[HPforGrownups] Re: Winky's dismissal and wands

[Rebecca Stephens]

No: HPFGUIDX 46969



> I don't think that calculator analogy works here,
> Rebecca... For one 
> thing, solving complex mathematical problems is not
> calculating. For 
> learning the actual methods of counting, calculators
> are banned for 
> some courses (just so that people learn to count 2+2
> without one...)

I agree that my analogy isn't perfect, but neither is
yours.  Elves already know 2+2, and they can do
quadratical equations in their heads.  Should they be
refused calculator?  They aren't in second-grade math,
they're in college.  And the wizards don't want them
going to graduate school.  I really believe the
wizards do this so that the elves will not greatly
outpower them.  They are keeping others down to keep
themselves up.
 
> But how about an analogy of medication? For those
> who don't need it, 
> use of medics could be downright harmful. Like
> Digitalis or insuline--
> those with need would die without it, those without
> need would die 
> with it...


But magic and wands would not be dangerous to them. 
So that analogy does not work.  Never have we ever had
any indiation that using a wand could cause a house
elf to harm themselves.

> Some medics, while necessary for some with need, are
> illegal drugs 
> for those without need...

But wands aren't medication.  They're tools.  Wizards
don't need wands to survive or stay healthy.  They use
wands to cook and such.

> So well, I think that house-elves would harm others
> or themselves if 
> they were given wands much worse than Neville
> turning his ears into 
> cactuses. (Side-note: human-transfiguration while
> they haven't been 
> tought that yet and Neville thinks he can't do much
> magic). It's like 
> giving matches to a toddler...
> 

I disagree.  There is no reason to think wands would
cause elves to harm themselves.  Yes, Dobby had a
strange idea of protecting Harry, but so does
Dumbledore when it comes down to it.  Elves are not
toddlers.  They are people.  There is no evidence that
they are less intelligent than humans (though they
seem to think quite differently).  They talk funny,
but that's dialect.  

They, intelligent beings, are being deprived of
certain tools.  And it's not just them.  Am I the only
one disturbed by the fact that wizards only allow
themselves wands and no one else?  Seems very
human-centric to me.  I think we'll come to discover
that humans are by far the least magical of magical
creatures.  They offset that by the use of wands.  And
they handicap every other species so that they can
even the playing field.  And that isn't right.  It's
like all the below par artists refusing art education
and artist tools from the average and great artists
and making the poor souls use their fingers.


Rebecca

=====
http://wychlaran.tripod.com

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