Merchandise and embarassment (was merchandise gripe)

[Rosmerta]

I'm trying to work out just why the thought of rows and rows of movie 
merchandise at Target makes me feel so utterly down because I'm not 
all that alarmed about the movie itself (if only because I adore both 
Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman).

So here's why (I think): it seems that, no matter how many thousands 
of characters a book has, reading it is essentially an intimate and 
private activity. If it's a book that you love, you literally 
internalize it; it becomes part of your private thoughts. And when 
you talk to someone else about a book that you love, you're showing a 
bit of your private self and (if the conversation is going as you 
hoped...) they're showing a bit of themselves back to you. 

So to walk into a department store and see mountains of random things 
based on this book that someone worked on alone for years and that 
you read and absorbed alone just feels like an enormous violation of 
everyone's collective privacy. I look at that stuff and I just feel 
embarassed for the store, the artist, the movie makers, everyone. 
It's like that feeling you get when someone who doesn't know you uses 
your nickname inappropriately. You don't want to hurt anyone's 
feelings, but you want to say, uh, sorry, you're not at that level 
with me yet. 

Does that make any sense?

~Rosmerta
fully aware that the wheels of capitalism will keep turning whether 
she pities the players or no...