I need you all!

[Tonks]

> potterfan9349 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:
----------------
Tonks_op here:

I too will agree with much of what Steve has said. Here are the 
additional responses of my own.
 
> Name: Tonks_op
>  
> Age: 50 something member of AARP
 
> Location: Michigan, USA
>  
> > 1) On a scale of 1 to 10 

I am a 10+. I get the books early, read them many times, have the 
tapes. I go to every Movie at least twice. I go to conferences, I am 
just obsessed. Can talk about Harry Potter books for hours with 
anyone who will listen. I dress up as often as possible and get 
others to do so. Encourage others to read the books. Am writing a 
book about the Harry Potter books, and much more. 

 2) How long did it take you to read the books? How many times have 
> > you read each one? Which is your favorite?
 
I live to savor them, so I take about 4 to 5 days.  I have read each 
one at least 4 times. I like Half Blood Prince the best, despite the 
fact that my most favorite character dies.  My second favorite book 
is Goblet of Fire, because it teaches children what real evil looks 
like and give them courage to endure.

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

I have become obsessed with the series and the ideas in it. 
The books are SO much more than entertainment. There is a very deep 
spiritual meaning in the books.  Like Steve and SSSusan I find the 
books inspiring. I love the saying of Dumbledore, he is such a holy 
man. If we could all follow what he teaches the world would be a 
better place.  JKR, with her great talent, is a gift to us all.

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

Went trick or treating to my priest's home on Halloween dressed as 
Bella with an 80 year old friend who was dressed as a Death Eater.

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

I own almost everything ever made in the U.S. (there are some cool 
things from Japan that they will not send here.) I have some items 
from the U.K. that I got on E-bay.  I will have to buy a house to 
put it all in.  I wanted to get the blow up of Aunt Marge, but did 
not have the money to bribe the theater to sell it to me.  I plan to 
get the life-size Dobby for Christmas.  The only thing I missed and 
want SO, SO bad, is the Dumbledore pocket watch.  Someday I will 
have one.
  
  6) If you could be any Harry Potter character, which one would you 
 be and why?

That is a very hard question.  When I dress up I am many different 
ones.  Sometimes I am McGonagall, Hooch, Tonks, and lately Bella. 
(death eaters have more fun!) I mostly identify with Dumbledore and 
aspire to be like him. He is very wise, very holy, he knows what is 
important in life and what to overlook. He has a twinkle in his eye 
and a dry wit.  He is the most Christ like person in the books. He 
is the end product of Alchemy, the base metal turned into the gold.  
He is one with God.
 
 7) What is it that makes Harry Potter books so great that any age 
 can enjoy them?

She uses the ideas of Carl Jung and images from the collective 
unconscious that speaks to all people, all ages.  She also is a good 
story teller. And story telling is the age old method to convey deep 
spiritual truths.
  
 8) Have you been to any midnight premiers or book releases? Did 
you  dress up? Describe your experience.

I am too old to sit through a movie that doesn't get out until 3:00 
am, but my heart is there with them.  I go to the book parties even 
though I do not have to do so to buy the books. (I will not explain 
that, so don't ask.) In July I and a friend went to 3 different 
parties, in 3 different towns.  Got home at midnight.

 9) What separate the fans from the FANS?
 
I agree with Steve.  Many folks are fans of HP, but some of us are 
obsessed FANS.

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

Agree with Steve and Susan.

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

Sad, very sad indeed. Sometimes I thing that Jesus' greatest enemies 
are some of his own followers. Many people do not think for 
themselves and blindly follow what others tell them. They mean well, 
but they are misguided.  They have not read the books themselves. 

Also to some extent they are correct. Most of the HP fans think that 
the wizard world is just make-believe. The people who are opposed to 
the books know that it is not.  That world does exist and can be a 
dangerous place for someone drawn to it.  The HP books do aim at 
children age 10 to 13 which is the right age to indoctrinate a young 
person. Also this is the age that many kids go through a faze of 
interest in witchcraft, I know I did at that age.  So to some extent 
the opposers have a valid fear.  And there are some children who do 
become interested in the occult after reading HP, I know because I 
have talked to them myself. 

Now having said all of this, do I think that the HP books are bad?  
NO. The HP books are very strong Christian books. Even JKR herself 
has said that if we knew what she believed we would know what is 
coming in the books.  There is much Christian symbolism in the books 
and I think that the aim of the books is to teach not witchcraft, 
but deep spiritual truth that transcends all religions.  On the 
inside book jacket to the US version of book 6 it even admits that 
she draws on comparative religions.  I think that JKR is smuggling 
God into schools and homes and places where many people would never 
consider even thinking about spiritual issues. She does it very 
well, like a good hypnotherapist.  Carl Jung would be proud of her!

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

I agree with Susan .. it is such a great time to be alive and to be 
a part of something so meaningful to so many people all over the 
world. 

Tonks_op