aren’t such a big deal, and everybody should be responsible for their own spoiler intake.