When's It Best To Read A Work Page? After Or Before Experiencing It?

Although there have been works that I've been interested in checking out someday after discovering more information about them/their existence through here, I find it more satisfying to read a work's page after I've consumed most/all of the material in question. It allows me to reflect on aspects of the work that I might not have pick up on the first time, learn more about the work's reception and fanbase, and the Fridge, Headscratchers, and Wild Mass Guessing pages give me alternative "food for thought" ideas surrounding the work.

How about you? When do you read a work page? Post your answer and explanation below!

Edited by Sourguy on Dec 30th 2022 at 6:19:11 AM

I usually read them after I've seen the work. although I read some pages in the middle of consuming it, usually to help me understand when something confuses me.

Which pages inbetween? Recap? Headscratchers?

It depends on the work or whatever I want to read at the time. I usually read Trivia, Characters and YMMV after reading the main page, then the moments pages, misc subpages, and then WMG.

I probably should do it after, but I can't help but constantly go to the page while in the middle of experiencing a video game or a book and going "I really want to add such-and-such example... but if I click the edit button, I'll see spoilers! Decisions, decisions." Sometimes I'm able to fight the urge to hit the button. Other times, I fail.

Edited by RacattackForce on Dec 30th 2022 at 7:11:04 AM

Be strong, buddy. It'll be worth it if you be patient.

I also read WMG pages last, as stated in this post!

Edited by Sourguy on Dec 30th 2022 at 11:14:31 AM

Another benefit of waiting until after is that when I get to the Wild Mass Guessing pages, I get to laugh at all of the theories that ended up being Outdated by Canon.

Depends what it is. Sometimes, wanting to see what's going on for myself is the only reason I've watched/read something.

As in, you hear others going on about how great a series is, and you check it out soley to see what all of the hype is about?

When you feel like reading it. It's that simple.

The greater truth is that the answer is different for everyone. Some people can read TV Tropes page first and be turned on to something they might not otherwise check out (or, conversely, warn them of something they may not enjoy or tolerate).

Some people would rather not basically have the entire work spoiled for them, so they might not want to read the page first.

Some people are so neurotic about spoilers that they wig out if they see what a character ate for breakfast in the first 15 seconds of the movie; these people probably shouldn't read TV Tropes at all, given the nature of what the site is.

I know what you mean in that regard. There are benefits and drawbacks for both.

In regards to the works I listed as "being interested in checking out someday", I've been lucky to not have had many major plot points spoiled. I just read some details regarding a series and think to my self "Hey, that looks pretty interesting!"

I'd say before, but only for the summary.

As in, the first few lines of dialogue or the Laconic page, because sometimes it's the plot summary that makes me go "Hey, that sounds pretty interesting! I should check that out someday!"

Another thing:

Unless they're familiar with the work in question, it's unlikely the reader will care about things like the Fan Fic Recommendations, Fan Works, and Wild Mass Guessing sections, right?

Bump

Depends. If I actually want to see the work for myself, I avoid it until later. If I have no motive to actually check it out, though, I'll binge the page.

Edited by WarJay77 on Jun 13th 2023 at 5:47:19 AM

Same here

Basically, this is what I do too. If it's an unreleased work, I may also browse the page.

I prefer Before. Knowing what happens is not a dealbreaker, and often turns me on to things I otherwise would have avoided. Sure, I'm less surprised when a spoiler happens, but I usually feel all the other emotions the creator intended (if they did their job correctly), and seeing where all the plotlines go, knowing their end point, often makes them more effective.

Edited by BILLYMAYS!!!! on Jun 16th 2023 at 3:58:49 AM

With movies, I tend to check afterwards. TV shows, I might start checking the page midway through watching. And sometimes I discover new works through reading their page.

I don't mind spoilers all taht much, but I do hate finding out about character deaths like three seasons early.