[HPforGrownups] Why do we get so het up about Harry Potter?

[SnapesSlytherin at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 71296

In a message dated 7/17/03 7:38:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time, sue at simiant.com 
writes:
> I really do feel that people are taking the books way too seriously 
> sometimes, (myself included) and forget that we originally read them 
> for fun. And when people get so easily offended, participating in 
> this discussion group stops being fun. 
> Recently I read a well though out and (I thought) fair post 
> criticising certain aspects of the HP books, and OoP in particular. 
> I never once felt that she was implying criticism of HP fans when 
> she was criticisng the books, though I think that some may have 
> taken her comments that way. It led me to wonder why people are so 
> quick to assume that because someone is criticising the HP books, 
> they are also criticising the many fans who love the books? I am one 
> of those people who finds much to criticise in the books, and yet 
> loves reading them to bits, and enjoy them immensely. I probably 
> enjoy them so much because I don't expect them to live up to high 
> literary standards, and therefore I don't feel it a slur on my 
> judgement when someone else also finds them lacking. I for one 
> though, am aware of feeling slightly self conscious at being a grown 
> up and yet loving to read children's books, and I definitely feel a 
> bit defensive/ feel like I need to justify myself.. in front of my 
> non HP reading friends. Does anyone else feel this way? I think that 
> this embarassment factor may be why a very few people get a bit 
> defensive when confronted with criticism of the books - AS Byatt's 
> recent opinions (which I thought really were unfair and cruel) 
> haven't helped this much, either, but I just wanted to say……please 
> don't tar all of us HP criticisers with the same brush - some of us 
> may find flaws in the books but still can appreciate the immense 
> skill and appeal of JKR's work. And really enjoy participating n 
> this discussion group.

First, what does "het up" mean?  Could someone mail me off-list?

Okay, to the *actual* post.  I know the feeling about getting all riled up.  
Any critiques of Snape make me go completely crazy (as I have shown on the BAY 
once or twice).  It's because we're all emotionally invested in certain 
characters - whether they be characters that we love or hate.  I get so crazy about 
Snape because I see myself in him and Snape in me (absolutely *no* sexual 
connotation there!!), and when I read people attacking Snape, it feels like a 
part of me is being attacked.  I don't feel the need to justify myself to my 
friends - which is probably because I've turned almost all of them into 
Pottermaniacs!  ^_^  I think we're all just a little bit crazy - which is a good thing, 
don't get me wrong!  I love being a little off.  Another thought on the HP 
characters...I think we, well at least *I*, either see them as people I want to 
be, people I am, or people I never want to be.  We have to attack the people we 
see in ourselves (and don't like) because we don't want to be like that.  
Hey...think this means Darrin's really like Snape?  Or Jenny from Ravenclaw is 
really like Hagrid?  *looks around at everyone who's staring at her like she's 
nuts* No...I didn't think so either.  Cause that would mean I'm like Hermione 
and that would just be weird!  ^_^

~*~*~Oryomai~*~*~


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