Common Rooms

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 44654

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "anakinbester" <anakinbester at h...> wrote:
> Felinia Wrote
> > I get the impression, from the fact that Harry and Ron can't just 
> > ask someone in  advance, that people from the other houses aren't 
> >*supposed* to know the location of common rooms not their own.
>  

anakinbester said:
>  
> I've gotten that impression too. To me that seems extremely odd 
> that such knowledge would be so restricted, yet it does seem to be 
> what canon indicates. ...snip...
>  
> Why do you think this is? My first thought is to keep house 
> rivalries from getting out of hand, but that seems almost silly. 
> ...snip...
>  
>  -Ani

bboy_mn replies:

I don't think it's some much that the location are a closely guarded
secret as it is that the house system keeps houses very isolated from
each other. 

When he really wants to know, Harry doesn't have any trouble finding
out where the Slytherin and Hufflepuff common rooms are. 

This whole house system, which I'm lead to believe is very common in
England and possibly other parts of Europe, seems very strange. I
creates intense rivalries, even rivalries and prejudices that last a
lifetime. How many people hate Slytherins? And how many people let
that hated carry over into the adult live? They hire a lesser
qualified job candidate because the best qualified is a Slytherin.
Interhouse rivalries break out into fights a duels in the hallways.
Yet how many Slytherins are just plain kids going to school and
minding their own business? Sure they laugh at Draco's antics, but
they have been corrupted by the house rivalries and loyalties. It
doesn't seem like a very orderly way to run a school.

I seriously doubt that a system like that could exist in the US.
Possibly in a few exclusive private schools that model themselves
after European schools. 

bboy_mn