Yesterday on the updates Vid Dude said something about being knee deep in Harry Potter. Just curious what that's all about. Is Harry Potter an actor athlete or someone running for government, getting too much exposure right now? Or is that an expression not a real person, like 'We're in Barney'? It sounds like it could be dirty. It can't be a tropical storm since those only have first names. I donno, I'm out of guesses.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Who or what is Harry Potter?
Collapse
X
-
Harry Potter is the AW staff magician; he conjures up heaps of nubile girls at Abby's doorstep. Does a damn fine job, I might add.
I am resistant to the other Harry Potter phenomenon, largely because I don't have kids. Have read or seen none of the books or movies. I guess I'm a snob--when something gets this much hype (midnight bookstore openings and all that) I have to wonder how good it really is. Call it the Waterworld effect.
-
It appears Artlover, Philos, and I are the HP holdouts so far. I tried to read the first book and gave up after 20 pages. To each his own... Did anyone else hear about the shop that accidentally sold a copy too soon, which resulted in a judge ordering the poor kid not to discuss or even read the book before the official release? It's just a fantasy book, your honor!
HMLast edited by Havemercy; 17 July 2005, 06:47 PM. Reason: The final sentence is purely my opinion and should in no way be construed to represent what may or may not be the opinion of AbbyWinters.com, its management, employees, or agents.
Comment
-
Originally posted by artloverI am resistant to the other Harry Potter phenomenon, largely because I don't have kids.
J.K.Rowling may turn out to have a lot to answer for.
Comment
-
Originally posted by PhilosIf you did have kids, would you expose them to the possibility of becoming witchcraft devotees?
Most kids think they can do magic and that witches exist anyway. I know I did and it never did me any harm. *She says with her right eye twitching violently*Last edited by evangeline; 17 July 2005, 08:22 PM. Reason: Inappropriate (for this website anyway) opinions
Comment
-
Originally posted by evangelineMost kids think they can do magic and that witches exist anyway. I know I did and it never did me any harm. *She says with her right eye twitching violently*
But have you ever had to turn anyone into a newt? If so did they get better?
Comment
-
Originally posted by evangelineAnd most films and TV nowadays expose them to the possiblity of becoming violent and sexually perverted murderers.
Most kids think they can do magic and that witches exist anyway.
IMHO
Comment
-
I was terrified of witches as a child. I had in my head that if I was completely covered by my doona, I would be safe. I'd stay under it for hours, not wanting to move. Almost suffocated a few times. Ah, those were the days.... What really got to me though, was the 'Gremlins' movie. It took me years to get over the idea that were hiding under my bed and in various places in the bathroom. Havent seen it since, though ppl tell me it's actually funny, not so much scary.
I like Harry Potter though.
Comment
-
how could you not laugh at a bunch of gremlins watching snow white and singing "hi ho hi ho, its off to work we go".....
one of the funniest moments in cinema history.
gremlins 2 is highly underrated too!
oh....and harry potter is highly overrated .....
flame on
Comment
-
Originally posted by Milliei dont know... I was pretty young, and had an EXTREMELY over active imagination. I was scared of everything. Still cant watch horror flicks. If someone even tells me the plotline, I freak out.
Artlover: There's a widespread protest movement in the UK that believes cell-phone base stations (not the phones themselves, note) are frying their kids' brains.
Comment
-
Originally posted by PhilosMy objection to Harry Potter is that it makes superstition and magic appear respectable in children's eyes. Of the millions who read it, a few may take their interest further and be harmed.
I am living proof.
Comment
-
Even if this is the case, surely a book shouldnt be banned because a few ppl out of millions might get harmed. We'd have to ban just about everything, if that was case. And if parents are worried, then they should talk to their kids about their concerns, not just censor topics they find worrying. The real problems start when children/young adults are allowed to read/see what they like, without anyone discussing it with them. I think communication is the key.
I believed in all sorts of things as a kid - fairies, witches, wizards - and it hasn't done me any harm.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Vid DudeThere are a lot of people who have this same opinion, usually those of a religious persuasion
And Millie - I don't think I said ban it. At least I didn't mean to. It's not the specific books I object to: it's the increasing influence of superstitious ideas.
it hasn't done me any harm.Last edited by Philos; 18 July 2005, 08:40 AM.
Comment
-
Vid Dude: - I agree with you totally, have read all four previous books and have found them throughly enjoyable, and am looking forward to reding the next one once my wife has finished with it. Do not see anything wrong with letting my kid read it (Once she is old enough, however at the moment if the book/cartoon/movie has not got Barney in it she is not interested.) However, what do you think of the movies compared to the books? My preference is in the books?
Millie: - Totall agree with you on the communication thing, i believe if you tell your kids why you do not want them wtaching this or that cartoon/movie/book, will make them understand a lot better
Philos: - I can see your thoughts on various issues and how kids can try out things in the "real world". You read so many storiesnow days of kids carrying out various crimes/acts after wtaching certain types of movies or playing video/computer games. However, as I stated earlier I believe the parents have a lot to do with how their kids grow up and what sort of control they have over their kids lives. I might be opening a can of worms here, but that is how i believe. My parents brought me up quite strictly, and hopefully I have turned out alright, I might not of agreed with some of things that they did not allow me to do/see but at the end of the day, I will do exactly the same things as they did with my child
Comment
-
Originally posted by zimbabweHowever, what do you think of the movies compared to the books? My preference is in the books?
So in that light, I like the movies and think they're excellent adaptations, but they don't have a high rewatchablitiy factor for me. I'm looking forward to the Goblet of Fire movie at the end of the year, as that's my favourite book (though the new one, Half-Blood Prince, may supercede that, as I am really enjoying it), and from what I've heard about it, it's an excellent piece of entertainment and a worthy followup to the last one.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Vid DudeSo in that light, I like the movies and think they're excellent adaptations, but they don't have a high rewatchablitiy factor for me. I'm looking forward to the Goblet of Fire movie at the end of the year, as that's my favourite book (though the new one, Half-Blood Prince, may supercede that, as I am really enjoying it), and from what I've heard about it, it's an excellent piece of entertainment and a worthy followup to the last one.
Comment
-
The Pixar films do, because they're great!
The Back to the Future films do, because they're great!
The Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings films do, because they're great!
And I also watch repeatedly a few kids' films, a couple of romance films, and some comedy films, mostly for intangible reasons.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Vid DudeThe Pixar films do, because they're great!
The Back to the Future films do, because they're great!
The Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings films do, because they're great!
I also am a big fan of everything animated from Disney (the hand made stuff) and own everything that has been released on DVD here in Europe.
Lxm
P.S. Did you know that the boss of Pixar is also the boss of Apple Computer?
Comment
-
While I would not want anyone to grow up fearful of everything, I see no harm in children believing in witches, Santa Claus, fairies, etc. Believing in such things, after all, requires the use of the imagination, which is one quality that children have in abundance and adults often lack. Most children realize the difference between fantasy and reality. I believed that UFOs were evidence of extraterrestrial visitations well into my teens. (I slowly realized that if the UFOnauts did not make themselves known in an empirically verifiable way, they were either too stupid to live or--more likely--wanted nothing to do with dangerous humans.) I turned out all right, too... which, yes, is an opinion, but a pretty well-founded one.
(The presence of overly credulous adults, however, is a real problem, that I think has to do more with a dangerous lack of critical thinking, an ability not encouraged by politicians, advertisers, or, very sadly, many teachers. Not having the capacity to critically examine a particular ideology can have disastrous results. It can lead some people to discard their sense of right and wrong, with devasting results, as Britons can attest).
Millie, I am also squeamish about horror movies, especially the modern ones. My strategy: If I am watching a movie and something bad is gonna happen, I take off my glasses or lower my eyes. These days, tho, the soundtracks are pretty dire, too.
I watched avidly The Wizard of Oz every year. Lurved the flying monkeys!
Comment
-
Originally posted by artloverI see no harm in children believing in witches, Santa Claus, fairies, etc. ... The presence of overly credulous adults, however, is a real problem...
Believing ... requires the use of the imagination...
Comment
-
Warning: Has nothing to do with Harry Potter
You don't see any connection between the two?
I think some sound research is needed to investigate a connection between children's superstitions and adult credulity. The more I consider it, the more interesting a question it is. Most children at a certain age can readily distinguish fantasy from reality, and enjoy both. Some sort of critical thinking capacity is necessary to make that distinction. What happens to that capacity as children become adults is a very interesting question.
I think you would enjoy a hard-to-find-but readable book, When Prophecy Fails, by Leon Festinger et al. He and his research team infiltrated a flying saucer cult in the 50s and watched what happened when Judgment Day failed to arrive. Most interesting.
Do you have to be a student to chat in forums to avoid work? I think not!
And what fine teachers we have!
Comment
Comment