#jonbae

I've always assumed when a writer leaves out specific details it's because it's open to interpretation as writing is an art form and art is meant to be interpreted to ones own opinion. Also I've read plenty of books where they've described average features

It really depends. I think it’s more often the fact that writers will later say readers are free to interpret. But generally when features aren’t described by an author who otherwise describes things very well, it’s usually because they aren’t remarkable.

And yeah, plenty of writers do describe average features. Most of the time you shouldn’t unless there’s a specific reason (like pointing out how a character can blend into a crowd etc.) But it’s not great writing to waste time describing average features. You want to enrich readers with the things that make characters stand out. Most of the time. But there are exceptions. 

The thing about rules and writing is that there are no rules with writing. But there are things that are common in bad writing and describing average features is one of them. If you describe average features it doesn’t mean your writing is bad, but if your writing is bad it’s more likely to feature lots of description of average features. One isn’t causing the other.

I’m sort of curious to look over HP and see when and if JKR ever describes average features. I’m not sure that she does.

And I mean for the record, JKR is very friendly to fan interpretations so there’s no issue there. Regardless of what she thinks Remus’s height is I can’t see her minding fans reading him however they want. 

But I guess to summarise again on Remus: he can totally be tall but I think it’s easier to explain him being shorter than Sirius than it is the other way around. Like if he’s shorter than Sirius... no explanations are needed. There’s no need to ask why Harry didn’t notice etc. I prefer simple answers to complicated ones. 

I'm not using its Harry's pov for things I "simply don't like" I'm saying its Harry's pov and he's an oblivious person and that's why Remus' height isn't specifically mentioned and that even if Sirius is tall that doesn't mean he's taller than Remus

*sigh*

1. People exaggerate the degree to which Harry is oblivious. He’s generally pretty reliable. When he doesn’t notice something or has a wrong perception it’s plot important.

2. Remus could be taller than Sirius, but again, if he’s taller than Sirius who is emphasized as being especially tall why wouldn’t Harry notice it? Keeping in mind that Remus gets far more page time than Sirius.

As a rule when a writer doesn’t describe a feature we are expected to infer that the features aren’t remarkable. Because it’s considered poor form to describe a character as having medium/average features. So we can say that Remus is taller but it’s the more complicated answer, given that we know that Sirius is especially tall.

But broadly, it’s the myth that Sirius is shorter that I’m concerned with. I just think saying that Remus is taller than the really tall guy stretches plausibility and I don’t think “harry is oblivious” is a good answer. We have all the evidence that Harry notices remarkable features and no evidence that he doesn’t notice them. But you can’t prove a negative so *shrug*.

Gary Oldman is 5'8 and a half inches. He is not 5'10 so no not "still debunked"

... So? Gary Oldman’s height isn’t canon height. There’s no discussion to be had there.

For someone who doesn't want to "nitpick" stating that the phrase a head taller means 9.4 inches is in fact nitpicking also you should know it's a Phrase it's not meant to be taken literal that when someone says someone is a head taller that they are literally 9.4 inches taller.. And also it's all from Harry's pov and almost everyone can agree that Harry is pretty oblivious to a lot of things. And even if Sirius is 6.4 Remus does NOT have to be 7 foot tall to be taller than Sirius

You’re completely missing the point. See, there’s this thing called “authorial intent.” When JKR puts in descriptors she’s not doing it for funsies. I mean, if that’s the case you can literally toss out ANYTHING you don’t like. No, no, no. Regardless if it’s Harry’s POV if JKR describes something we should take her at her word.

Also hilariously you tell me it’s not meant to be taking literally when I LITERALLY say “but I don’t think we should take it that literal.” Seriously. It’s in the dang post.

C’mon. This is a weak argument and you know it. It’s grasping at straws. If you don’t like canon, just admit it. It’s better than trying to bend and twist until you can make it say what you want.