Wizard Population APOLOGY

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 47185

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., wynnde1 at a... wrote:
> > In a message dated 25/11/2002 10:32:40 GMT Standard Time,  
> > bboy_mn writes:
> > 
> > 
> > > The size of the economy appears to in indicate a fairly large 
> > > wizard population. If we accept that as true, then we have to 
> > > figure out where all these missing students are, if they are not
> > > at Hoqwarts.
> > > 
> > > 
> 
> > WENDY Replies:
> > Well, here's another invitation to explain your theory at a bit 
> > more length <g> - on what are you basing your estimates of the 
> > "size of the wizard economy?" I'm no economics whiz, but I haven't
> >  really noticed much in the books that strikes me one way or the 
> > other as indicative of the size of the wizarding economy. 
> >
> > ...edited... 
> > So what have you got? I'd like to hear your evidence before I
> > accept your above statement as "true?" 
> 
> BBOY_MN reponds in part:
> 
> You seem to have missed the long paragraph where I explained that
> neither the wizarding population nor the student population can be
> resolved.
> 
> You also seemed to have overlooked keywords in my statement like -
> 'appears', 'fairy large' (not huge), and 'if/then'
> 
> *IF* we start with the *supposition* that the wizard economy
> indicates a *fairly large* population *then* we must reconcile 
> the missing students. 
-end bboy_mn this part-

bboy_mn humbly responds:

Upon reflection, and a brief correspondence with Wendy, I think my
reply may have come off much harsher than I intended.

Wendy challenged me to prove my statements as if I felt they were
absolute FACTS. All I really want to do was point her back to my
references indicating that this was all hypothetical. 

IF was assume a large population, THEN how do we account for the
missing student. I hypothesized a school system that satisfied many of
the requirements; such as, allowing Hogwarts to be the only school of
it's kind while creating schools for the missing student, and a school
system that was somewhat consistent with the British system.

I am genuinely sorry, it Wendy or anyone else interpreted my response
as harsh, belligerent, snotty, or just plain ill mannered.

I think perhaps, I responded as I did because I took Wendy's challenge
to be much stronger than she actually intended, or perhaps, I
misunderstood it all together.

I truly enjoy these discussions, and am always amazed at how detail
some of the analysis can be. I welcome all opinions, and all
challenges to my own. I mean, if no one ever challenges my opinions,
that would imply they weren't much of an opinion to start with. 

It seems a few times before, my post have been taken to be much
harsher than I ever intended. I'm sure part of is my subtle and
slightly warped sense of humor. Part of it is probably the immediacy
of the internet; not a medium that encourages long reflection. I
assure you I am a gentle soul who is not in the habit of insulting
people or making light of their ideas or opinions.

Finally, if anyone saw or felt a degree of hostility in my response, I
assure you it was unintentional, and I truly appologies. 

bboy_mn