The Town of Odyssey

What I think most people don't understand is in fiction different rules apply, simply because reality is different. Witchcraft as put above in this world is evil. However in the world of Harry Potter (As I understand it.) magic is hereditary. As put:

If he is merely using a fantasy power that has no relation to devils, it is not bad to represent him as the good guy.

Therefore it is not in essence evil because of that in my opinion. (Nor at all for that matter.) And magic should have no bearing on whether you read it.

Termite wrote:Premarital intimacy... hugging... O.o Someone should get me a priest, then. Looks like I'm going to have to have a shot gun wedding.

I considered editing that part out. I knew that was going to turn people off to what he said...

Does he like Star Wars?

. . .

Yeah, I don't watch Harry Potter, but that's so totally a fail ._. It was however, quite amusing

"That may be a surprise, but Batman has a girlfriend. Bad. And he kisses her. Bad. He is the good guy, the hero, and something sinful he does is made to look good. Bad. [Maybe we should call him Badman, huh?]" That's where I lost it.

Termite wrote:Does he like Star Wars?

I don't think he personally has seen it, but I'm pretty sure some of his older siblings have, and they don't have a problem with it.

I like Star Wars.

Marvin D. wrote:. . .

Yeah, I don't watch Harry Potter, but that's so totally a fail ._. It was however, quite amusing

"That may be a surprise, but Batman has a girlfriend. Bad. And he kisses her. Bad. He is the good guy, the hero, and something sinful he does is made to look good. Bad. [Maybe we should call him Badman, huh?]" That's where I lost it.

I'm so telling him you said that, Josh.

Christian A. wrote:

Marvin D. wrote:"That may be a surprise, but Batman has a girlfriend. Bad. And he kisses her. Bad. He is the good guy, the hero, and something sinful he does is made to look good. Bad. [Maybe we should call him Badman, huh?]" That's where I lost it.

I'm so telling him you said that, Josh.

*cough* It wouldn't be the one whose name starts with an M, would it?



quote tag fixed ~ bookworm

It would.

People on the SS said it was a really good article and that they agreed with it. Figures that you guys would tear it apart and pick on parts that were mere sidenotes and totally irrelevant. I guess the SS really is the better forum.

I don't care about the asides about kissing and whatnot. I know people who think premarital kissing is wrong, and that's their prerogative.

I liked what he had to say essentially because his point was what KF said--fantasy worlds and literature are governed by different rules than real life is. It would be like me accusing Marvin of wanting to participate in the Roman gladiatorial games because his bloodlust has been aroused by his enjoyment of The Hunger Games. A bit extreme, but you get the point--you shouldn't accuse someone of potentially participating in something just because it is done in a book or movie that they enjoy.

"That may be a surprise, but Batman has a girlfriend.

Taken out of context...ouch.

(assuming that Harry uses the real kind)

Under those definitions, neither he nor anyone else in the series uses "the real kind", although Voldemort's disfigured appearance comes partly from his own meddling in things in which he should not have.

Knight Fisher wrote:However in the world of Harry Potter (As I understand it.) magic is hereditary.

Not to get too nerdy and nitpicky here, but...yes and no. Most of the time this is true, and magic runs in families much like House placement does. But there are many characters--including Hermione herself--who are Muggle born, and there is the possibility of a Squib, someone who is born into a magical family but without magic powers. But at the core, yes, magic is hereditary--it's a lot like bending in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe.

I think we should just introduce people who don't like Harry Potter to the Dark Lord. They would be 'best pals.'

Ginny Weasley wrote:

(assuming that Harry uses the real kind)

Under those definitions, neither he nor anyone else in the series uses "the real kind", although Voldemort's disfigured appearance comes partly from his own meddling in things in which he should not have.

I was going to say this. Harry Potter is completely lacking in demons.

31899 wrote:I think we should just introduce people who don't like Harry Potter to the Dark Lord. They would be 'best pals.'

Tom gets up to all the stuff they would find objectionable about Harry and then some. It wouldn't work out.

Caswin wrote:

31899 wrote:I think we should just introduce people who don't like Harry Potter to the Dark Lord. They would be 'best pals.'

Tom gets up to all the stuff they would find objectionable about Harry and then some. It wouldn't work out.

Never mind, it was full of double meanings and sarcasm. I thought it was clever. I apologise it was not clear that it was a mild joke.

31899 wrote:

Caswin wrote:

31899 wrote:I think we should just introduce people who don't like Harry Potter to the Dark Lord. They would be 'best pals.'

Tom gets up to all the stuff they would find objectionable about Harry and then some. It wouldn't work out.

Never mind, it was full of double meanings and sarcasm. I thought it was clever. I apologise it was not clear that it was a mild joke.

I got your sarcasm, 31899.

Termite wrote:Premarital intimacy... hugging... O.o Someone should get me a priest, then. Looks like I'm going to have to have a shot gun wedding.

Marvin D. wrote:. . .

Yeah, I don't watch Harry Potter, but that's so totally a fail ._. It was however, quite amusing

"That may be a surprise, but Batman has a girlfriend. Bad. And he kisses her. Bad. He is the good guy, the hero, and something sinful he does is made to look good. Bad. [Maybe we should call him Badman, huh?]" That's where I lost it.

My friend wrote another article on the subject of premarital kissing, as a result of my telling him how you guys picked him apart for saying what he said. So, read it here if you're interested.

I said hugging, not kissing. So excuse me.

And I resent the implication of cannibalism.

Termite wrote: And I resent the implication of cannibalism.

I chuckled quite hard.

I know nearly nothing about Harry Potter, but even I can see the problems in that article.

Good magic?

No such thing. Real-world magic is in reality witchcraft. I’m not talking about sleight-of-hand tricks. I’m talking about real supernatural events. That type of magic is never good, and to portray it as good in any way is sinful. But so many times, magic, in a fantasy world, takes on a different meaning. It is a ‘power’ to tap into, and is not (necessarily) associated with demons. In the real world, that’s not real magic, that’s a fairy-tale. So to portray that as good is not wrong. Good guys can use ‘magic’ in a fantasy world, as long as that ‘magic’ isn’t real witchcraft, and that’s fine.

This entire paragraph contradicts itself repeatedly. It says ‘Magic and witchcraft are the same thing. Witchcraft is bad therefore magic is bad. Magic and witchcraft are not the same thing. Magic is okay if it’s not witchcraft.’ Which is it?
It’s correct that in real life there is no difference, so both are bad, but we’re not talking about real life, he even says that!

If Harry gets his power from fantasy magic, a mysterious force that is not related to devils, it’s okay. But if he gets his power from devils, that’s…not okay.

That is correct. And it’s the former. So... what is the issue here?

Good witches?

No such thing. A witch is someone who associates with and works through demons/devils. By definition, they cannot be good.

In real life, absolutely correct. In Harry Potter, not so much. Actually, not at all. In that world magical powers are natural, for some, there is no demonic agreement that makes them possible. It’s similar to Star Wars where you are either born a Force sensitive or not. What’s good or evil is how you use your powers, not how you have them.
Again, he himself said that if the power is not really witchcraft, in the literal sense, then it’s okay, and it’s not! So why is there a problem?

I’m not even going to go into the ‘kissing’ stuff because that could get off topic quickly. The main issue at hand is the allegations of demonic influences.
To reiterate, yes in real life there is no good witchcraft because it is all from the Devil. No one is saying otherwise. But in Harry Potter, that is not the case at all. Magic is simply there, it’s the ‘amazing power’ that some can ‘tap into’ as the article puts it. By the article’s own argument, that kind of ‘witchcraft’ is okay, so why is there even a discussion happening?

Thanks Bookworm I think we can just end this debate though...

bookworm wrote:By the article’s own argument, that kind of ‘witchcraft’ is okay, so why is there even a discussion happening?

That's my question. My point was to give my friend's thoughts on the subject, as an example of a different perspective from a fundamentalist. People seemed to misunderstand that...

More or less, I was glad to hear someone besides myself state that different rules govern fiction than govern real life--having someone on your side who's not a fan of what you're debating is refreshing.