Team Jen

"... and my heart felt like it was playing a game of Quidditch in my chest."

"What?"  He stops the car to look at me full in the face.

"You know, Quidditch.  The flying broom-soccer-dodgeball game from Harry Potter?  It's all whizzy and jumpy and bounce, bounce, bounce.  That's totally the perfect description of what a heart palpitation feels like."*

He starts driving again.  "Pfft.  Maybe if you're trying to explain it to a twelve year old."

"Right.  Because no one over the age of twelve ever bought a Harry Potter book or saw a Harry Potter movie."  I shake my head.  Seriously, have all the VH1 pop culture shows we've watched been in vain? 

He shrugs.  "I'm just saying that's an esoteric reference."

"And I'm saying you're wrong."

Internet, what say you?  If another adult mentioned Quidditch, would you catch the reference? 

(Or possibly the Snitch?)

*am healthy and fine - talking about an incident a long time ago

Comments

[Vanessa]

I would totally get the reference, particularly since i am a 22 yr old Harry Potter reader (oh whatever they are entertaining and I don't care) Team Jen all the way !

[Melissa]

absolutely!! i think a good 80% of the world knows what quidditch is! and the best part is....my fiancee is FINALLY reading the books and ate up the first one in about 6 hours :)

[Deanna White]

Oh yes! And you're right, it is the PERFECT way to describe said incident. And I know of a lot of others who would too.

[Gina]

I work at a toy company that made several HP games, so yes, I did get the reference; however, I'm not so much into HP as I am Lord of the Rings, b/c quite frankly, any movie with Orlando and Viggio is a good thing.
Glad to hear you're okay...

[Linda]

Really....what nimrod doesn't get the reference? Even if you were living under a rock you had to have seen the movie tie-ins with any product under the sun. And even if you didn't get that, and only expose yourself to the finery of CNN, you would have seen the story when a toy manufucturer had to recall their Harry Potter brooms from the market. Seems parents were all up in arms that kids were learning the pleasures of a vibrating tool so early! "Johnny really seems to love his new magical broom!" I'm sure in those CNN stories they explained how the brooms were used to play Quiddich... so therefore no one who is worth interacting with us would miss the reference.

[Sarah Hunt]

Hells yes. I get it, what asshat wouldn't?!

[Maggie]

Dude, of COURSE I know what Quidditch is. Duh! But I'm 25 and don't nearly feel like a real adult!

[Colleen]

My husband and I would totally get the reference. I loved the Harry Potter books!!

[garin]

Absolutely! As well as any reference to muggles, Lord Voldemort or Every Flavor Beans!

[Dina]

Sorry Fletch...even Maisy and Loki would understand the reference :(

[Tracie]

Yeah, I'd get it...and then I'd probably shake my head in disgust. Sorry Jen, but I haaaaaaaate me some Harry Potter.

[Cubeguy]

I'd understand the reference, but I'd also feel compelled to beat the crap out of whoever made it, and possibly choke myself with my own hands for understanding it.

[Cubeguy]

I'd understand the reference, but I'd also feel compelled to beat the crap out of whoever made it, and possibly choke myself with my own hands for understanding it.

[Beth]

Completely fair.

I mean how long has Harry Potter been out now? Even if you haven't seen the movies or read the books - you could probably catch a reference here or there on the news like this one: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8660078/

Yeah, they PLAY Quidditch. In real life.

[Snoogans]

Hell yeah! Quidditch for the win!

[Elizabeth]

I would definitely get the reference...I would probably consider myself a child at heart so I may be an exception, but I am aware of others out there like me.....(Potheads) and I don't mean of the organic variety....

[Sydney]

Please, I had gallbladder surgery two days before the final book was released but was bound and determined to be there at midnight the night the book was released- thanks to the amount of vicodin i took to ensure i wouldn't feel a thing while running/hiding from the gothic/freaky teens that dress in the garb, i managed to get the book and read a good deal that night (only to have to reread it all the next day thanks to not remembering it).

[Meredith]

MY husband got it! (I do have to say, I did not).

[lara]

Hmmm. Let's say I'm married to a successful writer. Do I try to keep up with the more mundane things happening in his world, so as to support him, offer encouragement? Of course I do!
Do I develop even a most basic understanding of the biggest-selling written series to come along in the last 20 years? Even if it is only to try and figure out how my spouse can match that success? Of course I do! Sorry, Fletch, you lose on that one.

And for the record, my husband (who started reading The Philosopher's Stone the day I was doing *nothing* but reading Deathly Hallows)got the reference, and that was before he read the book.

[MamasitaJr.]

You are speaking to the Queen of all Potterdom here. So maybe I'm just biased when I say, uh hell yeah I know what Quidditch is! And if I were able to play? I would be a keeper. Woot. Now I must read a short HP fanfic to soothe the feeling of remorse (associated with the ending of the series).

Wow. I've said waay too much.
:X

[Rae Ann]

I would *totally* get it! I have all seven books... in hardback. And the movies. Yes, this is what a degree from a public univeristy will get you.

[Lindy]

If you said Quidditch to me, I'd totally be flying in the same playing field.


However, if you referenced The Snitch, I would have to decipher between the winged, golden hoverball and one of the other managers at work, who thinks its charming to inform the boss every time I do something in a way not officially sanctioned by corporate. Would like to whack her with my broomstick!

[A Jill of All Trades]

I've never read or seen anything Harry Potter, but I've heard the word Quidditch used by other people who HAVE read them or seen them.

[shopgirl]

so get it...guys just don't get our witty, so pop-culture sense of humor!

[Christa]

Kinda irrelevant, but oh so funny....while going to school in germany a bunch of us rented a harry potter movie and it had english subtitles. the subtitles called "the snitch" the "golden snatch." all americans in the room were reduced to said 12 year olds clutching chests and gasping for air and tears streaming down faces.

[Mrs. F]

If I said that to my husband he would probably fall in love with me all over again, because that would mean that I read a Harry Potter book, which I have NO interest in doing, and he would think it was hawt.

[Becky]

No idea what you are talkin about.

[Brittany]

I got it, and I know many many people well over the age of twelve who would as well.

Go team Jen! :)

[Molly]

Apparently, I need to re-evaluate my priorities, because I didn't get it.

[Angela]

Uh...HELLZ YEAH!

[morganzmom]

ok jen, i'm in the minority here....wouldn't get it because harry potter just doesn't do it for me. just like another poster said, harry potter to me is like the secret is for you. sorry but just can't get into it!

[Judy]

I would definitely get it. I am 27, I have seen the movies countless times and have read all the books about 3 times. Definitely a Harry Potter fan!

[Arin]

I LOVE HARRY POTTER!!!! I am a 32 yr old woman and am not ashamed to admit it. I mean, honestly, wouldn't we all love to be witches and wizards? However, according to my husband (who thinks he should be a contestant on Next Comic Standing) I am already a witch. :)

[sorrybutimwithfletchthistime]

not in to Harry Potter, maybe I should be, but I have no idea what you are talking about and neither does anybody that can hear me from my office. sorry I'm with Fletch this time.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

How is this even an argument? The Harry Potter series is the most read series in our time. (Of course until people get ahold of all of your books)

[The Chick]

I would. And I don't know if I should be proud of ashamed of that fact.

[Couture911]

Anyone who has not been living in a cave for the past 5 years would get it.

[Lesley]

I think if all these people here actually ask the person in their life they think WON'T get the reference, they'll probably be surprised. 'Cause I'm fairly certain Fletch is the Only Person On Earth who doesn't get this.

But girls get SW references too! In that case, your heart palpitation would be like the Millenium Falcon trying to make a jump to hyperspace. Actually, that might be a little more like a heart attack. But it's close enough.

[Jerri Brummond]

54 years old and TOTALLY got it.

[kalisah]

uhh...YEAH. Who doesn't know 'Quidditch'?

[Therese]

Of course. But the man wouldn't. We were watching a Harry Potter movie the other week, and he was like, "What is this crap?" So uncouth and uneducated. But cute! :)

[Emily]

Totally got it. And my boyfriend would have gotten it too... he would have mercilessly made fun of me - but he would have gotten it.

[Bev]

Am 54 and totally get it. I've read all of them.

[PugMom]

Are you kidding me?! Husband and I started reading them in our 30s.

[All Adither]

Sadly, yes. I would catch that reference. Though it's a little hackneyed.

[Dani]

I would... but I am slightly worried that of 10 blog feeds on my iGoogle, 2 of them were about Quidditch...but that would double support your point I guess.

[lo]

Just made a Muggle reference yesterday! Team Jen!

[Stephanie]

Oh, I got it alright, and that's EXACTLY what heart palpitations feel like!

My husband would get it too, but he's almost as much a Harry Potter fan as I am. And for what it's worth, I tell people that Quidditch is my favorite sport.

[Sandi]

Hi Jen,
I'm a 38 year old movie junkie, and I got the reference. I mean Harry Potter is all over the place, not just for 12 year olds. :)

[Stephanie]

Oh, I got it alright, and that's EXACTLY what heart palpitations feel like!

My husband would get it too, but he's almost as much a Harry Potter fan as I am. And for what it's worth, I tell people that Quidditch is my favorite sport.