cultural references (was: Britishisms, swearing)

[NTG85]

No: HPFGUIDX 40602

Rosie:
>>Um... I have heard said that Ron says "I'm not going to take any crap
from Malfoy this year" in one of the books (PoA, I think) although in my
(British) copy he says "rubbish" not "crap". <<

I come from the Midwest, the type of place John Mellencamp (or whatever
he calls himself this week) would sing about. I wasn't allowed to say
"crap" until I was seven or so, and my parents never really allowed me
to say "damn" at home (although sometimes they just ignored that I used
it). My mother swore a lot, though, mostly while driving, so I didn't
understand until I was older that there were different levels of
swearing.

Rosie:
>>"Damn" isn't really a curse word (it actually refers to an Indian coin
of very little value, hence "I don't give a damn"); it's not strange
that Hermione wouldn't pull the boys up on it.<<

That makes sense, what with all that imperialism stuff... Around here,
it always was a swear word, unless it was used in a religious context,
and even then you had better speak it softly if you're young. Kids
usually start cursing (again, around here) in middle school/junior high,
and swear like sailors at that, but make sure teachers aren't listening
or they get a detention. Considering that, I suppose if a kid started
reading HP in elememntary school, and was in junior high by the time he
read GoF, there would be no problem with mild cursing.

Another question, while we're on the subject of cultural differences:
Detentions in my neck of the woods are time spent right after school,
either doing work in the classroom or (if your teacher's nice) doing
homework. I understand that students are at Hogwarts for the whole day,
and the threat of not going home right after class isn't really there,
but is there any reason a detention would be served at midnight? And in
the dangerous Forbidden Forest? Is this just a plot device JKR uses?

Eloise:
>>Incidentally, when you say 'American measurements', that's not exactly
true.
If you put an American pint of water in your potion, you might find
Snape
making some sarcastic comments. The English pint is one of the few
things
that is actually slightly larger than its American equivalent! ;-)<<

I figured it wasn't. I didn't know what to call it. I've heard it called
the English system, but I wasn't sure if that was right, so I just said
American, because it's used in America.

>>The supermarkets
display the equivalent price per pound of goods, but it is *illegal*
actually
to sell loose goods by the pound. It's a mad world.<<

It certainly is! It's illegal to sell by the pound?!

The Random Monkey, whose car gets sixty rods to the hogshead, and that's
the way she likes it!