The question is moot. I get the car.

[jlh]

Let's review. Predicting something that happened in canon doesn't make you:
--A better writer
--A better reader
--A better fan
--A better person

If you were right about canon, you don't win a car; if you're wrong about canon, you are not summarily ejected from fandom. Predicting canon can be fun, but it certainly isn't profitable. I continue to not understand the whole "whee I was right therefore I am infinitely cooler than you" thing. I also don't understand the "alas, for it did not happen in canon and therefore I'm done with this stinking canon" thing. It's canon. It stands unchanging. It doesn't care what you thought would happen; it simply is.

How you choose to interact with canon is entirely up to you. Fanfiction exists entirely outside of canon. It is not predictive, nor a direct reader response, nor a form of literary criticism. It can be these things, but presuming that what someone chooses to write—be it a ship, or an event, or what have you—is them putting a stake in the ground about canon is a really big leap. Someone else saying that your story don't agree with their interpretation of canon doesn't get to force you to take your story down. Being condescending about someone else's interpretation of canon? That's just obnoxious, and while being "wrong" certainly doesn't give you the right to act like a spoiled toddler, being "right" doesn't give you the right to be an ass.

Comments

[likebunnies.livejournal.com]

Nicely said. Thanks for posting this.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[mahoni.livejournal.com]

This is one of the reasons I always look forward to reading your opinion on things: no matter how reasonable or level-headed anyone involved in an debate/argument on LJ thinks they are, your posts appear on the sidelines like enormous, tastefully designed billboards showing everyone what reasonable and level-headed REALLY look like.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You are too sweet. Actually, you are, as earlier this week I lost my head a bit and got a little emotional, and I'm still trying to work out my response to some things that have been flying around except I can't put it all into the right words quite yet--it's fanon stuff about reviewers and shipping and character hate.

However I will say that it seems to me that there is this sticky bit that people have between their reaction to the books and their understanding of what JKR wants us to think/feel. I'm generally in the camp of, JKR gets one chance to tell us how to think and feel, and that's when she's writing the book. I'm not sure that feeling about the books exactly the way JKR does means you're a better fan. But this is all still in the early thoughts stage.

[longtimegone]

My response to the whole thing was gonna be, in so many words, STFU to everyone, but you and Lori put it quite nicely. :)) I feel I should relink to my pre-HBP post. :))

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Dude, your pre-HBP post was my favorite one and continues to rule me completely.

[longtimegone]

Hee! Thanks!

I just went back and read it, and though I wasn't thinking it at time, it did kind of anticipate some of the complaints and shit. Not the complaints were hard to forsee or that anyone listened. Or that I am surprised by that. :))

[adjudicated.livejournal.com]

GOD, THANK YOU FOR STATING THIS.

I so agree.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[ladyjaida.livejournal.com]

I love you wholeheartedly, you know. You are so awesome.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I love you too of course. Where am I sending my number or something? Must find you when I return to the east coast with the not working and all that.

[chinawolf.livejournal.com]

Word.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

BTW, can you tell what havoc you have wreaked on my life by linking to that treasure trove of CSI slash? OMG, like, mostly I'm trying to convince tea_and_toast to write me some Gil/Nick because hello, Texas so she knows Nick inside and out and it would be awesome. So thank you! for putting up that link, yay!

[chinawolf.livejournal.com]

*snickers* After that last episode, I just couldn't not go hunt some CSI slash, though I think I got linked to that one story myself. Also, the logic of fandomers is a strange but always entertaining one. If you succeed in making her write, make sure you link? :) (And a continued good vacation to you!)

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

Hee. I'm so glad you wrote this up and posted it.

[piperki.livejournal.com]

Oh, your ICON! *swoooooons*

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Hee, I'm so glad YOU keep reminding me when I'm being sane and when I'm being not so much.

[piperki.livejournal.com]

OMG STOP! *laughs helplessly*

[jlh.livejournal.com]

ha, thanks!

[ali-wildgoose.livejournal.com]

Word.

I'm contemplating making a post about this, to point out the interviews (because really, they ARE super-interesting) and to mention that while I'm not fond of how the shipping portion of it went I think it's royally stupid to be angry at JKR about it. She was polite and diplomatic -- if you want to be mad, be mad at the interviewers.

[dejaspirit.livejournal.com]

You speak the truth.

*Sophie!Icon Spams You Just Because*

[ali-wildgoose.livejournal.com]

*snuggles da sophie*

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Sophie!Icon can spam this here LJ anytime she wants to.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

OMG I still haven't read them yet, mostly because I was being all babyish about what she said.

OTOH, while I love the additional information that she gives us, I really don't care about her interpretations of her own work. There's such a like, I am cooler if I like the book in exactly the way that she wants me to like it thing that I find baffling.

I'm really happy to be here with Carrie but I see you all on LJ and wah, miss you. Which I know, I said before. I'm so glad that I am not moving for grad school! What would I do?

[ali-wildgoose.livejournal.com]

You would have to stuff me in your suitcase, clearly ^_-

[(Anonymous)]

::Claps::

Beautifully said; these are truly words of wisdom and class.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Thank you!