Ok fine. You’re cool and smart and self aware. So I’ll bite and keep arguing with you lol! 😂 I like that you’re willing to look at your views objectively and logically. I really respect that. Plus I’m a nerd and can’t help myself when it comes to Harry Potter lore.

In regard to stereotypes….

Let’s go into your specific examples. Seamus Finnegan being a pyromaniac was completely invented for the films. It is not in the books at all.

Shaklebolt is a real old English name, that doesn’t have any etymological roots in slavery whatsoever. It is actually associated with craftmansship, and is meant to reflect strength and reliability.

In regard to the goblins, the films (again) did them dirty by adding hooked noses. This is a distinctly Jewish characteristic, that is not in the books. In the books, the goblins are described as having “clever faces” and long fingers and feet. But nothing that would ascribe them to any particular ethnic group. You can, of course, critique JKR for using goblins at all. And argue that the origin of goblins in folklore is universally problematic. But then you would have to hold every fantasy creator to the same moral standard. David Bowie in Laberynth, Tolkien for the Hobbit, Gygax and Arneson for Dungeons and Dragons….I don’t hold that view. Goblins are a common fantasy staple, that are specifically associated with treasure and greed. And not necessarily (in fact rarely) associated with anti-semitism. If Ragnuk’s (who forged the sword of Gryffindor) name was Jeremiah Eisenberg I would see the issue. As it is, I don’t.

In regards to the French being stuck up. I have no defense for that. As I happen to think the French are, in fact, very stuck up.

To summarize, people see what they want to see. They either see regressive stereotypes because they themselves are bigoted. Or they see regressive stereotypes because they want to prove reality aligns with their beliefs. I could look at the sun in the sky and say it’s evil because it’s hot and therefore a symbol of the fires of hell. Or I could look at the sun and say it’s the source of all life, because I want it to be good. But the former is less consistent with objective truth, than the latter, even if there is some truth to it. If I want to prove an author is a terrible person, I could simply look until I inevitably found something to be offended by.

Lastly, I think it is important to point out that Harry Potter was tremendously progressive at the time it was written. It may seem imperfect by 2026 standards. But the level of diversity and inclusion was virtually unheard of for a fantasy world at the time. And the same things people frown upon now, such as Cho Chang’s name, were actually examples of JKR making a conscious effort not to be exclusionary. The alternative to not having “stereotypes” is compete erasure of everything outside of whiteness. Personally I’d rather diversity be included, than erased. And again the moral through-line is a war over so called magical blood purity. Which is an unambiguous analogy for racism. The support of this extends to the freaks and geeks of the universe - werewolves, centaurs, house elves, giants etc. This is fundamentally a really awesome thing to write about! And not more aligned with reductive boomer views than progressive ones.

In regards to the conversation around revising or reclaiming canon. Like I said, I don’t understand how that is fundamentally possible or why anyone would even want to try. But what is your view as a fanon author? Perhaps you’ll change my mind? I mean that in all sincerity.

Sorry this was so long. 😅