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.

[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.

[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. :))

[adjudicated.livejournal.com]

GOD, THANK YOU FOR STATING THIS.

I so agree.

[ladyjaida.livejournal.com]

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

[chinawolf.livejournal.com]

Word.

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

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

[piperki.livejournal.com]

OMG STOP! *laughs helplessly*

[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.

[(Anonymous)]

::Claps::

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