Reflection and Analysis

Two Harry Potter Wiki (5/17/2022)

When looking up Harry Potter-related stuff one of the things someone may notice is how there is in fact not one, the first being the one with the "fandom" in the URL and the other with "neoseaker" in the URL. Although there are more when one gets into the fact there are wikis for specific parts of the Harry Potter fandom, which some other fandoms do in fact have when there's some form of sequel series. For those who have, they may be wondering why that is and for those who haven't, they may still be wondering why that is, as there isn't really any other fandom that has two wikis dedicated to the main fandom.

It comes down to the "fandom" wiki having a policy of considering what happens in the movies as canon unless contradicted by the books to which this particular wiki lists Lavender Brown as being dead because a tie-in book for the novel said it was so. Not Rowling, but a movie producer. Yet, strangely enough, every other fandom wiki including the side ones list her as being alive, because most fans know the movies don't count as canon material as the same way the books do. In fact, other fandoms when there is an adaption of a series that differs from the canon material at least, unlike the Harry Potter "fandom" wiki lists it as being from the adaption canon.

And I say it's definitely a policy that, if the person or persons maintaining it can change they should. Oh, sure, it does mean going back and editing a lot of wiki pages, but the truth is this policy shouldn't have been in place in the first place. Sure, use the pictures from the movies for settings and characters, but don't consider the movie stuff canon equal to book canon. But the funny thing is, how many people even though she died given she was never mentioned as having died in the books?

Nobody.

Which, while the "fandom" wiki is known for not being a good wiki, this is the only thing I personally know of where people are having a major WTF moment, one where you'd think the wiki would actually, you know, rethink it's policy rather than upholding it, but perhaps it's this one thing that ended up making the entire wiki seem like a joke to the rest of fandom.

And it's really weird.

It's weird to go looking up a character because you're planning on writing a fanfic involving them and the first wiki to pop up screams, "SHE'S DEAD!" and then tells you in the discussion page that you've just got to deal with it despite the fact it's not canon.

Like, Lavender being dead ISN'T canon. Pottermore listed her at one time as "presumed" then removed the death date completely, as presumed isn't actually the same as definitely.

Yet, I can't help but wonder how much of the not wanting it changed lies with the fact she was in canon a threat to the end game ship Ron and Hermione, a ship that when examined you have the guy treating the girl like crap and getting away with it. And as for Hermione, well, I've torn apart how her sending the birds at Ron was in defense of not just herself, but also Lavender who Ron was ignoring at the time. And the other time she was defending not just herself, but Harry. If it's just her, well, she's expected to put up with the crap Ron puts her through because he honestly has no respect for women.

But then, Ron is the character who complains about his mothers sweaters and the sandwiches she makes despite knowing she puts a lot of work into those sweaters while also ignoring the fact the family is on a budget which is why his least favorite sandwich is the go to.