Media saturation, or why I'll be in my cave

[pbray]

Grr. Today I saw my first spoilers on HP#7--from someone who claims to have gotten a hold of a review copy and posted their impressions on the internet. Luckily it was behind an lj cut tag but I was still ticked.

Why can't I just enjoy the damn book?

There've been rumors out on the internet for weeks, naturally, but they've been pretty easy to avoid. Now, as the clock ticks closer, it's going to be harder and harder.

Today's review was behind a cut tag. The next one probably won't be. And if HP#6 is any guide, by the time Sunday rolls around, the news outlets will already be discussing the major plot twists.

I've already planned my weekend out--picking up my reserved copy of HP #7 at midnight Friday, then blocking all day Saturday to read the book through from beginning to end, while in a media blackout. No radio, no TV, and above all, no logging on the internet.

If this was any other new book I'd been waiting for, I'd enjoy the opportunity to savor it. To read it over a few days, perhaps.

I remember when I first discovered Harry Potter. The first three books had been released in the US, and I'd heard a news story about them on NPR. So I bought the first, read it, then bought the next two.

Then I delivered copies of the series to jennifer_dunne, just so I'd know someone else who had read the books, so I could talk to her about them.

Book 4 wasn't too bad from a media frenzy standpoint. Book 5 was--I didn't read it all in one day and thus knew which character had died long before I got to that scene.

For book 6, I spent the release day driving home from a bike trip in Quebec, and arrived to find that my copy waiting for me. I spent the next day on the couch reading until I was done. Which was fortunate, because as soon as I powered up my laptop, there were spoilers in my email, friendslist, and the news websites.

I'm glad that JKR is so successful, and I think it's great that so many people will be reading this book. But I wish that our culture wasn't an all or nothing affair. Books are either quietly released, or turned into a major media event where everyone, everywhere, feels the need to discuss the plot endlessly. Regardless of the fact that some of us would like to experience the book for ourselves, first hand, without being tainted by other people's impressions.

Sigh.


So, anyway, that's what I'm doing this weekend. And after I've read the book, I'm keeping my damn mouth shut.

Comments

[gerbilicous.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more, an internet black out is crucial for Harry Potter books. I was spoiled for book six 4 days before it came out, and I'm still pissed about it. Also, my husband and I played a lot of World of Warcraft at that point, and as soon as the book came out, people were shouting spoilers in the major cities, ruining it for everyone.

I know rudeness is a fundamental part of all MMOs, but have a little heart, people!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

For HP#6 there were reports of jerks who went to the midnight parties to get their book, skipped to the end, and then yelled spoilers at all the people who were still waiting in line.

I'm sure that will happen again--hopefully not in my town, but who knows?

[sarcastic-elf.livejournal.com]

I think it would be stupid of somebody to spoil the last book when surrounded by a bunch of people with heavy books in their hands. But then, some people are stupid, which is why I'm expecting at least one 'Man Pelted by Books After Spoiling Harry Potter 7' headline.

I'm supposed to go to a midnight party with a friend and I'm really hoping everybody there can behave themselves.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Here's hoping for civility.

[jennifer-dunne.livejournal.com]

Just got this notice:
The Publication of the Novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be Celebrated on Friday the Twentieth of July, at Six O'Clock in the Evening (PST) at the Academy of Virtual Wizardry in the Caledon Highlands.

The three-hour celebration will span three SL locations, including FictionAlley on EduIsland. Join us for a night of games, contests, dancing, and excited discussion as we count down the hours until the release. Bring your wand and come in costume!

Of course, if there was any part of Second Life *less* prone to rudeness, it would be the sims dedicated to the Regency / Victorian / Steampunk culture of Caledon. So even though the folks in Europe will have had the book for 3 hours already, I think this event at least is spoiler-safe. Unless a griefer crashes it.

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more. Really, what is the matter with people that they can't let other people enjoy a book in peace?

I also have next Saturday blocked off for HP reading (and blocked off from all media outlets, as well as from my daughter's soccer game), and it irks me tremendously that I have to do that in order to get to the end without someone telling me what happens, because I really don't like reading to a deadline (I get enough of that at work).

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Precisely! I hate having to structure my life around the fact that other people can't be considerate. There are other things I'd like to do on Saturday-- get out on my bike, work on my own writing, etc, but instead it's speed-read HP day.

[aeriedraconia.livejournal.com]

Years ago someone spoiled the first Batman movie for me even after I repeatedly told him not to because I was going to go see it that weekend. It ruined the movie for me.

I've been lucky so far but I'll be doing my best to devour book 7 on saturday (also going into media blackout mode about 9pm west coast time) so the spoiler dorks don't get me. It's a real shame that some people enjoy spoiling so much.

[aeriedraconia.livejournal.com]

9pm on friday, that is.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Actually you should probably go in blackout sooner-- it also goes on sale at midnight in the UK, which is even earlier.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Hate when that happens. Happened to me for The Sixth Sense :-(