Technology in the WW (was Re: the view from Harry's glasses)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 72730

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "elady25" <imamommy at s...> wrote:
>
> ...edited...
> 
> 
> In another vein, it's always interested me that the WW eschews so 
> many simple technologies.  Like writing with quills rather than 
> ballpoint pens.  Is it just because JKR liked the idea of these 
> things, or is there some deeper statement about the effect 
> technologies have on our world?
> 
> Just a note:  I've often thought that Internet access would help 
> speed up all those hours Hermione spends in the library, ...  Wasn't
> there a rumor that JKR was going to write in something even better 
> than the internet?  
> 
> imamommy


bboy_mn:

I think the quill pens are a matter of tradition. Lots of modern
schools do weird stuff just because it's tradition; just look at
Dudley's Smealtings school clothes, knickerbockers, brilliant loud
colors, boater hats, and knobbly sticks. Eaton students still wear
tailcoats. 

Let's also not forget that they have enchanted quills. Truly writing
with a feather is a miserable experience. The quality of writing is
bad, the pen constantly needs to be re-dipped, the tip constantly
needs to be resharpened (that was the origin of the pen knife, which
we now call a pocket knife), and it's horribly messy. 

Trying to write long essays would be a miserable messy experience
unless the quill were enchanted at least to a small degree. 

I haven't research pens lately but I think metal pen points are about
300 years old, and the refillable fountain pen is about 200 years old
(give or take 50 years). So, in wizard time, fairly recent inventions.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn