Another call to move onwards

[Ali]

I just wanted to add my voice to those who have urged that we move 
onwards. As you are now very aware MEG has been bitterly divided. At 
the time OoP hit us we were aware that we were short of numbers, but 
we also felt that we had a duty to pull together before inviting 
anyone else in. Before this latest crisis hit, I naively thought we 
were.

In some ways, I feel that we have our hands tied; by not responding 
to comments that I heartily disagree with, I let them stand as 
though they were fact, by responding, I risk a slanging match which 
I believe to be wrong. So, in not responding, I would just ask 
everyone to recognise that there is more than one view of what has 
happened. Indeed, I suspect that we all have a "different" version. 

Anything that you might have been told to prepare you for this group 
is likely to be a coloured version of events. This is not because 
anyone has tried to deceive you, but we all approach things from our 
own perspective. If you wish to hear different "sides", I'm sure 
most people will be happy to tell you what they *think* occurred. 
Please remember though that just as different readers look at Harry 
Potter and are convinced of an  H/H ship or H/R ship, so our stories 
will just be a biased commentary on what we have seen or been 
through.

I do think we all have to understand that these events are not 
really about victims and villains; they are about humans. To err is 
human afterall. I'm not trying to say that people haven't been 
wronged, or that people individually or collectively couldn't have 
handled things better. I am trying to say beware of the "halo and 
horns" effect. I would also have to thank all those both here and on 
OTC who have come up with very good, objective suggestions for the 
way forward. I do believe that we will get through this and push the 
standards of HPfGU to the point where we know they should be.

We all presumably joined the FAQ group because HPfGU means something 
to us. I had loved Harry Potter for 3 years before I even thought of 
joining an on-line group, but I love this group with a passion. I am 
frustrated that we don't yet have a Harry FP, and I do feel that we 
should remedy this. As I write now, I don't feel quite ready to dive 
in, but give me a day or two, and I will. I still have my Quidditch 
FP to finish, and will at some point start asking pointed questions 
on the lists to bring about the sort of debate I want. 

A very upset, but still hopeful Ali