Are We Really This Old?

[flawed_merit]

No: HPFGUIDX 187823

This is my very first post, ever, in HPFGU, and I'm amazed that it's actually ten years old! I am charmed at its longevity--bewitched, spellbound even. (Okay, I'll stop.) But happy birthday! Here's to another ten!

> How long have you been a member of HPFGU?

Hsieh:

I honestly haven't been here that long. Less than a year, definitely--which in the scheme of things is little more than a blip. But reading all these great posts--that is to say, lurking indefinitely--makes me wish I were here when at least some of the books were still unreleased. Oh, the squandered suspense! It's lost on me, now.

> How did you find us?

Hsieh:

I was looking for a place to discuss Harry Potter in a mature fashion, i.e. none of the "Voldemort is cooler than Harry because he is evil and stuff" schlock one finds everywhere, and I stumbled upon HPFGU! Well, actually, I had a question of my own I wanted to discuss before, but it's been answered since then. Sort of. Maybe I'll bring up a topic later.

> What was your best and/or most unexpected experience here?

Hsieh:

It'd definitely have to be realizing that people actually discuss Harry Potter in the aforementioned mature fashion--that people write paragraph after paragraph about what the general populace deems a children's book series. After I read some of the posts when I got here for the first time, I became both extremely happy and extremely scared--because though I had definitely wanted to contribute before, I suddenly realized that I'd have to step up my game quite a bit as to not look like a complete nut.

> What's been your favourite topic of discussion?
> Favourite post of your own to the group?

Hsieh:

Again, I haven't actually participated in discussion yet (I'm--it's just very frightening), but I've enjoyed everything having to do with the rough facets of ol' Dumbledore that everyone -else- has discussed, haha.

> Favourite post of anyone else's to the group?

Hsieh:

I've really been just going along for the ride so far--I'm still absolutely new, after all. :( But I'm sure I'll find a favorite soon.

> If you were given the chance, what would you ask JKR?

Hsieh:

I was going to say I'd ask her to wrap up all her plot holes, but then what would there be left to discuss?

> Have any of your online friendships here gone on to real life
> meetings/friendships?

Hsieh:

Hard to make friends when I haven't said anything (hey, this post changes that!) but maybe I'll contribute soon and maybe even make some friends. Hey, we'll see!

Despite my definite lurker status, I find HPFGU absolutely enthralling and love reading everything everyone has to say. I'm so glad I've managed to find this group, even this late in its age! Happy birthday again, and congrats, HPFGU.