Comments on: Harry Potter and the Annoying Fanbase http://robotmonkeypants.com/2007/07/23/harry-potter-and-the-annoying-fanbase/ It has nothing to do with Robots. It has nothing to do with Monkeys. It has nothing to do with Pants. It has everything to do with hurting. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:53:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Eric http://robotmonkeypants.com/2007/07/23/harry-potter-and-the-annoying-fanbase/comment-page-1/#comment-135 Eric Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:11:00 +0000 http://www.robotmonkeypants.com/2007/07/23/harry-potter-and-the-annoying-fanbase/#comment-135 You're setting up a false dichotomy here. Just because something is designed to appeal to children does not mean that it cannot also appeal to adults. In fact, it can be designed to appeal to both. The Simpsons fits into this category, as do the various animated films from Pixar. There are plenty of examples of books (particularly, but not limited to Science Fiction and Fantasy books) that are somewhat arbitrarily published and marketed in one but not both market segment, but have found large "crossover" audiences. I'd cite "Ender's Game" as an example of a book published "for adults" and "The Golden Compass" as an example of a book published "for children" that fit in this category. Don't get me wrong, I understand the urge for a backlash against the Harry Potter phenomenon, as the hype is unavoidable. And Harry Potter may not be your cup of tea--there's no reason that it needs to be. But in refusing to read "children's books" you are ignoring a heck of a lot of quality writing (along with, of course, plenty of dreck, just as in "adult books") just because someone else decided that children would enjoy them. You’re setting up a false dichotomy here. Just because something is designed to appeal to children does not mean that it cannot also appeal to adults. In fact, it can be designed to appeal to both. The Simpsons fits into this category, as do the various animated films from Pixar. There are plenty of examples of books (particularly, but not limited to Science Fiction and Fantasy books) that are somewhat arbitrarily published and marketed in one but not both market segment, but have found large “crossover” audiences. I’d cite “Ender’s Game” as an example of a book published “for adults” and “The Golden Compass” as an example of a book published “for children” that fit in this category.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the urge for a backlash against the Harry Potter phenomenon, as the hype is unavoidable. And Harry Potter may not be your cup of tea–there’s no reason that it needs to be. But in refusing to read “children’s books” you are ignoring a heck of a lot of quality writing (along with, of course, plenty of dreck, just as in “adult books”) just because someone else decided that children would enjoy them.

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