[HPforGrownups] ADMIN: Discussions vs. Inflammations

[Tamfiiris]

No: HPFGUIDX 20076

Lindsay Stirton wrote:

> They say that first impressions count. As a new member of this list
> I was looking forward to listening in on HP discussion (maybe even

hi Lindsay,
first of all, welcome to the group. you picked a very bad moment to
join it, i suppose; it is not at all like this normally. check the
message archives if you don't believe me. i trust the firefighters
will have the situation under control by the mornin'!

> consider this outrage. All this strikes me as utterly banal. Like all
> classic children's literature, Harry Potter is concerned with the 'big'
> themes: the sexual orientation of the characters is neither here nor there,

i totally agree. i think the subjects of good/evil and all the grand
themes are far more interesting than speculating who's shagging whom,
and with what... wait, we haven't become *quite* that deranged yet.

> the reaction that this has caused within the group seems to be out of all
> proportion to the original remark. I am not sure that homosexuality is

yes. it started as a joke (i laughed), and somebody took it waaay too
Siriusly. most of us kept quiet, hoping that the moderators would take
action. as they have, kudos to them.

> 'sick', but I see know good reason why, even if it were, that homosexuality
> is not a proper subject for consideration within literature -- although I do
> suspect that the Harry Potter books are not a good medium for that
> particular theme. Do we really think that anything that we judge to be
> 'unwholesome' should not be discussed, as though it does not exist?

i think all themes should be discussed, but this is not the forum for
a debate about the moral issue of homosexuality. we're here to talk
Harry - and if anyone can find evidence for his being gay in the
books, i'd love to see it. if they can't, let's drop the subject,
shall we?

ciao
Tamf
who won't say whose side she thinks those who spread hate should be on
in the great wizarding war...