Re: Harry Potter---The good, the bad, the bizarre, the silly.

On Mon, 9 Dec 2002, Jill LeBrun wrote:

> I'm sure you won't be pleased to hear this,

What? Stupid, abusive, silly rehetorical questions?

Why would I be?

On the other hand, it doesn't particularly bother me to hear them.

> but (1) have you even read
> the Harry Potter books,

Have you even read my article? Must I explicitly *say*, "I have read these
books* for you to understand that I have? Read the first two paragraphs
again, carefully. It surpises me to have to tell you to read them
*carefully*, but you seem to have serious reading comprehension problems.

> (2) Do you understand the concept (so far) of
> them,

I venture to say that I understand the books just fine, thanks. I think
that the books, themselves, don't have *a* "concept", and that's all to
the good. To the degree that they get more gimmicked, that's to their
degredation. The Harry Potter books are better than that.

> and three, "cheapo childrens crap books" is not the best to call
> them.

Ok, *PLEASE* reread the first paragraph again. I reproduce it here for
your convenience:

"""The first three Harry Potter (news - web sites) (hardback version)
books are well made, legibly typeset, and pleasingly written. Thus, they
are very much a full body pleasuring experience---a nice contrast the
multitude of chintzy, cheezy, cheapo children's crap books."""

"A nice contrast" means that they are *different* from "chintzy, cheezy,
cheapo children's crap books". In other words, I said that they *weren't*
chintzy, cheezy, etc. You imply that I did. I didn't. You're wrong. I can
only understand your abuse in the context of your thinking that I've
trashed the books. I didn't.

> But anyway the purpose of this e was to share my feelings about what you
> have written.

I'm afraid not, since you didn't actually have feeligns about what I
*wrote*, but what you mistakenly impute to me. You have upset yourself and
insulted me for no good reason.

> In short, "Bijan Parsia",

Why put my name in quotes: It isn't a psudonym.

> (this isn't a compliment)

Nor is it coherent.

> What
> youve written about HP digusted me to the max.

I don't see why it would, unless you truely hate Harry Potter, along the
lines of the Anti-Potter wackos I discuss in the article.

Jill, I take it that you aren't very old, so some of my tone might
distress you. But you did launch into me entirely without provocation, and
quite nastily. I suggest next time to feel "disgusted to the max" by
something you read, you put it aside for a bit and let it settle. Then
consider it again. Plus, you may want to check with an adult before you so
react and particularly before you send mail.

If you are reasonably aged, well, I still can't feel too sorry about my
condesending tone.

Cheers,
Bijan Parsia.