WWTBAM Bored

J.K. Rowling outed Albus Dumbledore yesterday, explaining in response to a fan question that Dumbledore was gay. When I read Deathly Hallows with The Little Guy (we're up to Prisoner of Azkaban), I'll have to see whether that sheds a new light on the book. --Bob

Give me a break!

She can say what she wants now, even that Hagrid was a transexual. What does it matter? Unless it was written in the book that he was, then he either was or wasn't and it doesn't matter.

Oh, and he is a fictional character who's existence is only relevent in the words on the pages of those books. So who gives a rats ass?

BackInTex wrote:Give me a break!

She can say what she wants now, even that Hagrid was a transexual. What does it matter? Unless it was written in the book that he was, then he either was or wasn't and it doesn't matter.

It kind of throws a new light on his relationship with Grindlewald, doesn't it?

BackInTex wrote:Oh, and he is a fictional character who's existence is only relevent in the words on the pages of those books. So who gives a rats ass?

Anyone who cares about the characters in those books. Judging from the book sales, the movie ticket sales, and the level of passion on various discussion boards, I'd estimate that quite a few people give a rat's ass. --Bob

I would imagine that one of the characters is into bestiality, too. Lupin? Or whatever his name was?

Bob78164 wrote:[Anyone who cares about the characters in those books. Judging from the book sales, the movie ticket sales, and the level of passion on various discussion boards, I'd estimate that quite a few people give a rat's ass. --Bob

Like I said, the characters are only relevent in the books as written. I understand a lot of people care about the stories and characters in the book. But outside the books, they don't exist.

Someone mentioning the sexual orientation of one of the characters that wasn't part of the book is irrelevent. JKR may have invisioned her third nephew as the model for Harry. Her third nephew may have had a bout with the measles as an infant. So she could say Harry had a bout with the measles, but since it was not in the written the stories, which a lot of people give a rats ass about, it doesn't matter. Except maybe for those folks who can't separate themselves from the fiction they read.

I find this all quite amusing.

I wonder if Cal will change his signature now. My guess is he will not, at least not because of this revelation.

OK. Someone is going to have to explain to me what possible reason could she give to state this? Or, will this show up in Snopes as one of those Internet hoaxes? If not, what would be the benefit to anyone for knowing this? Is she getting bored now that the Potter book run is finished? Does she need another project? Are there not millions of kids around the world who would ask their parents to explain this? This just does not make any sense to me, if it's true.

Sir_Galahad wrote:OK. Someone is going to have to explain to me what possible reason could she give to state this?

Because someone asked about his love life. I guess she had a backstory in her mind, and when someone asked, she let him know what had been in her head.

Totally not any impact on the stories. Big yawn from here....

Bob78164 wrote:J.K. Rowling outed Albus Dumbledore yesterday, explaining in response to a fan question that Dumbledore was gay. When I read Deathly Hallows with The Little Guy (we're up to Prisoner of Azkaban), I'll have to see whether that sheds a new light on the book. --Bob

I really hope this turns out to be an urban legend. Not because I care whether Dumbledore is gay or not but because it seems like an unnecessary thing to "reveal" at this stage of the game. Dumbledore's persona is not changed one whit by his sexual preference and there's already enough controversy among some parents as to the suitablity of the Harry Potter series as it is without adding more fuel to the fire.

Did the J! writers know something?

http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?g ... dumbledore

MarkBarrett wrote:Did the J! writers know something?

http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?g ... dumbledore

Now, if we'd only known that Dumbledore was humming show tunes....


Mark, I don't "know" you yet, unless it's under some other name, but I see that your bookshelf is virtually identical to a portion of mine (and other BBs.) You definitely fit in around here! Welcome.

Mark is a long-time regular on the J! Message Board.

minimetoo26 wrote:Because someone asked about his love life. I guess she had a backstory in her mind, and when someone asked, she let him know what had been in her head.

Totally not any impact on the stories. Big yawn from here....

It also will have an effect on at least one of the movies. Apparently, the Director of Half-Blood Prince had Dumbledore making a remark about a girl he had once known. She slipped him a note. --Bob

silvercamaro wrote:

MarkBarrett wrote:Did the J! writers know something?

http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?g ... dumbledore

Now, if we'd only known that Dumbledore was humming show tunes....


Mark, I don't "know" you yet, unless it's under some other name, but I see that your bookshelf is virtually identical to a portion of mine (and other BBs.) You definitely fit in around here! Welcome.

Mark posted on the other bored as WhoIsMark, but has been far more chatty on the J board for a long time.

I was just thinking...

Will this change the way you look at the Dumbledore character the next time you watch a HP movie? I'm sure, though, this wouldn't be an issue if Ian McKellen were portraying Dumbledore...

Sir_Galahad wrote:I was just thinking...

Will this change the way you look at the Dumbledore character the next time you watch a HP movie? I'm sure, though, this wouldn't be an issue if Ian McKellen were portraying Dumbledore...

Didn't he have a ribbon in his beard in one of the movies?

I suspected that he might be gay. As far as I am concerned, it didn't matter to the people at Hogworts and it shouldn't matter to the people who read the books or see the movie.

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:I suspected that he might be gay.

Based on what?

I suspected that he might be gay. As far as I am concerned, it didn't matter to the people at Hogworts and it shouldn't matter to the people who read the books or see the movie

It never even occurred to me, but I'm pretty oblivious unless a point is made of a character's sexual preferences. I will add to PSM's comment that not only did it not matter to the peeps at Hogwart's, but Dumbledore was pretty universally respected in the whole 'Wizarding community."


t.

TheCalvinator24 wrote:

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:I suspected that he might be gay.

Based on what?

He really seemed fixated on Grindelwald in the last book.

I still maintain my earlier theory that James is gay...well, bi I guess. He was a little too close to Sirius, in a Grindelwald kind of way.

I don't understand why some folks assume that any really close friendship betweens guys is an indication of some latent or not so latent homosexuality.

Even with the revelation about Dumbledore, there's nothing in the books that indicates that he was sexually attracted to Grindlewald. In fact, if that were the case, it could be seen as an excuse for his dabbling in the Dark Arts and seeking ultimate power. I doubt Dumbledore would have given himself that sort of an "out."

Oh no, I totally agree. I never felt Dumbledore was gay and felt a close male friendship is flimsy justification for gayness. My Grindelwald remark was just jokey.

A close male friendship that seems to be more important than a female romantic relationship, now that is something else. That is how I read James in the book. I'm sure JK would flip at that interpretation.

My take on James is that he was really smitten with Lily, but he wanted to maintain his "cool" persona, so he feigned dis-interest as much and as long as possible. He was jealous of Lily's friendship with Snape, and Sirius joined him in his abuse of Severus.

Now, Sirius never showed any interest in girls as far as I remember. Maybe he was the gay one with an unrequited crush on James.

I can see your point. What tipped me over the edge was when they all came back in ghost form to help Harry during the final showdown and James hung with Sirius, not Lily. Didn't seem like love of your life material to me.

Agreed, Sirius is gay!

SuitDude posted about this in a thread called something like "Avatars can change, tattoos not so much."

I'll repeat what I said in that thread, as closely as I remember it anyway. People have been naming children after Dumbledore for years because of his fine qualities. Those didn't vanish just because Rowling said he was gay.