Less than 1000 posts in a month - why now?

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 180158

> >>Hagrid:
> > Since this started, there have almost never been less than 1000   
> > posts in a month. So what happened since late Oct or early Nov to 
> > stop so many posts?

Betsy Hp:
I think part of the problem is there's no "there" there, to grab a 
quote.  There's no deep message to ponder and discuss.  So, unlike 
finished series before it, digging into the minutia of Potter-verse 
becomes an exercise in frustration.  (I'm thinking in comparison to 
Tolkien's Ring series, Holmes' adventures, and also Dunnett's 
series.  All books that are finished, but all books that have 
discussion groups that are going strong and have been going strong 
for many years in different forums.)

But I think another problem is the complete lack of clarity.  As an 
example, we can't even, as a group, determine if Slytherin house was 
redeemed or condemned.  Which leads to what Geoff said (still echoing 
through the list <g>):

> >>Geoff:
> <snip>
> Because many of the threads just don't grab me and, in several     
> cases, they go round and round with same arguments being propounded 
> by the same members who never seem to move their position and who   
> seem to believe that if they say the same thing often enough,      
> everyone else will accept their view....
> <snip of echoes -- can echoes be snipped?>

Betsy Hp:
I absolutely agree with this.  And while I can be stubborn like mule 
and keep repeating a point I believe ad nauseam, even *I* get a bit 
tired of it. <bg>

But because JKR left us with no foundation to build from, we're stuck 
wading about in the mud, unable to even agree to a basic premise.  
Which means, nothing of interest can be built and eventually the 
builders fade away.  In comparison, everyone knows what happened with 
Gollum in Tolkien's tale.  There's no reading between the lines or 
guessing at tortured sentece structure.  So discussions move past 
*what* Gollum did and dig into the *whys*.  Which, IMO, is where the 
interesting stuff is found.

> >>Hagrid:
> > <snip>
> > >From your own experience, was any of the suprising or shocking 
> > interviews turn you off JKR's writing?
> > <snip>

Betsy Hp:
For myself, JKR's writing turned me off her writing. <g>  The 
interviews are just mad fun.  It's like a popcorn feature: what will 
JKR say next?!?  :-D

Betsy Hp