SHIP: Ships, etc.

[bbennett at joymail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 13934

Wow. I get busy with work and all sorts of things go on here. I read 
through the SHIP posts and started to respond individually, but I 
figured I'd be backtracking, so I thought I'd combine a bunch
of thoughts into 1 post. I apologize if I'm being obvious –
I've been grafted to my office chair for three days now and have 
possibly lost all common sense. Here goes:

1. Someone stated that R/Hrs think H/Hr's theories are bunk. Not 
true. I understand the arguments, I just don't agree with them
<g>. This doesn't mean I think the people making the arguments
are uneducated, unintelligent, or that I don't respect their
opinions.

2. Character interpretations are based on personal experience.  I 
interpret from the post-Yule Ball argument that Hermione likes Ron 
because at 14 (or now at 30) I would not have said something like 
that to a boy unless I meant it literally. Other HP4GUs have agreed, 
and I think this is a valid argument. On the other hand, some members 
have stated that they interpret this as something said in anger, they 
can relate, and that it should not be taken so literally. This is 
also a valid argument. Does this make the first theory therefore 
irrational? Nope. Character interpretation isn't a black and
white issue, and just because you don't agree with an
interpretation of subtext doesn't mean it's nonexistent or
illogical.

3. This is a group of intelligent, interesting people, and I visit 
here because I enjoy the posts. To emphasize a point, however, I've 
seen posters deliberately misquote or not-so-subtly suggest 
other posters lack intelligence because they overlook
"obvious" material. This makes the original poster feel angry
and foolish and the responding poster look like they can't defend
their theories without resorting to nastiness. Re-read before you hit 
send.

4. Could everyone watch the "lumping all opinions into one
ship" thing?  Just because one person posts an opinion
doesn't mean every other shipper has the same opinion. In
anything I  post relationship-related, I try to make sure my point is 
well thought out and reasonable; it makes me grit my teeth to 
see "All R/Hrs think Hermione and Ron should get together just 
because they think it's unfair for the hero to get the girl and
for no othe reason" type posts. I'm sure some H/Hrs feel the
same way about some of the generalizations thrown out in argument 
against their ship. 

5. Moey, I totally agree with you on the bathroom tile thing on the 
Good Ship R/H. Captain Kathy, I'm sorry, but the stencil thing
isn't going to work. We went with you on the Fred/George
mural in the dining hall; you're just going to have to give on this. 
 
6. Cassie, I'll up the offer to make DS R/H to $75. I think your
Ron is the bee's knees.

7. Read my stories (thought I'd slip that one in there <g>).
They're R/H in nature, but as I said earlier, I respect and enjoy
the opinions of the list members, and I'd love to have your
thoughts to help improve my writing. If you have trouble stomaching 
R/H – well, they're really short!

That's it – my 2 cents. I'll stop now. I'm going to go
join my fellow SugarQuiller's for dinner on the Good Ship R/H
<g>. 

B