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There is markdown for spoilers: put >! at the beginning of a paragraph, and the paragraph will be visible only when the mouse hovers over it, or when it is selected.

like this

!> like this

Is there interest in changing one of the markdown buttons above the editing zone? It is technically feasible, but not necessarily a good idea from a user interface point of view as it introduces an inconsistency between SF&F and other Stack Exchange sites.

  • Please upvote this question if you'd like the code button to be turned into a spoiler button.
  • Please downvote this question if you'd like the code button to remain as it is.
  • Please leave a comment or answer if you have a different preference. An extra button is not currently an option.

Update: There are currently 17 votes for and 3 against, which I take to mean there is interest.

So: Dear Stack Exchange team, please change the code markup button into a spoiler markup button.

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3 Answers 3

Reset to default
21

Yes! I was recently assaulted by a major spoiler to a series I've been reading. Anything you can do to make people a little more spoiler-aware would be a positive thing.

2

An alternate suggestion: What about putting the spoiler markdown in the "How to Format" help pane that appears when focus is in the ask-a-question question text field?

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-7

I would be against this, simply because it's such a rare need. Not every markdown function is worthy of a button.

Every button and feature we add is another "don't make me think", left unchecked, you can end up with Homer's Automobile.

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  • 10
    I fail to see why you wouldn't want Homer's Automobile... literally. I mean it looks pretty rockin'
    – Mark Rogers
    Mar 3, 2011 at 1:40
  • 9
    If you consider SFF alone, markdown is more useful than code. So by your argument the code button should be removed.
    – user56
    Mar 3, 2011 at 8:26
  • 1
    @gilles ah, REPLACING one button with another is fine. I don't oppose that, except perhaps it breaks consistency between the sites.
    – Jeff Atwood
    Mar 3, 2011 at 8:32
  • 12
    @Jeff, SE used to be all program-ish related (code in SO, scripting, registry, etc in SF & SU). But now, after the great Area 51 r\evolution, the balance is slowly changing. Maybe you ought to break consistency. I can't see how Atheism & Homebrew could benefit from code button.
    – HuBeZa
    Mar 3, 2011 at 16:31
  • 2
    We're an sf site, we want a flying car.
    – user56
    Mar 26, 2011 at 1:08
  • 1
    After reading that wiki link, I want the code/spoiler button to play "La Cucaracha" when pressed.
    – Goodbye Stack Exchange
    Apr 2, 2011 at 16:14
  • 4
    @JeffAtwood: So, what's the status? planned? declined? six-to-eight-weeks?
    – user56
    Apr 2, 2011 at 16:24
  • @JeffAtwood: Please respond to Gilles question - this would be a great addition to this site. Please replace the code button with a spoiler button.
    – Reinstate Monica - Goodbye SE
    Dec 7, 2011 at 11:16

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