I need you all!

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "potterfan9349"
<potterfan9349 at y...> wrote:
Hi! I am a junior in high school and I am doing a research
project/paper on the subculture of Harry Potter fans. ... your first
name and age and the responses to all or some of the following:

Note: I also emailed a copy of this post directly to 'PotterFan9349'.

Name: Steve/bboyminn

Age: too old to tell in public

Location: Minnesota; USA


1) On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being a Potter-obsessed superfan who has
read all the books a thousand times, has been to all the movie
premiers and book releases, wears Harry Potter underwear, etc.), how
big of a Harry Potter fan are you?

Steve:
I would say I'm about a 6 or 7. I take part in Harry Potter
discussions on-line, get the books as soon as they come out, and see
the movies as soon as they are released, but I never take part in any
public events like book releases, or movie premiers.


2) How long did it take you to read the books? How many times have you
read each one? Which is your favorite?

Steve:
It takes me about 3 or 4 days to read a new book. My mind tends to
wander as I read, so I'm not a fast reader. 

My favorites are 'Goblet of Fire' and 'Prisoner of Azkaban'. Though,
of course, I found the first book very charming and engaging.


3) How has Harry Potter changed your life? What purposes do Harry
Potter books serve beyond entertainment?

Steve:
Well, not wanting to get overly dramatic, but in a sense, Harry Potter
has given me a reason to live. Not to imply that there is any prospect
that I will die in the near, or hopefully, distant future. I find
Harry Potter very inspiring. I have even been motivated to write some
Harry Potter Fan Fiction; something I've never done with any other
books. I also think that Harry gives me strength to face my own daily
'dragons' and to persevere against life adversities. Again, all I can
say is that Harry Potter is very inspiring on many different levels,
and I think I have become a better person for having read the books.


4) What is the craziest thing you've done for Harry Potter?

Steve:
Well, other than writing fan fiction, I haven't really done anything
all that crazy. I'm a pretty conservative guy, unless you want to
count staying up until three o'clock in the morning writing responses
in Harry Potter on-line discussion groups.

I have however, create created on-line maps showing the likely
locations of Hogwarts and the Dragon Preserve in Romania which can be
found at-

"Where in the World is Hogwarts?"
http://www.homestead.com/BlueMoonMarket/Files/Hogwarts/hogwarts1.htm

"Where in the World are Dragons?"
http://www.homestead.com/BlueMoonMarket/Files/Hogwarts/RomDragCenter.html

If you want to see more of my 'Where in the World...' sites, see this
link-

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/links/Speculative_Geograph_000972354701/


5) Do you own any unusual Harry Potter merchandise or paraphernalia?
What is your largest or weirdest collection?

Steve:
About the only thing I actually have is a $20 Harry Potter chess set.
However, if my finances would allow it, I would certainly have a lot
more. There is a $300 Harry Potter chess set I would love to have, and
I wouldn't mind having a bunch of Gringott's coins. A Gryffindor
T-shirt wouldn't be bad either. But the Chess Set and the books (at
least two copies of each) are all I actually have.


6) If you could be any Harry Potter character, which one would you be
and why?

Steve:
That's actually a hard question. Of course, who wouldn't like to be
Harry, but I find that I identify very strongly with Ron. I'm not sure
why Ron appeals to be so much, but he does. Sorry, I can't be of more
help on this one.


7) What is it that makes Harry Potter books so great that any age can
enjoy them?

Steve:

In the main Harry Potter Group (HP for Grownups) I answered this
question in detail in post number 142944 -

"The Nature of Popularity - The HP Phenomenon"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/142944

Also, there was a recent discussion that asked why people like Harry
Potter. I think that would also be a great help to you. By the way,
you are free to quote any part of my posts in your school assignment.

You can read my response here-

Re: Why Do You Read the HP Books?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/142751

...and that thread starts here-

Why Do You Read the HP Books?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/142730

These posts should give you tremendous insight into why people are
attracted to Harry Potter.

Overal, I think Harry Potter taps into a universal theme of story
telling. This is how I summarized it in my 'Nature of Popularity'
essay listed above. 

"JKR has tapped into some universal aspect of mankind; she has touched
us at our ancient core."


8) Have you been to any midnight premiers or book releases? Did you
dress up? Describe your experience.

Steve:
No, I don't take part in public events. I did go and pick up the
latest book after midnight at the local store, but I wasn't dressed up
or anything.


9) What separate the fans from the FANS?

Steve:
I think it's a matter of /active/ and /passive/. FANS take an active
part in the world of Harry Potter; they dress up, they create artwork,
they write fan fiction, they take part in discussion groups, etc...
The standard 'fan' reads and enjoys the book and that's about it.


10) Is there a special "lingo" of Harry Potter fans? Are there
specific phrases or vocabulary that define the group?

Steve:
There are a few things that actually have become so common that they
are accepted language now; I expect them to appear in the dictionary
soon. For example 'FLINT'; this refers to the Slytherin Seeker Marcus
Flint who stayed at Hogwarts one year too long. Since that error was
spotted all subsequent errors have been referred to as FLINTs. 


11) What are your views on people who oppose Harry Potter books,
saying they are sacreligious and teach children witchcraft?

Steve:
I think it is ridiculous; completely unfounded. There are hundreds of
books and movies that are far far more questionable than Harry Potter,
and no one says anything about them. This is nothing more than
self-important alleged religious leaders who are eager to get their
name in the paper and their face on TV.


12) Any other things you might want to say about Harry Potter books.

Steve:
Other than suggesting you check out some of the links I have provided,
I don't think I have much more to say other that the Harry Potter
series inspires my daily life. I find that it has a strong moral
message and promotes strong values and independant thinking. The
independant thinking is also something that so called religious leader
want to squash.



Thank you all SO much! You have no idea how helpful responses will be!
If you want, I'll send you the finished paper! This is my final
project for AP Language and Composition class and is worth 250 points
and will basically make or break my grade. The more honest and open
you are, and the more details you provide, the better! Thanks again!
M.Kelly AKA potterfan9349 at ...