[HPFGU-OTChatter] Idealization of listees (was fictional love, arms and legs

[Adana Robinson]

Tabouli wrote,

> > Ahaaaa!  (Tabouli scents one of her pet topics).  OK, everyone,
>come clean, come clean.  We've all been enthusing about movie stars
>and fictional characters in HP... where do mysterious characters you
>correspond with by letter or email fit into the picture?  Do people
>consider their fellow HPFGU listmembers (at least, those they haven't
>met) to be fictional characters or real people?

David replied, (snipped for brevity)>

It is easy, in cyberspace, to take
>the good bits of somebody else and fill the gaps with your own
>wishful thinking - indeed I would say it's overwhelmingly probable I
>have done that a bit with all of you, and that we do it with each
>other.

Interesting question, Tabouli, and good point, David.  I consider everyone 
on this list "real people" and therefore off-limits for romantic fantasies.  
Drooling over Aragorn, a totally fictional character (even represented by a 
"real" actor) IMO is not the same as drooling over an actual person on the 
other end of the cyberline.  (I've now read the other LotR books and am more 
attached to Aragorn than ever; somebody help!) Aragorn represents no actual 
threat to my marriage, but carrying on a _serious_ flirtation (not to be 
confused with the teasing kind) with someone on this or any other list I'm 
on would be a betrayal of my husband.

However, I do tend to think of all of you as smart, intelligent, witty, 
sharing many of my interests (well, duh, some of them anyway, as the 
existence of this list proves), and of above average looks.  Although I 
don't have a definite idea in mind for the physical appearance of anybody 
except, due to recent exchanges on this list, Tabouli (thigh-high boots, one 
eyebrow) and David (Viggo!)

Then there's the whole priest-confessor thing: because I don't actually know 
any of you, I assume that I can confess my obsessions with HP and LotR and 
you will be accepting and understanding, _unlike_ my real-life friends and 
family, who think I am totally nuts.  And if you are laughing at me, I never 
have to know it.

This idealization of other listees gets more interesting the more I think 
about it. Perhaps there's some psychological term or explanation for the 
impression of instantly knowing people or the feeling of false familiarity?

Adana





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