I originally wrote this in my own journal, but I'm interested to see what other students think. We are all too familiar with people trying to fake their way into certain houses or people claiming to be of a certain house when it is clear they aren't. The question was originally brought up to me by rosiegalbasi. She asked:

I know you get people who say they are in the house but you know they really aren't. What type of people most often do this and how do you feel about it?

This answer is geared towards Gryffindor since I am one, but I am particularly interested in what other Gryffindors and Slytherins think since I'd argue those are the two houses people claim their part of most. Anyway, my original answer:

As a note before I begin, I realize that Slytherin faces some of the same exact problems with wannabes.

Well, I can say for certain it is not the Slytherin people doing this. Gryffindors and Slytherins are more than happy to embrace the house they really belong to. I'm not trying to get into Slytherin, and I'm sure Slytherins aren't trying to get into Gryffindor. I'm not saying that Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs all really desire to be in Gryffindor. Rather, the majority of Gryffindor wannabes come from those that do not realize to which house they belong (and almost by default, I think most true Slytherins and Gryffindors have a feeling for where they belong). These readers cling to JK's view of the houses, and we all know where her biases lie. This bias helps the rush towards Gryffindor when you set it up as a juxtaposition of good vs evil. Through JK, Gryffindor comes to represent the side of good. Many people jump on the bandwagon simply to be on the side of good.

I've also heard people express desire to be in Gryffindor simply because "it is the house where all the cool stuff happens." It also happens to be the house of a lot of the major characters. People who are absolutely enamored with Harry are likely to cling to Gryffindor simply for that reason. While I cannot prove what people feel, I also believe there are readers that seek out Gryffindor house for acceptance and the hopes of appearing to have some of the positive Gryffindor traits (wish fulfillment). Declaring yourself a Gryffindor because it puts you on the side of good, "cool stuff" happens, JK lavishes most of her attention on the house, your favorite character is one, or because it would bring you the acceptance and traits you desire does not make you a Gryffindor. In fact, it annoys me.

When I first realized I was a Gryffindor, I almost regretted it. The regret came not from lack of house pride, but rather because I realized instantly that this meant sounding like scores of people claiming the same thing because they love Harry or something. I hate that I feel I need to almost prove that I really am one, rather than just a wannabe Gryffindor. I hate competing with these people! For example, if a really cool product is released, I am forced to fight for my Gryffindor item with those that don't belong! Ok, I know a bias exists in merchandise that has the other houses poorly represented, but even if there is a choice, non-Gryffindors buy the item to support the author, the house, or their favorite character, not because they are themselves really a Gryffindor. This competition is further increased by a group of people who choose Gryffindor items simply because it represents the entire series. There are readers who maintain a distance from the story I am unable to achieve. To these readers (the unattached), it is merely an enjoyable story, and there exists little desire to "sort" themselves into a house. Instead, when going to see one of the movies, etc, they express their interest in the series in general through Gryffindor. This, again, is a result of the JK bias.

The unattached readers aside, those claiming to be Gryffindor when they are not strike me as terribly deceitful, which is definitely not a Gryffindor trait. Perhaps being fake might get you certain places in life, but it will earn you no respect in Gryffindor house, and why would you want to be among people who don't respect you? Be proud of the house your personality puts you in!

Stop jumping on the bandwagon and get the hell out of my house!

- Padfoot, Gryffindor