[HPFGU-OTChatter] Self-Evaluation (was Re: Harry Haters and the Lack of Proof)

[Ladi lyndi]

--- Steve wrote:
> PS: I never object to people evaluating and
> making judgements for
> themselves regardless of whether those
> judgements go against my own
> beliefs.  <snip> If a mother investigates and
> personally objects to the
> HP series and doesn't want her children to read
> it, I'm fine with
> that. If that mother is blindly following the
> proclaimation of some
> self-proclaimed arbiter of morallity, then in
> my opinion, she is
> failing in her moral duty to her religion, her
> children and herself. 


Lynn:

Taking this out of the religious realm for a
moment, there are different reasons parents may
object to HP which have nothing to do with
witchcraft and wizardry in and of itself.  One
big objection has been that the series is no
longer suitable for the original age group. 
Another is that is it not suitable for the
younger kids who have gotten interested in HP due
to advertising and the movies.  Unfortunately,
rather than ask why a parent has an objection,
these parents have been automatically branded as
religious zealots by those don't understand the
concerns some parents may have as to the effect
of certain aspects of the books upon their
children.  Mind you, I am in no way implying
that's what Steve has done here but, rather,
speaking about what I've seen as a general rule.

IMO, the books fall into the following age
categories.  PS came out in 1997 and is suitable
for the 9-10 age group and, indeed, younger.  CoS
came out a year later and is again, suitable for
that age group though I think some aspects are
not suitable for some younger children.  However,
PoA, 1999, may not be suitable for that age group
but rather the 11-12 age group.  Yet, that's in
keeping with the target audience of PS as they
also have matured by 2 years.  GoF, 2000, may not
be suitable for the 11-12 age group but rather a
13+ group, depending upon the maturity of the
child.  From what has been said of OoP, it most
definitely falls into the 13+ age grouping.

My point, of course, being that the original
target audience has been able to mature as each
book as come out and the books are therefore
suitable for their present age group.  However, a
9-10 starting to read the series now has 5 books
they can read in succession and not all those
books may be suitable for the 9-10 age group. 
Thus, you may have parents warning other parents
against the HP series on the basis that it is not
suitable for particular age groups.

Should a parent not take the word of other
parents about the suitability of books for their
child?  I certainly would take the word of other
parents I know and be guided by their advice.  A
friend of mine has children in 3 age groups.  The
oldest has been allowed to read all 4 books, the
middle child 3 books and the youngest only 2
books.  This father has informed his oldest that 
the father will read OoP first before determining
whether his son will be allowed to read it.  Had
I not already been reading the HP series, I most
certainly would follow his advice on the
suitability of the books for my daughter without
further investigation.  This is someone I trust.

  Should a parent read a book before they deem it
unsuitable?  I certainly don't have to read "The
Story of O" to determine it's unsuitable for my
daughter based on what I've been told of the
contents of the book.  Yes, that's an extreme
example, however, if I have a child with a fear
of snakes or spiders, I may deem CoS unsuitable
for my child based on being told it contains
man-eating spiders and deadly snakes without
feeling the need to read the book myself just to
verify those facts. 

Back to the religious realm, if a mother belongs
to a religion/denomination where aspects of any
book violates the religious beliefs in which she
is raising her children and she comes to that
conclusion based upon advice from those she knows
and trusts, I have no problems with that. 
I don't think this is blindly following anyone
but rather trusting the judgment of those one has
come to respect.

All this being said, I do believe that any advice
given and listened to should be based on sound
reasoning and not heresay.  I personally wouldn't
make my decision because someone told me my
daughter shouldn't read the books because their
second cousin's sister-in-law's daughter's
hairdresser's child decided to take the family
broom to the roof of the house and tried to fly
off it.

My big objection is when people try to prevent
others from doing something based on their own
objections.  While I believe not all the books
are suitable for certain age groups, I would much
prefer to see an advisory regarding the books
backed by reasons rather than something that only
says some parents find a book objectionable.

Lynn


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