Current Events > Can you still enjoy Harry Potter despite Rowling's transphobia?

(+) Yeah! (+)

If I can still enjoy enders game I can still enjoy Harry Potter

Yeah I am pretty stoked for the game

AloneIBreak posted...

I never got into Harry Potter because I was too cool for that shit. Does her TERF-ness come through in the stories?

Not really. There's some iffy themes that people have questioned if she actually supports them, but the subject of gender doesn't really come up.

yeah

SocialistGamer posted...

Looking forward to Hogwarts Legacy?

not really

MrToothHasYou posted...

Current transphobic spiral aside, the further left I have moved politically, the less I find myself enjoying the Harry Potter series, because despite it nominally being a childrens/young adult fantasy series, it definitely has a very strong and very particular political point of view that I just dont really identify with any longer.

Can somebody explain this more if somebody hasn't.
What is the stront and particular view point?

Yes. There are a lot of other people involved in Harry Potter besides JK Rowling. Its not like shes getting paid if I watch it for free on SyFy.

If I boycott every piece of media that is associated with a person who did/said something bad, there wouldnt be much to watch.

I never read or watched any of them. Been meaning to for like 15 years -_-

CyricZ posted...

What do those people do to "force" you?

Bullying. Mischaracterization and lies with heavy exaggeration.

FLAMING_EVIL_HOMER posted...

Can somebody explain this more if somebody hasn't.
What is the stront and particular view point?

Well I guess it depends on the observer, but in my analysis, there's a heavy classism to the universe, in addition to a political centrism that allows abusers access to authority.

There's the whole "house elf slavery is good actually" thing.

There's racism when it comes to fantasy folk like the goblins all being greedy and money-grubbing.

There's the fact that Harry fought against authoritarianism during his schooling, then becomes a wizard cop.

Savoots posted...

Bullying. Mischaracterization and lies with heavy exaggeration.

And this has broken you and forced you to not like Harry Potter?

Yes.

Despite not liking her real life being, I like the Harry Potter franchise. One is a fictional work, the other a real life person. I can separate that.

I still think it's so dumb that he became a wizard cop. That was a profession he pulled out of his ass when he was in a career planning meeting because he'd heard someone talk about it and it was the first thing he thought of. It makes way, way more sense if he goes on to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

pegusus123456 posted...

It makes way, way more sense if he goes on to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

Or anything to do with Hogwarts given so much of his formative struggle is based around that school. Hell, he in effect *became* a teacher in Order of the Phoenix to Dumbledore's Army. It's in his very being to help and inspire others.

Then he can help towards structural change at the educational level rather than continue participating in a broken system.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/8/1/AAPstsAAEB59.jpg

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Sure, fine, but even that seemed more like shit he fell into and couldn't get away from. It always felt like protecting people was something he felt was his duty whereas he genuinely enjoyed teaching people in Dumbledore's Army.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Which brings up the foundational question of "Is that what Aurors do?"

Yes, she didnt have these views in these books

Is the harry potter cop stuff about the book or movie?

Dont remember it from the movie.

CyricZ posted...

Well I guess it depends on the observer, but in my analysis, there's a heavy classism to the universe, in addition to a political centrism that allows abusers access to authority.

There's the whole "house elf slavery is good actually" thing.

There's racism when it comes to fantasy folk like the goblins all being greedy and money-grubbing.

There's the fact that Harry fought against authoritarianism during his schooling, then becomes a wizard cop.

And this has broken you and forced you to not like Harry Potter?

I thought the movie addressed the stuff like elves and class and was against it?
Was the book different?

Its gross. I enjoyed the books and the movies in my time, but Ill never spend another cent on that franchise, because some portion of it will be used to further J.K. Rowlings demented crusade against trans rights in general and trans women in particular.

Its just depressing to be constantly reminded that my existence is less important to many/most than indulging in their stale, racist wizard franchise.

ElatedVenusaur posted...

Its just depressing to be constantly reminded that my existence is less important to many/most than indulging in their stale, racist wizard franchise.

I think you're taking it a little too personally.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

I think you're taking it a little too personally.

Of all the myopic things you could have said...

Can enjoy it, although I was never super invested in it even before all the TERFy business, and I'm disinclined to actually provide any monetary support to the creator.

Thankfully, I never have; I've acquired all of the seven books through various free sources, usually as gifts or hand-me-downs.

Yes and Im tired of people trying to make others feel bad about it, especially Hogwarts Legacy. The actors from the movie have also come out against her.

You can support a thing without supporting the person who created the thing.

harry potter isn't even good lol

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


How much, and which rights are being destroyed by her contributions.

FLAMING_EVIL_HOMER posted...

Is the harry potter cop stuff about the book or movie?

Dont remember it from the movie.

I thought the movie addressed the stuff like elves and class and was against it?
Was the book different?

No. It's against it in the books too. No idea were people are getting the idea the racism is supported by the narrative.

Makeveli_lives posted...

Yes and Im tired of people trying to make others feel bad about it, especially Hogwarts Legacy. The actors from the movie have also come out against her.

You can support a thing without supporting the person who created the thing.

rowling uses the continued relevance of harry potter as evidence that people support her views

KeeperOfShadows posted...

No. It's against it in the books too. No idea were people are getting the idea the racism is supported by the narrative.

the in-universe racism is treated as benign by everyone except hermione, wherein it's treated as a joke

FLAMING_EVIL_HOMER posted...

Can somebody explain this more if somebody hasn't.
What is the stront and particular view point?

Specifically, the books are awash in the neoliberal politics of the 90s, particularly with sentiments toward Blairite centrism. The first book was written during the tail end of Thatcherism and all but the last were published during Tony Blairs tenure as Prime Minister of the UK (the final book being published just one month after his resignation), and theres a definite sense of that political zeitgeist in the bookspassing references to a nefarious past, troubled race and class relations which are in present times apparently no longer an issue, as far as our main characters are concerned. The enemy in the books is a reactionary/conservative force who seeks the upheaval the status quo in order to reinstate a barbaric hierarchy, and our heroes are therefore dedicated to the preservation of that status quo, which we the audience are assured is the pinnacle of human society. Any issues that may exist within the status quo are ignored unless they directly affect our heroes. Any sort of social progress must be taken in baby steps so as to not upset this status quo, or else it is seen as either foolish, dangerous, or annoyingly naive.

This sort of thing applies to more than just the house-elf slavery plot, but its pretty prominent there and in the other dealings with magical creatures.

averagejoel posted...

the in-universe racism is treated as benign by everyone except hermione, wherein it's treated as a joke

Which is depicted as a flaw of their society. Even outside of Voldemort's crew there were plenty of characters who held Nazi-esqe views on the supremacy of wizards. How anyone thinks that's something the audience is supposed to agree with is beyond me.

CyricZ posted...

Of all the myopic things you could have said...

I mean it.

People who enjoy a media franchise aren't weighing the value of that franchise against someone else's existence. They aren't choosing deliberately to devalue someone by making a decision to entertain themselves.

It's not like Rowling will stop having her opinions if her billion dollar franchise makes slightly less money than it did before. She's set for ten lifetimes. If she were only set for five lifetimes instead, she would still have the same opinions.

I think it's remarkably self centered to insult or belittle people for enjoying a franchise they grew up with. There are people who found inspiration and strength through Harry Potter. There are people who have built their entire friend groups and community involvement around the franchise.

You're essentially weighing their life's experience with the franchise against some offensive comments made by the author of it.

It's the same as people who try to organize a boycott against chick fil a.

You can enjoy food even if the franchise is owned by someone who has outdated and offensive personal views. You can enjoy Harry Potter even if it was written by someone with controversial takes on feminism and the definition of womanhood.

Reading Harry Potter isn't the same as supporting the author's anti-trans sentiment, and it's unrealistic to expect people to abandon a franchise that shaped their personal development just because the author of the books said controversial things 20 years later.

Makeveli_lives posted...

Yes and Im tired of people trying to make others feel bad about it, especially Hogwarts Legacy. The actors from the movie have also come out against her.

You can support a thing without supporting the person who created the thing.

It's my sincere regret that our disapproval of money being given to an out bigot is making you feel guilty.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Reading Harry Potter isn't the same as supporting the author's anti-trans sentiment,

I men, in both this and your Chick-Fil-A example, you'd be in some way directly funding movements that are anti-LGBT.

I'm buying it used.

pegusus123456 posted...

I men, in both this and your Chick-Fil-A example, you'd be in some way directly funding movements that are anti-LGBT.

That's not what "directly funding" means.

I'm paying for chicken, dude. What's done with the money on the other end has nothing to do with me or my values.

If the product is worth the money, then I'm going to buy it.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

What's done with the money on the other end has nothing to do with me or my values.

This is kind of just fundamentally wrong, so I think I have to end this conversation here.

CyricZ posted...

It's my sincere regret that our disapproval of money being given to an out bigot is making you feel guilty.

I dont feel particularly guilty about looking forward to a game tbh.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

People who enjoy a media franchise aren't weighing the value of that franchise against someone else's existence.

No. No they aren't thinking in those terms. And that's part of the problem.

It's not like Rowling will stop having her opinions if her billion dollar franchise makes slightly less money than it did before. She's set for ten lifetimes. If she were only set for five lifetimes instead, she would still have the same opinions.

Maybe not, but do you feel okay taking pride in supporting her regardless?

I think it's remarkably self centered to insult or belittle people for enjoying a franchise they grew up with. There are people who found inspiration and strength through Harry Potter. There are people who have built their entire friend groups and community involvement around the franchise.

You know what's self-centered? Defending a fictional media franchise because you like it, despite knowing what the support of its creator will mean for real existing people. And this isn't just the usual game industry "abusive developer to their workers" this time. This is bigotry now and promised bigotry to come.

You're essentially weighing their life's experience with the franchise against some offensive comments made by the author of it.

Will you tell a trans person to their face that they have nothing to fear from JK Rowling? Do you believe this?

You can enjoy food even if the franchise is owned by someone who has outdated and offensive personal views. You can enjoy Harry Potter even if it was written by someone with controversial takes on feminism and the definition of womanhood.

You can. You can. You can.

Sweetheart, no one is telling you what you can or cannot do. You can do whatever you want. We're just telling you what we think of you having done it. If that's not important to you, then fine, but maybe you'll have to live with others knowing that about you.

I say this a lot in these topics, but remember...

You could have said nothing.

Makeveli_lives posted...

I dont feel particularly guilty about looking forward to a game tbh.

Then why are you here in this topic going the extra mile to defend your action?

Smells of guilt. Smells of needing to justify yourself.

You could have said nothing.

Hell just a "yes" doesn't leave me with much to go off.

CyricZ posted...

Then why are you here in this topic going the extra mile to defend your action?

Smells of guilt. Smells of needing to justify yourself.

You could have said nothing.

Hell just a "yes" doesn't leave me with much to go off.

Because I want to enjoy Hogwarts Legacy without people thinking Im a bigot. The same way I want to enjoy Kanye West old albums without people thinking I fuck with him right now. Or enjoying Chris brown music without thinking I hate women or something.

Makeveli_lives posted...

Because I want to enjoy Hogwarts Legacy without people thinking Im a bigot.

Tough titty?

They came out before she exposed herself as a turf.It's tough. I watched all the fantastic beasts movie, and would want to check out harry potter in universal studios. I'd also would like to see Harry Potter 2, 3 and 5. Maybe not pay for it.

It's one of those scenarios where you strongly disliked the person, despite their brilliance. Elon Musk is such a douchebag, but I've always wanted a Tesla. Ugh.

Makeveli_lives posted...

Because I want to enjoy Hogwarts Legacy without people thinking Im a bigot.

*shrugs* Too bad.

If you'd said nothing you probably could have, though.