What do wizards do?

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 55009

Lindy wondered:

> Why do wizards do anything?...
 
> Snape waves a wand to clear up a mess, in one place, then in another
> he has 
> Harry swab the place down by hand. 

True, most of the times we've seen wizards clean by hand it has been a
punishment.  However, we don't know how easy it is to clean by magic. 
All we see is the wave of the wand, but it probably involves a good
deal more thought (mentally target exactly what needs to be cleaned or
straightened, where to send the dirt and the cleaned object, etc.). 
For smaller tasks, it may be more practical to just do it by hand.

 
> Dumbledore can 'draw up' a chair. No need for chair makers then. Can
> he 
> 'draw up' a carpet? A painting?

Hmm, has Dumbledore ever conjured a chair?  I don't remember that. 
I'm assuming that JKR was using the phrase "drew up a chair" in the
same way we Muggles do- Dumbledore moved an already existing chair
over to himself so he could use it.

> The food. Do the house-elves cook it? Or magic it up? The wizzes and
> witches 
> put no effort in. 

Again, we don't know that using magic requires no effort.  We've seen
Molly cooking, and though she uses helpful little spells to do it, she
does seem to exert effort.

> Farming - why would a wizard plod around after cows or 
> sheep? Doesn't he just sit on his rocking chair and wave his wand at
> the 
> poor dawg?

Well, Muggles nowadays don't plod around after sheep and cows either. 
I assume wizards simply use magic in place of technology.  Same
result.  They still have to make sure their crops are planted, get
enough water, are protected from pests, harvested, distributed, etc.

> Travelling. Its a good job they can't all apparate. All of the
>realities of 
> our world collapse when you get instant travel. You don't have to
>live near 
> your work - just apparate (and no penalties to using magic in JKR's
>world, 
> no magical bounceback as in The Worst Witch or Discworld). Taking
>the 
> kiddies to school? Why send them by antiquated train? Except that
>it's 
> romantic?

The fact remains that most wizards and witches don't Apparate all that
often, probably due to the difficulties and risks involved.  There
seems to be a flourishing broomstick business.  The Floo network also
needs to be regulated (and floo powder made and sold).  Seems like
there are plenty of necessary activities associated with travel.
 
> The jobs that are described are teaching, civil service, 
> shopkeeping, and sport. No artists are mentioned (ideal occupation
> once the 
> cleaning is taken care of), though there are musicians.

The jobs mentioned have been those that Harry has taken direct notice
of.  There are plenty that he hasn't seen, or hasn't felt relevant
enough to mention.  Someone (Steve, I think) wrote a wonderful post
explaining the unnoticed work behind the ice cream parlor, jobs that
Harry didn't mention but probably exist.

 
> Sorry - a slightly grumpy ramble. What I am saying is, when magic
>does so 
> much, why bother to go to work, why get up in the morning?

Well, why do we do what we do?  I'm a researcher, right now attempting
to model copepod competition in Chesapeake Bay tributaries.  Certainly
not a necessary activity for life, but hey, I'm getting paid for it,
and I (believe it or not) find it an interesting and enjoyable
challenge.  Many Muggle jobs are like that, really.  I'm sure witches
and wizards have more than enough activities to occupy their time,
even with the added advantage of magic.

-Corinth