What makes a true HP fan?

[Hippogriff90]

There's so much HP related stuff available - the books, films, merchandise etc. But what makes a true HP fan in your opinion? Do you have to have grown up beside the books? Does it matter if you skipped the books and went straight to the films? Or whether you're 14 or 40?

[merrymarge]

I started reading the books when I was in my forties. I borrowed the first book from the library, because I had to read it for a college class I was taking. I enjoyed the book and when I returned it, I looked for the next books. I bought the movies a short time later, around late 2001 or 2002. I loved them too. I found Mugglenet around 2006 or 7, after reading about Emerson Spartz in our local newspaper. I had gone to a website called Harry Potter.com, but I wasn't too happy with it. Mugglenet was different and I enjoyed it. they had lots of articles or essays and there was a look at book 5, a very detailed session about what would happen next. COS came later, but I just visited for awhile until I joined in 2009. I don't buy a lot of merchandise. I have a few jigsaw puzzles, a few shirts, I had a coloring book (no longer). I visit Pottermore and Alohomora and while they are nice additions, I don't run to them everyday.
Why do I like the Harry Potter books? Simple. They are enjoyable stories. I like to read about what the actors and actresses are doing now. I like to talk about Harry Potter to others, but I don't know too many people who are interested in the books. I like to watch the movies on ABCFamily channel, even though there are a lot of comercials.
I think I am a true fan, and not one who has a casual interest. Though I am not sure if I will ever get to Universal's Theme park or to the HP museum.

[ccollinsmith]

My criterion for "true HP fan" is simple:

A true HP fan is someone who has read and loved the books and continues to want to talk about them.

IMO, age doesn't matter. At what point in the books' release a person came to the series doesn't matter. Whether a person started on the movies or on the books doesn't matter (and actually, appreciation of the films is, imo, optional). Also, which character(s) a person prefers doesn't matter.

So basically, I have a very wide definition of what constitutes a "true" HP fan.

[xhanax315]

I would say anyone whose lives Harry has touched in any way, whether it through the books or films. It doesn't matter when or how they came into the fandom, but how it impacted them.

[barrychenault]

A true Harry Potter fan?
Well, I don't really feel comfortable with saying whether or not someone is truly a true HP fan. Although I may form my own opinions that I don't share publicly! Ha!
But seriously..I really think that if they have read the books, loved them, read them again, and are still willing to talk about them years after reading them or after reading them several times, I'd consider them a true fan. Now, I consider myself a bit more hardcore than most people I know..I started reading them in 3rd grade, and have read them all at least 7 or 8 times. I know tons of random information that most "normal" readers wouldn't even really care about. But I never did go to a midnight release of one of the books, and I just started up with this forum last summer, and haven't really kept up with it. So there are more hardcore fans out there than myself, but I do consider myself a true fan. I think it just depends on the person. Now..if they have just seen the movies or (even worse!) have read up to like book four then watched the rest of the movies..well I just can't stand for any of that nonsense! Haha!! IMO being a fan of the movies and being a fan of the books are different things..not saying that you can't be a fan of both..but I personally don't truly consider the movies "Harry Potter" in my mind, as it were. But that's just me!

[StaceysChain]

Originally Posted by barrychenault

Now..if they have just seen the movies or (even worse!) have read up to like book four then watched the rest of the movies..well I just can't stand for any of that nonsense! Haha!! IMO being a fan of the movies and being a fan of the books are different things..not saying that you can't be a fan of both..but I personally don't truly consider the movies "Harry Potter" in my mind, as it were. But that's just me!

I respect your opinion but I think you're being very unfair. Plenty of people I know have done both of those things you've mentioned, yet they love Harry Potter. One of my non-book friends even considers all of the Harry Potter films to be her top 8 favourite films! I hate the Lord of the Rings books, yet I love the films, and I don't think it makes me any less of a fan.

For me, it doesn't matter whether you love the books, movies or anything else related to Harry Potter, you are a fan and a loyal supportive one.

[barrychenault]

Originally Posted by StaceysChain

I respect your opinion but I think you're being very unfair.

Oh, well I meant that if they have read up to book four, watched the rest of the movies before reading the rest of the books..that just bothers me personally. And I'm not saying that they're any less of a fan! Perhaps this whole thread is just a little dangerous because people (such as myself..) can be a little too opinionated! Sorry if I caused any offense!

[StaceysChain]

Originally Posted by barrychenault

Oh, well I meant that if they have read up to book four, watched the rest of the movies before reading the rest of the books..that just bothers me personally. And I'm not saying that they're any less of a fan! Perhaps this whole thread is just a little dangerous because people (such as myself..) can be a little too opinionated! Sorry if I caused any offense!

There's need to apologise, no offense was taken at all! And I agree with you about the thread, but hey, it's fun!

[barrychenault]

Ha! Ok! I'd hate for this to start a conflict between true Harry Potter fans.

[Schlubalybub]

People who enjoy the story of Harry Potter. It doesn't matter about where they started or how they started- the fact is, they started. And if they enjoy the films but have never read the books, well, personally I think they're missing out on a lot- something I've put to my boyfriend a few times and he's still never read the books. It doesn't mean that he isn't a fan of Harry Potter, however, it just means that they are a fan of one of the sections of Harry Potter...which is not to say that it makes them less of a fan.

I mean the books go into a lot of detail and they are more enjoyable to me than the films, but this doesn't mean that I think that you can't be a fan without reading the books. I just think that, on the whole, these people may get a lot more out of the books- consider it an added bonus if you've only seen the films, rather than a compulsory aspect of fandom

[Sphereness]

One of the main themes in the HP series is the detrimental effect of bigotry on individuals and society. Therefore, in my opinion, a true Harry Potter fan cannot be racist, sexist, disablist, agist, homophobic etc. etc. etc. because anyone who has read and understood the series understands the harm of prejudice - and would not want to be that way.

[abl385]

Great question. A fan can be defined in many ways. I like to think that what makes a true Harry Potter Fan is someone who can continue to get something out of the series even after having finished all of the books and movies. This derivation of some sort of significance can vary from individual to individual, but as long as Harry Potter remains significant to you after you have digested all of the material, I think you qualify as a "true fan" of the series.

[magentastorm]

Originally Posted by Sphereness

One of the main themes in the HP series is the detrimental effect of bigotry on individuals and society. Therefore, in my opinion, a true Harry Potter fan cannot be racist, sexist, disablist, agist, homophobic etc. etc. etc. because anyone who has read and understood the series understands the harm of prejudice - and would not want to be that way.

Wow, I agree with this so much!

I get annoyed by bigoted fans of anything, naturally, but I get most bothered by bigots in two fandoms in particular; HP and Star Trek. I feel an extra level of disgust for bigots pretending to be fans of either because of how they're so fundamentally against the message of the books/show.

Anyway, I also think the definition of true fan is caring more than the average reader, as in they remember little details and care about minor characters and discuss/analyse characters/themes etc.

I think one can be a fan without having read the books, but not a true fan in my book, because you simply can't understand as much without the books.

[barrychenault]

I'm pretty sure anyone on this forum is likely to be a true fan. Every post I have seen has just really made my heart smile...it's great to be able to discuss the best part of my childhood with people who care as deeply about it as I do. Long live Harry Potter!

[leckleck]

Someone who thoroughly enjoyed the books! And if they're young, will continue to read/talk about them, and give them to their future children to read! Basically someone who will never forget this flawless series, and appreciate it. I'd say that you're only a true HP fan if you've read all the books.. only watching the movies isn't the same, not to mention that there are many different things in the movie compared to the books.
If I were to delve deeper into this, I'd say someone who absolutely adores the characters, and would love to be their friend, and even attend Hogwarts!
Personally, I enjoy knowing EVERYTHING about HP, including all the spells, and little facts about the castle, such as that there are 142 staircases. I dunno, it just makes me love it even more, and it makes it seem that much more realistic.

[LupinTonks13]

I say if you love Harry Potter and the books or movies touched you in some way you're a fan... however I am a Hardcore freak fan lol :-) yes I can make fun of myself :-) I've all the books I don't know how many times and read them all (each one) in 24 hrs I've also camped out for midnight movies and books.. Dressed up Tonks is my go to character. <3 her! I also collected wands and other random HP things. Also named my two dogs one is Tonks the other is Luna lol I'm a freak but I love it. And I say if you love it you're a true fan!!!

[RiverNight]

For me, a true fan is anyone who has enjoyed the story, whether it be the books or the films.

[tomriddlemethis]

For me, anyone who enjoys the series is a fan. I don't find it fair to judge others on how "true" they are, whether it is because they haven't read the books or some other reason.

I saw the first three movies as a little girl and enjoyed them but I'll admit I didn't read the books until I was sixteen. I had to read the first for English and enjoyed it so much, I read the others in quick succession and Harry Potter is now one of the most beloved things in my life! I know some may judge me as HP wasn't my "childhood", but I don't care. I'm passionate about the series, that's all that should matter!

The only type of fans that irritate me a tad are those who complain about JK's choices. At the end of the day, it was her story to tell, who are we to criticise?

[Peakes]

Originally Posted by tomriddlemethis

I know some may judge me as HP wasn't my "childhood", but I don't care. I'm passionate about the series, that's all that should matter!

Quite right, that is all that should matter. I was a grown adult long before the books were written, does that mean I am not allowed to enjoy them or feel any more passionate about them?

In a way, I do envy those who've grown up with the books, for me I suppose the equivalent experience was picking up the first part of LOTR as a ten year old and reading ten straight chapters without stopping!

But the way I see it, a whole generation was lucky enough to grow up with Harry. I was lucky enough to grow up *again* with Harry, and that's good enough for me.

[tomriddlemethis]

Originally Posted by Peakes

Quite right, that is all that should matter. I was a grown adult long before the books were written, does that mean I am not allowed to enjoy them or feel any more passionate about them?

In a way, I do envy those who've grown up with the books, for me I suppose the equivalent experience was picking up the first part of LOTR as a ten year old and reading ten straight chapters without stopping!

But the way I see it, a whole generation was lucky enough to grow up with Harry. I was lucky enough to grow up *again* with Harry, and that's good enough for me.

Good point! After taking me to the studios, my dad has started reading the books too. (He's now on to Chamber of Secrets and I'm so proud as he's not particularly a book person). He thinks they're amazing and so age really shouldn't come into it at all.