Entertainment journalists often put themselves at risk of encountering spoilers on a daily basis.
With the constant threat of paparazzi flashing cameras and celebrity publicists aggressively defending their clients' interests, it's a miracle many make it out alive.
However, the biggest hazard of the job may be the inability to avoid discussing spoiled plot points and endings, especially when it comes to TV shows and movies.
One morning, a colleague's loose lips spoiled a certain TV show that hadn't yet been watched, but the victim didn't get angry.
This was due to a strict code in place, known as Tom's Two-Week Turnaround Convention, or TTTC for short.
The TTTC states that spoilers have a two-week expiry date, after which it's acceptable to discuss plot details.
The 14-day lifespan was chosen because it's long enough to catch up on a TV show or movie, and the alliteration of 'Tom's Two Weeks' was an added bonus.
When a colleague mentioned a plot point, the rules of the TTTC were clear: the show had ended three weeks prior, making it fair game for discussion.
The only person who could be held accountable was the person who had made no effort to watch the show in the first place.
However, the rules can be reversed, and spoilers can be dropped unexpectedly, often due to a lack of effort to keep up with a show or movie.
It's not malicious, but rather a belief that it's rude to expect others to wait until you've had a chance to catch up.
The TTTC is not without its caveats, though.
Ruinings something that's just a few days old would be considered inconsiderate, and spoilers from trailers or posters are best avoided.
Ultimately, the onus is on the individual to catch up with a show or movie, especially if it's been months since it ended.
Once spoilers become pop culture touchstones, it's no longer reasonable to expect others to tiptoe around them.
