[HPforGrownups] Re: What's the factual/fictional divide got to do with it? It's ego.

[Eileen]

No: HPFGUIDX 50528

 --- "dicentra63 <dicentra at xmission.com>"
<dicentra at xmission.com> wrote: > --- In 
> Maybe it's just me, but sometimes when I hear
> polemic against a
> character I like, I don't become defensive because I
> see the character
> as "real."  I get defensive because I feel that my
> skill as a reader
> is being challenged.  I react as if the writer of
> the polemic were
> saying, "Check me out, I figured out the hidden
> truth while you fell
> into the snare."  Or worse: "If you were
> sensitive/smart/perceptive
> enough, you'd have seen CharacterX for what s/he
> really is."

Hear! Hear! Though it can feel worse. 

"If you were moral enough, you'd have seen  CharacterX
for what s/he really is."

> I'll have to admit, Elk, that the twins thing got to
> me that way.  My
> reaction to your "the twins are bullies" posts was
> to think that if
> *I* didn't see them as bullies, I must be "aiding
> and abetting" them
> in some way.  That I'm one of those kids who stands
> by and watches
> bullies beat up on other kids and cheers for the
> bullies.  That I'm
> snickering up my sleeve like Crabbe and Goyle.  

I felt very similar when Elkins first launched an
attack on Moody. 

You see, if Moody did have "rogue cop characteristics"
and I hadn't seen them, what did that say about me?
Did it say that I was one of those people who didn't
care about our liberties very much? 

You see, I care very much about our liberties, but I
have to admit that you wouldn't automatically conclude
that if you knew my family's political background. So,
if you want to needle me, that's a good place to
start.

But I kept my mouth shut, and Elkins only found out
months and months later, during the Twins discussion,
that I had taken offense at first. Which was a good
thing, since I pulled my wits together and realized
that it was silly to take offense.  

Another reason for taking offense is good
old-fashioned reader identification - You can get me
riled up every time by going after Ron for his
jealousy. Not going after Ron in general. I do that
myself. No, implying that his jealousy of Harry is a
big problem. When you do that, I feel that my
schoolkid self is being accused of terrible things.

Eileen

______________________________________________________________________ 
Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca