Feel free to move this topic as I was not sure where to put it.

OK, has VTM ever inspired you to do something, HP related or not?

I find out things via other post that I haven't noticed in the books, which inspires me to go back and read the entire book again!

I find the get away from life forums quite good too. The religion topic made me feel good about being a Christian and reading HP, as some churches disagree with it!

Plus on VTM, I like talking about my faviroute subject, HP! I've been criticized as a HP nerd and a geek in general (not saying that you are), but it's nice to know that theres people just as passionate as me!

Yeah... some one refences something in a book and I HAVE TO goo look it up! Also, I love the way people can express themselves and not be... what's the word I'm looking for... looked at like ... "gah.. is she taking about Harry Potter again!" Aw, well, some people just don't get it

I agree with Lady Malfoy, and besides in my case-as I'm a spanish native speaker-, it helps keeping one's english updated, particularly if you are in a stage in which most of the english you practice is rather fromal,but you wouldn't be able to become much acquainted with the more informal part of the language although maybe much of the tv shows one can watch would be in english (which is my case), still, I feel that it is not enough, but that's because I'm a rather visual person...
Moreover, it helps you to find or to try to express yourself in a different way, using different words...

Yeah, whenever I go onto the DH forum, and I see something that I missed, I have to go reread to make sure it's in there. Then I discuss it in front of my friends the next day. I would say I discuss it with them, but now they pretty much ignore me when I start talking about HP... sigh. Ah, well!

-Jasmine

Well... VTM has definetely inspired me to talk about HP more often with my friends. I am definetely not what you would consider a geek (not that I have a problem with that) it's just not who I am. I find it funny, because I have always been kind of hesitant to talk about HP with my friends. I thought they might make fun of me, or just get annoyed, but I mentioned something about DH while I was reading it, and like half my basketball team was reading the book too! I found it hilarious! It was like everyone read HP and we were all embarassed to talk about it. Now we talk about it alot! I am pretty sure none of them are as big fans as I am, but it is fun to talk about it with them.

Well i quess it has inspired me to read the Harry P[otter books more carefully to gets bit thats i may have not noticed. Also to get my theorys going. Like just before Deathly Hallows i made a few predictions that turned out to be right. I wouldn't have done that if people on VTM hadn't of metioned something that got me thinking of the theory. I has helped me more to do more Harry Potter stuff genereally i think.

OK, has VTM ever inspired you to do something, HP related or not?
Well...erm...VTM has ‘inspired’ me to post more about what I think about Harry Potter and look closely at the detail in the books. And I agree with what my cosuin said:
I think this too

VTM inspires me to write again as I have not written for so long. Actually I love writing, it just that I haven’t got something to keep me going on, but after I came across VTM forums, I get inspired to discuss my thoughts about Harry Potter. I’ve become addicted in posting here, never happened anywhere in the www. So go VTM!

For me, VTM just threw me into reading all over again. It made me re-read Half Blood Prince, and now Deathly Hallows, just to keep the magic flowing...

Harry has been with me for so long, that it's just plain sad to see him leave... I keep a book on my nightstand, another in my bag, and VTM on my bookmarks, just to remember the hero that let me go through high school without getting wasted like my friends... Yup, I'm a total geek.

Anyway, VTM made me remember how to properly use photoshop (I have a very cool Gryffindor wallpaper on my computer! Yay! "Confess you mess" forum) and now it keeps me awake through long hours of study (mmm... I'll make a break, let's see what's new on the forums...)

I think the only thing that it will never inspire me to do is write a fanfic, I'm not that creative, and the ones I've read are extremelly good, so there's no competing there.

The forums are just amazing, and the atmosphere is of utmost respect. VTM's girl through and through.

VTM has inspired me. I never thought that there is such a place in the world for HP fanatics.VTM has made me re-read and re-watch the HP book and films for forum purposes.

I’ll add my little bit of praise to VTM. As it truly is a wonderful place to be. Like Kaitlyn says the atmosphere here is simply amazing.

As for answering the question. Without any hard thinking I’m saying yes. Since the time I started here nearly half a year ago, I’ve learnt to theorize about HP. I had never done it before and even disliked it when people around me did it. My Muggle life is in the field of literary criticism so coming up with theories based on evidence in literature is what I’m doing all the time, basically. Only, it is more fun with Harry Potter.

And more importantly, I started writing. I, the person who disregarded any fanfiction as a concept corrupting the canon, am now writing stories and enjoying it very much. And along the same line, Anita, I must say that your winner’s banner nicely corresponds with what you are saying above,

Another illustrative example of how people get inspired by VTM and change.

Last but not least, VTM has inspired me for a coming out, of sorts. I’m no longer a Harry Potter fan hiding in secret, but I’m admitting to my obsession freely and in the open. The incredibly friendly surroundings of VTM persuaded me that there are other people like me and that Harry Potter is nothing to be ashamed of. I think it’s something similar to what lancelot243 says about the half of the basketball team reading Deathly Hallows. When, inspired to VTM, I admitted to my obsession, all of a sudden I found out that half the department, be that students or teachers, read and like it too.

In other words, thanks VTM for the inspiration.

~Jana

Hahaha! Cheers Jana!

Yup! I have to eat my words! I never thought it could happen, just like you, and I have to say, the atmosphere here made it possible: I wrote a story, and people actually liked it! I'm still in shock of its acceptance!

I have to say, your banner says a little something too... Congratulations!!!

The nice thing about VTM is that people here are so friendly and nice, that even if you don't think you're capable of doing something, they allow you to give it a try and are sweet and respectful of your feelings. They always bring constructive criticism and compliments. They understand your fears.

I never thought I could write a fanfic, and I was so shocked to see all this people having these great ideas and manipulating our beloved characters' lives, AK-ing some, making some others have kids, having these different careers... Not only I thought it was incredible, but now I have like 10 subscriptions to different fanfics and I also came up with a tiny idea that I put into words.

Now I can proudly say: VTM inspired me to write a story! And even though it was very simple and small, and not as creative as the ones from the real writers out there in the forums, I wrote a story!!! Yay!!!

VTM really has inspired me to re-read the books again, and look for things that I was missing. Everyone has a different perspective on the characters and plots, and when you read the books with all these perspectives and theories in your head, I always learn something new from it.

I completely agree with this statement.

I always wanted to be an author and I had written short stories about the Harry Potter world, but I never wanted to share them with other people because I was afraid of scrutiny. But then you come here and it's such a welcoming evironment that you just feel like sharing something about yourself with like-minded people. I found the forums where people post their stories and it inspired to actually share my stories with other people in my life.

It's also made me look back on previous opinions. Like Severus Snape. When I first read the books all those years ago, I really didn't like him. But when I came here and I see other people perception of him and his character, it really does get the gears turning in my head.

And finally there's the forums that aren't really aimed at the HP world, more at real life situations. I've re-read my posts in the Get Away From Life section, and I find that I am using people's responses in my life and it helps get me through.

So thanks to you here at VTM because without this and the great people, I think that I wouldn't have the courage to do half as many things as I've done since joining.

~Lauren

VTM is the best. I used to talk to my bro alone about Harry Potter because not all my friends read HP and those who do are not that big fans. VTM has provided us a safe haven for everyone who adores HP and I am one of them. I agree with Kaitlyn, It threw me into reading it over and over again. And here with everyone's different opinions and perspectives its easier to understand and analyze and even judge some aspects of the books that I found diffcult to do before. Its been a great ride till now, and I hope it to continoue.

I love VTM. It's definitely had a huge impact on me! Not many of my friends read Harry Potter, and those who did, weren't too keen on discussing it every second week Finding VTM was great. I love this site...I can just come on here and talk about everything. And that Just Get Away From Life section, that's awesome too! And yes, I too have had to go back to the books and re-read something, and its definitely made me post more, discuss it more and talk. I love VTM

For the times when i can relax i come on VTM and get away from reality, and my friends aren't big HP fans so again VTM is incredibly useful, I'm going to try and make some good friends on here, all the sections are fantastic, and whats more it's shown me that our obsession is nothing to hide because HP rocks does it not?
So yep VTM is brilliant i just don't know why i didn't sign up earlier.
Rach

x x x

I love Harry Potter as much as the next person, but I also like how I can talk about other books. Like Twilight! <3 Thanks to VTM I went out and bought the books and now I post there as often as possible. I like VTM I have been able to express myself, and thanks to all the writing, my grammar and sentence structures have become a lot stronger Thanks!

VTM has inspired, helped me and encouraged me in various ways. First, by joining the site. I never used to join anything online, but the forums looked like so much fun and so welcoming I just did it and I'm so glad I did. Since I've come on the forums I've been able to discuss, mainly Harry Potter, but loads of other things too. Anything I'd want to talk about I can. It's all here.

I never used to feel right writing my own comments in things, I was afraid I'd say something stupid or someone would make fun of me, but nobody does here. I feel so welcome here and I don't mind telling people things about how I feel about certain things or about myself. I've met a bunch of people on this site too. Really nice people who I enjoy talking to.

Another thing is, before I'd come on this site, I'd written stories involving Harry Potter, but I never showed anyone. When I came here I got hooked on reading fan fics and had an ache to write one myself, but never had the gut. Last month I finally did and I am so happy that I did! I've never gotten such nice comments before! Now I want to keep writing and posting more since I know someone will read my work. It's so exciting! I never used to share my stories with anyone!

I'm so excited that I did join this site! I always have so much fun posting and I've learned a lot. Thank you VTM!