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11-06-2004, 11:06 AM
| | |  Gary Grant: the man who banned Harry Potter
Gary Grant, founder of the toy chain 'The Entertainer' was featured in a programme on BBC2 in the UK on Nov 4th called "Trouble at the top: The man who banned Harry Potter.
Having watched the show, I made a few notes on it. Harry Potter came up quite a bit -- I especially enjoyed a part where they allowed children/teens to debate with Gary over his issues with Potter. I, however, have to add that the man did seem rather smug about his 'morals' which were in the end proven to be rather hypocritical in ways.
* An interesting point made to me by my mother was that while Harry Potter action figures weren't allowed, scantily clad dolls were. Furthermore they were selling 'Bratz' dolls which are not only hideous looking (IMO) but encourage young girls to wear make up and dress above their age.
* The debate was both humorous and annoying. Funny because the fans did put up a tremendous fight but annoying because he really did not answer their questions directly -- he merely simply went back to his beliefs.
* The argument of good versus evil was brought up. Gary responded by saying that Potter worries him because he believes that children will start to believe in magic by watching the films/reading the books and that he thinks re-enacting the scenes for the films can do the same thing.
* One fan in particular, Robert Sasson, brought up a very valid point. He mentioned the commandment that forbids murder "Thou shalt not kill" and then asked that if Gary runs his toyshop according to what the Bible tells him, why then does he sell toys with guns and killing themes to them. This was asked in reference to Stars Wars and Lord of the Rings - both of which products he does sell.
* It is evident that he accepts other fantasy worlds and that in itself was one of the most hypocritical aspects of the programme and it is my belief that this was the message that the BBC were trying to put across (as they have always backed JK). They made a point of showing how much merchandise Grant sells which is linked to LotR and was asked why he sells it if, like Potter, it is heavily associated with magic.
I cant quite remember him answering that question and, in fact, I doubt he did.
* The teens who were debating with him also brought into argument the morals in HP -- which indeed feature in almost all fantasy worlds -- that love is the most powerful. One girl quite cleverly added that in the end, if you understand the books properly you're meant to see that J.K.Rowling is saying that the power of love is far more mighty than a wand or wizardry could ever be. They pointed out the sacrificial love element and the fact that Harry is taught to fight for what is right.
* The children asked if he would ever stock HP products and he firmly said he would not. That is down to him at the end of the day but quite frankly he didn't even look like he was listening to their points -- the least he could've done is to listen and take on board what they were saying. Instead he appeared rather high and mighty in a way, it was clear on his face that he knew he was talking to children and therefore was not about to open up to their PoV.
* Another ironic point was that he does stock war toys, tanks and soldiers. This shows that he is more opposed to 'witchcraft' (the assumption that a Harry figure would teach witchcraft) than teaching children that you can kill with guns through the soldiers.
* What struck me strongly was that this is, in a way, a form of control. The term, Nanny State, almost comes to mind. In turn with banning certain toys they're banning childrens creativity and growth -- children learn alot through play and the use of their imagination. Their minds should be free to think up vivd and imaginative stories -- for that is what childhood is partly about.
* His argument for stocking LotR was that J.R.R Tolkien was motivated by Christian morals? Which is, in turn, good overcoming evil which is what Harry Potter is -- the stories of Harry are motivated by positive morals throughout.
* He also referred to the white witch and black witch saying that both are as bad as each other because they both use magic and both are witches. He said that you cant overcome evil with magic -- but it is the 'magic' within, the strength inside that Harry uses to overcome his problems.
I think that this is once again a case of someone opposing HP without having a clue as to what they're talking about. I doubt he's even read HP - if he had, he would've been able to answer the children's questions in far more detail than he did.
You can find the website to his toy shop here - stores are located around the UK.  | |
11-06-2004, 12:01 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Faerie
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Korea
Posts: 4,402
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He has no idea of what he's talking about. If he at least listened, things wouldn't be so bad. I disagree with him on everything. I think he needs a child's PoV before he actually bans Harry Potter.
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Last edited by miss_sweetheart; 11-06-2004 at 02:32 PM.
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11-06-2004, 02:23 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Nogtail
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Behind you...
Posts: 318
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I agree too!
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11-06-2004, 02:58 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Bicorn
Join Date: May 2004 Location: in a nutshell
Posts: 1,944
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Thats horrible! Wouldn't he make more money actually selling the products?
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11-06-2004, 03:14 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Guest |
BOYCOTT HIS TOYS!!! He obviously doesn't care about children really, only money . so hit him where it hurts the most, HIS WALLET! Also I hate those alien looking skanky Bratz dollz. I would never buy my daughter something that hideous and malformed looking. Of course I am too young to have kids yet as I am not married and still in school, but If I had a daughter.
Last edited by StephanieRiddle; 11-06-2004 at 03:16 PM.
Reason: Needed to add domething
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11-06-2004, 03:48 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Crup
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lurking
Posts: 2,107
| In Love with Touz | | Lil Mikky-Mu
^Same here! I hate those things.
I can't believe this guy... what about the wizards in LotR?! Gandalf the White, etc. And what exactly is bad about kids believing in magic?! Seriously, this guy is sick. Creativity would be dead without writers like Ms. Rowling. Good to see there are youth who'll make people like him look foolish.
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11-06-2004, 04:02 PM
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#7 (permalink)
|  Luna and Neville = OTP LV's Missing NoseBicorn
Join Date: May 2004 Location: YG Building,baby! =)
Posts: 1,766
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Did he even try to read the books? If he did, then 10 year olds are better then him--kids recognize the good and evil values presented in the books (I did a thesis on that), while he, a grown man, keeps on harping on about 'moral values' when he clearly has a warped understanding of morality...tut,tut.. | |
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11-06-2004, 04:04 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Ghoul
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: *In the gym at RBJH stocking a certain redhead*
Posts: 577
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miss_sweetheart
He has no idea of what he's talking about. If he at least listened, things wouldn't be so bad. I disagree with him on everything. I think he needs a child's PoV before he actually bans Harry Potter. i think so too!!! wow a meanine!!!
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11-06-2004, 04:21 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Bicorn
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cumbria,Uk
Posts: 1,755
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Total Meanie!  -Helen 
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11-06-2004, 05:24 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Dugbog
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Texas
Posts: 670
| Arteest Extraordinaire
GRRRRR that makes me so mad!!! I agree with miss_sweetheart on this one. UGH!
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11-06-2004, 05:48 PM
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#11 (permalink)
| | Crup
Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grimmauld Place
Posts: 2,214
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I hate people who attempt to ban the books, but are clearly ignorant about what messages they contain.
I feel like walking up to Grant and saying, 'congratulations... you're an idiot.' lol.
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11-06-2004, 05:50 PM
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#12 (permalink)
| | Jarvey
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: west virginia
Posts: 136
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I think that is crazy.....there is nothing wrong with any harry potter books or movies..
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11-06-2004, 07:27 PM
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#13 (permalink)
| | Jobberknoll
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: London
Posts: 488
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He will sell those awful Bratz things but he wont sell Harry Potter stuff. He's mad! He centainly does not know how to run a business cause wouldnt it be best to sell the things that people want rather than going on what he believes he should sell. If he keeps on going on like this then he'll never make a profit or get complete customer satisfaction.
I still cant believe he would sell Bratz over Harry Potter. They are like so ugly. And you get crap accessories like motorbikes and that with them. Everytime I see an advert of that I'm either laughing my head off or critisising them. Annoy my little brother and ask if he wants that for Christmas and stuff like that. The worst thing is that when you see the adverts its like teenage girls playing with them and your like saying "Dont you have a life?". They are extremely pathetic! | |
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11-06-2004, 07:31 PM
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#14 (permalink)
| | Horklump
Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Here, there, anywhere around the UK
Posts: 49
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I thought the pope aproved HP so that says that it also has christian morals seeing as it teaches right from wrong.
I really don't think playing with a HP action figure would teach a child witch craft, thats just not very realistic!
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11-06-2004, 07:32 PM
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#15 (permalink)
| | Bowtruckle
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 231
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Quote:
I think that this is once again a case of someone opposing HP without having a clue as to what they're talking about. I doubt he's even read HP - if he had, he would've been able to answer the children's questions in far more detail than he did.
i would have to agree i believe in god and i love harry potter the problem is that people who think the hp books are evil because they are dumb and never read the books. u can tell that he has never read any of the harry potter book how can u cast judgement on something and not know anything about it i love those books . any person would know that the books aren't just about witch craft the books are really about love,courage,beauty,happiness,death,friendship,fam ily and e.t.c .also about a boy just growing up and having to face the fact that his parents were killed .the books really are about good conquering evil the magic in the books are just the creme on the cake. my mom is the same way she uses the harry potter books as a tool when i get mad she thinks i am doing witchcraft becauuse i read them so much.
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11-06-2004, 09:09 PM
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#16 (permalink)
|  WafflingChizpurfle
Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: chasing the secrets of HBP
Posts: 713
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I think that it is perfectly alright for someone to dislike Harry Potter, BUT with a legimate reason that the person is able to support thoroughly with an intelligent argument.
When I read his responses he dodged the questions, he didn't answer them. My best friend happens to dislike Harry Potter, but she is able to support her opinion, so I personally don't care, because she doesn't mind that I'm completely obsessed with it.
Its people like Grant that make me angry because they can not support their view with logical reasons...
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11-06-2004, 09:21 PM
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#17 (permalink)
| | Nogtail
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 328
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Can you get any dumber? He is an idiot, my goodness he's dumber than me. I think we should boycott his products(though I can't, I'm in Australia)
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11-06-2004, 10:45 PM
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#18 (permalink)
| | Snidget
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: C-Wood, Virginia
Posts: 10,381
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Quote:
I think that this is once again a case of someone opposing HP without having a clue as to what they're talking about. I doubt he's even read HP - if he had, he would've been able to answer the children's questions in far more detail than he did.
I agree. If he actually read the books, he would understand that HP isn't about witchcraft or wizardry, it is about friendship, bravery, etc.
Why do you think Harry survived Voldamort? His mother's LOVE! (I have no clue if that is on-topic or not, it is just that everybody needs to look before they leap, or read the book or watch the movie before they speak out loud)
I don't mind people hating Harry Potter, it is they shouldn't judge a book by its cover! (If you know what I mean!)
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Last edited by Wolf Girl; 11-06-2004 at 10:48 PM.
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11-06-2004, 11:22 PM
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#19 (permalink)
| | Plimpy
Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Godric's Hollow
Posts: 1,077
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Quote:
* It is evident that he accepts other fantasy worlds and that in itself was one of the most hypocritical aspects of the programme and it is my belief that this was the message that the BBC were trying to put across (as they have always backed JK). They made a point of showing how much merchandise Grant sells which is linked to LotR and was asked why he sells it if, like Potter, it is heavily associated with magic.
I agree that why would he sell LotR merchandise if they both deal with witchcraft? Also,(not that I want this to happen!) I think it would have been more logical if he had banned LotR merchandise, because there is a lot of adult violence and scary creatures, and Harry Potter is specifically written and produced for kids!
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11-07-2004, 02:25 AM
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#20 (permalink)
| | Faerie
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Korea
Posts: 4,402
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Selling Bratz and not selling Harry Potter merchandise is stupid. Bratz has all these make-up, etc. Harry Potter isn't about wizardry and witchcraft! Geez, he should at least do some research before he does something idiotic.
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11-07-2004, 05:27 AM
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#21 (permalink)
| | Mooncalf
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 525
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i think he just wants publicity. and yeah i don't think he's read the books either!
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11-07-2004, 07:06 AM
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#22 (permalink)
| sporksSUB Skrewt
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sporking Mwahahaa
Posts: 1,300
| Moo Spork? SPORKY SPORKY!!
What a moron!! People like him won't ever listen, that's why a good slap upside the head is always fun!!!
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11-07-2004, 12:02 PM
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#23 (permalink)
| | Bicorn
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Highest cloud on Loon-Land
Posts: 1,808
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Siriusly_in_Love I hate people who attempt to ban the books, but are clearly ignorant about what messages they contain.
I feel like walking up to Grant and saying, 'congratulations... you're an idiot.' lol.  You crack me up, girl! But I agree, the guy should win a noble prize for the art of stupidity. But then again, thats a big contradition as there is nothing noble about it.
Boycott the entertainer! I agree with that. The guy is a Twat with a capital 'T'. Mwahahahaha.
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11-07-2004, 12:22 PM
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#24 (permalink)
| His life is like a river Kneazle
Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia
Posts: 3,233
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Quote:
* The argument of good versus evil was brought up. Gary responded by saying that Potter worries him because he believes that children will start to believe in magic by watching the films/reading the books and that he thinks re-enacting the scenes for the films can do the same thing.
Well, I'm no expert, but apparently magic was in childrens books and movies long before Harry Potter ever exsisted. Ground breaking news that, infact apparently every childhood movie I saw contained some form of magic and I have grown up perfectly fine.
Me thinks someone wants attention and isn't looking deep enough into what the stories message is beyond the magic...
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11-07-2004, 12:28 PM
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#25 (permalink)
| | Mooncalf
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: reading the deathly hallows......again!!
Posts: 526
Hogwarts RPG Name:
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Fourth |  oh my god !!!!!
what the heck is happening they obviously don't think that teenagers cannot tell the difference between fiction and fact !!!!!!
He also sells LOTR stuff and doesn't that dael with exactly thr same themes as the fantastic harry potter ?????????
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