[SPAM] Re: [SPAM] [the_old_crowd] More random jottings - on a theme

[Amanda Geist]

I don't care to give you more fodder so you can provide yet *more*
flourished posts onlist, so I will make a few points and leave you to your
shredding.

 

> The posting figures for this site aren't a good guide to fan enthusiasm,
> the membership is small and most also post elsewhere anyway. Even so,
> compare with the first week after HBP. Then -750; now it'll be about 250.
> So try TOL: then about 2,000 in 4 days; now about 1,000 - and that with
> an increase in membership.

So, is that what you're doing? Trying single-handedly to keep the posting
figures up?

> So tell me, just what do you think adolescence is?
> What are the trials, tribulations, concerns, lessons, uncertainties and 
> misunderstandings of adolescence? No, they shouldn't take centre stage, 
> but one would expect at least some realistic reference to the feelings and
> problems that many in the main readship target group are probably 
> struggling with on a daily basis.

Well, for one thing, they were seventeen, and that's a bit post-adolescent
in my book. For another, I didn't go through any of these huge hormonal
struggles, nor did any of my friends. I believe the huge emphasis on
"discovering sex" and all that is largely cultural. I had zits. I worked
through what it meant to start reacting and interacting in a mature way,
with some objectivity, rather than in a childish way, which is largely
subjective. On the basis of my experience, the books have rung true,
including the proportion given to thinking about the other gender.

> Tolkien?
> It wasn't set in this world, no characters were growing into adulthood,
and
> he didn't like women much anyway. 

Quite a glib dismissal. I will interpret your refusal to engage my point as
my having a point you didn't think you could meet.

> Meantime I'll salvage what minor pleasures I can from the wreckage.

Which seems to be the heroic effort to "save" this list by keeping up the
list volume. If it was that much a disappointment, go burn your books and
join a Pullman list. I, for one, would enjoy seeing some discussion that
included positives as well as negatives, and I believe your volume and tone
are damping down others who would otherwise be posting. Who wants to post a
differing interpretation than yours, when it simply guarantees that their
words will be sliced and diced, thrown back at them with sarcasm and sly
comments, and their depth of thought and ability to analyze could be called
into question? You don't let a post pass, and you don't allow the validity
of alternate interpretation without passive-aggressive overtones. YOU are
the reason I'm not engaging in much discussion on this list, and I don't
doubt it's true of a few others.

~Amandageist



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