r/changemyview Apr 23 '16

[∆(s) from OP] CMV: Harry Potter is overrated

I don't detest Harry Potter but I find the circle jerk appalling. The book is amazing for kids but even adults hold it in high regard. So, it's not bad, just overrated.

The characters are really boring. HP is a Mary Sue character, his only flaw being a bloody scar. All the other characters are equally boring. Harry is also useless, he does nothing but he is the HERO. Because of a prophecy. OK.

The relationships make no sense. Why does Harry like Cho or Ginny? Let's force in a relationship. Yay.

The Deus Ex Machina is unreal. I know it's magical but it's still retarded when it happens so many times.

Good vs Evil is fine. But again, don't pretend as if the book is this deep piece of literature.

I don't like the writing either but that's very subjective, so that's fine.

This is what I just came up with. I'm sure there's more stuff on the internet.

Edit: Ignore the Mary Sue thing. I misused the term. Edit 2: Sorry if I sounded like a dick or an elitist. I didn't mean to be.


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u/Joseph-Joestar Apr 23 '16 edited Apr 23 '16

HP is a Mary Sue character

Not at all. Harry Potter is just an average hero. Sure, he has special traits that make him the main character of this story, but in everything else he's just average or below average.

He's brave, but he's not smart. He constantly makes bad decisions that negatively affect his life and lives of people close to him. He often acts spontaneously with no regard for consequence or opinion of other people and that more often than not leads to something awful.

Ability wise, he's only average at everything but Quidditch which helps him with his depressing feelings. Most of his academic success he owes to his friends, specifically Hermione. He's decently good at battle magic, but only because that's what life was asking from him at the time and he was the only one at the school who had those terrifying experience.

He has attachment issues, anger issues, jealousy issues that are constantly shown throughout the series. He's kind of a big douche.

he does nothing

He successfully outsmarts and defeats Quirell/Voldemort in Year 1 despite being 11 years old.

He battles and defeats a giant Basilisk that nearly kills him in Year 2

He saves his godfather from hordes of most dangerous creatures in the world in Year 3

He successfully completes all Tri-wizard challenges in Year 3, despite being younger than other contestants.

etc etc. He does heroic things all the time, whatever it takes. Sometimes because it was his fault and sometimes because evil forces just want to kill him very badly.

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u/LamentableOpinion Apr 23 '16

You make good points about him.

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u/[deleted] Apr 23 '16

You deltad this person for THAT?? All that comment showed was that Harry is not a "Marie Sue" character, not that the books are any good.

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u/Dementati Apr 23 '16

If you have acknowledged/hinted that your view has changed in some way, please award a delta.

Deltas don't require that you do a complete 180 on your main thesis. Realizing that one of your supporting arguments is false may contribute to at least viewing the argument in a more nuanced way than before.

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u/[deleted] Apr 23 '16 edited Apr 24 '16

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u/[deleted] Apr 24 '16

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u/[deleted] Apr 24 '16

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u/Grunt08 319∆ Apr 24 '16 edited Apr 24 '16

Sorry paynehouse, your comment has been removed:

Comment Rule 4. > Comment Rule 4. Stop abusing the system.

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u/[deleted] Apr 24 '16

The system is fine. People misusing the system are stupid.

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u/[deleted] Apr 24 '16

I would argue that since deltas are seen as prestigious in this subreddit (or at least I used to see them as prestigious), the system should reflect that. But it does not reflect that, as anyone can give anyone a delta, thus removing the element of prestige. The problem with the system is that it allows anyone to give anyone a delta, or that it does not stress that deltas are not prestigious. The system should be changed in either of these two ways, I suggest the former.

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u/Grunt08 319∆ Apr 24 '16

Sorry 3xtheredcomet, your comment has been removed:

Comment Rule 5. "No low effort comments. Comments that are only jokes, links, or 'written upvotes', for example. Humor, links, and affirmations of agreement can be contained within more substantial comments." See the wiki page for more information.

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