Thank you for this refreshing interview.

I’m very impressed you got this interview. Just think– First Steve Vander Ark… next J.K. Rowling!

By the way I listened to this while on the Jersey turnpike and I found no such rest stop!

Good job, you two!

I’m hoping that the we can all unite and focus on the lessons of the Harry Potter books, friendship, loyalty, etc….

Sometimes hiding the data inside noise on an open channel is more efficient than hiding pure data on an encrypted one.

And I’d also like to thank you guys for remaining level-headed and unbiased in your coverage of the trial. It’s a great relief compared to the heated emotions and outright flaming I’ve encountered on some other HP fansites.

Thanks Steve for such an honest interview.

With regards to the contest – maybe a topic a little more straight forward to start?

See you Sunday!

BUT, I wanted to say that I have loved the last few episodes, and hope that the awesome episodes keep coming. I have really been enjoying the interview with Steve Vander Ark (I am part way through), and find it very interesting to understand what some of the words meant, and how it worked.

revgeorge- I have to agree with you on the reactions of people. I liken the reactions that *some* HP fans have had about Steve Vander Ark and Harry Potter to the way people treat pedophiles and children. I think the two are obviously NOT comparable AT ALL and overzealous and angry fans have taken their reactions a bit too far in my opinion.

I am not saying that as a HP fan I wish this whole thing hadn’t happened. I think it hurt all parts of the fandom, including and especially JK Rowling and SVA. I also hate that creative effort of fans in the future might be stifled because they are scared, not of lawsuits or JK Rowling, but of the reactions of other fans.

I appreciated what SVA said about the court case being about the law. I personally don’t think he was out to hurt JKR in any way and I think his honest and candid responses in the interview are a testament to this. Just my opinion. I hope that people can take their anger and blind hero worship (which in many cases is not for JKR or HP, but for others in the fandom who have put themselves in positions of power) and not use it to divide the fandom anymore.

Just goes to show how little one can believe things in the press & also how complicated things become when things enter the legal system. Again the saddest thing about this has been the division in the fandom. And also the fact that so many fans seemed to have taken this personally & somehow see SVA as an enemy & now not worthy of having anything to do with fandom.

I just looked at some of the comments on Mugglenet regarding the decision re: RDR vs WB et al & the appeal of the decision & regarding Steve’s new book. I always have to remind myself when I go over there to take a deep breath & remember that most of the people commenting are teenagers. But talk about people who don’t bother to figure out what’s going on!

Which gets me to this point: I’ve noticed a disturbing trend in parts of the fandom to consider Jo to be the God of the Harry Potter world & thus whatever she says about HP is true & good & right, & she & only she may decide every aspect of the HP phenomenon. And if anyone appears to cross her, they are evil & should be banned from having anything to do with the fandom. I saw some comments on Mugglenet from people who think SVA shouldn’t even be allowed to write ANY books on Potter related themes! I can’t even begin to say how misguided & absolutely uninformed such thinking is.

So, hopefully as time goes on, such attitudes will become tempered by some sense & understanding of the situation. I think Steve’s interview is helpful in dispelling some of these questions about the case. So, again thanks for the interview & also congratulations on reaching two years of podcasting! Great job!

(without going into the whole issue again – i just think that the most unnecessary HP moment was the trial. while i do believe that Jo had the right to stop the printed lexicon, i also think that she missed a great opportunity to recognize it for the great tribute it could have become)

while he is no competition to the all-knowing Greg and the lovely Penny (my two hands down favorites) Steve is certainly at his best when in front of an audience and I do suggest you try to engage him in discussion every now and then.

back to unnecessary moments and the challenge. I think you need to give your audience some time… i personally have never done anything like this before (and it seems i’m not alone).
I do intend to submit please be patient. (you should also factor into your algorithm the first-time-making-a-video factor)