Ebony's LOONiness and Welcome Newbie!

[Ebony AKA AngieJ]

No: HPFGUIDX 23415

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., mgrantwich at y... wrote:
> >It makes me feel that we are all getting a bit too nitpicky.  Am I 
> >right, or have we overanalysed to the point that it is all we are 
> >left with?
> 
> 
> Yup.

> And to avoid getting thumped by a Moderator, I will add that a lot 
of 
> the analysis focuses on single paragraphs or in some cases even 
> single sentences without taking into account the context of the 
scene 
> or chapter.  


Right.  Perhaps I am overreacting, but I am really beginning to feel 
that it's getting to the point on this list where you're d--ed if you 
do and d--ned if you don't.

If you DON'T cite canon in a post taking a position on one side of an 
issue or the other, then it is implied that your analysis is inferior 
or it is considered OT and not appropriate for the list.

If you DO cite canon to support your position, then it seems as if 
your citation can be considered out of context and your logic 
completely faulty because you are not quoting whole paragraphs or 
adding a full explanation of the scene.  

July 25th marked my one year anniversary as a member of this list.  
And this is what I thought about last week on that day:  Last year 
this time I could post to HP4GU without getting a horrible cold 
feeling whenever I push send... now I'm always thinking "Is this OT-
Chatter fodder?  Has this been discussed recently or ever?  Will I 
get a virtual hand-slap?"  Which is why I switched to webview this 
spring... there were things that I wanted to say, but I was tired of 
all the second-guessing.  

As I've said, I am not L.O.O.N. material because *that* side of my 
brain is not sharp enough.  When I read, I am not one to chop an 
author's work to pieces... this is because I am a creative writer-in-
training myself, and I understand that while most writers 
value "getting it right" when it comes to the minute details, there 
is an overall impression, an overarching theme and purpose, a sense 
of everything working together in its place.  This sense 
of "rightness" is either there in creative writing, or it is not.  So 
while I love the L.O.O.N.s of the world (one of them beta-reads my 
fanfic because of that darn sluggish side of my brain!), I also do 
think there's a place for the R.E.S.T. (Reading for Entertainment, 
Style, and IntenT) of us.  Not only when it comes to the fluff posts, 
but when it comes to "deep" analysis too.

I really wish I had kept out of the Hermione's birth year thread now 
since I couldn't find the post that began the thread and my re-post 
of the quote seemed to annoy (rightfully, I'm sure!) some of those 
who had been following it.  My first mind was not to post anything at 
all... I've had the feeling of "being out of place" and "not being 
analytical enough" whenever I've posted something here to the main 
list for months now.

What the old folks say about following your first mind is very true.

And that's why I lurk.  Simple as that.

--Ebony AKA AngieJ