i don't know about the scale or how widespread it is, but i came across an interview with a real witch a couple of years ago and she said that more people had been joining covens because harry potter had sparked their interest in witchcraft. pretty chilling really - it makes me shiver just thinking about it. i'm not suggesting rowling is evil and trying to corrupt children - i'm sure this wasn't her intention at all - but she does need to recognise that this has been a by-product of her books.

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Maybe we should hold a harry potter amnesty. Any books that remain after will be horribly destroyed by the secret service in long coats and tall boots lol.

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"This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? "

well she can't really help it with the people joining covens thing (you might as well say the same of terry pratchett as a number of his characters are witches) anyway on the whole j.k's witches/wizards are good.

*faints* burn a book!? what are you? evil? a book is to be treasured no matter what you think of its contents (speaking as j.k and austen fan!)

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Who said anyhhting about book burning? I certainly didnt Aranal En Mirkwood

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"This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? "

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There is a better way of disposing of rubbish books. Recycle the paper. Its far more eco friendly lol.

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"This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? "

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loads of other authors use witches and wizards, not just terry pratchett, but the difference is that those in harry potter seem much more relevant to rowling's readership - they're otherwise regular kids living in the modern world, as opposed to wrinkly old women living in some fantast land. this relevance means that children are much more likely to seriously think about witchcraft as a real concept.

it's also the fact that rowling's witches/wizards are good that's part of the problem - it leads to kids getting completely the wrong idea about witchcraft and getting involved in something before they really know what it's about.

and the bonfire thing was only me quoting a friend - i actually agree that recycling would be a better way to go. i've always treasured my books and i get very protective over them (my sister could tell you just how screwy i get when people damage my books), but some just aren't worth the effort. would you say we should treat a terrorist manual with respect just because it's a book? no, i didn't think so. that may seem like an extreme example to use as a parallel, but harry potter is just as dangerous, just in a different way.

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I like the first option better m8. Its far more flexible.

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"This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? "

morality trumps flexibility everytime.

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That is a bit of a silly comment. The example is unique, it is not a typical example m8.There really was no need

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"This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? "

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What dont u get Haldir?My comment?
Imeant that u r hardly going to come across a terrorist trainig manual as often as a harry potter book. Its going too extreme to prove a point lol.

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"This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? "

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i was only trying to show that it's utterly ridiculous to say that all books should be treated with respect regardless of content.

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I dont, having not read one but i can assume. Glad u understood my explanation of my point Haldir.
I can understand the reasoning, but I dont think the supporting example was appropriate.

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"This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? "