Are We Really This Old?

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 187831

> Memo from HPFGU Hexquarters
> Topic: Party on Main
> 
> To Our Esteemed List Members:
> 
> Some of you may have noticed the commotion happening here on the HPFGU Main List. Yes, it's highly unusual for the List Elves to promote wanton off-topic-ness here, but right now we're allowing it. In fact, we're going to ask you to please be off-topic until the end of the day Sunday.
<snip>

Carol responds:
We is *supposed* to betray our master's secrets, erm, we're supposed to discuss *ourselves* on this list? (Furtively checks the calendar to make sure it's not April 1.) Who are you and what have you done with the real List Elves?

Seriously, I'll take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity. It reminds me of a high school reunion with butterbeer.

Elves:
How long have you been a member of HPFGU?

Carol:
Since November 3, 2003. (Had to check the Members list to be sure.) In HP terms, about five and a half months after OoP came out in hardback. 

Elves:
How did you find us?

Carol:
I did a Google search for something along the lines of "Harry Potter for Grownups." Or maybe it was a Yahoo groups search. At any rate, I was specifically looking for fellow adult HP fans in an online discussion group. (I was also looking for a civil atmosphere.)

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

Carol:
Aside from the discovery of a group of literate adults eagerly discussing the HP books, sometimes from unusual perspectives, I was delighted to discover the existence of fellow Snape fans.

Elves:
What's been your favourite topic of discussion?

Carol:
Where Snape's loyalties lie, of course. Or Snape in general. :-)

Elves:
Favourite post of your own to the group?

Carol:

Probably my defense of Snape and analysis of his probable motives after HBP. I've lost my bookmarks for HNfGu posts, so I'm not sure that this is the one I had in mind, but it's close enough:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/149027

Favourite post of anyone else's to the group?

Carol:
As I said, I've lost the bookmarks for posts to this group, so I'll have to go back and look when I have more time. I always enjoy Pippin's posts even when I don't agree with them because of her unique perspective.

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

Carol:
"Can I interest you in a free set of annotated HP editions indicating all the Flints, inconsistencies, and unanswered questions in the series?" Seriously, I haven't actually annotated my books, but I wish I could tactfully let her know all the problems we've found in her nevertheless delightful books!

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

Carol:
I correspond fairly regularly with certain listees whom I like very much and consider to be my friends, but I've never met anyone from the group. I don't attend conventions these days and I live in darkest Tucson, far from civilization. Okay, I'm exaggerating, but I doubt that many of my list friends are planning to come here in the near future.

Carol, who had fun with these OT responses but had better get back to work