Defending Trelawney

[punkieshazam]

No: HPFGUIDX 33060

It is not my intention to defend Trelawney the seer, but the character 
Trelawney the very lame seer.

I'm probably going to be sorry about outing myself, but I have been a 
professional psychic for 20 or 25 years. JKR has written a 
devastatingly accurate description of a certain type of deviner. I 
have laughed my a** off every time she has come into the action. 
However, her type of prediction is very destructive and sometimes 
damaging for those she reads for. People take us very seriously, and a 
lot of people, being told of their imminent demise, would be so upset 
that they would subconciously go out and drive into an underpass or 
off a bridge, making it a self-fulfilling prophecy. She has the 
potential to be very dangerous. Fortunately, most of these kids see 
through her as does the faculty, and this is probably why she keeps to 
her quarters. 

Elizabeth wrote:
> The basic problem with her claims, otherwise, is that people in 
general 
> are more likely to remember the ones which have come true, and to 
> generously interpret any ambiguous predictions. 

This is absolutely true. You've paid your money and you have to make 
the best of what you get when you are dealing with a Trelawney (or 
Madame Zelda as I call this type), or any really good psychic who 
makes a bad prediction.

Cindy wrote:
> > How do we know that Divination cannot be taught?  I figure it is 
akin 
> > to music or voice lessons.  Some people have talent and some 
people 
> > do not.  

Divination can be taught. I have done it, but there has to be some 
predisposition or talent to build on. The music analogy is one that I 
have often used. Teaching my father to sing would have been futile 
since he was as tone deaf as any person can be. However, if this 
society had the same attitude toward singing as they do toward 
predictions, there would be no music and if anyone did try to sing, 
they would be asked why they were making that wierd noise.

Cindy also said:
 > That said, I don't mean to say I completely buy Trelawney's act.  
I 
> > do think she is one of JKR's better bit players, though.  Even 
after 
> > two books, she is still shrouded in mystery.  I can't wait to find 
> > out what happens.  

Neither can I. JKR has said in one of her interviews that the first 
prediction is *very* important. But your prediction about Trelawney 
being a true seer is probably reaching. She has so far been a true 
seer exactly twice in her life according to Dumbledore.

Elizabeth wrote:
> (Die-hard empiricist and former math and physics major-- who 
occasionally 
> reads Tarot cards, but as a psychological tool)

Ah, Elizabeth I, too, was a physics major once. Wound up with a degree 
in economics and urban studies. All devinition is a form of 
psychotherapy for the querant. The fact that the most commonly asked 
question is: "Does s/he love me?, Is s/he thinking about me? Will s/he 
call me? When?" is only an attempt to find inner peace about an issue 
that the person feels s/he has no control over.

I went on way too long.

Long live Trelawney in all her awfulness.

Punkie

Petunia is a squib.