On December 4th, an author of porographic Star Trek fanfiction appealed to her fellow trekkies to join a campaign, or perhap a jihad, against "Harry Potter Porn". My response to that is the body of the first chapter of this story.

I have to acknowledge that many of the ideas came directly from others, though they acquire a meaning here of which the original authors might not approve.

The legal text is from a bill unanimously passed by the Illinois House this year. I do not know if it became law. I did not have to alter it in the slightest.

The intent of this appendix is to acknowledge, inform, instruct, and hopefully to amuse. Part of the fun of any parody in knowing just what is being twisted. While this debate took place only a week ago in forums closely linked to Harry Potter fan fiction, this recapitulation is intended as a service to the reader who doesn't care to wade through several threads.

I haven't included the complete posts, nor the vastly more numerous and more articulate posts against censorship. This is supposed to be entertaining appendix, not a political debate; ff.n isn't the place for that.


There are posts there by "Catherine Kay", "momthing", "FalconPrss" and "LeighChapel" among others. I've extracted some of the more, um, noble sentiments below.

"Catherine Kay" posted the original "On Harry Potter Porn and an Appeal" in the ASCEM Yahoo group and the corresponding news group: alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated. It was posted in SpockandChristine by "momthing" as message 29379 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SpockandChristine/message/29379).

The original post proposes "start[ing] a campaign to write a letter to the editors of our respective newspapers protesting Harry Potter slash fiction sites on the Internet."

"Catherine Kay" later in message 29387 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SpockandChristine/message/29387) gives the address of the Warner Bros. legal VP, and expresses concern that the sales of Harry Potter books are second only to sales of Bibles.

On December 4, in message 29393 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SpockandChristine/message/29393) she announces that she's written to three Chicago papers and to her church, warning that "this stuff has incestuous themes and borders on pedophilia at times", and referring to "family safe sights" [sic].

She gives the full text of the letter, and also her name, town and phone number, which I can find no compelling reason to repeat here.


In message 29381 (3 December, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SpockandChristine/message/29381) "Falcon Prss", suggests other tactics:

"Perhaps more should be done than writing to a newspaper editor. Find out what domains host these sites and complain vigorously to the folks there. Write to the publishers of the Potter books and tell them what you are finding. I should think that they would be very interested in going after people who are using their copyrighted material to produce what is no less than child pornography."


Another poster is "LeighChapel", who is cheery on Dec 4, in message 29404 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SpockandChristine/message/29404) saying:

"hey don't sound so downhearted, we've only just BEGUN! I have been in contact with one of our red-hot journalists and he too is on the case! People are obviously finding it difficult to know where to draw the line as far as propriety is concerned not to mention common decency, lets face it, we're never gonna STOP these sickos but we CAN make it difficult for them to continue.

"Now I'm just gonna put my cape and tights back in the laundry basket and look forward to some decent textual experiences."


In message 28418 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SpockandChristine/message/29418) Maria (momthing) says: "I am all for freedom of speech. I am not in favor of censorship, but I think sometimes it is necessary...like in time of war, for example. . . . "I say again, THIS list is adult oriented. WE are NOT the ones who are in the business of luring children into reading about minors indulging in sexual activities. I say keeping our mouths shut in order to protect ourselves from possible repercussions is taking the coward's way out. WE can always modify the fiction on this list to a G rated content if we have to. WE have that choice. I know I've already done it with many of my stories. . . . "But if we don't rock the boat, then these people who host these websites are going to continue luring innocent children to their sites and promoting pedophilia. Although they refuse to see this."


The SpockandChristine list has a membership of only 167 members. The moderator alreadly told the posters to this topic to "take it outside", a phrase she may have borrowed from her local bartender.