Subcategories ( was Quick review of Death Eater topic 2.10 (only)

[Talisman]

--- In HPFGU-Catalogue at yahoogroups.com, "snow15145" <kking0731 at h...> 
wrote:

> The Dark Mark category however, is also used for the 
> Morsmordre spell creating the symbolic dark mark, which I would 
> suggest, moving to symbolism. Input please!


Talisman:

Hi Snow.

I'm not sure I would move the Morsmordre Spell to symbolism. I can 
see how you would want to put it there, after all it produces 
a "symbol" that is used to indicate that the DE's have struck again, 
but I think it is still primarily a spell, and one that has 
(apparently) exclusive DE meaning. 

It's magic, it's a spell, it's likely a Dark Art, it definitely 
sends a message, but, all in all, it seems to be a DE artifact, so 
closely related to them as to belong as a DE subgroup. 

That's not to say the spell isn't going to be discussed in a 
symbolic context, and thus appropriately cross-referenced to the 
symbolism category, which may be what you are finding. 

But, I can also imagine posts discussing it's effect and use as a 
terrorist device; whether LV invented it; whether all DE's know how 
to produce it; why it scared them so; whether it requires LV's 
authorization, etc.,that really aren't focused on symbolism.  

I don't think there is any problem with one post being coded to 
DE's, Morsmordre, and the Dark Mark, if it actually pertains to all 
categories, which wouldn't be unlikely.  There is going to be 
overlap in a cross-indexed catalogue.

Actually, I'd rather each topic have its own category (DE's/Dark 
Mark/Morsmordre)

The problem would be if people were checking the DE category just 
because it's a DE spell, when the post is confined to discussion of 
a discrete topic, such as how the symbolism of the snake coming out 
of the mouth relates to parsletongue; how long the spell lasts; 
whether Muggles can see it; or other topics where any mention of 
either DE's or, in the later cases, the Dark Mark, is incidental.  

You may be saying that the extant posts break out along DE/Dark Mark 
vs Morsmordre/symbolism lines, but who knows what is yet to come? I 
have a feeling we will see the Morsmordre again before this saga is 
through.

The solution would be, in such an instance, to remove the code from 
any superfluous category. 

I'm tempted to say the same with the Dark Mark question.  Many posts 
may deal with both the Dark Mark and DE's, they are so closely 
related, but all posts regarding DE's do not involve the Dark Mark. 

The effect of combining the groups is that someone researching the 
Dark Mark has to wade through all DE-related posts, rather than 
pulling up the specific subgroup. 

And we all know how individual subject lines clarify everything. 

I guess that would be my vote as pertains to any subgroup situation: 
i.e. we may well expect many posts to belong to more that one 
related subgroup, but that doesn't mean it isn't helpful to be able 
to separate them to the extent that not all posts pertain to all 
related subgroups.

Talisman, who can't believe she is suggesting more categories, and 
suspects it has something to do with thinking about Anne this 
afternoon. 


P.S.
While I'm at it, I also vote for coding to general groups such 
as "Muggles" or "DEs," because there are posts that deal with these 
groups in exactly such a general fashion.

P.P.S.
Eva, it seems we share a number of tastes, including a soft spot for 
Sir Gawain.  In consideration of your enlightened state of being-- 
if you actually want to work on Snape--I'll be happy to team up.  
Afterall, with our Dark Knight around there are enough nicks in the 
neck for everyone. 

"What schuld I wonde / Of destinés derf and dere? / What may mon
do bot fonde?"