Spoil.  The dictionary defines it as "to damage severely or harm."  When I think of spoiling, I think of rotten fruit turning nasty colors in the back of the fridge.  Nobody wants that.  But in the world of gaming, it seems that spoilers are rampant.  There's an entire section of our society that take unending delight in "damaging severely" the experience of the next gamer.  

The subject came up over the weekend in regards to a story Kotaku put up  about Batman Arkham City.  I won't link you the article, but rather an article McKinley Noble over at Gamepro wrote in response to the issue, because frankly, I can't condone the practice of destroying the experience of my readers.  It's not that I'm blameless in this sphere: I've had my brushes with accidentally spoiling stories without warning readers ahead of time -- but the operative word here is accidental.  

Personally I hate spoilers of any kind, and I have a hard time understanding the mentality that enjoys ruining an experience for someone else.  But maybe I'm short sighted here.  What do you think?  Are spoilers really as bad as they say? Is there something I'm missing?