This is my preferred methodology aswell, whether it's fanfiction or World of Warcraft doesn't matter. No one knows, except close family whom it's really hard to hide it from. (i.e. mah 'social life' must survive \o/ )

 

Never told a soul, and I am going to keep it that way. I have a seperate e-mail account, just for all Fanfiction related things. I don't keep the links to place like DLP in my favorites list. I'm more open about the porn I watch.

 

While reading this topic one could assume reading fanfiction is some dark fetish no one dares to mention ... It is for me too.
Private

 

While I'll never start a convo about HP fanfiction, if someone seems me reading it, I won't deny it. Most of my friends have seen me on pc reading it, so yeah.

This thread depressed me. As if there was something to be ashamed of.

 

Heh, funnily enough. My best friend knows. Only recently found out, as I spend so much time reading it. Secondly, my mother knows, as I told her, and am also trying to get her to read some fics. She hates reading on the comp though. :/

Other than that, its been intensely private for me, since I started. Cue all the reasons you guys just gave me, tbh.

 

Of course, the shame only extends to me. When my young son saw me writing fanfiction and decided to write a bit of his own, I was so proud I had to mention it to anyone within earshot...

 

And again I'm the weird one out of the bunch.

When I was in Booksamillion waiting for the release of DH I struck up a conversation with three people. Blah blah blah.

"So, what do you do for fun?"

"I write HP Fanfiction."

"OMG Really! Maybe I've read something of yours! What name do you write under?"

Queue the attention of about ten or fifteen people around me. Remember this is a full freaking store of HP fanatics. So now I'm glowing red from embarrassment. I tell them my pen name.

No, she didn't recognize the name, but the guy standing behind me did. He called bullshit.

See, so even if you admit who you are people don't believe you. So here's to you Mr. Bullshit. Remember the stunningly hot (okay moderately okay looking) chick with the Sirius Black t-shirt that you insulted? That was me.

In all fairness he was trying to dress like a ginger twin, but his hair was a red-green color after being dyed too many times, so maybe it was brain damage.

tl;dr

The threesome thought it was cool and since then as long as someone admits to reading HP I'll tell them I write FF for it. Who knows, maybe someday I'll get my own stalker.

 

I've had discussions about Draco Dormiens in real life. And fanfiction in general. I'm not afraid to discuss Harry Potter or fanfiction at any point because it's pretty awesome. And if anyone doesn't think it's awesome, I'm not going to suddenly hate them. People already think I'm off my rocker IRL (or at least have slight homosexual tendencies - sup Xiph0) so I'm not going to be too concerned if they disapprove of my fanfiction enjoyment.

TBH, there are people who tell me all manners of weird shit they do or approve of and I usually don't even say a word.

 

I don't give a fuck. I've told most everyone. My house is the place where a lot of partying goes down, and I'm not really looked down on for having a dorky Harry Potter fanfiction obsession. No one else really does it, besides a friend who I found out loves to make Sirius/Remus fluff drabbles...

Lawl.

 

I think it's harder for me keeping the fact that I participate on this forum, than keeping my HP love under wraps. I've had people comment on multiple occassions how much more insulting/scathing I am - I know I have to try hard to not laugh, or remember to feign digust, when certain news topics come up in conversation...

 

I don't understand what you just wrote.

 

I am feeling exactly the same way. Blaise, what the hell were you trying to say, because what you wrote was not intelligible?

 

Er, my bad? Seemed clear to me.

Keeping my HP fanaticism under wraps is easy: no one I know talks about it, therefore I have no need to bring it up. There is nothing about me that overtly says "HP fanfiction nut."

Certain habits developed through being a part of DLP, however, tend to bleed through irl. The apathy to what others typically find offensive, upswing in racist/sexist/ other "-ist" jokes, etc. That's harder to reign in IMO.

 

A few people I know, know that I read HPFF. I am not sure if some of them really understand what it is though. At its most basic I am handling it like Clerith

 

Reading this entire thread has been very weird for me. I mean... Is fanfiction really something to be ashamed about? Huh?

But for the record: It's public. People in my class, level and school talk about fanfiction frequently. Be it mangas or books. They'll just start a conversation with a group of friends, "Hey, do you know I wrote another chapter today?" And the group of friends will squeal and promise to read and review.

And yes, there's quite a lot of HP fanfiction readers in my class alone, so if it's social suicide for you guys there, it's certainly normal here.

 

Private. The closest to public is for the jokes:
"Hey, what did you get up to on the weekend?"
"Oh, you know, just read Harry Potter fanfiction."
"Hahaha. No seriously, what did you get up to?"
Technically, it's true, but nobody really knows/cares.

 

Mostly private. My girlfriend, my ex-girlfriend, and about four other friends know that I read and, at least used to, write. It's not a topic that is broached often, and I don't actively tell people. I won't lie if it comes up, it just doesn't,

 

Irene, if you are a 14 yr old gal as you claim it is less of an issue for you than most. =D.

Private except joke about my obsession with friends. Same category as porn I watch.

 

I think porn is different, at least for guys. Everyone assumes that guys look at porn, regardless of whether or not we talk about it.