[HPforGrownups] Why Wizards Don't Use Ball-Point Pens (and other Muggle artifacts)

[jazmyn]

No: HPFGUIDX 79186



Woodward, Deirdre wrote:
> Here's the definitive answer to the Muggle artifact question.
> 
> *clears her throat in a self-important way*
> 
> My theory -- the Truth, really -- is that Wizards don't use Muggle 
> artifacts because Muggle artifacts more often than not create trash -- 
> old cars, throw-away pens, McDonald wrappers, etc.  There is no trash in 
> the Wizard World (except chocolate frog wrappers, and even they are made 
> from recycled hemp). Wizards live with the earth, so they live in a 
> world that respects the earth.
> 
> Wizards, if they voted, would vote green.
> 
> 

No, not if you know what the green party really stands for.

A number of things would keep Wizards out of the Green Party.

Their use of animals. They turn them into things, into other animals, 
blow them up, chop them up for potions, etc. They kill any that they 
even think are dangerous, such as their attempt to kill Buckbeak.  Only 
when the MOM declares a species protected, do they cut them some slack. 
  But there are still dragon steaks available for Hagrid to aquire for a 
black eye...

Their use of plants that are possibly intelligent.  Ever think of what 
happens to those Mandrakes soon as they reached adulthood?

The way they treat non-humans like house elves, centaurs, etc.

I really doubt that chocolate frog wrappers are made out of hemp...Where 
did you get that?

The reason they don't use muggle items much is that they are 'dependent 
on magic' and creatures of habit.  Why buy a ball point pen when you 
learned how to write with a perfectly good quill?  Why bother changing 
gold to muggle money to go out to London and buy a ball point pen? 
There are probably magic quills that have ever-flowing ink and serve the 
same purpose anyways, but Harry hasn't bought one yet.

As for no wizard using muggle items, that's not all that true.  Many 
young wizards wear muggle style clothing. Harry wears a non-magical 
watch.  They use common things like dishware, chairs, Depillows, beds, 
etc.  They wear socks.  However, they do have a 'Misuse
of Muggle Artifacts Office' at the MOM. Where they try and control what 
wizards DO to muggle items.

(QUOTE)

"He works in the most boring department," said Ron. "The Misuse
of Muggle Artifacts Office."

"The what?"

"It's all to do with bewitching things that are Muggle-made, you
know, in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house. Like,
last year, some old witch died and her tea set was sold to an antiques
shop. This Muggle woman bought it, took it home, and tried to serve
her friends tea in it. It was a nightmare - Dad was working overtime
for weeks."

(End QUOTE)

So this points to a problem with Muggle made items that Wizards own. 
Either they absorb too much magic around the house or they end up with 
spells on them to make them do things they are not supposed to do 
normally.

Also, there is the Anti-Muggle feelings among many wizards.  Look at the 
facts. Everything from kids calling other kids Mudbloods to repeated 
memory charms on the Muggle at the gate of the campsite (with little 
thought of brain damage this might cause) to the DEs.  I mean, muggles 
are NOT very well thought of by most of the WW. In fact, many think them 
little more then animals.

No, Wizards are far from 'Greenies'.  The only reason they don't appear 
to produce a lot of waste is because they can wave their wands and make 
the waste vanish. But as matter can not be created or destroyed, but 
only changed, where do vanished things go?  Teleported to another 
dimension?  A wizards landfill in some centaur's back yard?

Who knows?

Jazmyn