Yet another call by me.

[Bêthberry]

But I think that Imladris has identifed a point here. It is unfair for people to make gratuitous opinion-based criticism of Harry Potter (or other non-Tolkien material) when those who wish to defend it cannot do so without taking the thread further off-topic. And by gratuitous, I mean irrelevant to the topic at hand. If the criticism is relevant, then it should be possible to defend it by reference to the topic. If not then, as Rimbaud suggested, challenge the criticism by PM.

And let me say I think Saucepanman is on to something here. I, too, felt that there was some merit to Imladris's initial point, however polemically she expressed it. (She does love her polemics.)

The BarrowDowns prides itself on the quality of its discussion. That means, I think, fair analysis and comparisons, witty rejoinders and clever reparte. But if or when we resort to, as SpM says, "gratuitous" slams of other authors, whether it be Rowlings or Pullman or some other fantasy writer or modern, we foresake good quality discussion for silly and cheap rabble rousing, name calling in the hopes of making us "Tolkienites" feel smug or superior or some such aura of exclusivity. Ad hominem comments aren't us-- I really don't think that the Downs is about that kind of "put down".

So, yes, as Rim, Sharkey and SpM have all suggested, handle that with a PM or consider how the issue can be addressed in an on-topic manner.

Edit: cross posted with Lalwendë here.