this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2026
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[โ€“] Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world 23 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

My parents moved a few months ago, and that meant I had to come over and decide what to do with some of the stuff I owned that was still at their house. I sorted things into "keep" and "throw away" piles.

One of the things I had to decide on was my Harry Potter books. My parents were surprised I put them in the "throw away" pile. It was hard for a moment, not because of what they were, but because I remember the day my dad came home and surprised me with books 2 and 3. I had read the first book for school, but the first 4 books had already been published by the time I got into it, so my friends were well ahead of me. I was so happy when my dad spontaneously did that. I hadn't asked for the books, but he knew I wanted them and went out of his way to get them just to surprise me. I felt so loved.

As I held those same books in my hands, 25 years since first receiving them, I took in that loved feeling, but it was twinged with disgust for JK Rowling. Although it pained me, I knew I wouldn't be reading them again. In my internal monologue, I told myself, "These books served their purpose long ago. It's okay to let them go and move on."

So into the "throw away" pile they went. The only things worth keeping anymore are the memories and experiences that those books originally opened up to me, and those can't be tossed out even if I wanted to. Putting the books into that pile felt like visiting a wake - the series is dead to me now, and with this final viewing, I could have closure over it and finally say goodbye.

[โ€“] atrielienz@lemmy.world 2 points 11 hours ago

I think there's something to be said for having to throw away things tied to precious memories because those things are tainted by a bitch who couldn't just shut the fuck up and be happy with her success.

But this is exactly the type of thing I mean when I say that some people's advocacy against JKR bleeds over into the lives of innocent people just trying to live.

I would never be able to throw away a gift my father had given me. Nobody should be pressuring anyone else to do the same just because they find something problematic (not for its actual contents, but because it's author is a hate monger).

People forget that there are real and cherished memories attached to this franchise and whether they intend to or not, they do attack them when they make media like this, or post about how terrible a person must be for having engaged with said media.

Just because something is trivial for you to excise from your life doesn't mean it's as easy for the next person.

When people spread further hatred because they feel self righteous about something that has wronged them, they aren't making things better.

I don't even engage with the franchise anymore. Most of what I know about it from the last decade has been from media posts like this bashing it or telling people how evil Rowling is. I wouldn't know there was a tv show, wouldn't have known about the game l, wouldn't have known about the universal park etc if it weren't for posts like this.

Did you throw away all your Disney media? Would you still visit a Disney or universal park? Engage with the studio that made the game or the company producing the show?

There's so much to how media gets made and how many companies are still actively supporting this bigot and instead of attacking those corporations we attack each other for no really good reason except that it makes some people feel superior.

Nobody ever shouts out the organizations that she donates to. Nobody ever mentions where they get their funding. Nobody ever talks about boycotting the companies making the media (not the media itself) until they stop supporting franchises like HP.

Does that make sense? It's never made sense to me.

[โ€“] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 5 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Hate to break it to you, but you can absolutely lose memories. Time is a bitch.

Oh, I know. I used to work in a nursing home. Dementia is horrifying. But in the meantime, the memories are still with me, and that's good enough.

[โ€“] Eheran@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Why not give them to someone for free such that they do not need to spend money for them?

Still promotes someone else supporting her nonsense.