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Apr 24, 2003 14:42:40 GMT -5
Post by j.s.p. on Apr 24, 2003 14:42:40 GMT -5
That's a fairly good argument. The one thing I would say, though, is that one must be careful playing with "poisons", even those that cure. It is still a poison, and can still do damage if not used properly. Perhaps, if used properly, it would be okay, but that might be expecting a lot.
And do we allow children to read anything they want, even though we think it is bad, because we can use it as the poison the cures? I'm not sure where to draw the line even on this question. (Well, of course, my moral system would have to make me not draw a line, but this is consession to the moral system, not to the argument.)
=Jack
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Apr 24, 2003 15:05:21 GMT -5
Post by En on Apr 24, 2003 15:05:21 GMT -5
Well... we do have parents and friends, who are in the best positions to see if the poison is causing problems and who may even be able to anticipate and help us choose whether a book is too dangerous; and we do have trained professionals who are experts in the field of what literature people should be exposed to in what context. They are called literature teachers
I think I would suggest to Lumie that she not watch a certain movie, because I think something in it would really, really upset her. But my sisters are both exceptionally intelligent and well-educated young women, and for the most part, can be trusted to evaluate what they read. I do know some kids for whom I would not recommend certain classics, because I don't think they are ready for the ideas; but if the kids pick those up... I can at least try to help them get perspective, you know?
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Apr 24, 2003 15:45:41 GMT -5
Post by j.s.p. on Apr 24, 2003 15:45:41 GMT -5
Ah ha! This is the point that I'm trying to make all along: You will tell someone not to watch/read something if you think it will adversely effect them. Most people do the same. Someone of the fundamentalist persuasion would agree with you, except that they would say that HP is too dangerous. They might not trust a literature teacher in the same way you might not trust an astrologer. They might trust someone like Pat Robertson...
I guess it comes down to how far you think one can go (into literature, ideas, etc.) and still be able to "get back" (however you want to define that). You and I think that one could go very far; more fundamentalist people think all is lost with any difference.
=Jack
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Apr 24, 2003 16:35:17 GMT -5
Post by En on Apr 24, 2003 16:35:17 GMT -5
No, it isn't what you're saying fundamentalists do. My sisters often (but not always) choose to trust my judgment. I do not consider myself a final authority over their reading material, and my arguments in discouraging any reading always focus on making sure I tell them why I don't think they would want to read that yet (like, because it might really bother them in a not-healthy way, which I know because of other stuff they have read and talked about).
I am also a great supporter of encouraging healthy reading habits, rather than trying to discourage unhealthy ones. Contributing to a person's body of reading, not confining it. When a kid reads a book s/he wasn't ready for, it's no different than the kid having any experience s/he wasn't ready for, in which case my job (as sister, friend or teacher) is to help the kid sort through what happened and deal with the consequences, and if the kid wants me to offer tips on what to read or not to read in the future, to make myself available in that capacity.
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Apr 26, 2003 18:33:34 GMT -5
Post by j.s.p. on Apr 26, 2003 18:33:34 GMT -5
*trying to remember the proverb* An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
I think we all should encourage "healthy" habits and discourage "unhealthy" habits. But people have different definitions of what these are. I may believe that a "healthy" habit is reading two chapters of the bible every day and an "unhealthy" habit is ready Harry Potter. Even if I'm a fundamentalist I can accept your position, and still believe that reading HP is bad. Sure, if my kid reads it, I'm going to have to help shim sort it out--help with the consequences of it.
Hopefully this makes the discussion a bit clearer.
=Jack
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Apr 30, 2003 1:06:10 GMT -5
Post by KoNeko on Apr 30, 2003 1:06:10 GMT -5
Er, back to the HP5 cover for a second- it was on TV the other day on the news when they were saying that it was getting shipped out to bookstores and all that stuff. And it's really really yellow. Lots of yellow and gold and orange on the cover from what I could see, with Harry on one side and I think a big yellow bird (phoenix? sort of swooping down next to him. Actually the story in the news was about the fake "early" version of HP5 that people were selling with the wrong first chapter or something, so they only held up the book for like, a milisecond. If I can find a picture of it in the paper, I'll put it up.
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May 4, 2003 21:30:50 GMT -5
Post by chinesefireball121 on May 4, 2003 21:30:50 GMT -5
Yeah the english cover is yellow (i was shocked the first time i saw it) Bright yellow with a big phoenix coming out of flames - no people on it though
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May 12, 2003 22:01:34 GMT -5
Post by Will on May 12, 2003 22:01:34 GMT -5
-is confused- Wait, wait...hold on for a second. Let me just clarify this. English as in British English? ...The US cover is in different shades of blue... That, I'm sure of.
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May 31, 2003 10:45:54 GMT -5
Post by Sphi on May 31, 2003 10:45:54 GMT -5
Yeah, you're right, Willow. The US version is all blue and white. They're talking about the UK version. The pics are posted somewhere in this thread, if you'd like to go through and find them.
OK, this is another one of those tiny, trivial details that makes me all excited again...
It's the US cover...but in 3D!! Look how thick it is!! 21 DAYS til JUNE 21!!
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Jun 1, 2003 0:01:00 GMT -5
Post by Will on Jun 1, 2003 0:01:00 GMT -5
Wow! It does look thick. -rubs hands together- I can't wait to get my hands on one of those...I remember the day I bought the 4th book. I looked through a huge pile of them, looking for the best one. On wrinkles, scratches, rips...it had to be perfect. I'm going to do the same for the 5th. However, I think I might be a bit preoccupied with just staring at it.
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Jun 1, 2003 0:34:27 GMT -5
Post by Sphi on Jun 1, 2003 0:34:27 GMT -5
HAHAHA, I do the EXACT same thing, Willow!! I always obsess over the smallest details, especially if it's a book I've always wanted or something like that. I hope I get a flawless book 5, too. ;D
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Jun 1, 2003 0:41:53 GMT -5
Post by Will on Jun 1, 2003 0:41:53 GMT -5
;D Yes! And once I finally find the right one, I can just see myself praising the book. Running my fingers along the cover, smiling because the cover is so beautiful even though it's Harry's face, not Draco's, never letting it go, and once I do have to let it go for the cashier, I'll be staring at it longingly.
-reads over what she just typed- Wow, I sound scary...
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Jun 1, 2003 0:59:37 GMT -5
Post by Sphi on Jun 1, 2003 0:59:37 GMT -5
hehehe, yeah, you do sound scary. A bit too obsessive, are we? Wait, what am I talking about? I'm the same way.
JUNE 1st!! Only 20 days to go!!
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Jun 1, 2003 1:11:23 GMT -5
Post by Will on Jun 1, 2003 1:11:23 GMT -5
-sheepish grin- What can I say? I mean, how long have we been waiting for this book, anyway? Could you really blame me, and yourself for acting the way we are? 20 more days...just hold on, Willow. Just hold on.
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Jun 1, 2003 2:00:13 GMT -5
Post by Sphi on Jun 1, 2003 2:00:13 GMT -5
I know, I know. I'm the exact same way, believe me. It's been three years, I think. If I have to wait any longer I'm going to implode.
But now the problem is if the book will live up to its expectations. Think of Matrix Reloaded. Everyone's been anticipating it for years, rising their hopes for it, and when it came out, so many people found it boring and uneventful. (I'm not saying that that's true...I have yet to watch it, so I'm going to wait to make a judgement of my onw. Still, it is disconcerting to see our expectations dashed so quickly.) So I'm hoping for the best from book five.
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