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DECEMBER 9, 2003 at 10:41 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: The Guardian via Wizard News
A representative of Christopher Little, agent for Harry Potter author JK Rowling, says fan-written fiction is like "flattery"
when done right:
...is fan fiction a legitimate literary genre or is it just plagiarism? Well, it is not a prerequisite, but many writers add a disclaimer before posting their stories on mailing lists. They don't own the characters, nor the plot.
Yet JK Rowling's literary agent, for instance, has asked some internet service providers and website operators to remove any pornographic fanfic based on Harry Potter, simply because children would be able to access it. But this is an issue about internet policing rather than the act of writing itself. In fact, a representative for Rowling's agent states that "the general feeling is one of flattery" - as long as it's clear that the author isn't JK Rowling.
Original link includes this story at bottom.
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Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3836
hermionefan1 says:
I'm glad JKR said something about that "bad" stuff being linked to her. I mean kids can access anything bad that has Harry Potter in the context. I'm glad she has a good Agent on her side.
Posted Dec 9, 2003 at 10:46 PM EST
Astro Zombie
Points: 2577
Fallen Bomb says:
Websites can just name something like Harry Potter and people will go to it. Some fan-fics are far fetched and won't ever happen.
Posted Dec 9, 2003 at 10:49 PM EST
Points: 3950
CowsOJMilkSoil says:
Yea I'm a fan of fan-fics, but sometimes they're just taken to an inappropriate place and its just not right because Harry Potter is such a popular thing and its true, any little kid could come upon a fan-fic and read something that they just arent mature enough to read yet. Usually there are ratings that tell us if the fan-fic is appropriate for a certain age group though.
Posted Dec 9, 2003 at 10:58 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2391
HPN4eveRon says:
I like fan fics, but some are really bad! Like way unapropriate. I like reading Hermione/Ron fanfics the most.
Posted Dec 9, 2003 at 11:15 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2034
Professor Snape says:
I'm glad that J.K. realizes some of the problems that some people cause by putting filth under the name of something related to harry potter. there was some perv, i think in pittsburgh or somewhere who recently got busted becuase he had lots of porno websites that came up when you typed things that children associate with, harry potter was one of the ones mentioned. internet providers do have to get rid of it.
Posted Dec 9, 2003 at 11:22 PM EST
Student
Points: 295
Astarte says:
Fanfic is fun to read...but I don't think I would ever write any...if I am gonna spend the time writing something I want it to be my own original ideas and writing.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 12:28 AM EST
Head Boy
Points: 411
Dumbledores Army says:
This was exactly the way I would hope she would react to fan fics... just like a mother... heh.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 12:35 AM EST
Snape's Woman
(Moderator)
Points: 5392
Prof. Andaxia Moonstar says:
I'm glad to see JK feels fanfic is a form of flattery; it is. We love the characters and story enough to take time to explore other aspects of them. I am currently working on a HP fanfic, and if I ever get my fantasy series finished and actually published, I would support fanfic authors as well. I can understand authors who are afraid that their characters will be mangled, but I feel it is more important to be open to you raudience - the readers. And fanfics are great to read, allowing children (and adults) a way of expressing themselves, improving their writing skills, and exploring their imaginations.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 12:36 AM EST
Werewolf
(Moderator)
Points: 5479
MoonyDawn says:
Personally I dont like the pornographic fan fics but to each there own.
The sites that have them do need to be more secure. Or maybe those fan fics should be moved to a all adult website.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 12:37 AM EST
Witch
Points: 552
Gir Vasquez says:
People should have better things to do on their spare time, other than writing pornographic Harry Potter stories. If you really need to get the earge out then, keep it to yourself. Other people don't want to hear about it.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 12:44 AM EST
Half-Blood Prince
(Moderator)
Points: 943
Professor Scoots says:
I am glad to see that JKR likes or at least tolerates the fan fiction. I thought I had heard some time ago that she never reads any fan fiction for fear that it may effect her thinking about a certain character or storyline. It is also nice that she takes it for what it is, die hard fans wanting to add more to her world. Much of the fan fiction I have read is very good. There are many web sites where you can read some, for those that are interested.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 12:54 AM EST
The Girl Who Lived
Points: 4219
Tacha says:
Wow, really nice of JK, now all fanfic writers who write for all ages know that JK appreciates them and is flattered.
I haven't read a HP fanfic yet. Any recommendations?
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 4:30 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1397
Annacy says:
I am a fan of fan fiction but I also belive that they should be seprated, the adult orented ( sorry can't spell) should be kept to adult sites. Yes i do believe that the internet is not a babysitter and that parents should watch what their children do on the net, but sometimes the storys are put where kids can get at them and a parent just looking at the screen, looking but not reading, would just think they were reading another fan fiction.
I am also glad that JKR is looking into the fan fiction, maybe it is giving her some ideas ( hay we can always wish right, ha ha ha)
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 5:28 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 483
Gemmy says:
It's so wonderful that JK appreciates her fans and all the effort they put in to fan fiction. I personally have never been a fan of it - I prefer the booksm but I realised heaps of people write lengthy stories. I hate it when people just corrupt the series though and write pornographic stories! Some poeple may have some weird fetish for those ind of fan fictions, but if they do, they should at least keep them to adult-orientated stites!
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 5:52 AM EST
Witch
Points: 955
kab240 says:
I love reading fanfictions, but not when they are pornagraphic. Then I usually just leave the site or something.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 7:02 AM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
I am with DracoTMalfoy on the comment "the interent is not a baby sitter". Many parents today leave it up to the media and web site creators to teach their children the way of life. This is a huge soapbox for me as I am a teacher and see the effects of media-raising in my classroom.
I am very glad to hear the JKR is not offended by the fanfiction. For some people it is a cathartic release of all the emotions they harbour after reading a book. I like to see what other people think as well. These pieces of work are a credit to JKR. Her books not only inspire children and adults alike to read, but to write their own stories as well. Here's to a more literary world!
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 7:18 AM EST
Points: 549
Lady Aya says:
HA! Thats funny, ::ponders:: adult fanfiction, ::shudders::
Fanfics are always good, it helps people deal with the inbetween periods like now, and besides anything above r is well a little wrong though ive read some werid ones, not nameing bad bad! ::shudders:: ALEST we know they look or even read it! That would be so nice of Jk to review a fanfic!
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 8:33 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8934
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
This sounds like an appropriate response. It is flattering to have others take your characters and expand them. Who knows you might even give JKR some ideas. I also think it is proper for them to police the internet and stop flagrant violations or things that can damage the characters. The behavior and view is not a surprise.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 9:06 AM EST
Witch
Points: 645
Stage Violence says:
I think that anyone who would turn child book characters into written porn and children book admireres (especially children) into non-consenting readers of it, are horrible. I am ecstatic that JKRowling has stepped in and said something.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 9:35 AM EST
Points: 7828
Rococoed says:
I like to write and read fan-fiction, but the responsibility of reading fan-fiction with slash and other events that would be inappropiate for children rests with the parent. They should monitor their children while they are on the internet, and if not, at least caution your child not to read fan-fiction that is above a certain rating. Usually children do not heed the rating label, which leads to them reading the disturbing (in their view) story.
Fan-fiction is a literary genre' in which fans can write what they will think in the future of the series for others to see. I like to apply my theories about future books to my fan-fiction. Not just that, but fan-fiction is also a great way of improving your writing skills.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 9:57 AM EST
Magical Creature
Points: 3064
Phoenix Feather says:
I ampleased the JKR feels that fanfics are a form of flattery. I do think that pornographic ones are indeed in appropriate considering that the major fan base of these is children. I understand that 'to each his own' and all but the name Harry Potter does bring a certain expectation and there is a definite line not to cross.
I like that most sites do have a rating system so you know what to expect. It is the ones that don't and lure unsuspecting children that are the problem.
As a parent, I understand that my children are my responsibility but unfortunately, I can't stand over my child's shoulder every minute of every day. And there are some sites that can be searched that have inappropriate content.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 10:04 AM EST
Witch
Points: 611
Mdm Rosmerta says:
I think that the agents are making a great example of asking these porn sites to be removed.
However I don't think it will help at all. Some people are just sick - and don't care who knows it.
This is the problem with internet - there are some wonderful sites (like this one) but there as many, if not more sick sites.
This is why parents can have a kids-scanner thingy put on their computer that avoides pornsites.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 10:39 AM EST
Boy of Steel
Points: 4506
Superboy says:
I personally don't read any fan fiction, but I have heard of some of the bad stories that the Harry Potter characters are put into. While I don't like the pornographic situations, I don't think that "policing", removal, or censorship, is the answer.
I agree with other posters in that it is the responsibility of the parents to know what their child is viewing while on the internet. I also know that it is impossible to watch over their shoulders every second of everyday. To those people that cannot watch their children, I say this. Stop being such a cheap skate that blames other people for your own problems. In case you didn't know: There are software utilities that you can buy - which are relatively cheap - that filters out mature content on the internet. These utilities are password protected, so you dont have to worry about your kid trying to circumvent the protections. These utilties arent full proof, but they will do a fairly decent job of preventing adult oriented sites from reaching your childs eyes.
OK I'm done with my rant now, I shall ajourn to my small cupboard under the stairs...
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 11:07 AM EST
Student
Points: 223
dreamngirl24_7 says:
I think the name fanfic should be known be everyone already that it's written by fans... thus 'fan'fic. I agree with stage violence it is horrible to do that.
I don't like reading some fanfics because like Harry Potter they make stories that would never happen. Like Harry killing Voldemort with the death curse.
[b]It annoys me because
1.) He doesn't do dark magic
2.) Don't you think that someone would have done that by now.[/b[
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 11:11 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 308
davie7117 says:
I think peeps are really sad when they connect porno to Harry Potter.. I think it is cool that JK is telling them to let it be known she is not affiliated with it
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 11:21 AM EST
Points: 790
M. Sebastian says:
I agree with JKR's attitude toward fanfic. But why would anyone want to read pornographic fan fic about such beloved characters as Harry, Ron, and Emma. It is entirely inappropriate. Fanfic otherwise is fine and fun for the authors.
Posted Dec 10, 2003 at 3:28 PM EST
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