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abecedarian
Well-Known Member
HP a bad influence? Definately! The worst. I can't speak for other families, but at my house HP has caused nothing but trouble. Let's see, we have a whole houseful of highly opinionated strategists, who can argue til doomsday what they think will happen next. We also have ongoing debates about which book or film is best..each discussion lasting hours at times. We also have a houseful of diehard Anglophiles who vie to do the best British accents..usually at the same time, and very loudly. They also have discovered a love of British drama in general, and have researched various HP actor's careers and can tell anyone who doesn't know to run, ALL about this stuff. And once in awhile, I hear shouts of "Ripthesofa!" or something like that..good thing this is just pretend or my sofa would be toast. So, has HP brought peace and tranquility to my house? Not exactly..but it has brought hours of wonderful discussions that I believe would have been lost had we not read the books and watched the films as a family, and given us wonderful fodder to learn literary analysis and film critique. So while HP might have caused a little upheaval around here, I'm glad for the experience.
jcsoblonde
kickbox
Well, I know I'm in the minority, and may be stalked for years to come by Harry-diehards, but really, though there is some VAGUE sense of good versus evil, its way too mixed. Harry: lies, cheats, disobeys, is disrespectful, among many other things, and then, get rewarded for it. Only teaching that the end justified the means, which in turn teaches kids that it doesn't matter what they do, if its for a good cause, and everything has the happy ending, they won't get in trouble. He is not a good role model. And yes, for all the Harry defenders, I DID read 3 of the books. So there
. But I think kids should be taught what is in them, why the books are wrong, etc. I mean, its pointless telling them "Thats bad so don't read it." Among other things, (many will disagree and I really don't care) Harry Potter DOES promote witchcraft. *oooooo*they all say. Yes, witchcraft is real, and yes, there has been a big increase in it since Harry Potter. JKR herself said that AT LEAST 30% of her books are based on true witchcraft experience, spells, witches, etc. And for everyone saying that they don't really care what their kids read, and etc. Well, parents are supposed to guide their kids, and though I'm still a teen, and not a parent, I do know that much. Books are very powerful. Oh, and here is a link-
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56392
I really could go on, but as I've talked about this a lot before I'll stop
. But I think kids should be taught what is in them, why the books are wrong, etc. I mean, its pointless telling them "Thats bad so don't read it." Among other things, (many will disagree and I really don't care) Harry Potter DOES promote witchcraft. *oooooo*they all say. Yes, witchcraft is real, and yes, there has been a big increase in it since Harry Potter. JKR herself said that AT LEAST 30% of her books are based on true witchcraft experience, spells, witches, etc. And for everyone saying that they don't really care what their kids read, and etc. Well, parents are supposed to guide their kids, and though I'm still a teen, and not a parent, I do know that much. Books are very powerful. Oh, and here is a link-http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56392
I really could go on, but as I've talked about this a lot before I'll stop
WoundedThorns
New Member
i thought the ending was almost religious - good morals and self-sarifice prevailed!
plus one can argue that there is a parallel between Harry Potter and Jesus Christ
thats right, i went there
plus one can argue that there is a parallel between Harry Potter and Jesus Christ
thats right, i went there
smiley....
I read all 7 pages and nobody was able to present a semi-convincing argument supporting the bad influence of the Harry Potter books and that includes the folks playing devil's advocate.
SevenWritez
New Member
I laughed my head off reading this. How long has this thread been around? And why haven't I noticed it before?
To people who condemn HP for being harmful to children, two things:
One--You're stupid.
Two--If your child is affected by this book, then your child is stupid.
Sad, but true. No other way around it. I was in Third Grade when I first read Harry Potter, and I had no sudden impulse to go out and jump off a cliff with a broomstick tucked beneath my crotch. Why? Because my parents raised me better than that, to distinguish what was real from what was purely entertainment. Now, as for manners, they tried, but I was too outspoken, such a shame.
If parents are concerned for their OWN children being honestly "harmed," by these books, then they fail as parents. As for people who don't have children of their own but are still concerned, I say we get some groups out there to smack these folks around. They're obviously pedophiles.
I rest my case.
To people who condemn HP for being harmful to children, two things:
One--You're stupid.
Two--If your child is affected by this book, then your child is stupid.
Sad, but true. No other way around it. I was in Third Grade when I first read Harry Potter, and I had no sudden impulse to go out and jump off a cliff with a broomstick tucked beneath my crotch. Why? Because my parents raised me better than that, to distinguish what was real from what was purely entertainment. Now, as for manners, they tried, but I was too outspoken, such a shame.
If parents are concerned for their OWN children being honestly "harmed," by these books, then they fail as parents. As for people who don't have children of their own but are still concerned, I say we get some groups out there to smack these folks around. They're obviously pedophiles.
I rest my case.
stephiebaby
kickbox
LOL! I agree.
mehastings
Active Member
I find it hard to believe that Harry Potter has caused an actual increase in people practicing witchcraft. Perhaps it has created a larger group of wanna-bes or encouraged lapsed members, but I doubt there are many people out there who have made true commitments to a complicated religious practice as a result of the Harry Potter books.
As far as JKR's claim that a third of her writing is based on "true witchcraft experience", I have to laugh. Clearly, her experiences are rather lacking. There is nothing in these books that touches on goddess worship, ritual building, nature, spell making (I'm sorry, but pointing a wand and shrieking a single word is not a spell), sacred objects, the cycle of life and seasonal celebrations. The kids in the Harry Potter books have more in common with Tilly Witch than with a modern practicing witch. Witchcraft is a valid religion, and if my daughter someday chooses to follow it, I would gladly support her. Yet, I suspect it won't come for another eighteen years or so, long after she has outgrown Harry Potter.
Well said.
So JKR claimed that 30% of her work is based on 'real occult experience'? Really? Where, when? Facts please, not the ramblings of someone who has an agenda about the evils of witchcraft to spout about and is probably no more immune to the temptation to slant, or even make up, facts than any other journalist or person who has an agenda to spout about...
Also which 30% of Harry Potter is based on true occult experiences? Dragon, unicorns, house elves (I could do with the services of one right now), giants, invisibility cloaks, photographs with moving figures, Platform 9 3/4? Oh sorry, King's Cross Station does exist but it wasn't very occult last time I was there.
Also which 30% of Harry Potter is based on true occult experiences? Dragon, unicorns, house elves (I could do with the services of one right now), giants, invisibility cloaks, photographs with moving figures, Platform 9 3/4? Oh sorry, King's Cross Station does exist but it wasn't very occult last time I was there.
BeerWench13
Active Member
I do try not to be offensive, but did it every occur to any of you who believe this that JKR is a writer and her JOB is to sell her books. Let me repeat that: her job is to sell her books. For those that ARE intersted in the occult, this is pure marketing genius, as it will attract them to purchase the book. For those that are religious fanatics, this is controversial and they turn it into forbidden fruit. Who doesn't like to be a little rebellious, especially as a kid?
There is no such thing as bad publicity. What a smart woman! If she did indeed make that statement, I applaud her brilliance even more than I applaud her imagination for thinking up Harry Potter in the first place.
venusunfolding
New Member
from the article linked...
"Wohlberg's new book "Exposing Harry Potter and Witchcraft: The Menace Beneath the Magic," asserts that "Harry Potter" purchases are often accompanied at the sales counter with materials on Wicca. "
I wonder where they got that info. I've been working in a bookstore for 4 years, and worked 2 Harry Potter release parties and I've never seen someone come up to the counter and plop down a HP Book and a bunch of stuff on witchcraft.
And, if Rowling really was teaching kids real spells, don't you think we'd hear a hell of a lot about it? I mean if 6.9 million people bought HP6 in the first 24 hours alone, you'd think the news would be full of kids killing each other after trying some HP spells.
"Wohlberg's new book "Exposing Harry Potter and Witchcraft: The Menace Beneath the Magic," asserts that "Harry Potter" purchases are often accompanied at the sales counter with materials on Wicca. "
I wonder where they got that info. I've been working in a bookstore for 4 years, and worked 2 Harry Potter release parties and I've never seen someone come up to the counter and plop down a HP Book and a bunch of stuff on witchcraft.
And, if Rowling really was teaching kids real spells, don't you think we'd hear a hell of a lot about it? I mean if 6.9 million people bought HP6 in the first 24 hours alone, you'd think the news would be full of kids killing each other after trying some HP spells.
beer good
Well-Known Member
That article really is a hoot and a half.
Also, note how the entire article is an ad for the DVD being sold by the site publishing the article.
Evolution is an occult factor?
The. Vatican's. Top. Exorcist. Now there's a guy with a level-headed opinion when it comes to the occult.
They're not evil, blood-drinking monsters. They're the devil himself, but they're not evil, blood-drinking monsters.
Also, note how the entire article is an ad for the DVD being sold by the site publishing the article.
abecedarian
Well-Known Member
No kidding! My kids have read all the books; in fact, we have duplicate copies all over the house. No matter what they do, if they want to levitate, they have to use the trampoline in the back yard.
abecedarian
Well-Known Member
That's different though. Her store is designed to appeal to a specific crowd. As a merchant, she'd be foolish not to cash in on the HP craze. I'm willing to bet savvy customers are perfectly aware that HP is not going to teach them even one usable spell.
abecedarian
Well-Known Member
Whaaaaat? Now you've burst my bubble!
It's a tough job....Boy was that fun..who's next?
Uh oh, I just had a bad thought...this IS the thread about the BAD influence of HP, right? Ooops!
BeerWench13
Active Member
I'm sooooo disappointed! I was really hoping to use the Imperius curse on my boss to get him to give me a big, fat raise. Bummer.abecedarian said: