Accentuate the positive

[ebonlock]

Grr. Apparently there is an anti-Ron Weasley community now on LJ. I'd post more about them but I think they've gotten more than their fair share of publicity already. Here's hoping they just fade away.

Reminds me of the old Xena days when hating Joxer was the thing to do and only a tiny number of us dared to admit we not only liked the character, but loved him. Of course we were immediately pounced on and told we had no taste, or were missing the point, or were just plain stupid. The concept that people could have different opinions about characters and those opinions should be respected was just foreign to most of the fandom. I spent literally months arguing the case that just because the majority felt one way about it, it didn't mean the rest of us were somehow wrong. I also argued, quite strenuously, that the minority also deserved to be treated respectfully and that fandom should be about sharing the love of a genre, not about focusing on the negatives. Eventually, at least on one major Xena mailing list, I and those like me made a difference, but we did it in a positive manner.

Don't like a character? Hey that's totally cool. I personally loathe Umbridge, Rita Skeeter, and Sirius Black, but am I going to start a community devoted to loathing them? Fuck no. I'm sure all of them have their fans and why would I want to upset or offend them? And why in the name of the gods would I want to throw my creativity and energy into bashing a part of a fandom I enjoy anyway? That just makes no sense to me at all.

Why people feel the need to turn fandom either into a competitive sport or a partisan political arena will just never compute for me I'm afraid.

Anyway, sorry for the rant, it's just a bit of a red button issue for me. *sigh* Right, so I had a lovely Indian dinner with elo_sf last evening after a productive but low stress work day. Ah if only they could all be so pleasant. We walked around MV for a bit and chatted before going our seperate ways. He to bake a cheesecake and me to grab some necessities for the apartment. One of the bad things about my new place is that it's so small I don't really have any place to store extra stuff. So I've got to buy in small quantities which means I have to buy more often.

I'm thinking I'll just let my Costco membership lapse, no point in having it as long as I live where I do. On the plus side I'm really close to a Chinese grocery store (which does have a bakery according to an article I read on it, jimweasel) so I won't be forced to give into the evil that is Albertsons/Safeway. Ha! Your membership cards will not ensnare me!

Found out my latest Amazon order shipped last night (supposedly, Amazon says it went out, the USPS says they don't have it yet), which is probably for the best as if it hadn't I was going to tack on the Hellboy dvd. I don't really *need* it, and I should probably rent it first to see if the extra goodies are worth having anyway, so it's probably for the best. Now I'm hoping the order arrives by Saturday so I can move forward with my Alan Rickman-a-thon, if not I shall be very sad. None of the Blockbusters I've checked has "Truly, Madly, Deeply" and I'm so jonesing to watch it again. *sigh*

Comments

[senatorhatty.livejournal.com]

When people hate characters do they hate them in the context of the story or do they say "that character is really poorly handled by Rowling"? Or what?

PS did you catch Edwards's speech?

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

When people hate characters do they hate them in the context of the story or do they say "that character is really poorly handled by Rowling"? Or what?

Oh for a variety of reasons, most of them purely personal. Either they don't like Rowling's handing of them, or how he's portrayed in the films, or that he happens to stand in the way of their favorite fanfic love match. There's often little to no rhyme nor reason to it.

To go back to my own disliked characters, I hate Rita because, well you're supposed to, she's an awful, awful person with no redeeming qualities that I could find. I hate Umbridge for the same reasons as well as the fact that she reminded me a bit of Kai Winn (who I also hate) and that she's pretty one-dimensional. Sirius, well I think if you like Snape you're all but required to dislike him because he's such a prat to him.

PS did you catch Edwards's speech?

Sadly no, I've not been home all week to catch any of the speeches, but I've been reading the transcripts daily.

[senatorhatty.livejournal.com]

I think if someone liked skeeter or Umbridge in a manner other than "Wow Rowling sure handled that character well!", they have missed the point.

That said, I like Snape! I think I even liked him before Alan Rickman played him!

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

I think if someone liked skeeter or Umbridge in a manner other than "Wow Rowling sure handled that character well!", they have missed the point.

Never underestimate the power of an apologist, they are a wacky bunch, but I respect their determination if nothing else.

That said, I like Snape! I think I even liked him before Alan Rickman played him!

I love Snape in much the same way I adored Raistlin from the Dragonlance series. He's bitter and angry, but he's got reason to be, he also walks that fine line between good and evil and does it with style. The difference between the two is that Snape seems to genuinely want redemption where as Raist turned his back on the concept and happily chose the darkness.

[caitlin.livejournal.com]

Sirius, well I think if you like Snape you're all but required to dislike him because he's such a prat to him.

There I disagree with you. I do like Snape... when he's not being unreasonable about Harry. When he's being unreasonable about Harry (picking on him for no reason, accusing him of being just like James, etc...), it strikes me as taking out the 'sins of the father' on the son. Snape was unreasonable about Harry since the day Harry started at Hogwarts. I mean, it seems that both Snape and Sirius seem to have the problem of treating Harry like he's James, which he isn't. Harry never even knew James, thanks to Voldemort.

As for Sirius vs. Snape... I'm hoping Ms. Rowling reveals exactly what happened to get them to hate each other so much. I have this feeling that it's a doozy, beyond what has already been said re: Sirius pranking Snape and almost killing him.

Just my $0.02

C.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

There I disagree with you. I do like Snape... when he's not being unreasonable about Harry. When he's being unreasonable about Harry (picking on him for no reason, accusing him of being just like James, etc...), it strikes me as taking out the 'sins of the father' on the son. Snape was unreasonable about Harry since the day Harry started at Hogwarts. I mean, it seems that both Snape and Sirius seem to have the problem of treating Harry like he's James, which he isn't. Harry never even knew James, thanks to Voldemort.

Mmm, I think it may have started out that way but I read a bit more into it. Yeah he sees too much of James in Harry and doesn't take into consideration the differences (particularly when it comes to being raised by the Dursleys, the boy's had his pride and ego all but stamped out), and he is often wretchedly unfair. On the other hand, if he doesn't at least present this to the world on a regular basis I suspect that the Slytherins (and their Death Eater parents) might begin to wonder just whose side he's on. Hell, I'm surprised that his actions in the first book didn't earn him a big red check mark from old Voldie.

And I would also add that Harry hasn't ever really shown Snape anything like gratitude for saving his life how many times now? Gods that really reads like a total Snape apologist, doesn't it? Heh, sorry about that, but I find it rather hard to resist :)

Actually there are some really good fics out there that get into Snape's head particularly on the subject of Harry that I would recommend wholeheartedly. The best of the best is a WIP called "Summon the Lambs to Slaughter", if you're interested let me know and I'll forward you the URL.

As for Sirius vs. Snape... I'm hoping Ms. Rowling reveals exactly what happened to get them to hate each other so much. I have this feeling that it's a doozy, beyond what has already been said re: Sirius pranking Snape and almost killing him.

Indeed, especially given that their parents probably knew and interacted with one another fairly frequently (being old school Muggle-hating purebloods and all). I mean they might well have grown up together for all we know. I too hope Rowling lets us all in on what started their mutual hate-fest.

[caitlin.livejournal.com]

And I would also add that Harry hasn't ever really shown Snape anything like gratitude for saving his life how many times now? Gods that really reads like a total Snape apologist, doesn't it? Heh, sorry about that, but I find it rather hard to resist :)

*grins* It's ok.

I can sort of understand why Harry wouldn't, considering if it hadn't been for Snape being unreasonable, there wouldn't have been the whole mess with the Dementors in book 3.

Book 5, though, I felt Snape was being nasty to Harry during the whole Occlumency (I think?) bit for no reason, especially since Harry didn't know the reasons why the lessons were necessary.

And there is also the fact that Harry *is* a teenager... I'm not making excuses, I just know how most teenagers are... I have a 14 year old brother, and I know how *he* is. *wry*.

C.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

I can sort of understand why Harry wouldn't, considering if it hadn't been for Snape being unreasonable, there wouldn't have been the whole mess with the Dementors in book 3.

Yeah, but by the end of book one a sincere "Thanks for saving my life, sorry I suspected you were evil" might've gone a long way. And as far as being unreasonable, I think he and Snape are pretty well matched in the books.

Book 5, though, I felt Snape was being nasty to Harry during the whole Occlumency (I think?) bit for no reason, especially since Harry didn't know the reasons why the lessons were necessary.

Ah, well here I'd say it has a lot to do with Snape's psychology. Part of it was the nature of Occlumency itself (it's pretty damn personal if you think about it), that he'd been kind of forced into it, that it showed yet again that he was the best choice for DADA teacher (and yeah he's bitter, rightly so I'd say), and that he and Harry spending long periods of time together was just a disaster waiting to happen.

And there is also the fact that Harry *is* a teenager... I'm not making excuses, I just know how most teenagers are... I have a 14 year old brother, and I know how *he* is. *wry*.

Yeah, I know, and I try to cut him some slack for that, I'm just not always that successful ;)

costco

[elo-sf.livejournal.com]

You can always use our membership, e.g. by bringing me along if you need.

Re: costco

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

You can always use our membership, e.g. by bringing me along if you need.

Thanks, dear, but I think bulk purchases of any kind are right out for me, at least as long as I'm living in the apartment.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Don't you live about three blocks from a CostCo currently?

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

Don't you live about three blocks from a CostCo currently?

Yes, but if I have no place to put the large quantities of foodstuffs I would purchase there, it seems kinda silly to keep the membership. I have very little cabinet space, a tiny fridge, and a small strip of counter and that's it.

[caitlin.livejournal.com]

I don't mind if you don't like Sirius Black. You likely have your reasons.

Me, I agree with you on the Umbridge and Skeeter dislikes, and add Fudge to that list, as well as Pansy Parkinson, and Sirius' mother, deceased though she may be.

As for Harry, Ron, or Hermione...I'm typically a Ron/Hermione person, but I can see them as a threesome as well... H/Hr... uh... no.

But, I don't pick fights with those people who are. *wry*

C.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

I don't mind if you don't like Sirius Black. You likely have your reasons.

I think once I found out about the Shrieking Shack incident I was just never going to like the guy. Still, I know a lot of Sirius fans and I respect each and every one of them and am always happy to debate the merits of the characters. I love discussion and differences of opinion as long as they stay on a level of rationality. Once you get to the "If you don't like my favorite character you're just a poopy-head!" level I generally tend to take my leave.

Me, I agree with you on the Umbridge and Skeeter dislikes, and add Fudge to that list, as well as Pansy Parkinson, and Sirius' mother, deceased though she may be.

I don't feel like I know Pansy well enough to hate her quite yet, but she does remind me a lot of all of those preppy bitches I went to school with. As for Mrs. Black, I'd love to hunt down some good fic on her that fills in many of the blanks. I kinda respect the fact that she was able to do so much damage even from beyond the grave, and I'd love to read more about Sirius' childhood with her.

As for Harry, Ron, or Hermione...I'm typically a Ron/Hermione person, but I can see them as a threesome as well... H/Hr... uh... no.

I'd actually really like to find some good threesome fic as that's the way I'd personally like to see it work out. But I'll happily settle for Ron/Hermione, I just have a really hard time deciding on who Harry should hook up with. He's a tough one to pin down romance-wise.

But, I don't pick fights with those people who are. *wry*

Which is very wise as 'shippers can be a dangerous bunch if provoked :)

[caitlin.livejournal.com]

The Shrieking Shack incident... was when Sirius was younger. While I can understand why Snape holds it against him, I can also understand that people do REALLY stupid things when they are younger.

Not only that, there's the whole thing of Sirius being in Azkaban for 12 years over something he didn't even do...

And I do know that shippers can be dangerous, having been a shipper in XF fandom (Mulder-Scully) for years. =)

C.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

The Shrieking Shack incident... was when Sirius was younger. While I can understand why Snape holds it against him, I can also understand that people do REALLY stupid things when they are younger.

I was actually more upset with him over the ramifications for Lupin rather than Snape. I could see him being thoughtless about Snape's life, sure, but if his little stunt had gone wrong can you imagine what would've happened to his supposed friend Remus?

Not only that, there's the whole thing of Sirius being in Azkaban for 12 years over something he didn't even do...

Which, I've gotta say, is one of the few reasons I can tolerate him. I like that one of his screw ups in life turned around and bit him on the arse good and hard. I'm also just dying to know why he turned to Peter rather than Remus. Yeah, I know the standard line, "Nobody would even suspect Peter", but I want to believe there's something more there.

And I do know that shippers can be dangerous, having been a shipper in XF fandom (Mulder-Scully) for years. =)

Heh, I became a M/S shipper late season 4/early season 5, at which point I couldn't see how any fan could deny it. :)