broomsticks vs. flying carpets AND Hogwarts's Security

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 55332

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Eileen <lucky_kari at y...> wrote:
> --- Gina Rosich <grosich at n...> wrote: > 
> > I think it's a combination of tradition and racism,
> > frankly.  Brooms have been a long-standing tradition
> > in the U.K. as a mode of transport.  Also, they
> > couldn't play Quidditch without brooms. 

> Eileen:
> I'm sure that the basic reason is that the Ministry
> couldn't outlaw brooms if they tried. ...edited... 

> Gina:
> > That flying carpets envokes images of maharishi and not of 
> >"good british families" packing up to travel together.  


> Eileen: 
> Oh, I don't know. The Crouches had an Axminster that
> could seat twelve. 
> 
> What use is there for the broom outside of Quidditch
> anyway? It seems to me to be a relic of the past.

bboy_mn:

Broom vs Carpet-
Making some basic assumption about the modern wizard world, Carpets
are Muggle objects that are enchanted to fly; they are indeed carpets
in every sense of the word. Brooms however are NOT muggle brooms
enchanted to fly, they are devices manufactured by and for wizards
with the ONE specific purpose of flying; they are not enchanted muggle
artifacts. In fact, unlike usable carpets, magic brooms are absolutely
worthless for sweeping. 

Brooms - make by wizards for wizards with no appliable muggle use. In
fact, if a muggle found a flying broom, the only thing they could
think of using it for would be kindling for the fireplace.


> Eileen:
> First of all, one can't fly it around without taking
> extensive precautions or risking running afoul of
> Ministry regulations.  ...edited...
> 

bboy_mn:
Brooms vs Floo Powerder vs vs portkeys vs Apparation-

Apparation-
Not all wizards and witches can apparate, and even if you can, there
is an element of danger to it unless you are very confident in your
abilities. As you get older, I suspect your confident and ability 
might diminish. It would seem that a substantial minority prefer not
to apparate, and while a substantial minority we can never really be
sure just how big.

Portkeys-
Based on my own belief and a recent discussion about the nature of
Portkeys, it would seem that they are not that easy to do. My belief
which is re-enforced by, but not confirmed by canon, leads me to
believe that it is a two stage process. First, a long process by which
a object is made able to be a portkey then a short but somewhat
difficult charm that programs it with the specifics for it's use, like
destination and time. Then I believe that it's ability to take portkey
programming is not permanent, so eventually the long 'make ready'
process must be repeated. 

I base this on the fact that portkey are very convinient, but they are
not used that often. Logically, there must be some reason why they are
not used that often. My logic leads me to think that it is a long and
difficult process; to long and difficult to make it practical. I also
suspect, if there were a program them as you need them portkey story,
the cost would be too expensive for everyday use.

Portkeys like floo powerder are a stressful way to travel, especially
if you are not too bright, inexperienced, or old. There is all that
spinning around, flying through the air at high speed, then landing on
the ground with a substantial 'thump'.

Can't prove that, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.


Floo Powerder-
Cheap and dirty, I think describes it best. It's somewhat hazardous in
that you seem to be traveling in the Floo Stream with lots of other
people, you have to keep your arms tucked in close to keep from
bumping into other things/people in the Floo stream. 

Then again, there is all that spinning around which would be very
stressful for a lot of people. Finally, the landing which consists of
falling out of a fireplace. 

Then it is complicated by intent. Harry wasn't sure how, or when, or
where he should, could, or would get out. You will also notice that
Harry stayed in the Floo stream, until his thoughts told him he wanted
to get out; he wanted it to stop, which ended up throwing him out at
Knockturn Alley. How he mispronounced Diagon Alley contributed to his
Floo travel problems, but I don't think it was a coincidence that he
was thrown out as soon as he thought of wanting to be out.

Harry is not too fond of either portkey or Floo travel, and he is
young and strong. I can see older people really dreading it. 

Brooms-
Get on and go; no special enchantments (other than some basic
Disillusionment or apathy charms, so the muggles will ignore you), no
high speed spinning around, no falling on your face, no soot and ash.
You start when you want to start, you go where you want to go, and you
only go as fast as you feel comfortable going. Great view, fresh air,
shield charm to block the wind, warming charm for those cool evenings,
and it's really really fun. A Firebolt can accelerate from 0 to 150
MPH in a very few short seconds. It could have a top speed of 200 mph.
Much faster that the fastest automobile, and a lot less traffic.

Anybody here who wouldn't love to have a magical flying broom?

> Eileen
> I was and continue to be disturbed by the security of Hogwarts.
> Sure, no one can apparate on the grounds, but anyone
> can fly in on broomsticks as proved by the Norbert
> episode in PS/SS. I would wonder if this were
> Hogwarts's Achilles Heel, except that the possibility
> that Sirius Black had entered from the air is not even
> considered in PoA, leading me to think that it's a
> mistake in JKR's conception of Hogwarts.
> 
> Eileen


bboy_mn:

Security after 11 (now 15) years of peace time will certainly be more
lax than security during wartime. In wartime I would suspect that even
if you could fly into Hogwart's airspace, some kind of warning would
sound; a warning that would not be necessary during peace time. Or
perhaps during peace time one or two broom could enter Hogwart's
airspace with out a problem, but an alarm might sound if a large group
tried to enter. 

I know that is all speculation, but among other things, it is intended
to remind us that we don't have all the details.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn