37

I have to admit, I didn't even know spoilers were supported until today, but really bugs me that spoilers just look like empty block quotes before you mouse over them.

Is this a spoiler or just a long empty block quote? I can't tell right away, so it would be really nice if there was some indication of which one it was so I didn't have to push my mouse all the way over to it. What can I say, I'm incredibly lazy.

vs.

 

 

I suppose the author should include something that says 'Spoilers below:', but it would be nice if there was some other indication of what it was.

Improve this question
9
  • I've thought this before too, +1 for bringing it up for me :P Commented Aug 26, 2011 at 19:03
  • 1
    +1 these should stand out more readily than just have no text until mouse-over. Commented Aug 26, 2011 at 19:08
  • 5
    Or, killing two birds with one stone: render it like the mobile sites. Commented Aug 26, 2011 at 19:10
  • 4
    How do you make a long empty block quote? Commented Aug 26, 2011 at 19:11
  • 4
    @Bill Very carefully. Commented Aug 26, 2011 at 19:18
  • 4
    @Mark: Thanks for that. Now I wonder if you've just created the first one. I honestly can't see how this is a huge problem for anyone. Commented Aug 26, 2011 at 19:29
  • 3
    @Bill, the user profiles show a grey block that most people know to simply ignore if empty. So, not knowing about spoilers, I guess one might ignore grey spoiler blocks too. (In fact, I think it's even less obvious if there's only one or two lines. Might just look like some fancy separator, to some.) Commented Aug 26, 2011 at 20:17
  • 2
    Ah, perfect example of the differences for spoiler vs. quote on the mobile site. Commented Aug 26, 2011 at 20:43
  • Even the empty gray block on the user profile got an explanation! Commented Nov 16, 2011 at 21:50

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
7

Why would you ever have empty blockquotes?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Dale#.22Dr._Kronkheit_and_His_Only_Living_Patient.22

SMITH: Doctor, it hurts when I do this.
DALE: Don't do that.

Improve this answer
3
  • 2
    True, but I feel the point was: somehow indicate they are spoilers. (Like also noted in comments underneath the first announcement.) Commented Aug 27, 2011 at 8:16
  • 3
    You might not have empty block quotes, but that doesn't mean everyone using the site knows that there is [generally] no such thing as empty block quotes. If I don't happen to move my mouse in the right spot (and I usually don't move it over stuff I'm trying to read...) then I'd never know that there's hidden text under there. I can't see what's wrong with providing some kind of visual indication, like "(Hover here to reveal text)". (Of course, that said, I've never used spoiler text and I've never actually seen a case where it is required.) Commented Aug 28, 2011 at 0:18
  • 1
    Someone might call a spoiler a faceless, unforgiving blank grey box! ;-) Commented Nov 16, 2011 at 21:52
3

I've made a userscript to add hover to show spoiler to all spoilers:

$('.spoiler').prepend("<div id='isSpoiler' style='color:red; font-size:smaller; float:right;'>hover to show spoiler<div>"); $('.spoiler').hover(function () { $(this).find('#isSpoiler').hide(500); }, function () { $(this).find('#isSpoiler').show(500); });

I've added it to my Optional Features userscript.

enter image description here

Improve this answer
2

I wouldn't mind if spoilers were even harder to spot than it is now. I think

it would be great

if small innocent-looking piece of screen could suddenly "explode"

to show the reader

a terrific picture like
hand-drawn in mspaint image of a narwhal
that has been hidden before hovering

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.