(no subject)

Have read the first two books of the first trilogy of The Forsyte Saga in the last day. Is pretty good. Am trying to get back into the way of reading lots like I did when I was small. By reading literature we educate ourselves and by educating ourselves we lift ourselves up above the state of nature. Or some such bollocks.

Am now going home this Saturday, which means I'll be cream-crackered by the time it gets to the Triumvirate dance thing and the PP GoF chat. But don't think this will deter me- I will be there. I decided I wasn't going to stay another week when I could do nothing at home. However, will get The Mother doing the 'what are you going to do with your life' speech. I intend to stay at home until after the 21st. Amazon are delivering my book, but I am wondering if I should cancel and get it on the day from one of the places in town. Might see how much it's gonna cost from Maher's or Smiffs (that's WH Smith for you posh sorts). I can't stand the thought of it not arriving on Saturday because then I'd have to wait until Monday or even Tuesday. I know I could survive it, I'd just rather not survive it. Having said that, I haven't put my name down on any lists at shops in town so I might end up waiting anyway or something. I don't know! It's just under nine days to go now.

And because I just read it from a link off TLC... HARRY POTTER FANS AREN'T EVIL! Some of us might be wiccan or occultists, but so what and since when does that make all of us the same? Looking round this fandom I see diversity above all. I know, posting as I do in a journal read pretty much just by HP fans that I'm preaching to the choir, but I have to say this: I am not an occultist. I am not a witch. Me reading HP does not make me want to be either. Do I think said groups are evil? No. Maybe some are, but no more than your average accountant or lawyer, surely? Do I think that people who read HP are 'likely' to become witches? Man, it's ONLY A FUCKING BOOK, as the saying goes. It's fiction, and as much as I love it, as much as I enjoy being a part of its fandom, it is 'only' a book. Harry is not real. Draco is not real, whether he's got his fandom leather trews on or not. Rabble-rousers bringing attention to themselves by attacking something popular really fuck me off. Thirty odd years ago, John Lennon tried to make an intelligent remark about the change from religion to rock and roll in the minds of young people. Gits who didn't like him took this to mean he considered himself above Jesus and so incited hundreds of people to burn his records in an act as horrific as Nazi book-burnings twenty years before that. They didn't do it because of what he said (which was taken out of context by all concerned) they did it because he was popular. Because kids loved him. Well fuck off mates, he'll be remembered forever and you won't be. How'd you like them apples? Same goes for you fools who really think that Harry Potter will really corrupt kids. Kids are cleverer than anyone gives them credit for. If they choose to study witchcraft or whatever one does with witchcraft, it won't be because of HP, it will be because it is something that, for whatever reason, has interested them. I don't drink Diet Coke because I saw an advert on the telly, I drink it because I like it. I don't listen to The Doors because I'm corrupt, evil, subversive or because I was told I should. I listen to them because I like them. And I listen to the Doors but I have no desire to own reptiles or go drown myself in mysticated wine. If we are honest with ourselves those boys in Columbine didn't kill people because of the music they listened to. We don't do bad things because we listen to certain kinds of music or watch certain kinds of films or read certain kinds of books. Anyone who really thinks otherwise should open their eyes to the stuff really happening in the world. Harry Potter encourages children to read. Many don't stop at Harry Potter, they read other stuff too. I remember when I was at school most of my friends had to be forced to read. If we've found a way to get kids to voluntarily do that, are we going to let some smarmy bastards get in the way of that? They have a right to their opinion, of course they do, but to suggest that JKR is some evil mastermind out to corrupt the world's children is going a bit sodding far. Although, I would charge her with the creation of Draco Malfoy, one of the most odious little creeps in children's literature. Only in fanon is he nice, people!

Besides, the Pope says it's OK and that Harry is an instrument of good (or some such thing) so I'm sorted at least.

I'm also aware that I forgot some birthdays cos I haven't been at the computer for awhile (have been *shock horror* reading about Soames, Irene and Jolyon). HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZORB and anyone else I've forgotten cos I'm crap and because I'm busy trying to start writing the sitcom based on the lives of those around me. *Sigh*. Comedy is hard.

(no subject)

Have read the first two books of the first trilogy of The Forsyte Saga in the last day. Is pretty good. Am trying to get back into the way of reading lots like I did when I was small. By reading literature we educate ourselves and by educating ourselves we lift ourselves up above the state of nature. Or some such bollocks.

Am now going home this Saturday, which means I'll be cream-crackered by the time it gets to the Triumvirate dance thing and the PP GoF chat. But don't think this will deter me- I will be there. I decided I wasn't going to stay another week when I could do nothing at home. However, will get The Mother doing the 'what are you going to do with your life' speech. I intend to stay at home until after the 21st. Amazon are delivering my book, but I am wondering if I should cancel and get it on the day from one of the places in town. Might see how much it's gonna cost from Maher's or Smiffs (that's WH Smith for you posh sorts). I can't stand the thought of it not arriving on Saturday because then I'd have to wait until Monday or even Tuesday. I know I could survive it, I'd just rather not survive it. Having said that, I haven't put my name down on any lists at shops in town so I might end up waiting anyway or something. I don't know! It's just under nine days to go now.

And because I just read it from a link off TLC... HARRY POTTER FANS AREN'T EVIL! Some of us might be wiccan or occultists, but so what and since when does that make all of us the same? Looking round this fandom I see diversity above all. I know, posting as I do in a journal read pretty much just by HP fans that I'm preaching to the choir, but I have to say this: I am not an occultist. I am not a witch. Me reading HP does not make me want to be either. Do I think said groups are evil? No. Maybe some are, but no more than your average accountant or lawyer, surely? Do I think that people who read HP are 'likely' to become witches? Man, it's ONLY A FUCKING BOOK, as the saying goes. It's fiction, and as much as I love it, as much as I enjoy being a part of its fandom, it is 'only' a book. Harry is not real. Draco is not real, whether he's got his fandom leather trews on or not. Rabble-rousers bringing attention to themselves by attacking something popular really fuck me off. Thirty odd years ago, John Lennon tried to make an intelligent remark about the change from religion to rock and roll in the minds of young people. Gits who didn't like him took this to mean he considered himself above Jesus and so incited hundreds of people to burn his records in an act as horrific as Nazi book-burnings twenty years before that. They didn't do it because of what he said (which was taken out of context by all concerned) they did it because he was popular. Because kids loved him. Well fuck off mates, he'll be remembered forever and you won't be. How'd you like them apples? Same goes for you fools who really think that Harry Potter will really corrupt kids. Kids are cleverer than anyone gives them credit for. If they choose to study witchcraft or whatever one does with witchcraft, it won't be because of HP, it will be because it is something that, for whatever reason, has interested them. I don't drink Diet Coke because I saw an advert on the telly, I drink it because I like it. I don't listen to The Doors because I'm corrupt, evil, subversive or because I was told I should. I listen to them because I like them. And I listen to the Doors but I have no desire to own reptiles or go drown myself in mysticated wine. If we are honest with ourselves those boys in Columbine didn't kill people because of the music they listened to. We don't do bad things because we listen to certain kinds of music or watch certain kinds of films or read certain kinds of books. Anyone who really thinks otherwise should open their eyes to the stuff really happening in the world. Harry Potter encourages children to read. Many don't stop at Harry Potter, they read other stuff too. I remember when I was at school most of my friends had to be forced to read. If we've found a way to get kids to voluntarily do that, are we going to let some smarmy bastards get in the way of that? They have a right to their opinion, of course they do, but to suggest that JKR is some evil mastermind out to corrupt the world's children is going a bit sodding far. Although, I would charge her with the creation of Draco Malfoy, one of the most odious little creeps in children's literature. Only in fanon is he nice, people!

Besides, the Pope says it's OK and that Harry is an instrument of good (or some such thing) so I'm sorted at least.

I'm also aware that I forgot some birthdays cos I haven't been at the computer for awhile (have been *shock horror* reading about Soames, Irene and Jolyon). HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZORB and anyone else I've forgotten cos I'm crap and because I'm busy trying to start writing the sitcom based on the lives of those around me. *Sigh*. Comedy is hard.