BBC Radio 4 asks - "Seriously... - Is it still OK to read Harry Potter?"

submitted by BEB from bbc.co.uk

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[–]purrvana 10 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

These people are such snowflakes. And I used to hate that term but now I get it.

Romano notes that there are many who agree with Rowling’s views and that sales of the Harry Potter books have risen by 9% since Rowling wrote her blog in June.

We love to see it.

[–]barnarnas 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

My kid started reading the series right before JK is a terf happened, and there have been times where I mention this and there is a very obvious pause where I assume I'm supposed to give a disclaimer to show that I don't agree with her. When this happens I just let them stare lol like sorry you're so sensitive that you create a false reality where someone else wrote the series.

[–]teacherterf 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

I mentioned my respect for JKR at work and a few months later someone asked me in writing if I was really sure I still respected her, "in light of her controversial comments". I said that everyone I have ever respected has been controversial in some form or other, and my coworker said "ok, good to know!!! Just checking!!!! I'm glad we had this conversation!!!!!!" And that was that.

She was really expecting, and hoping, that I'd retract my support on the basis of peer pressure and shame. She didn't even bother trying to make an argument. She probably never had to before. That's where we are.

[–]barnarnas 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Ugh they're always so confident about it too! And you would think this would have made adult HP fans read another fucking book but nope lol they just erased her

[–]teacherterf 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

This woman wasn't confident, that's the thing. She's not a "kill TERFs!!" TRA, she's a female-socialized "why can't everyone just be niiiiiiice" TRA who gets all her information from guilt-tripping TIMs and hasn't thought things through. She's the kind of person who, when talking about her, you find yourself saying "bless her heart, she means well, but..." She genuinely expected that once another "nice" person - me - heard that JKR had said anything controversial - ie, anything that not everyone agreed with, and that might even upset some people! - I'd retract my respect for her. I have a feeling that if I sat down with this woman one on one and explained my TERF beliefs without using any TERF buzzwords, she'd agree with every word and then go right back to chanting slogans.

[–]BEB[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I think it's really hard for many women because we are so socialized to be nice and put ourselves last.

[–]BEB[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Good for you for standing your ground. I wonder if she even read JKR's comment.

[–]hfxB0oyA 4 insightful - 5 fun4 insightful - 4 fun5 insightful - 5 fun -  (1 child)

If you do, you have to flagellate yourself with a switch ten times for each page read while reciting mea culpas.

[–]Alan_Crowe 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

I think it is sufficient to move your Harry Potter books to the "naughty" shelf of your bookcase, beside the Julius Evola and Carl Schmitt.

[–]eddyelric 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

You wouldn't say this about H.P Lovecraft or George Orwell or Robert Heinlein, despite their views on women and racial minorities.

[–]BEB[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yeah, but Dr. Seuss did get canceled a bit.