Harry Potter and the Flying Expediter

greg334 · Jul 20, 2007

Well I couldnâ€™t come up with a good name for the post (hey that would be a good name for a book!) but I am wondering for those who are parents, especially those who are devoted to your religion (any religion), do you, or will you allow your kid to purchase, read or posses a Harry Potter book?

and why or why not?

I only ask because I have to again go to the Mexican border and there again I will be offered the new Harry Potter book like I was yesterday for $10.00 â€“ yep it is a real copy.

terryandrene · Jul 20, 2007

Most of us reached adulthood in a reasonably normal fashion, after living thru Alice in Wonderland, Aesop's fabled Fabels, The House of Seven Gables, all manner of ghosts and goblins, and even the seven horny dwarfs. I think our progeny can handle a little witchcraft, however devilish it may be.

Tennesseahawk · Jul 21, 2007

Went to see Order of the Phoenix tonight. Wanted to take our 4 yr old, however, I'm glad we didn't. This movie is darker than all the others put together!

Harry Potter is a very entertaining series, at least on film. Growing up on Dungeons and Dragons, I have no prob with letting my chirlins watch or read it when they grow older. I've been pretty much allowed to choose my path as far as what I've read, played, or watched. I plan to let my kids do the same, to a great extent.

As far as the parents who think Harry Potter is a bad influence, I'd say they're limiting their childrens' potential by limiting their imagination.

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

cheri1122 · Jul 21, 2007

The first Harry Potter book was so long ago, I can't even remember whether my teenager read it first, or I did - we often read the same books, because a good story, like Harry Potter, is a treat for readers of all ages. With the second and third books, I can remember us hiding the books from each other, because we could only get one from the library, which we both wanted to read first, lol.
I just don't get the parents who object to their children reading Harry Potter - do they not trust the children to recognize fantasy? Do they ban any book that contains 'magic'? Do they really feel they're doing what's best for their children? I'd disagree with that, believing that if I teach my child to come to her own conclusions, then I've done the best that I can for her.

theoldprof · Jul 21, 2007

In one of my classes I had a deaf guy. He attended classes with a signing interpreter. The interpreter was reading the book while the deaf student was doing his classwork. I mentioned something about Harry Potter books. She said she wanted to read it before deciding to allow her kids to read it. I said something about the Bible Thumpers were all up in arms about the books. She mentioned that she was a Bible Thumper. Our conversation was cut short due to a student needing my help. Her kids probably didn't get to read Harry Potter.
:+ :+

greg334 · Jul 22, 2007

Well I got the latest one, $7 from some Mexican dude in a sombrero at one of these taco wagons, good tacos. I checked it against a real copy at Borders yesterday and yep same thing.

I am half way through it and got to tell you if they make a movie out of this one and it is like the book, no kid should see it - it is really a dark and rather twisted. but again I have been reading things like Count of Monte Cristo, the prince and other 'classics' lately.

I am not a big fan of Harry Potter books, I enjoyed the first two movies and not read any of the books until now but I understand that some parents allow their kids to read the book without hesitation, while others condemn it for its content, for me it has nothing to do with the witch craft or anything like that but it has to do with the story line and the darkness of the plots that make me wonder whats wrong with the person who writes it.

Critter Truckin · Jul 22, 2007

I would think that people that let religion get in the way of their kids reading an alleged chillens' (it's chillens Larry, not chilrens) book. Religion is way over-used as a barrier to what kids can do. It's used and used by the right as what everyone should base their lives on, and by the left as what's wrong with the world because the right is trying to shape us in their mold. Whatever parents decide, I think it might be a good time to let parents do their jobs. When I, and most other adults now, was a kid we could read almost anything that didn't involve killing or women's naughty bits. But oh well, the beat goes on.