Out of character humor?

[Knight]

Did anyone find the "Can I see Uranus too, Lavender?" joke a little cruder than JKR's humor normally is? Of course I can't say for certain that she was intending the double meaning there, but it seems likely. I thought it was funny, but at the same time it seems more like a joke out of Saturday Night Live than a children's book.

[martinnyg]

Where is it in the book, plz not page but sequence because danish and english books don't have the same amount of pages.

[Knight]

First day of classes in their afternoon Divination classes. Lavender has an unaspected planet or something and Prof. Trelawny says it's Uranus.

[Da da da da da86]

I think you'll find that most fourteen year old boys are stupid like that. This isn't Rowling's style, it's Ron's.

[dobbygirl]

The kids are growing up, and their humor is likely to get a little cruder as they grow. I know when I was fourteen/fifteen (oh those many years ago....:sigh: ), the cruder the joke, the better. It's cheesy, but it's so like something a kid Ron's age would say.

[Cat]

Come off it! Every time we studied the planets at school at least one person made a joke of that type. Ron is definately that kind of person.

(I actually read an oh-so-intellectual essay on 'Why harry Potter is Evil' that used this line to say that the books were not only Satanic but a perversion to the minds of innocent children. Could anybody be more prudish than that? It's a very daft, rude joke but it's the kind that children think of).

I definately think Goblet of Fire is the rudest, though. In a good way. If you'd told me before that it was going to have a Uranus joke, the word 'privates' and an occasion of Harry being naked in the company of a girl (even a dead one) I simply wouldn't have believed you :D

[HogwartsChaplain]

Even my 9-year-old son got this joke. No big deal, to me. Normal for kids this age.

[HarryPotterFan01]

I don't find anything wrong with it. It's hilarious and it's something a 14 year old would say.

xoxo, Sabrina

[The Forsaken]

Yeah, I noticed that and I giggled because I was 14 when I read that book and the minute Professor Trelawny said that it was Uranus I thought that exact thing immediatly. Than, Ron said it and I immediatly began laughing out loud. That makes me think, maybe Ron has a thing for Lavender. Who knows?

[JenBluffheid]

Originally posted by dobbygirl
I know when I was fourteen/fifteen (oh those many years ago....:sigh: )

Huh! I'm not even there yet! :rolleyes:

Anyway, yes they are growing up so their humor will be different. For example, at 5 you think Teletubbies are funny, but at 12 you think the Carry On films are funny. :tu:

[Sarah]

I think this quote fits here.
Page 192 in the American (hardcover) version of GoF.

Harry grinned into his pillow, exceptionally glad that Ron couldn't see what he could. (He was thinking of Cho)

Now, I guess you could say it would be really great if a child didn't catch that meaning...

The thing is that they are growing up and I fear it won't be until like the 6th or 7th book before it stops.

I just hope the guys at school stop acting like that next year...

[Tarawyn]

It's the typical behavior of boys that age (unfourtunately). Their humor gets crude and they seem to get more immature (is that even possible?) To tell the truth, I didn't even notice that until you brought it up, but I know that boys around my age would understand it off the bat. Rowling is being realistic in Ron's behavior, which is something I'd expect--even if it's reinforcing some of my less-friendly thoughts on the humanity of teenage boys.

[JenBluffheid]

Harry grinned into his pillow, exceptionally glad that Ron couldn't see what he could.

Now, I thought that was completely OOC for Harry considering the past three books. I HATE that line; Cho is evil - no evidence, but I think she is. Voldie in disguise. Don't ask me where that came from - I do funny things at 12:29am.

I bet I wouldn't mind it if he was thinking about Hermione... :smile:

[Da da da da da86]

Guh? I don't really get that one...

[Sinistra]

Actually, I'm surprised the jokes have been so antisceptic.

Kids that age like crude bodily function type of humor. I remember one guy whose signature piece in school was making bodily function noises by blowing into the crook of his elbow. Or the hand in the armpit. And I would hope Harry would think about Cho "in that way" at the age of 14. Ron is a bit late in the same ideas--of course we don't have a window into his mind as we do to Harry.

At 14 I had my first boyfriend and we were in love.

And that Uranus joke has been around since about 2 hours after it was officially named. That was a few years after it was discovered in 1781 because it took a while for astronomers to decide what the official name should be--it was the first planet discovered since classical times.

[JenBluffheid]

The one where he's thinking about Cho... hang on, I'll get the full paragraph:

Book IIII, page 169/170 UK ed.

Harry rolled over in bed, a series of dazzling new pictures forming in his mind's eye ... he had hoodwinked the impartial judge into believing he was seventeen ... he had become a Hogwarts champion ... he was standing in the grounds, his arms raised in triumph in front of the whole school, all of whom were applauding and screaming ... he had just won the Triwizard tournament ... Cho's face stood out particularly clearly in the blurred crowd, her face glowing with admiration ...
Harry grinned into his pillow, exceptionally glad that Ron couldn't see what he could.

Ugh! Sickening stuff ...

[Sinistra]

Oh come on, Jen. The guy is fantasizing. That actually seemed to be very natural to me. And a bit of foreshadowing and irony, for most of that did come true, Harry's name did get into the goblet by hoodwinking the impartial judge. He did become a Hogwarts Champion. Harry was lauded in front of the whole school. Harry did co-win the Triwizard tournament. Cho's face did stand out in the crowd, but shining with silent tears when Dumbledore toasted Cedric at the leaving feast. This was a really interesting example of the old adage "you can get what you want, and still not be satisfied."

Poor Harry, he now has to be careful about what he fantasizes about. ;)

[Cat]

I must be an immature tomboy to have laughed at that joke, then! Ah, well, I can find cardboard amusing if I look at it for long enough.

[MagpieOnaga]

I never thought of that "fantasy" line as being dirty! I guess you could interpret it that way, but I don't think JK meant it to be.

[Da da da da da86]

Originally posted by Sinistra
Oh come on, Jen.

It sounds to me that Jen was being sarcastic with the sickening stuff remark. Am I wrong?

I still don't get it...

[daniel4hp]

Yeah, could someone please explain for Da da da da da86 and me?

[IndyPotter]

I always interpreted it that he didn't want Ron to see that he liked Cho.

[Knight]

I suppose I should clarify that I did not think it was out of character for Ron to say something like that. I agree with everyone else here that it fits him. However I thought it was a bit out of place for the series. When I read that I just thought, "Whoa, that was blatant." Not that it offended me or anything, it's just that even when there were occurances like Harry's Cho fantasy JKR writes it so that anything "naughty" is only the fault of whatever the reader chooses to envision what Harry is thinking about it. In Ron's Uranus bit it was just so front and center.

[hermownninny]

I know that what I'm going to ask is completely stupid...I must be the person with less sense of humor in the planet, or I just don't get boys' jokes....PLEASE..

Can someone explain me the Uranus's joke....Please... If you don't want to do it here...send me an email...please:sad:

[Knight]

It's a play on words as if Uranus was split up and sounds like the phrase "your [rude body part]".

[hermownninny]

OOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooooHHHHHhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Thanks Knight.....I don't deserve to be here...I couldn't even work out a joke.....

Thanks

[Knight]

Always happy to aid in the delinquincy of others.

[triki1988]

I honestly never thought of that Uranus joke and that whole Cho Chang deal in that way, I mean, it's Harry Potter and I didn't think Ms. Rowling would start writing about those things in that way..I just don't.

[Da da da da da86]

Originally posted by triki1988
I honestly never thought of that Uranus joke and that whole Cho Chang deal in that way, I mean, it's Harry Potter and I didn't think Ms. Rowling would start writing about those things in that way..I just don't.

What way? I'm in the dark.

[JephReeta]

My dad was reading the books to me and my family and when he read that part him and my mom busted up laughing. In fact, my dad's favorite part in all the books is in #4 when that one dude is wearing a women's nightie and he says he likes a healthy breeze blowing about his privates. I thought my dad was gonna choke to death he laughed so hard. Maybe I just have crude parents. Dunno?

[Tinkie]

as everyone has said, the boys are in an age where this kind of humour is considered really funny and natural, and the people that read the books understand that. personally, i dont find any harm in the joke. and lets not forget that as the story goes on, the students will grow older and thus the whole character of the books may change, as the in future books they may be more mature but they will also have to go through the characteristics of their age

[JenBluffheid]

Originally posted by Sinistra
Oh come on, Jen. The guy is fantasizing. That actually seemed to be very natural to me. And a bit of foreshadowing and irony, for most of that did come true, Harry's name did get into the goblet by hoodwinking the impartial judge. He did become a Hogwarts Champion. Harry was lauded in front of the whole school. Harry did co-win the Triwizard tournament. Cho's face did stand out in the crowd, but shining with silent tears when Dumbledore toasted Cedric at the leaving feast. This was a really interesting example of the old adage "you can get what you want, and still not be satisfied."

Poor Harry, he now has to be careful about what he fantasizes about. ;)


I guess ... but it's Cho, and, if you haven't guessed, I hate her, lol!

[daniel4hp]

Okay, can someone please explain the Smiling into the Pillow one? Past the fact that Harry's obviously fantacizing about Cho, I can't see anything wrong with this... but maybe its just me :(

[JenBluffheid]

No, it's just me hating Cho. Lol! I don't get a nice vibe off of her. Don't ask, heh!

I don't like Cho. poke:

[daniel4hp]

No, its not just you, Jen. Look at what Sarah said:


Harry grinned into his pillow, exceptionally glad that Ron couldn't see what he could.
(He was thinking of Cho)

Now, I guess you could say it would be really great if a child didn't catch that meaning...
This led me to think there was a double meaning...

[Romulus Lupin]

JKR mentioned in a chat once that she was surprised that "that dodgy joke about planets" made it past the publishers. This leads ME to wonder not how surprising it is that she slipped that in, but rather... what have we missed?

As for the alleged 'fantasy' Harry was having... we all perceive the world around us through our own individual filters. From my perspective, I just interpreted that to mean Harry was dreaming that Cho liked him. In visual terms: she was with him, smiling at him, MAYBE giving him a little kiss. I think anyone who interprets *anything* more than that (i.e. something sexual) out of the passage (and hey, let's look at it again):

Harry rolled over in bed, a series of dazzling new pictures forming in his mind's eye ... he had hoodwinked the impartial judge into believing he was seventeen ... he had become a Hogwarts champion ... he was standing in the grounds, his arms raised in triumph in front of the whole school, all of whom were applauding and screaming ... he had just won the Triwizard tournament ... Cho's face stood out particularly clearly in the blurred crowd, her face glowing with admiration ... Harry grinned into his pillow, exceptionally glad that Ron couldn't see what he could.

... is looking at it from their OWN filters, and inserting that passage into whatever framework is in their own mind. If people are interpreting this to mean Harry is having lurid and detailed fantasies about Cho jumping him, then it's because that's the way the READER thinks.

Harry's a bit shy. He was a little embarassed about the idea of anyone (including Ron) finding out how he felt about Cho (remember when Snape showed him the veritaserum in Potions class?) - but he is also respectful. Let's not attribute things to Harry that may not be there.
::holding up a piece of cardboard for Cat::

[The Forsaken]

I just wanna make something clear. No matter how old a guy is the Uranus joke is always funny, for the most part. Every six seconds guys thnk about something like that so you it makes it funny if your 14 or 44.

[daniel4hp]

[QUOTE]JKR mentioned in a chat once that she was surprised that "that dodgy joke about planets" made it past the publishers. This leads ME to wonder not how surprising it is that she slipped that in, but rather... what have we missed? [QUOTE]
Oh my... JK is into dirty jokes! Well, I hope the publishers continue to catch them--a few is okay, but I don't want the whole book to consist of them.

[JenBluffheid]

Originally posted by Daniel4hp
Oh my... JK is into dirty jokes! Well, I hope the publishers continue to catch them--a few is okay, but I don't want the whole book to consist of them.


*Snorts* Sorry... that just reminded me of my best friend, Stuart. He wrote a dictionary full of rude words... he's got way too much time on his hands, lol.

[dobbygirl]

I agree with Romulus Lupin. Anything can be interpreted as being "dirty", it depends upon who is reading it and how they perceive it.

I took the whole Cho fantasy as something totally innocent and that Harry just didn't want Ron (or anyone else) to know that he had a crush on Cho. Boys at that age can be brutal to each other when it comes to girls. Look at how Seamus and Dean laugh at Harry during the Yule Ball. That's just the tip of the iceberg.

[cristalfairy]

Originally posted by MagpieOnaga
I never thought of that "fantasy" line as being dirty! I guess you could interpret it that way, but I don't think JK meant it to be.

I have to agree with MagpieOnaga here,
If you ask me, he was glad Ron could not see him being the hero again, you know Ron can be a little jealous sometimes. And even if sometimes they share the limelight, this time Harry was having all the glory himself.

[daniel4hp]

Originally posted by MagpieOnaga
I never thought of that "fantasy" line as being dirty! I guess you could interpret it that way, but I don't think JK meant it to be.
I have to agree with MagpieOnaga here...
Interpret it what way? Maybe I am denser than the average person, and maybe I am more curious, but what other way could it be interpreted? As dobbygirl recently stated, I don't see anything wrong with it... but I don't see anything except Harry wanting to keep it away from Ron.

[Cho Chang]

Seriously, I don't think the humor is out of line. Ms. Rowling just gives the appropriate character to Ron and Harry. Just remember .. they are fourteen not eleven anymore. They are just acting their age. I won't be surprised if more of this will come in book 5!!! Besides I don't find anything wrong with the lines, they are actually quite entertaining!!!! :p

[raeredeyes]

I personally dont mind. I have been waiting for the group to grow up a little, its great to see them get older. It reminds me of what happened when i was their age.
Not like im old or anything...I remember making the uranus jokes in year 5, when we were doing the solar system.
Its just kids and their toilet humor.

[dumbleedore]

I laughed my head off at the uranus line. Even though it's been around for years, I can't help myself! Although, I have to admit, my filthy mind kicked in at the Harry fantasising bit and also when Harry was in the bathroom with Myrtle (what can I say. I have a very filthy mind) which goes back to it's how the reader interupts it. I perceived the situation differently (and wrote a very rude fan fic with Myrtle and Harry...)

[Romulus Lupin]

Originally posted by dumbleedore
Although, I have to admit, my filthy mind kicked in at the Harry fantasising bit and also when Harry was in the bathroom with Myrtle (what can I say. I have a very filthy mind) which goes back to it's how the reader interupts it. I perceived the situation differently (and wrote a very rude fan fic with Myrtle and Harry...)

No further questions. :D

[Fleur]

Ron's a 14 year old boy. Isn't that kind of humor expected? :p ;D

[groovypokie]

I found it very funny since it just fit for Ron to say that. It seems to me not everyone catches the jokes JK puts into the book. I guess that's sometimes good considering young people are reading these books.

[dumbleedore]

Originally posted by Romulus Lupin
No further questions. :D

Wise decsision. Very wise :p

[Sam]

I think it's simply the three of them growing up and becoming more and more aware of their bodies. (And proper names for body parts..that we all think are funny--admit it.)

Not only that, I also caught the part in GoF, when they were walking around before the Quiddich World Cup. Remember this:

Page 84, GoF, US version.
"I bought them in a Muggle shop, " said the old wizard stubbornly. "Muggles wear them."
"Muggle women wear them, Archie, not men, they wear these said the Ministry wizard, and he brandished the pinstriped trousers.
"I'm not putting them on," said old Archie in indignation, "I like a healthy breeze 'round my privates, thanks."
Hermione was overcome with a such a strong fit of giggles at this point that she had to duck out of the queue and only returned when Archie had collected his water and moved away.


I loved that part. It just shows that they are kids. If anyone reads more into it, they really need to get a life.

[cristalfairy]

Originally posted by dumbleedore
I laughed my head off at the uranus line. Even though it's been around for years, I can't help myself! Although, I have to admit, my filthy mind kicked in at the Harry fantasising bit and also when Harry was in the bathroom with Myrtle (what can I say. I have a very filthy mind) which goes back to it's how the reader interupts it. I perceived the situation differently (and wrote a very rude fan fic with Myrtle and Harry...)

The witness is excused.

[JenBluffheid]

Book IIII
"I bought them in a Muggle shop, " said the old wizard stubbornly. "Muggles wear them."
"Muggle women wear them, Archie, not men, they wear these said the Ministry wizard, and he brandished the pinstriped trousers.
"I'm not putting them on," said old Archie in indignation, "I like a healthy breeze 'round my privates, thanks."
Hermione was overcome with a such a strong fit of giggles at this point that she had to duck out of the queue and only returned when Archie had collected his water and moved away.

Now I didn't expect that! I thought Hermione would just glare or something, but she laughed!

Go girl! Lol.

:D

[Tarawyn]

Well, they need some human characteristics. Rowling exaggerates her character types and families, making them as far as they can go in their very obvious fields. Their behaviors, even their flaws, are perfect. While these are still typical and obvious, they hit closer to home. The boys laugh at the "mature" jokes and the girls giggle at their mention. Everyone their age does that, and it doesn't matter to what degree.

[Ghost]

I was a little surprised at first but I laughed. It's only to be expected, It's just I can't help thinking of them as all wee ickle firsties. :p


Originally posted by dumbleedore
I laughed my head off at the uranus line. Even though it's been around for years, I can't help myself! Although, I have to admit, my filthy mind kicked in at the Harry fantasising bit and also when Harry was in the bathroom with Myrtle (what can I say. I have a very filthy mind) which goes back to it's how the reader interupts it. I perceived the situation differently (and wrote a very rude fan fic with Myrtle and Harry...)

...


Call the witness back to the stand! I'd like to question her further... http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/sauer/sauer032.gif

*edit sorry :o

[cristalfairy]

Originally posted by FluffyRedux
Call the witness back to the stand! I'd like to question him further... http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/sauer/sauer032.gif

That was priceless:rotfl: ,
but mind you, do so at your own risk:rotfl:

[jimi5150]

I've read over this thread several times...
I keep getting the feeling
Sarah thinks it said "Harry GRINDED into his pillow".
Now THAT'S naughty.

[dumbleedore]

Originally posted by FluffyRedux
Call the witness back to the stand! I'd like to question him further...

First, I am a she. I choose gender ambiguous names.

So, what would you like to question me over? My filthy mind? My perverted ideas for Harry? Do you want a plot synopsis?

[Ghost]

Originally posted by dumbleedore


First, I am a she. I choose gender ambiguous names.

So, what would you like to question me over? My filthy mind? My perverted ideas for Harry? Do you want a plot synopsis?

Doh... Sorry! Even with the gender smilies I still can't tell the difference :o

Heheheh... well I am wondering how a human and a ghost could possibly get up to no good... http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/teufel/teufel041.gif

[dumbleedore]

Originally posted by FluffyRedux
Heheheh... well I am wondering how a human and a ghost could possibly get up to no good...

Ah yes, that was a problem to me at first. Until I sent Harry back in time and bought Myrtle forward that is...

Next question.

[daniel4hp]

You brought Myrtle forward in time? But she was a ghost when Harry was naked...

How did you envision the Pillow scence? A detailed account, please.

[dumbleedore]

Originally posted by daniel4hp
How did you envision the Pillow scence? A detailed account, please.

How did I imagine it? If I want to keep this post as a G rating, I can't go into details...

[cristalfairy]

dumbleedore, I take it you have some slash fanfic? if so where can we read it?:whistle:
By the way daniel4hp love your smilies brow:clappy:

[daniel4hp]

Well, then, Dumbleedore, you can PM me and give me the details! :)

[Eva]

Hehe...I think we're all reading into this a little too much. I just thought that they showed that they're normal kids. I thought that the Archie scene was hilarious though.:rotfl:

[dumbleedore]

Originally posted by cristalfairy
dumbleedore, I take it you have some slash fanfic? if so where can we read it?:whistle:

You can't read it. At least not here. It's saved on a disk, which I have locked in the safe at work (so my parents don't find it)...

Originally posted by daniel4hp
Well, then, Dumbleedore, you can PM me and give me the details!

I would, but in order to keep myself from laughing like an immature git for the next three weeks, I won't.

I think I need a title thing under my name warning people that I can mis-read anything... and I won't go into that...

[Aoife Diggle]

I took the pillow thingy as being totally innocent, Harry was just day-dreaming that Cho liked him, but this is something he doesn't want Ron to know about.

As for the Uranus joke and yer man in the nightie with the breeze about his privates, I must have the mind of a 14 year old boy so because I still crack up every time I read them!!

[Cat]

Originally posted by Aoife Diggle

As for the Uranus joke and yer man in the nightie with the breeze about his privates, I must have the mind of a 14 year old boy so because I still crack up every time I read them!!

Me too! But, then, I laugh at the jokes in Christmas crackers. If somebody says the word 'bottom' it puts me in a fit of giggles.

*Sigh* and I'll be eighteen soon.

[Katze]

I thought it seemed totally in character for Ron. Kids are going to say things like this, and I would think the story would be lacking if Rowling didn't include stuff like while she includes the awkward crushes happening amongst the children.

[JoFaye]

I never thought of the Cho fantasy that way before, but I will from now on. lol

[Ame]

I still crack up at the Uranus joke, no matter how many times I read it. And honestly, can you imagine anyone other than Ron saying that comment. And the breeze about his privates, still makes me giggle. And I am a college student... honestly, I don't think you can ever totally grown out of silly, crude comments like that.

[Lee]

I giggle at almost all of J.K.Rowling's jokes in the books... including the Uranus and Archie ones.

I wasn't sure how to interpret the "grinning into the pillow" and hoping that Ron couldn't see... but if you read it again, it seems that Rowling is simply talking about Cho's face in the crowd... or am I being naive?

BTW, Ron's sense of humour is the same as mine, and I'm fifteen.

[PineFresh]

Hermione was overcome with a such a strong fit of giggles at this point that she had to duck out of the queue and only returned when Archie had collected his water and moved away.

1)You'll notice that's Hermione laughing (a girl! [though Ron didn't see it until half way through :-D ] )
2)I laughed for about five minutes

As for the Uranus joke, we've all heard that. I still laugh at it :-D


As for those of you who don't understand the other interpretation of the Harry-fantasy thing, I won't go into detail because there are some pretty young kids on this site, but let's just say it's a certain aspect of puberty involving teenage guys and girls, and just leave it at that, okay? If you really want the details, well, *hehe*, just take it to be the work of our dirty,dirty,dirty minds.

I'll say I never interpreted the pillow dream to be dirty. When I think about a guy I like, I always feel happy, and really glad that it's a secret, and that other people don't know how I feel. I think Harry's the same way. He's just dreaming about girls. I think it's kinda cute!

[Ame]

:sigh: No matter, how many times I read the pillow scene (Now that you've all brought it back to my attention...) I can't see it as anything than Harry dreaming of being the champion and Cho admiring him, even liking him, for it. It seems innocent enough... maybe I'm missing something.

Pinefresh is right, he's just dreaming about the girl he likes sharing the same feelings. I can't see that being interpreted any other way.

[MissPotterHead]

Yes, that quote has always bothered me in some sort of way. I think it's really funny, though it doesn't seem like Ron to say something of that perverted sort. Though, it is hard to keep your character's personalities in check. Who knows, maybe JK meant that. It could've been the beginning of Ron's entering of the hormonal stage of being crude and stupid, like all teenage boys at that time. In GoF, he becomes more teenageish, so that's a possibility...

[harryton]

hmm never seen it before (shows you how well i read ) :)

it actually doesnt bother me that much, its just normal like any other phrase, but i dont think this was Jk rowling idea :)

[Cat]

Originally posted by MissPotterHead
Yes, that quote has always bothered me in some sort of way. I think it's really funny, though it doesn't seem like Ron to say something of that perverted sort. Though, it is hard to keep your character's personalities in check. Who knows, maybe JK meant that. It could've been the beginning of Ron's entering of the hormonal stage of being crude and stupid, like all teenage boys at that time. In GoF, he becomes more teenageish, so that's a possibility...

Crude, yes. Perverted, no! It wasn't perverted, it had the same deliverance of a fart joke. It pops up eight times out of ten in any high school study of the planets.

[FatalBeauty]

Originally posted by MagpieOnaga
I never thought of that "fantasy" line as being dirty! I guess you could interpret it that way, but I don't think JK meant it to be.

I never thought of that as being dirty either. I just thought that Harry was fantasizing about Cho liking him and didn't want Ron to know about his feelings.

[Cat]

Originally posted by Marina
As for the Uranus joke, I don't want to burst your bubbles but it's actually pronounced Your-ah-noos, not Your-you-know-what (Cho).

How come I've never heard it pronounced your way, then?

[dr_strangelove]

ok, can i add one more reference? i don't have the quote, but i'm sure you'll all remember it... what about hagrid and his blast-ended skrewts? something to the effect of "i think the ones with the stingers are the males and the ones with the sucker mouths are the females" (please correct me if you have the quote handy)... not a 14-yr old saying it, but the humour is still definately 14, or very freudian...

and for the uranus joke, i don't see how you can think j.k. didn't mean it when she mentioned it in an interview

[Cat]

Originally posted by dr_strangelove
ok, can i add one more reference? i don't have the quote, but i'm sure you'll all remember it... what about hagrid and his blast-ended skrewts? something to the effect of "i think the ones with the stingers are the males and the ones with the sucker mouths are the females" (please correct me if you have the quote handy)... not a 14-yr old saying it, but the humour is still definately 14, or very freudian...


I'd go for Freudian. I think they probably are suckers and stings, but Rowling gave them to the different genders by connection.

[pegoheart144]

Originally posted by daniel4hp
Okay, can someone please explain the Smiling into the Pillow one? Past the fact that Harry's obviously fantacizing about Cho, I can't see anything wrong with this... but maybe its just me :(

I don't understand what's wrong with that either. Harry actually seems like (just what he is) a fourteen year old boy who would like to impress a girl he has a crush on. That seems healthy to me. :??:

[dr_strangelove]

Originally posted by pegoheart144
I don't understand what's wrong with that either. Harry actually seems like (just what he is) a fourteen year old boy who would like to impress a girl he has a crush on. That seems healthy to me. :??:

ok, certain people are not getting this, and although i'm not quite sure i agree with the interpretation, i'm sick of seeing people ask what it means, so i will try to explain in as ungraphic (is that a word?) a way as possible

there are two ways you could interpret this line crudely:

1- he is imagining something pornographic, and he would be embarrassed if ron knew what he was imagining
2- when a young boy gets excited, certain parts of his body might tend to also get excited, but this can fortunately be hidden with the aid of a pillow

and if that's still too crude, i'm sorry, but the sexual humour does exist.

[pegoheart144]

I'm sorry I still don't see how you can interpret that that way. Harry had a stronger reaction when he met Cho for the first time before the Gryffindor/Ravenclaw Quidditch Match in Prizoner of Azkaban. Now that had sexual overtones. This scene does not.

There is also more sexual overtones with Moaning Myrtle spying on him in the Prefects' Bathroom.

[dr_strangelove]

Originally posted by pegoheart144
I'm sorry I still don't see how you can interpret that that way. Harry had a stronger reaction when he met Cho for the first time before the Gryffindor/Ravenclaw Quidditch Match in Prizoner of Azkaban. Now that had sexual overtones. This scene does not.

There is also more sexual overtones with Moaning Myrtle spying on him in the Prefects' Bathroom.

i agree with you pegoheart, and i was considering adding that myrtle section myself. harry makes her cover her eyes so he can get out, but she definately wants to peek :eyebrows:

[pegoheart144]

How do we know that Moaning Myrtle hasn't "peaked" before? Makes a person want to check twice before getting into the shower. You never know who might be watching.:o

[dr_strangelove]

both myrtle and that mermaid were watching when cedric was taking a bath! but the mermaid slept through harry's bath... she must be into the more athletic type :eyebrows:

[Flea Fly]

Originally posted by Cat
Come off it! Every time we studied the planets at school at least one person made a joke of that type. Ron is definately that kind of person.

(I actually read an oh-so-intellectual essay on 'Why harry Potter is Evil' that used this line to say that the books were not only Satanic but a perversion to the minds of innocent children. Could anybody be more prudish than that? It's a very daft, rude joke but it's the kind that children think of).

I definately think Goblet of Fire is the rudest, though. In a good way. If you'd told me before that it was going to have a Uranus joke, the word 'privates' and an occasion of Harry being naked in the company of a girl (even a dead one) I simply wouldn't have believed you :D

I loved that!
I remeber reading a JK interview where she said that her characters grow up the way they're supposed to and eventually even develop sexual feelings for each other (nothing disgusting, but only natural) She said that is what sets her apart from say Enid Blyton where Enid's characters got older but still acted prepubescent.
I think it's great that she has such a good understanding of how kids grow up (you know how some writers seem to forget their childhood and teens and their books don't have as much depth)
sure Uranus was "out of character for JK" but not for Ron, and quite frankly i was surprised that she hadn't used one of those classics earlier.
I don't see anything wrong with the "fantasy" thing either, even if it had sexual connotations. Oh and the "healthy breeze around my privates" quote made me laugh so much, that better be in the movie cos it's absolutely pricelss. I get the funniest images of a funny little wizard saying that.
Look in my opinion things will get "steamier" as the series progresses but it's only NATURAL for kids their age and anyone who finds it rude or out of place really needs to rethink things. It's just a book!


As for all this "satanic" crap. Well quiter frankly it makes me sick. I read that in some little town in the USA where they burnt HP books for their "satanic" nature.
Absolute bloody bollocks if you ask me, what right do they have to burn books!

Gets me so angry

cheers

[Cat]

Originally posted by pegoheart144
I'm sorry I still don't see how you can interpret that that way.

Me neither. It's a bit pervy of people to interpret it that way, actually. The thought immediately followed fantasies about Cho cheering him. He's embarassed of Ron ever knowing he has such twee thoughts about a girl.

[Sherlock Holmes]

Originally posted by Cat
Me neither. It's a bit pervy of people to interpret it that way, actually. The thought immediately followed fantasies about Cho cheering him. He's embarassed of Ron ever knowing he has such twee thoughts about a girl.

Yeah me too. I was a little surprised to hear that other people had imagined something...different. When I was 13 or 14 I didn't want ANYBODY to know what girls I liked, cause I would've gotten teased mercilessly. Come to think of it, I still keep my "likes" secret, at least for awhile. :)

[Bixie]

OK the Cho thing boys (and girls) at that age start liking the opposite sex but don't want the friends to know 'cos they'll get ribbed about it (speaking from experience here) that's why Harry was glad Ron couldn't see what he was imaging.

As for the Uranus thing - I'm sorry but i'm way past school age and as soon as i read it i laughed out loud, not least 'cos i remembered we thought it was just as funny when i was at school - and that was right through from juniors to secondary.

[pegoheart144]

Originally posted by Cat
Me neither. It's a bit pervy of people to interpret it that way, actually. The thought immediately followed fantasies about Cho cheering him. He's embarassed of Ron ever knowing he has such twee thoughts about a girl.

That and he didn't want Ron to know that he was secretly hoping to be Hogwarts Champion and win the Triwizard Tournament. That was also part of the fantasy.

[Flea Fly]

That's a very good point. I remember being in yr 7 at school and liking this guy, man it was hell!

cheer s

[Carryn SkyDancer]

I never thought the line about Cho was dirty. In fact, I didn't think it was about Cho. I always took that to mean that Harry was glad Ron couldn't see that he wanted to be in the Tournament.

[mrsweasley]

I think the Uranus joke is a classic and it's completely in Ron's character to make that a joke. It's his age, but he's also got 2 older brothers who are serious jokesters. So, some of it's got to rub off on Ron. Just because they're wizards doesn't mean they humorless or don't get crushes like all kids do.
The humor is necessary to off-set all the darkness. Both literally and figuratively.

[pegoheart144]

Originally posted by Carryn SkyDancer (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=149702#post149702))
I never thought the line about Cho was dirty. In fact, I didn't think it was about Cho. I always took that to mean that Harry was glad Ron couldn't see that he wanted to be in the Tournament.
That's how I interpret that fantasy sequence of Harry's.

[FoolOnTheHill]

Hehe.... I've enjoyed reading through this thread. :D

I admit it has crossed my mind when I'm reading the fantasy part that Harry may be doing something that teenage boys just love to do. But in reality I think he probably wasn't, and I don't think JKR meant for it to be like that.

And about the Uranus joke, I thought it was great. When I was 14, me and my friends made jokes so much worse than that. We really shouldn't be criticizing Ron. If she made him sound like some of the boys I knew when I was 14, then we could, but she makes him look like a perfect angel compared to them.

[harp230]

Yeah.. that uranus joke just sounds like something a 14 year old would say... I would agree that if that is the worst he can come up with he would be an angel. Of the stories I have heard about some fourth or fifth graders I have heard at my school( I am an elementary school teacher), but that is a whole other topic.....

Anyway.. As far as Harry goes I am sure that he just doesn't want Ron to know he likes Cho. Harry worried enough just to mention that there were any good looking girls at Hogwarts....

[Mandragora]

Although the uranus joke is somthing a 14 year old boy would say, it seems slightly out of charecter for Ron ( not that anything ron does is ooc since the original author wrote it.......however) Ron may even say it some other time, but it just seems strange that he would say it in Lavender's presence. It sounds more ike somthing Seamus would say, and Ron and Harry would just laugh at. But I guess it could just be Ron growing up in his own little way.

[Michelle]

Can anyone tell me what Uranus means (apart from a planet name)? My native language is not English and even the dictionary doesn't have it! Pleeease!

[Virtuousdream]

Erm, I don't really know of a way to put it politely, but I'll try and mods feel free to "adapt" if it's a little too strong.

Uranus
Ur - sounds like "your"
Anus - is the part of the body where your get rid of your waste (I'm trying...it's hard to be polite!)

Erm, that was hard! PM me if you still don't understand and I'll try to explain less politely :P

BTW, great thread, I laughed so much with the witness and slash fiction bit on page 2 rofl

[Michelle]

Got it!! Thank you so much!

[*Stacy*]

I've always loved how JKR uses the uranus joke for Ron, I think its definitely part of his character and just funny crude humor for 14 year old boys. Also, I say it's part of his character, because you can note how many times throughout the books JKR will write something like, "Ron called Malfoy something he would never say out loud around his mother" or something like that, I'm too lazy to look it up. Anyway, Ron i'm sure learned quite a bit of crude language growing up with so many older brothers, and I think it adds to his character.

[marspeach]

I thought the Uranus joke was funny too, and definitely not out of character. Kids younger than Ron do and say much worse stuff. That's clean compared to real life. I didn't think Harry's fantasy with Cho was dirty. Maybe they kissed or something. I just took it as Harry not wanting Ron to know he liked Cho.

[butitstoolate]

Maybe she made it look both ways so for older fans... they interpret it one way and for younger fans... they think about it another way..... i dont know. :)

But i liked the Uranus line too.. It was funny... (They will probably cut it out of the movie though.. but thats what makes the books better)

[Picko]

The bit where Harry is fantasising about Cho is completely innocent. The smile is directly related to the dream ie. Cho is cheering emphatically at Harry being Hogwarts champion. Harry is clearly happy - and hence smiling - because he is getting attention from a girl he has a crush on.

What others have read into this is ridiculous. We know exactly what is in the fantasy because JK describes it, there is nothing more to it.

[Cat]

Originally posted by butitstoolate (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=337542#post337542))
Maybe she made it look both ways so for older fans... they interpret it one way and for younger fans... they think about it another way.....


The Cho Chang thing? Well, I'm an older fan and I still think it's silly to believe that Harry was thinking anything but what Ms Rowling told us he was thinking. In fact, it's absurd. Get the idea out of your head, people!

[Alastor D]

Originally posted by Cat (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=339258#post339258))
The Cho Chang thing? Well, I'm an older fan and I still think it's silly to believe that Harry was thinking anything but what Ms Rowling told us he was thinking. In fact, it's absurd. Get the idea out of your head, people!


Being a somewhat older fan I completely agree with Cat. I can't see anything of what some of you call 'dirty' here.

[fawkesthepheonix]

Originally posted by Cat (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=16386#post16386))
I must be an immature tomboy to have laughed at that joke, then! Ah, well, I can find cardboard amusing if I look at it for long enough.

:rotfl: I totally agree! But I'm more of a "hey look, something shiny!" kind of person.

[FredRocksMySocks]

i liked it. i thought it was very age-appropriate and kind of an introduction into the teenage years that harry is going to face...

[Morgan LeFay]

Well, I read those books in polish and english, but I didn't get those jokes (I've been wondering for years what this Uranus joke could mean, thank you for explanation!). The uranus one in polish was less crude, but more naughty. But very funny also. I'll try to explain it.

Uranus is an orb. In polish orb means the same as body. It's called "blue body", if you translate word for word. So Lavender said: "Oooh, I have an unexpected orb ("blue body") here! Professor, what could it be?"
"It's Uranus my dear".
Ron: "Can I also have a look at Lavender's body?"

Well, Trelawney was disgusted. ;)

[Cat]

OOTP was ruder. Snogging trousers and cursing buttocks... great stuff!

[WeasleyIsOurKing]

OOTP was ruder. Snogging trousers and cursing buttocks... great stuff!


Hey, don't forget the boils that Fred and George got as a side effect of their Snackboxes... were they located on their rear end or somewhere else?

[[Pretty]_[Unicorn]]

I isn't adult terminology, it is just kid's fun. Kids make jokes about that and the joke to Lavender is how Ron's sense of humor works, he likes jokes like that, he didn't mean it in a disgusting making fun of you way, boys just do that because they know how girls are sensitive and they like to push the limit a bit.

"It was just a bit of fun, Gandalf." -Bilbo Baggins

[xXillusion]

I didn't get this joke, not even at school. I wondered why this guys was like "It's UUUUranus, not UrAnus"

maybe it's because I'm not a native English speaker?

[genesis]

I didn't get this joke, not even at school. I wondered why this guys was like "It's UUUUranus, not UrAnus" maybe it's because I'm not a native English speaker?
The joke is what Ron is truly saying is your anus. This is a very popular joke with teenage boys. The way it is most often pronounced is ur-a-nus. It really was a bad, bad joke.

[Culte Ventosus]

The thing which struck me as being a bit odd before I saw this thread is that JKR repeated this joke during the battle in the Ministry. Ron, after having been hit with a spell which affected him mentally, said "we saw Uranus up close, Harry"...Since the joke is bound to give ammunition to critics of the series, repeating it is probably for a purpose. Does it really show an earthy side to Ron? I wonder if it means anything at all...

[niffler12]

I think you'll find that most fourteen year old boys are stupid like that. This isn't Rowling's style, it's Ron's.
It's true, but everyone found it absolutely hilarious when I was in the fifth grade. But Ron's around 14 of 15 isn't he? No bother, I still giggled when I read it. I think maybe also it was to get Lavender to shut up, she kept buttering up to Trelawney. Ron does have a certain talent for sarcastic and cheeky humor. He also said "Harry, we saw Uranus up close! Get it?" in his giggly fit in the DoM.
Hmm....
Classic Ron...

[asrivathsan]

yeah it is typical ron. But it in a way 'over typical'.

[Allemande]

LOL without making this too crude:
some things I picked up on are (some of which are mentioned elsewhere)
In GoF, at the weighing of the wands part, when Ollivander says to Cedric his wand is in excellent condition, and Cedric, grinning, says he "polished it" last night :rotfl:
If you don't get that, just ask me
Also, in the Prefect bathroom scene with Harry, when Myrtle says she sometimes comes to watch the prefects take baths, and said she watched Cedric, added something like "he sat there for ages and ages...nearly all the bubbles had gone" LOL
and, also in the prefect scene, it says, after Myrtle talked to Harry, that he "bent his knees to make sure she couldn't see anything" :rotfl:
what can I say, I'm immature

[CyrusTheGreat]

(LOL. Good stuff Allemande)

For other immature people out there. In OotP, Chapter Twelve pg. 242 hardcover ed. Ron is in arguing with Umbridge... and i quote "`We're not going to use magic?' Ron Ejaculated loudly "...I thought that kind of thing was out of line in class rooms. lol!:eyebrows:

[paloma]

Speaking of the prefect bathroom scene, what about the painting of the mermaid?

Harry: "Myrtle, there aren't merpeople in there, are there?"
Myrtle: "Ooh, very good," she said, "it took Diggory much longer than that! And that was with her awake too"--Myrtle jerked her head toward the mermaid with an expression of great dislike on her glum face--"giggling and showing off and flashing her fins..."

"Fins" indeed :evil: :rotfl: :p

[spencer_darby]

I think it was out of Ron's character. Ron giggled like a little girl when he found out that Harry had kissed Cho. If he's that uncomfortable with those things who says he's comfortable enough to talk about the human anatomy?

[Iceager]

I can only say some people are reading probably too much into that grinning into the pillow bit. I see what they must be thinking about, but that's really too much of a stretch to get out of what is there in the text, and I doubt that was ever intended.

But for all of you with impure minds, here's a list of lines worth taking a look at, from the thread funny HP lists! erm...PG-13...just warning (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=44051).
Top ten 'Dirtiest Sounding Lines in HP': (A/N: Is it just me, or do most of them belong to Ron?)
10. "Now don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" -- Flitwick, PS. (Is that really what teachers teach at Hogwarts? 'Cause it's nothing like what they teach us here....)
9. "My own brother, Aberforth, was prosecuted for practicing inappropriate charms on a goat." -- Dumbledore, GoF. (On a side note, isn't it scary to think that Dumbledore might be the normal one in the family?)
8. "Does he still think I entered myself?" -- Harry, GoF. (Ahem.)
7. "I see what McGonagall meant... you really are a natural." -- Wood, PS. (You know, I don't think that's what Oliver was supposed to be checking... and I'm not sure I want to know how McGonagall found out....)
6. "...don't fulfil their requirements... half an inch..." -- Nearly Headless Nick, CoS. (I'm sorry -- half an inch of what?)
5. "So? I bet loads of people here can do it." -- Harry, CoS. (He's so modest. ^_~)
4. "You won't have to do all the work this time, Hermione. I'll help." -- Ron, PoA. (Isn't that nice of him? ^_~)
3. "Can I see Uranus too, Lavender?" -- Ron, PoA. (A guilty line needs no accuser...)
2. "Fred said it hurt a lot, but I think he was joking." -- Ron, PS. (::laughs evilly::)
AND THE #1 DIRTIEST SOUNDING LINE IN HP IS:
1. "Stupid, useless thing!" -- Ron, CoS. (::snickers::)

I must confess there are a couple of these I don't get, but the others are hilarious.

[Solo Light]

Does it occur to anyone that Moody could quite easily have been a pervert/paedophile...I mean he could see through childrens clothes!



Harry: "Myrtle, there aren't merpeople in there, are there?"
Myrtle: "Ooh, very good," she said, "it took Diggory much longer than that! And that was with her awake too"--Myrtle jerked her head toward the mermaid with an expression of great dislike on her glum face--"giggling and showing off and flashing her fins..."

"Fins" indeed :evil: :rotfl: :p

Haha that made me laugh..."Fins" indeed lol.... funny stuff :rotfl:

[wol]

I've heard of those who've read a bit more into Hermione's 'broomstick servicing kit' gift to Harry than was perhaps intended...

On a related note, isn't it interesting how most of us can supply the missing expletive with great precision when it's noted in the text that someone swears? For instance, Harry about Percy when he first learns about Percy's estrangement from the family. Or exactly what he said to Luna when she told him how rude he was being.

[Allemande]

Does it occur to anyone that Moody could quite easily have been a pervert/paedophile...I mean he could see through childrens clothes!

Yes, that strikes me everytime I read that part...Parvati saying "I don't think that eye should be allowed!" completely reinforces it

[kenmarekestrel]

Does it occur to anyone that Moody could quite easily have been a pervert/paedophile...I mean he could see through childrens clothes!
That thought definitely crossed my mind the first time I read GoF but then I realised it was the fake Moody that looked through Harrys robes at his socks but the real one gave no indication of using it for that purpose. He seems to be able to choose what to look through.

For other immature people out there. In OotP, Chapter Twelve pg. 242 hardcover ed. Ron is in arguing with Umbridge... and i quote "`We're not going to use magic?' Ron Ejaculated loudly "...I thought that kind of thing was out of line in class rooms. lol!
I thought this was a gee-up because in the Bloomsbury edition it is exclaimed but when I looked it up in my scholastic paperback (which I havent read yet) it was there! What was the editor thinking?! :rotfl:

That list Iceager posted above is hilarious! :rotfl: Its amazing how you can take anything out of context.

The uranus joke was around when I was in 3rd grade and the things we knew when we were 14 would shock our mothers. One of my most memorable school memories was the day when the hot young PD/PE teacher had to teach us sex ed. I think we taught him more than he taught us! I never knew a bloke could go that red! :lol:

I dont think anything in the HP books is out of line. There is always undertones that older people get that go straight over a childs head in any book or show. If they get it, they are ready for it.

[ArtemisiaDax]

There's a Fun-Tastic HP Innuendo List (of out-of-context OotP quotes) here:
http://www.clockwork-harlequin.net/harry_potter/smut.html

[hp007]

I've been wondering about that too. JKR's usual sense of humor is quite different than this. At first, i thought, maybe it was just me and that there WAS no double meaning, but then i read the line after that, which goes, "Lavender gave him a dirty look"...something (not sure about the exact line). Now WHY would she give him a dirty look if Ron didn't intend the double meaning and she didn't get it? I understand that most boys are really immature and stupid at that age, but all the same, i was quite surprised when i read that line. I didn't expect JKR to insert a joke like that in her books. but oh well! it was pretty hilarious even though it was definitely a PG-13 joke.

[Raven_Girly]

I think you'll find that most fourteen year old boys are stupid like that. This isn't Rowling's style, it's Ron's.

:agree: Exactly what I was thinking. The boys in my class have been cracking up whenever the teacher mentions that planet since we were like, ten. In fact, they still do it now. Boys are so immature, and it's just like a boy to make a joke like that! :p

[Bunny]

I enjoyed this joke. It made me chuckle
I'm afraid that I'm of the English generation that grew up with this sort of humour, and although I believe there are certain aspects of life that JK won't put into HP, a little lavatorial humour isn't one of them.
JK is trying to round her characters off and as they are teenage boys where anything to do with anatomy is embarassing and interesting at the same time, it easier to make jokes.
i liked it. i thought it was very age-appropriate and kind of an introduction into the teenage years that harry is going to face... Yep I agree. :tu:

[ArtemisiaDax]

I didn't expect JKR to insert a joke like that in her books. but oh well! it was pretty hilarious even though it was definitely a PG-13 joke.

It's more like a third or fourth-grade joke, which makes it PG. I don't actually think most people beyond the age of 10-13 would make that joke, since it wears out pretty fast.

[Frozen_Dreamseer]

This wasn't out of character. I adore Ron as much as the next person--*a person passes by with a "DIE RON, DIE!" shirt*--Ok, I adore Ron as much as um...Anyway, it was a typical male 14 year old line. Hear it all the time in class. ^^