Amateur HP Psychology

[sistermagpie]

I am not getting any e-mail and I don't know why. They just started coming, but anything from today before the last ten minutes seems to be gone.

I've been reading this book on the Shadow as in Jung (kind of a theme lately) and I'm reading about how the Shadow is all the things you repress in yourself, so you're enraged when you see them in other people. So somebody else could be a terrible person but wouldn't bother you as much because you're not repressing those kinds of things too much. What's horrible about it is I'm reading and knowing that my shadow…

Is post-GoF Ginny Weasley.

She's not the only one, obviously, but oh my god she so is my shadow. When I hear anyone defending her--even reasonably--I am filled with rage. Of course, being who I am (what I repress) I have to try to listen objectively and even admit when the person has a point, because I always want to be accurate and blah blah. Sometimes even I have to defend her because something's off. But what I really want to do is hex the person so that they shut up. Or say something mean that's probably like, "Don't start talking about Quidditch, you'll only embarrass yourself." Or run into the person and put them in the infirmary. This is why it's so strange when people say one must hate Ginny because one wants Harry for herself, because when Harry is liking Ginny it's hard for me to just not see him as a jerk. Like I picture them in their 30s as some dreadful couple I'd avoid. Unfortunately this isn't exactly objective canon analysis, so I can't usually just say that.

The one good thing about this is Lupin is a lot like me in this way--I mean, the kind of stuff he swallows--so maybe he hates her too. I believe when Ginny is throwing her temper tantrum in OotP Lupin quietly shuts the door. For Lupin that's probably the equivalent of smacking her in the face. Poor guy has to live with her.

Oh, the other thing I just read in one essay in the book that we tend to notice and react to Shadow things more in our own gender than the opposite gender--we can ignore stuff when it's in the other gender. I guess that's where fandom's OMG U R JUS JELLUS AND U DON'T LIKE GIRLZ!!1!!1

I was thinking about this in my ballet class, mostly because I have another Shadow problem there, or maybe it's just a pet peeve. Okay, in a dance class you often split into groups to do combinations. There is this woman who always GOES WITH ALL THE GROUPS! In this case there's just the two groups, but it drives me up a tree. The point is to split up so there's room. Yes, she's just one more person, but why the hell does she get to decide that she's the person who gets to dance whenever she wants because everyone else is only going once? What if everybody just decided to do that? (And btw, we're talking about somebody who's in class with some professional dancers--not me--and is herself not even really on the level the class is at. Every time I see her doing it I start stewing. Also she always winds up standing near me so I'm wishing there wasn't somebody so close to me because I don't like people behind me and look--it's her!

Comments

[chocolatepot.livejournal.com]

starting to resent any character people defend too much and liking the one people slag off

I really think this is the reason I'm starting to like Ginny more and more and Hermione less -- too much fandom debate, uch. I'm a very contrary person, and when people are all, "Well, it's okay for Hermione to give people permanent pimples because Marietta knew what she was agreeing to when she signed the paper -- but I hope Ginny gets raped by Grawp!" I start thinking, "I love Ginny! Hermione is amoral! RAWR!"

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I find this is the best reason to avoid most fandom discussions. After a while even characters you dislike you have to defend and characters you do like you have to start pointing out their flaws.

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

The whole thing is, Hermione didn't get with Harry-- I think we'd be seeing a huge resurgence of Hermione hate if she did~:)) Not that this accounts for all the Ginny hate, but a lot, I think, would be milder if not for the H/G. Though personally, I'm contrary enough but not flippant enough to actually change my real feelings due to other people, though I might get really annoyed and tetchy. Or -more- likely to defend a character I already liked for some reason. Like, I can never just -join in- hatefests even if I agree. I'm like, BUT YOU'RE ALL MEANIES, no matter who it is. Can't join in lovefests either (start feeling a bit greenish from sugar-shock, usually). Am really no good at parties, clearly :>