I definetly want to join I.N.V.A.I.D. The idea of it is just brilliant!

My name's Lauren and I'm a new member but I have been coming to this site for a little over a year. It quickly became the only Harry Potter site for me after I explored a bit. It is set up in an extremely easy to use manner and you can pretty much always find the information you want within seconds.

I particularly like the way the forums are set up. There aren't too many rules and the ones that we have actually make sense and make the forums eighty times better than any forum I've ever seen anywhere. I particularlly love the no "netspeak" rule. It makes it so much easier to understand people and I feel like it promotes the actual use of writing skills! *gasp*

The members of this site are also very supurb. Everyone is very polite and welcoming and for the most part on track with their topics...

On a more astheticly pleasing side, VTM is just beautiful. I love the way the background changes with the time of day and how it looks like old parchment. The footprints are also adorable.

Overall Veritaserum is the best overall package for me and I beleive that it deserves more credit than it actually gets.



I had another one I thought of to add to the list. Have you ever heard of Quizilla.com? It's a site where you can write stories, poems, and diaries and create quizes and polls. It's not just for Harry Potter but it seems to me like 50% of the things on there are Harry Potter related ranging from Sorting Hat quizes to fan fic. I was thinking about messaging members who have created some sort of Harry Potter related thing on Quizilla encouraging them to check out VTM. What do you think about that idea?

I would like to join I.N.V.A.I.D!

My name is Anjali, and I am thirteen ((almost fourteen)) and I found Veritaserum a couple years ago, when I was looking for good HP websites. I liked it immeadiately. It's so nice and organized! It has all the news I could ever ask for. And I love VTM live, which I have been getting on my iPod! And then I entered the forums, which I fell in love with. It looked so warm and nice and friendly. And everybody here is sooo wonderfully amazingly nice, it's just brilliant. I think for me that made it really easy for me to you know, sort of fall in, I guess.

So that was all about how I really, truly love Veritaserum, and like LouRan20 said, it does deserve waaay more credit and I think that more people should have the chance to enjoy it!

XXXX anjali

Welcome, Cori. Glad you finally decided to join the group!

Lauren, thanks for the support! Your idea might be a good one. Maybe you could try messaging people and then report back what sort of response you get. Be sure to be especially courteous and complimentary of their fic. Don't message people whose fics you haven't read, since you'll want to mention specific parts of the fic you enjoyed. If you get negative responses from people, then discontinue it quickly. Just let us know how it goes.

Welcome aboard, Anjali. Nice to see a familiar face from the riddle thread!

Again, all ideas are welcome, so post them when you've got them.

I wanna goin I.N.V.A.D.E

here on VTM im known as pinkbubblegum im 13 going to grade 8 . I love absolutly everything about the harry potter series.

well i only goined VTM a few days ago and i love it. I'm a member of other HP sites and well they arn't the best they are well boring all the things are fake and well they arn't as good as VTM. they are barbaric and out of control. I apreciate that VTM has rules and its very organised. I was a harry potter fanatic for 5 years but i have not nown this buch about HP util i joined VTM.

Here i caught up on all the theoris and could discuss my opinion this site is so great and i would luv to get it the credit it deserves[size=1]

Hi there, pinkbubblegum! I'll be happy to add you to the INVAID membership just as soon as you edit your post so that it no longer contains any netspeak (e.g. luv=love, rnt=aren't, r=are).

To edit your post, simply click on the lower lefthand corner of your post where it says Edit then click on Full Edit. Once you've made your changes you can click on Submit Modified Post.

As soon as you've made the changes, send me an owl and I'll add you to the INVAID member list. Thanks!

I'd love to join!!

Well, I'm totally new here and I haven't met anyone yet!
My name's Cristiana and I'm from Portugal!! I'm 16 years old and I always loved Harry Potter! Even some of my friends start enjoying Hp books because of me!
I found out VTM when I was looking for news of OOTP movie and the 7th book, and I noticed that the layout and the general conception of the site are just awesome!!
Now, I show up quite often (twice a day ) to see if there are any news, and usually there are!
I think that VTM should get all the fame and recognition that it deserves, because here you'll find something that other sites don't have... I call it magic!
One thing is certain, better you won't find!!

Just wanna give a warm welcome to all the new members! Enjoy yourselves here and help us get the respect and honor for VTM that it deserves! Thanks!

-SPL

I'd like to be a member!

I really like this site becuase most Harry Potter sites that i've visited are really un organised and hard to look around on... it's kinda annoying...thats what i like so much about VTM

I agree with rjtwerp.Other HP websites are really unorganized.I think that here it is perfect.This site is the best!!!!!!!

*raises hand* i want to join, where do i sign?

Hey Everyone,

This is such a good idea!, VTM needs more recognition for it's efforts! this is by far the best harry potter website that i have come across, things a fairly easy to find ...but even if there not, there is always a mod around willing to help! which is a far cry from other HP websites that i have been on!

to tell you the truth i never knew that VTM wasnt a highly ranked HP site...i have been on loads and loads of other sights and this one is the best! i just thought the rest of the HP fans knew about it!

i really should get out there and let people know what they are missing out on

I would like to join I.N.V.A.I.D. as well.

A little about me. My name is Molly, I am 15 years old. I live in Colorado, US. I've lived here for three years, I lived most of my life in the wonderful town of Snohomish, Washington! I've been a member for about a month now, I don't exactly remember how I found this site, but I think its a great for talking about our views on Harry Potter and I get to talk to people who love HP as much as i do. I've had a great time looking through forums and theorys. I think that VTM needs more attention for the great site that it is..

I.N.V.A.I.D. all the way!

Its been a month since this thread started but i hope its never too late to join? Well i'd definitely be proud to be part of I.N.V.A.I.D. Everyones come up with great ideas and it wont be too long before everyone knows that VTM is the best site. It should be recognised and i'm pretty sure everyones efforts will bring up something. I'll just make a brief introduction..

My real name is Vian so you can call me that if you like..im 11 (turning 12 in 2 months) and Harry Potter plays a great role in my life. I used to hate it..and for the same reason most people do: it was long, boring and full of nonsense. I hadn't really read it so thats pretty a dumb reason but once i heard all the talk about the books, i decided to read them myself a few months before the release of HBP and before long they were my absolutely favourite books. I joined in December and VTM is definitely better than any other HP site.

I'll try joining on Bebo but are the sites safe? Like the rest too. I mean so many have viruses..these groups. Lets just hope they dont, well i dont think they do but im not definite. Anyhow i'll try my best.

Vian

Here I come friends.,,, well i would like to join the I.N.V.A.I.D as well,,, truly speaking i am a member of many other fan sites but so far i have never taken part in any of those sites so much actively ,,, and this is really different ,,, i m pretty much obsessed with VTM as well I must say ...

I am Naeem and i am from Pakistan ,, i have been reading Harry potter since I was 14 ,, i think,, and now I am 20 ,, so i can say i have grown up reading HP ....anything else you want to know ,, just send me an owl

Cares;'

I am still doing it at leaste 3 to 4 times a day i want page 1 here in the u.s. google. We are currently on line 3 on page 2. I encourage everyone to do this at leaste once a day. INVAID!

Well we are moving up in the UK too. I am not doing it on the U.S, I am concentrating on the UK one until we are on the second page. I am just going to stay on Veritaserum and post a few posts and then I will carry on doing it. I will do it twenty times and see what happens.

Well, I must say, I'm interested.

I'm a Canadian girl, as some might have guessed by my siggy. I'm 14, and I do believe I first discovered Veritaserum in 2004, while cruising for HP sites in general. What I found was a devoted site with easily accessable information and exciting fresh posts and comments. It is obvious that Matt (can I call you Matt?) took much time and care to create a site of such high quality. Everything to the neat, tidy and easily navigated forums, to the funny touches such as the Cartoon Contest make this site unique. It wasn't long until Veritaserum became my homepage. As you say, "Let the Truth be Told!" and here it is: Veritserum is very high, if not the first, on the HP Website Honourable Mentions.

I have only a few concerns. These are probably stupid questions, but they apply for other memberships so I will ask them. Does this membership require any money donations, or public meetings? I know, stupid. But my parents will have my hide if I give money or go anywhere with strangers. They would literally tear me apart. I know this is likely just online discussion on this site.

If money or appearance is required, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SIGN ME UP!!! If it is just an online membership, than go right ahead, sign me up!

Ok, I know I'm a little late into the game as INVAID started several months ago, but really, I've been a devoted VTM fan for about 3 or 4 years. I've cycled through several names, starting with MundungusNymphadora, to "Jr. Jo", to "Zett Jukassa is my hero", and now I've adopted the display name "The Silver Unspeakable". What I loved most about it at first was how small, cozy and friendly it was; more like a home and family compared to massive sites like Mugglenet, which felt a little more cold and distant to me. I also really liked the initial layout which I thought was really cool, though now it's changed of course but I love this one even more. I could go on forever about how great VTM has been over the past several years, but that would take forever.

But I think that it is definitly time for VTM to be honored and recognized for it's excellence. By this I don't necessarily mean that it gets more visitors, because one reason I love it so much is the fact that it is smaller and cozier than the other massive sites.

(Here's a suggestion, and hopefully it hasn't already been mentioned, but I don't really have the time to read through all 8 pages on this thread

I think the best honor it could be given is for VTM to receive JKR's Fansite award, as displayed on her official website. The Leaky Cauldron has been on there way to long, and I think it's about time for VTM to take its place! To help it to become recognized by JKR I think a bunch of VTM fans should write letters to her and briefly mention what a wonderful site VTM is. Perhaps then it will be brought to her attention. Now, who's with me?!

This is an awesom site. I believe that VTM is the right site because it discusses the wholew entire truth of Harr potter, is well organized and is an advatnage to all HP fans because it stretches the mind further than ever. I am afrom the U>S and have read HP for about six years. I use to not like toread but now I love it and got obssesed wtih the HP boo\ks . this site also makes you active I just like that so mu`ch

Yours Truely
dumbledoreisalive

The Silver Unspeakable i am with you! Lets do this. That would be great to get on JKR.com.
oh and by the way we have moved up to line two on page 2 in the u.s.

That would be great Silver Unspeakable. FIGHT THE POWER!!! . I think that is a brilliant suggestion. We should do that. Unfortunately I haven't got much time to write a letter. I suppose if I got bored in my Maths lesson I could do it. Hmm. I will try to write a letter to her. But we need more than one. We need atleast fifty I should say atleast. Think how many people write to Jo. We need a big number.

i like that idea silver Unspeakable. I justg need to get the time to write a letter but we like someone said need plenty of people to keep sending letters to JKR

I've just had an awesome brilliant idea. Now I do like Mugglenet; even as it pains me to admit that it is more popular than Veritaserum even though this site is very well thought of in the Harry Potter world. What if Mathew posted news to Emerson frequently and as they always do they will say, Thank to Veritaserum (link) we have blah blah blah. So if it appears more often then people will think it is really good and more people will read it and it will attract more people here. So Mathew, if you happen to read this, what do you think and will you do it?

Hi there Mistress. No this organization is simply an online membership to promote Veritaserum on the Google PageRank. The full spectrum of the organization can be found in the first post on this thread and here: Want To Help Out VTM?

No question is a stupid one. Especially questions about online saftey. You have right to be unsure about things online, because afterall, this is an VTM group which is part of the Internet. If I'm not mistaken, you're the first to ask about what the membership requires so congratulations.

To everyone else: I updated the memberlist with everyone who joined within the past few weeks. If I made a mistake and your name is not there let Albus-wan (thread creator) or I know.

Let's get Google crazy about VTM!

I.N.V.A.I.D. I saw the name and had to find out what it was, so I've a read a bit here and I'm all for it! I'd realy like to join!! Why Veritaserum is my favourite site of them all is because after especially the fourth film I was so into HP, but my friends soon got tired of all my HP talk. So I was searching on internet for more HP stuff an found this side! I falled first for the layout because I like the parchment and it's kind a calm, like everything isn't blowing into your face ( I've got realy angry on 1st April! ) And it is easy to find things here and I love the forum!

Oh I forgot I am 15 years, live in Norway and I'm crazy about HP! I goes on Ungdomsskole...and it's not very much more to say..!

Thank you Snuffalupagous, James Pickles, and Dumbledoreisalive!! I'm glad you like the idea and really appreciate the support!!
But like James Pickles said, we need more people than this--you said at least 50, but I think at least 20 would even be sufficient for starters. So why don't we wait to send our letters until we know for sure that we have enough people to actually make a significant affect.

So please, if there is anyone else out there who would like to participate, please let me know! For those of you haven't seen my proposal to INVAID, here it is:

I think the best honor it could be given is for VTM to receive JKR's Fansite award, as displayed on her official website. The Leaky Cauldron has been on there way to long, and I think it's about time for VTM to take its place! To help it to become recognized by JKR I think a bunch of VTM fans should write letters to her and briefly mention what a wonderful site VTM is. Perhaps then it will be brought to her attention. Now, who's with me?!
(To see my entire proposal, go to page 8, I think it is.)

Okay. So I would like to join INVAID. I came across VTM when I was looking for something HP related....don't remember what it was

so...about me. my name is diane and i live in canada...in a suburbs of toronto. i love VTM and have wanted to be a mod for a while....they won't let me...<sigh>

anyways, so let's INVAID!

im for it.

im ginnie, almost 18, subrubs of Pennsylvania, USA. i absolutely love VTM. i go on it as often as possible, but i don't always post. am obsessed with all things potter.

okay. so i just post here like a day ago, but i have something else to add

i read through about half of the INVAID proposals, but never got the time to finish it. anyways, while i was reading, someone somewhere proposed for vtm to be linked to wikipedia harry potter fandom site. (here) i went to check it out and found it linked, but i edited it to have it be the first link when scrolling down the site. i didn't think that having people try out mugglenet and hpana and....most of the other hp sites first and forgetting vtm would do anything to help vtm's well deserved fame

also, i'm also gonna add a link to INVAID from my signature as soon as i can figure out how to put up one and find the time to photoshop a good image for it

[edit] oh. and i also found that there is a new article about vtm on wikipedia (here) maybe some of the mods or vtm fans can add a little more to it...its too short to reveal all of vtm's glory

Phoenix, though I can't stop you from altering Wikipedia, I'm advising against what you've done. I edited the fandom page about a month ago, after being discussed in here, giving light to Veritaserum which wasn't listed there at the time. To be honest, being third on the list is pretty darn good.

You need to understand something, the reason for this organization is to grant VTM with 'the attention it deserves'. The wiki HP fandom page is viewed hundreds of times a day by people around the world - I even look at it once in a while to see what's new and what's not. How would it look if we all of a sudden appeared first on the list? You have to sit down and ask yourself if we would be seen as the '#1 Harry Potter Site' or as a 'rodomontading' type of site.

It's one thing to promote using acceptable ways, however, gloating just makes us look bad.

When one person edited and bragged in our own Wikipedia page, someone didn't take it too kindly and erased everything there. A backup was saved so no harm was done, but I'll tell you that it made my damn hackles rise.

I appreciate that you're all excited about INVAID and VTM because you guys are the one who will make it happen; on the other hand, however, there's a limit that shouldn't be crossed because in the longrun it leads to more difficult consequences.

Having enthusiastic members help out: good.

Having VTM being viewed down upon subordinately rather than as equal: not so good.

sorry

Hi Phoenix Tears!

I'm just about to send you a PM (An Owl) you can read it by clicking on the link on the popup that should appear or on the link on the top right hand side that says '1 Owl Waiting'

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Ygraine

Hey Phoenix

Try not to take my above post as me reprimanding you, because it goes for all members. I wasn't attempting to single you out and you have nothing to be sorry about. I'll turn my eye the other way this time, mate.

You are more than welcome to edit any of Veritaserum's Wiki pages with supported information if you want, because that's what it's about! I didn't mean to come across harsh, Phoenix.

alright. what Jordon had said was bothering me all last night so i might as well type it although he said it's fine.

it's true that i did not, as i said in my post, participate in discussion of vtm going online on wikipedia. i was simply not here at the time and though i have been supporting vtm for a while, i did not see everyone's views on this matter. i should have at least read through everything, which i did not, and for that i am sorry.

i took my own intitive to edit wikipedia and did not discuss it here and i apologise to that too. but when i edited the page, i did not see it as you did, jordon. i am not sure what you said about someone bragged in the page, but i do not like to think of myself grouped with such a person. perhaps i am hypocritical, but there has never been a person to judge my actions. my thoughts were, when i edited the page, was that, for me, i go to the first site listed and if it has the information i need, i don't see the need to move onto the next. now i must confess that i rarely go onto the other fansites and vtm was my first. i kinda got stuck here. but i know that there are things that need improvements around this site, as with all the other hp fansites. i just wonder whether people would stick with their first choice. many of my friends did.

~PhoenixTears

PS i will change wikipedia back

Earlier on in this thread, someone mentioned writing to JKR requesting that she validate this site. I penned (typed) out a letter and it is sitting on a file on my computer waiting to find out if anyone has done the same.

If I knew that others were going to write I'd print it off and post it immediately, as I don't think my letter on it's own will hold much clout.

Please let me know if this idea is still valid and when anyone thinks we should do it. If we are it would be a good idea do you think, to sign up to say so?

Ehh...I wouldn't do that too quickly, etphonehome.

Although I see where you are coming from -- mass sending of letters to JK Rowling saying how great the site is may make her realize that she is missing something -- but I don't agree on the whole picture.

If I were JK Rowling, and I received a bunch of fanmail telling me, even if they are all extremely polite and well-written, that I need to update my site because this site named "Veritaserum" is really great, I'd be a little turned off. For one, its her site, and she personally updates it, so we wouldn't want to seem pushy. Also, it may see a bit planned out or fake. She has said that she personally reads through all of her fanmail, so perhaps only a couple of people should send such letters. After two or three, she may become curious and come and check it out. It would also seem more sincere with less.

In the end, it is up to the Mods -- or, if he happens to be around, Matthew -- to make the final decision. It is his site, so he has the right to say yes or no to something like this that could affect it.




_daviD

Thanks for you response! This is why I threw this out there to be quite honest. I suspected as much, but it's something thats been bugging me for a while. The last thing I wanted to do was go out all guns a blazing and get myself into a heap of trouble with the moderators etc.

In that case I'll sit on this one for the time being...or until someone higher up tells me yeah that's a great idea go with it.

Elaine

i just had a thought last night, but i'm not too sure whether anyone's mentioned it so tell me if they have.

would how we word our description under google or yahoo or any other search engine affect the ranking of our score? because if people are searching: hp+book7 info, those sites with those words in the description will be listed first, then downwards from relevence.

just a thought i had

~PhoenixTears

---------------------------------------------

i'll add this as an edit since no one has replied. i have also written a more detailed introduction to veritaserum that can be posted onto wikipedia. can i post it? i can put a copy up here too so you guys can edit it and add/delete stuff you don't want.

~PhoenixTears

etphonehome: I'm glad you wrote your letter! I was the one who suggested the idea. I'm also glad you decided to wait to send it, as it sounds like felix_felicis_444 doesn't think it's such a great idea. I can see where they're coming from, but I think that just a few letters won't hurt.

And felix_felicis_444: the letters don't have to (and actually should not) be solely about VTM. My idea is to simply write a regular fan letter to JKR, and among everything else you say, possibly mention VTM once, saying something like "It's great how there are so many HP fansites out there. It must be so neat to have so many people make sites in honor of you and your amazing creation of the world of Harry Potter. My personal favorite fansite is Veritaserum..." and then just leave it at that and continue on to talk of other things from there. It's as simple as that.
Something like this might simply cause her to "become curious and check it out" as you suggested, which could possibly eventually lead to her making it her winning fansite, which would lead more HP fans to VTM, thus 'nabbing VTM the attention it deserves" which is the whole purpose of INVAID in the first place. That's why I suggested the idea.
I'm not saying to send her a bunch of letters that say "VTM is the best site in the world! You should make it your winning fansite." I can definitely see how that would be a turn of to JKR and might actually have a negative affect. I'm not saying that at all, and I'm sorry if it came across that way and wasn't clear enough.

By the way, etphonehome, what exactly did you say in your letter? And again, thank you for your support and for following through! Just hang in there, and we'll see if we can get this whole thing approved and officialized before sending off letters. Thanks!

And felix_felicis_444: How would you suggest getting Matthew's stamp of approval (or perhaps veto) concerning this idea?


P.S. If too many people think that this is a really bad idea, I'm willing to throw in the towel, and apologize for bringing up the whole thing in the first place. I just thought it could be something to really help VTM.

Okay, The Silver Unspeakable, I see where you're coming from. I suppose that it wouldn't necessarily hurt to drop the name in your own personal fan letter. As long as you are not too forward and obvious, it might not be terrible. Just the mere mentioning of the name might pick her curiosity.

I am not saying that you should throw the idea down the drain, just put it on hold for the time being. You should wait to receive Matthew's permission before doing that, though. It is his site, so he has the right to say no. The only way that I am aware of to get in touch with him is through the Contact Veritaserum page.




_daviD

Thank you, felix_felicis_444. I'm glad that you see what I mean now. And sure, I'll put it on hold until we get official approval. I'll try to contact Matthew and ask him what he thinks. Do have any idea if there's a particular way that I should present it to him that would be best? Again, Thanks!

I don't like that idea. It seems to.....planned. It's like a movie star going on tv to talk about a book they've written and then to plug their newest movie. Pathetic. Now I'm not afraid to say this and I daresay many will think otherwise, but I am the biggest VTM fan around. I've been here since the olden days and since VTM is my second home I would love for it to recieve the recongition it deserves, but I don't believe writing letters will do that. To me it's like tooting your own horn, as I kinda did before.

I also think we should leave the Wikipedia thingy up to Admin and or Mods/Prefects to edit. They know more about this site and the people better then anyone so in my opinion it would be presumptuous to go in there and change it. And as some people have said, we don't want to seem aloof. We're a peoples site, not an arrogant site like some others.

But that's all my opinion.....

O h dear it seems that I have inadvertently stirred up a hornets nest with the letters thing!

Tahra, I know that you are 'old school' and wouldn't steer me wrong, so consider the letter shelved (although still on file). As to the contents of my letter...well I'm afraid I have been a wicked mother and used my youngest, by that I mean I wrote the letter as if I were her. Just as a young fan and then just happening to mention the fact that she gets all her information from this site. I know, naughty of me....but hey I asked her permission first!!!

Anyhow if there is something that I can do to help VTM get the recognition that it so thoroughly does deserve, let me know.

Elaine

If I had a kid I'd probably do the same thing! But only because for me, at 21, it would be weird to write a letter to JKR. Unless I was a teacher or parent, then it would be ok you know. I'm not sure how she'd take it if she read something from me with all my 'I loved Sirius!!! I love Lupin!! I love Snape!!!' Well Alan Rickman anyway.....the younger characters do nothing for me...ooo! Except Oliver Wood! Sean Biggerstaff = yummy.

Anyway. OMG!!! Not sure where it's mentioned or even if I just think I've read it before....anyway. Why don't we ask JKR to come and chat to us? That way she'd know the sites name, she'd probably come and check it out before replying, (if she ever does), and who knows!! Even if she did turn down the offer she still would have seen the site!! Crummy idea?

LOL (sorry netspeak) That's exactly what I had in mind when I wrote the letter as Issie!!! I didn't want to look like some stupidly obsessed 44 year old!! I put things like 'my favourite character is Harry etc', and my mum likes Sirius (had to slip that one in!!)

Mind you I never thought of the teacher angle...I work in a school as a teaching assistant!

I like the idea of asking JKR to come for a chat! How would we do this...would this be a job for Matthew?

It would be better if Matthew did it and as the founder JKR (hopefully) would be more inclined not pass over his letter. But he has so many other things to do that perhaps we should elect someone else. Or He should elect someone else if he agrees on the idea. I'd say Jordan since he's an Admin, but that's just my personal opinion. Or Louise if she was willing and had time to do it. But as with everything else Matthew needs to have a say. I'd hate to plan everything out to the letter and then have him disagree. Or it could go the other way, have it all planned out anyway, just in case. Aww, man I dunno. I'm gonna go get some sleep. It's past my bedtime.

Ok, it looks like my letter idea is down the drain. Sorry guys, I was just trying to find a good way to help VTM. I've been around since the old days too, and just want to see VTM get the honor and recognition that it deserves. I didn't think a couple letters (or even just etphonehome's 1 letter) would hurt. But I can see your points, so it's ok.

But I really like the idea about having JKR chat with us!!!!!!!!!!!! That would be soooo cool! Great thinking, TriadOfDarkness! That's probably one of the best ideas we've had so far!

And again, if there are any other ideas that need people to help with, just let me know cuz I'd be mor than happy to do something to support VTM!

Well then, I thought I've been in this group for a while, but I guess I never actually posted in this thread sooo that explains that.

Anyways, I'd like to formaly join this group now.

Thank you

Alec

Ok Hi guys call me really slow to jump on the band wagon but I would love to join INVAID it's a great idea and very fitting for the amazing site that this is!

My real name is Sandra and I'm 19 and from Melbourne Australia (good to see some other aussie's posted here) and I have been onto Veritaserum for a year or so now and I am still yet to find a site as easily to navigate through, as updated on news and pics (love the new ones ) - it's been my homepage for a year now I get the current news every time I log on. One of my favourite sections would have to be the addresses of actors, I mean we can even contact the actor who was in a painting! (although I am waiting desperately for the new OOTP actors)
So great job guys and I'll try to join more convo's in the near future as I've only just started. But count me in for INVAID!

Actually, The Silver Unspeakable, I think your letter idea is great. I can understand Tahra's concern that it could come off as too planned, but if you guys are doing it just because you want to, then I think it'd be fine. And judging by the latest Fan Site Award, given to Potterish.com yesterday, fan letters can influence the sites she visits (she said, "I've had a few fan letters from South America mentioning this fansite, so I thought I'd pay it a visit."). Feel free to write her letters mentioning VTM if you'd like!

In your letters, you could mention Tahra's chat idea, but I doubt that Jo would do an online chat with a fan site. The last online chat she did was in March 2004 as a part of the World Book Day chat, which was a much larger online chat event that encouraged kids to read. And before that, she did one with AOL in 2000, but AOL is quite a bit bigger than any HP fansite. The possibility is always there, but I wouldn't count on it happening any time soon.

She gave an award yesterday?! And Vtm didn't get it? Aw no, something must be done!

I really think writing to her is a good idea. I know it can seem very forward, but if you word it well and balance it well with the rest of your personal HP experience, it can be very effective and your sincerity will come across. Because that's all we're really trying to do - to tell her of our sincere love for a Harry Potter site. There's nothing in it for us, except seeing Vtm get the recognition it deserves. Also, she's used to getting fan mail. She will have seen enough fabricated plugging to last her a lifetime, and she'll know the difference, I think.

There's nothing fishy about a bunch of fans deciding to bring something under her attention, in my opinion. It's not Matthew who is organising it, so it really is nothing more than fans of Vtm being sincere. I understand that staff might want to be careful, because having a hand in the site, it could look like we're blowing our own trumpet. Not that I think that, because Vtm is much bigger than individuals, so I find it difficult to think of it as bragging at all, but it would come across that way.

Sigh, I'll get my brother to write to her.

Edit: I've checked out Potterish.com. They're not bad, but I've come to a conclusion: she can't ever have been here! Or perhaps we could try medieval animation on the home page, Matthew?