[HPforGrownups] HP and the democratic equilibrium(Re: Umbridge, brooms and DEs)

[J.O. Williams]

No: HPFGUIDX 87051

On Sat, 2003-12-13 at 06:53, iris_ft wrote:

> 
> Geoff:
> "Umbridge is way over the top. She has already sanctioned Harry by
> baning him from Quidditch. This is just to twist the knife. The
> Firebolt was noting to do with the fight. Suppose a professional
> football player is banned for a couple of months for bad play of some
> sort. He doesn't have to hand over any footballs he owns; he isn't
> told he can't kick a ball around in his garden. Harry owns a
> valuable, rare Firebolt. He has every right to use it to fly around
> on for fun and relaxation; he's not going to get to play Quidditch
> anyway because he's banned."

The incident that got Harry banned after the game was after the game and
outside the jurisdiction of the games referee.  Since the fight was
after the game, the Umbridge was in her right to punish everyone very
severily including banning.  If the incident happened during the game,
the referee could have applied the appropriate penalty and Umbridge
would (and should) not have been involved.  If the incident is before or
after a the game and the referee doesn't jurisdiction, the Umbridge and
Aurors could have been involved.  All sport rule books I have read have
a specific time before a match that the official can take take
jurisdiction.  Likewise, after a game the referee gives up jurisdiction,
usually after the final gun or signing the score book.  Harry and the
twins were plain stupid, but it did set up the story for the Weasley's
Grand exit.

I think that a lifetime banishment was a little harsh for an underage
wizard.  I have refereed US football (25 years) and Lacrosse (8 years),
and sports suspend the usual laws that we normally live under for the
duration of a game.  For instance, in Lacrosse it is OK to beat (within
reason) upon your opponent with a "club" that under normal laws would be
considered assault. 

Taking away equipment that you yourself paid for is theft.  Umbridge
can't steal equipment that doesn't belong to Hogwarts.
 
-- 
J.O. Williams <jow at warp8.com>