It’s only Twitter

What is it about Twitter that makes some people think that they can say things that are obviously intended to provoke a response, but when they get that response, they dismiss those who respond?

With the new Harry Potter movie out this weekend, some people were apparently upset that others were posting spoilers from the book. When they complained others tweeted how annoyed they were that people who had not read the books would complain and accused them of being “too lazy” to read and proceeded to intentionally reveal major plot points for the final movie due out next year.

Now I haven’t read the books, but I have enjoyed the movies. I was 30 when the first Harry Potter was published, so it didn’t shoot to the top of my reading list at the time. It wasn’t until the first film was released that I really became aware of Harry Potter and, having enjoyed the film, decided I’d wait and see all the movies before reading the books. Movie adaptations often fall short of the books, so I figured, why take a chance of ruining my enjoyment of the movies. Plus I hate the months- or years-long gaps you have in series when you’re reading them as they’re released. I prefer to read an entire series back-to-back whenever possible.

So when these people complained about non-readers, I chimed in and said, maybe people are doing what I’m doing and waiting for the end of the film series. What was the response? I was told by a young college student that that was the “least logical idea” they had ever heard. When I asked her what was wrong with that, the response was “because the movies (up until deathly hallows) are terrible.” I pointed out that it seemed odd to me that her opinion of the films should have any bearing on when I should or shouldn’t read the Harry Potter books and suggested that maybe I check with her next time a book series is adapted for film. That way I will know whether it would be “logical” to read the books before or after seeing the films. To me the illogical reasoning was deciding that because someone hadn’t read a specific book, that automatically meant they were “too lazy” to read.

In the end I was then told that I should relax, that “it’s just Twitter, nothing to get upset over.” I agreed and suggested they follow their own advice not get upset and intentionally ruin a film for someone since it is “just Twitter.” That was the last I heard from them.