[HPforGrownups] Re: No more "Voldie" nickname?

[Silverthorne]

No: HPFGUIDX 98648

Sunday, May 16, 2004, 9:13:41 PM, vmonte wrote:

v> I don't think JKR is ordering her fans around. I think what she is
v> trying to say is that Voldemort is a disgusting human being and
v> should not be given a cute cuddly nickname. It would be like giving
v> Hitler a cute nickname.

Dave
Agreed.  I think Jo is a bit worried about fans starting to regard
Voldemort as "cool", the way many Star Wars fans feel about
Darth Vader, or the love letters Nigel Havers (to his shock and
dismay) received addressed to the vile scum he played in _The Charmer_
(a sort of Voldemort who's good in bed).

She doesn't want any flashy posters of Voldemort, or girls swooning
over his "virile power" or people dressing up as him for Halloween.
She wants us to *hate* him.  Really, really HATE him.

{Silverthorne}

Okay, I can see and agree with that.

I'll admit to being one of the ones 'put off' by the *appearant* tone she
used--although my take on that is that although I understand it's hard to
come across properly in printed mediums sometimes, perhaps someone should
have edited her words a bit and explained that some of her 'dry humor' might
actaully come across as a sort of arrogance instead...after all, fans all
over the world--many of whom, like myself, actaully do *not* hang on every
interview and article about her and her works, may not *know* her well
enough to understand that's exactly what it is.

I'm one of those people that learn about artists/writers/actors/muscians
seperate from their works, if I learn about them at all. It's not that I'm
not interested in the people, but that I prefer the works to stand on their
own without influence from what I might or might not know about the creator.
That probably seems odd--but if you take into account how much the general
public is allowed to crawl into 'celebrity' lives now (and then not only
flambe the creator, but their works, no matter how well done, *because* of
the creator), you might understand why I try to keep it seperate. I want to
be able to still enjoy the works without being offended because of *who* was
involved in creating them.

The site, of course, is more Rowling and her views, ideas, requests and so
forth than it is about the actual books. Not a bad thing at all...except
that some of her intentions are easily misread because of the way she voiced
them. 'This has got to stop' *does* look like an ultimatum--and for those of
us who haven't seen her humor in full force before had nothing to tell us
this was an amused, half joking plea.

Anyway...that's really my only point--as with those of us on this
board--Rowling might have wanted to reconsider how she responded in some of
the Q&A, showed a little more awareness that all she has is uniflected,
printed words (which, as a writer, she should be aware of anyway...^^;). Of
course, if the tone was exactly as it was meant to be, then yes, I find her
a bit off-putting.

Yes, it's her world, her characters, her ideas...but still...once she lets
other folks near it, it's gonna get changed around, misinterpreted, plot is
going to be guessed at, bitched at when it doesn't match what other folks
wanted to see, and rewritten a thousand times over by people who think they
can do better, opinons that she never thought of will be voiced and believed
in, and characters, whether she wills it or not, are going to end up with
nicknames that make her cringe. And really, the best thing you can do in
that situation is *laugh* about it....because someone, somewhere, will
*always* do something to 'your' babies that you never intended or wanted....

and as for the whole 'Voldie' thing--as I said before, I call him that
because he is evil, self absorbed, and does not deserve any more repsect
than it takes to make sure his wand and intentions are not pointed at me, so
to speak....I don't consider it 'cute'--I consider it dripping, scathing
contempt--and the only 'safe' and 'clean' way to express it.

Unless you would rather I refer to him as 'That stupid f***head, a**hole,
piece of s***, who isn't worthy of the title 'Human', let alone "wizard"!
C'mon, s***head, come and get me--let me see if I can't rearrange your face
for you!!!!! You total f***ing LOOSER!!!!!!!'

(takes deep breath, smooths down hair, primps self and goes back to sitting
like a lady.)

Ahem. And yes, I meant to do that! *grins*

Evening, all!

*hugs*
Anne