Tangentially related but just want to voice one peeve: I really hate it when wikis for works of fiction update “is” to “was” if a character later dies in a story.
Sometimes I just need to remember things like where a character is from or how old they are, so I look them up but end up getting spoiled on the second or third word of the article just when it says (e.g.) “Darth Vader was…”
If I had technical know-how, I would make a “No tense spoilers” browser plugin that changes the tense of “was” to “is” on wiki pages.
Not familiar with that series, but I looked up its wiki (even for a character I saw that had a stated death) and they thankfully seem to use “is” for everyone.
Not sure if it’s a series I’ll ever get around to looking at, but just in case, I didn’t linger on any pages long enough to have any memory of who anyone actually is.
I agree. All fiction was written in the past and enjoyed in the past. If there is an article about it on a wiki, it should be written past tense by default.
This is how I talk about fiction in daily life as well. Unless I am currently enjoying the story with a friend of something, I dont talk about fictional characters in the present tense.
Im happy to talk about how Spock* is* the coolest guy on the bridge while im watching TOS, and Superman wasn’t as cool as I was hoping ( if I had watched the movie, like even a week ago).
Tangentially related but just want to voice one peeve: I really hate it when wikis for works of fiction update “is” to “was” if a character later dies in a story.
Sometimes I just need to remember things like where a character is from or how old they are, so I look them up but end up getting spoiled on the second or third word of the article just when it says (e.g.) “Darth Vader was…”
If I had technical know-how, I would make a “No tense spoilers” browser plugin that changes the tense of “was” to “is” on wiki pages.
deleted by creator
Not familiar with that series, but I looked up its wiki (even for a character I saw that had a stated death) and they thankfully seem to use “is” for everyone.
Not sure if it’s a series I’ll ever get around to looking at, but just in case, I didn’t linger on any pages long enough to have any memory of who anyone actually is.
Wait what happened to Vader? I’ve only seen the first 5 episodes.
Sorry, I didn’t get to finish the article text.
I was just joking about you having spoiled the outcome of a 42 year old movie for me
I figured, was just trying to be cheeky!
Oh ok. It’s been a long day and I couldn’t tell if you were or not, lol.
All good! It’s been a day for sure.
I think they should always use was for fiction wikis
I agree. All fiction was written in the past and enjoyed in the past. If there is an article about it on a wiki, it should be written past tense by default.
This is how I talk about fiction in daily life as well. Unless I am currently enjoying the story with a friend of something, I dont talk about fictional characters in the present tense.
Im happy to talk about how Spock* is* the coolest guy on the bridge while im watching TOS, and Superman wasn’t as cool as I was hoping ( if I had watched the movie, like even a week ago).