Smart Maps, Being a Goat & Alternative Lifestyles

[Aberforths_Goat]

No: HPFGUIDX 4561

> I don't see the map as providing the intent. I see that coming from
> the wizard and the map being a fairly neutral servant. The level of
> intelligence in the map isn't as well-defined as Tom Riddle's diary
> was toward the end, and that's probably only because of his sucking
> in some of Ginny's life force. There is a certain element of
> personality there, which we see when it talks to Snape, but that was
> almost like an Easter egg in the program, to borrow from the complete
> antithesis of magic, the computer.

Hmm. You're saying that it only shows you things you're on the lookout for?
Thus, Harry is on the look out for Snape or Filch, so it would show either.
Harry is also on the lookout for any odd activity, so it shows Barty/Moody
breaking into Snape's office.  But it doesn't show 997 snoring Hogwarts
students, since Harry isn't on the look out for them.

Nor, presumably, does it show Fawcet & Stebbins (who have snuck out for a
surreptitious smooch), since Harry isn't on the look out for them either. Or
does it--inasmuch as that constitutes odd (albeit harmless) activity?
(Harmless for Harry, I mean.) And what about Neville, who just snuck over
for a desperate peek into Harry's Potions assignment?  Does he make the cut?
The map certainly has its work cut out for it--but I still like the theory.
In fact, I think that's precisely the kind of qualitative decision we could
expect Magic (but not Microsoft) to accomplish.

Bur why doesn't Harry think to sit down and look at the map with the
intention of seeing anything dangerous to his well being?  Because it would
ruin the plot, of course.

* * * * * * * *

> Mike, I really love your messages -- thank you for the smiles you provide
> with your posts.

Glad to oblige--thanks sister!

* * * * * * * *

> And they should go through life hoping they will? It says "don't let the
bedbugs
> bite," not "sit there and take it." Sounds pretty active and assertive to
me.

Oh Bugs! I think I've put my hoof in my mouth again. Just don't take me too
seriously, OK? A guy's got to be irresponsible somewhere, sometime--and
HP4GU happens to be permanently stuck in the wrong place ...

And who am I?  Myself, of course! Check GoF for the passag where Dumbledore
is helping Hagrid come out of the closet about being a half-giant: "My own
brother, Aberforth, was prosecuted for practising inappropriate charms on a
goat. It was all over the papaers, but did Aberforth hide? No he did not! He
held his head high and went about his business as usual! Of course, I'm not
entirely sure he can read, so that may not have been bravery ... "

* * * * * * * *

Which reminds me: Must say I can't quite fathom all those sweaty-palmed
discussions about whether JKR lacks the hagis lining to profile certain
alternative lifestyles. Talk about straining for gnats and swallowing ... er
... camels.

Baaaaaa!

Aberforth's Goat (a.k.a. Mike Gray)
http://profiles.yahoo.com/aberforths_goat

------------------------------------
Very Important Disclaimers

Part 1: I'm not really a goat. Usually, I don't even smell like one.
Part 2: This handle is not meant to encourage improper behavior with goats.
In fact, its creator is a well-mannered anabaptist theologian with a wife
and
two children, and he feels a little sheepish about this whole business.