[HPFGU-OTChatter]Why I love HPFGU

[Devika S. Lal]

This question was asked a few days ago, but I finally have time to sit down
and think of a good reply (well, ok, technically I should be doing
biophysics homework, but everyone deserves a break, right?)
Anyway, as the subject line makes obvious, I love this list.  I guess I'm
not really an older member of the group since I've only been part of it
since May, and I so rarely find the time to post anything meaningful.  I'm
not old as far as chronological age is concerned, either:  at 19, I'm just
barely an adult (and I'm not used to the fact that anyone would consider me
one), although I hate being characterized as a teenager because I don't
think I ever really fit into the "teenager" stereotype.
However, I feel right at home in this group.  Before I found it, I had seen
a few message boards discussing HP, but I usually became bored with them,
and I had never considered joining a discussion group.  I had come across
Steve's Lexicon site, which I also love, and I saw a link to HPFGU.  I
checked it out, and the rest is history (thanks, Steve!).
Mainly, I appreciate this list due to the quality of the discussions that we
have.  It's an understatement to say that the people who post to this list
have a good grasp of the content of the HP books.  And trust me, that's very
meaningful to me, considering that I can still contribute to a discussion
involving specific parts of the books (and maybe even provide quotes
sometimes) when I haven't laid eyes on a Harry Potter book in about three
months :).
Our list members contribute valuable insights into the books that I never
considered before joining this list and that will make my next reread of the
books all the more enjoyable.  I love the fact that our speculations are
strictly based in canon and do not fall into the realm of the ridiculous
(Harry's eyes are green because Neville's toad is green, and it is an
animagus that will turn into Harry's long-lost brother when Hermione kisses
it!--I actually read something like that somewhere else).  Our discussions
have a maturity and intelligence that I haven't come across before.
Finally, and certainly not least importantly, I am very thankful for the
fact that this group requires proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Spelling mistakes are a pet peeve of mine--they absolutely drive me crazy (I
can't stand it when someone uses "it's" when "its" is the correct word--but
maybe that's just me).
Overall, it's just great to know that there are people out there who share
my obsession!  I've gone from 49% to 61% obsessed with Harry Potter since I
joined this list, and who knows how much more it will increase, especially
after OoP comes out...

--Devika, who will be getting back to her homework now, and who sincerely
hopes she hasn't made any typos in this post after complaining about other
people's spelling mistakes :)