JK Rowling reveals Hogwarts secret

[Mallus]

For my part, she did it for the publicity/money

Out of curiosity, how did you arrive at this opinion?

1) Since when is outing one of the characters in a series of children's book book been the path to easy riches? It not like the series needed publicity, what with it being an international phenomenon at all...

And it's not like gay-themed entertainment is especially lucrative (I believe it's quite the opposite). Or if you think it is, could you please provide examples.

2) Rowling has more money than the Queen. Did you miss that part of the conversation? While that doesn't prove she isn't after even more filthy lucre, it should give one pause before ascribing a purely financial motive to her actions. Shifts the burden of proof a bit.

 

[Mark Chance]

Out of curiosity, how did you arrive at this opinion?

The same way you arrived at yours.

While that doesn't prove she isn't after even more filthy lucre, it should give one pause before ascribing a purely financial motive to her actions. Shifts the burden of proof a bit.

I didn't ascribe a "purely financial motive", now did I? And what burden of proof. I offered my opinion, not an opening argument for a court case. Right? Don't like my opinion? Fine. I'm already over the disappoint of failing to meet your approval.

 

[Harmon]

There's more of that shoddy logic. Who is this thread, other than you, has mentioned anything about hating homosexual persons?

Then its not an issue. Why is this a thread and why are we talking about it? So many people dislike people just because they are homosexual, and think that its bad for society that a person of influence in people's lives are homosexual.

Again, not sure why this is an issue, why is it important to note that a character in a book, a series that is ended, a character that personal relations never came into view until it was over, why is that important?

I just don't get it, I guess. No one has started a thread about Harry being heterosexual. Have they? Why should we have one about a character being homosexual? Makes no sense.

 

[Mallus]

The same way you arrived at yours.

Wait, pulled your opinion out of my *ss posterior? Nonsense, I would have noticed!

I didn't ascribe a "purely financial motive", now did I?

That's true, you also said she did it for the notoriety, which is equally ridiculous.

And what burden of proof. I offered my opinion, not an opening argument for a court case. Right?

I have no idea why I said 'burden of proof'. I blame that on my pre-coffee crankiness. Or perhaps stupidity.

Don't like my opinion?

I just think it's daft, and seeing how this is the Internet, I thought I'd share!

 

[Dire Bare]

She's not "soo good". She's mediocre at best. Likewise, she's not terribly innovative, but then few writers actually are. The idea of a "magic school" is hardly new. I've got a high threshold for boring writing, but Rowling literally puts me to sleep. The movies are just as bad. Harry Potter is mostly hype, marketing, and making a buck off that age-old tendency of teenagers to be conformists.

A decade after the last book and/or movie, few will be reading Harry Potter anymore. What appeared to be "instant classics" that "redefined a genre" will go the way of Clive Barker and other pop fiction pan-flashes.

Ah, that explains why so many of my close friends love these books.

Marketing.

I mean, how could otherwise rational adults form positive opinions on literature they've read, without marketing? It can't be because they actually enjoyed the books, nah, it's all marketing. All those kids who love the books too, just slaves to marketing.

I'm a pretty mediocre writer myself, looks like instead of improving my craft I should just get some good marketers, and I'll be as rich and famous as JK Rowling!

And Clive Barker! Now there's someone I've read more than a few books of. I'm glad to know I really didn't enjoy them for what they were, but that I was merely hooked by the marketing.

Next you're going to tell me Stephen King can't write, and my enjoyment of his stories are simply due to yet more marketing.

Okay.

 

[DonTadow]

Ah, that explains why so many of my close friends love these books.

Marketing.

I mean, how could otherwise rational adults form positive opinions on literature they've read, without marketing? It can't be because they actually enjoyed the books, nah, it's all marketing. All those kids who love the books too, just slaves to marketing.

I'm a pretty mediocre writer myself, looks like instead of improving my craft I should just get some good marketers, and I'll be as rich and famous as JK Rowling!

And Clive Barker! Now there's someone I've read more than a few books of. I'm glad to know I really didn't enjoy them for what they were, but that I was merely hooked by the marketing.

Next you're going to tell me Stephen King can't write, and my enjoyment of his stories are simply due to yet more marketing.

Okay.

Hairy Potter is not even the best books in its genre out now let alone the rest of the market. It has yet to win any major awards because the story's have never really been comparative with good fantasy fiction.

You and your friends like reading the books because marketing did a good job of getting them to you in the first place. Now you're a slave of the story. I"ve yet to talk to a person whom reads fantasy fiction on a regular that enjoys the hairy potter story over them. If its all you know of course you're going to think its gravy.

 

[Dire Bare]

This all points to evidence of Rowlings the thief hack writer. If you wantedthisto be a "bombshell" yet none of your fans even saw a hint that it existed then you are a poor writer or you've proved your critics right that your books are mostly publicity and this is a deseprate attempt at it.

Riiiigghhhhht . . .

It's so clear that JK Rowling didn't write her own books. They are so mediocre, someone else must have done it. The logic astounds.

It's just like Shakespeare! That hack couldn't write his way out of a wet paper sack, let alone all those plays and sonnets . . . . (if you're not in the know, people like to throw these same sort of accusations at The Bard as well, have for centuries, no proof . . .)

I don't think DonTadow or others who believe the Potter books are ghost-written are jealous as another poster implied. I think they just like to jump on the old bandwagon of, "Hey, that guy/gal is on top of the world! Let's mean-spiritedly take him/her down a notch or two! Proof? We don't need no stinking proof!"

 

[Dire Bare]

Hairy Potter is not even the best books in its genre out now let alone the rest of the market. It has yet to win any major awards because the story's have never really been comparative with good fantasy fiction.

You and your friends like reading the books because marketing did a good job of getting them to you in the first place. Now you're a slave of the story. I"ve yet to talk to a person whom reads fantasy fiction on a regular that enjoys the hairy potter story over them. If its all you know of course you're going to think its gravy.

Ah, you've further explained things for me.

It's the marketing and the fact we've read nothing but Harry Potter that makes us love the books so.

But, wait . . . you don't know anything about me or my friends . . . or the fact we are a fairly literate bunch both inside and outside the fantasy genre. But I probably liked all those other fantasy books I've been reading since childhood due to marketing or perhaps the influence of some other sinister force . . . I mean, I just can't read something and come to an honest conclusion that I liked the story . . . that would be, wierd . . .

 

[Mark Chance]

No one has started a thread about Harry being heterosexual. Have they? Why should we have one about a character being homosexual? Makes no sense.

If you want a thread about Harry's sexuality, go start one. As to the purpose of this thread, it did give you an opportunity to insult a whole host of people by dismissing them as nothing more than a bunch of bigoted haters. That's a thing, if not a good thing.

Wait, pulled your opinion out of my *ss posterior? Nonsense, I would have noticed!

Nonsense. I have a great many ranks in Sleight of Hand. But it's nice that you noted your opinion's relative worth.

I have no idea why I said 'burden of proof'. I blame that on my pre-coffee crankiness. Or perhaps stupidity.

I think it was Napoleon who quipped, "Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity."

Ah, that explains why so many of my close friends love these books.

Marketing.

Glad I could help clear things up for you. Now that you know the truth, you can work on being more discriminating in the future.

Next you're going to tell me Stephen King can't write....

You're psychic? Impressive. Please tell me when I'm going to comment about Stephen King's talents as a writer. To really impress me, go ahead and quote me word for word.

 

[Eridanis]

Please cool off the sniping at other posters in this thread, or it will be closed.