[HPforGrownups] Death Eaters IQ

[Kelly Grosskreutz]

No: HPFGUIDX 60145

> >Melanie:
> >That brings up an interesting point though, does Voldie only recruit
> >intelligent people or does he recruit anyone willing to support him.  I
am
> >inclined to think that he lets all who want to join up with him do
so..but
> >they may or may not be given any jobs to do.  But I do have to wonder
about
> >the Death Eaters IQ given that Wormtail has such a high position in the
> >eyes of the Dark Lord.
> >
> >Me:  (whoever that is)
> >But is Wormtail really all that stupid? No one seems to have suspected
him,
> >even as they suspected Lupin. He managed to keep his true intentions
secret
> >from his best friends. I'm of the opinion that Wormtail has a dangerous
> >amount of cunning.
> >
Felinia:
> Well, assume for a moment that you're a Supreme Dark Power:  who do you
want
> working for you, or whom do you want more of:  fellow evil geniuses who
may
> be unpredictable, second guess you and try to "do their own thing" without
> comprehending all of your master plan (or worse yet, figuring some of it
out
> without you intending for them to do so); or mindless, obedient idiots who
> can't improvise when something goes wrong and save a situation by so
doing?

In Voldemort's case, I can see how he does use both.  No, he doesn't want
anyone as intelligent as he is for reasons stated above, but he does need
some followers who aren't complete idiots.  Lucius Malfoy is one of these.
He needs people who are capable of understanding some of his genius, if for
no other reason than because his ego requires people who can appreciate his
genius.  These are also people he can entrust more complex operations to
because he knows they are capable of carrying them out without bungling.

On the other hand, he also needs some muscle and some people who are just
plain good at following orders without questioning or thinking about them.
These are mostly your less intelligent people, and where Crabbe and Goyle
fit into the picture.  These people aren't going to be entrusted with much
more than a variation of either the, "Go along with the intelligent leader
of an operation and protect him/her," or the, "This person is in the way of
my plans.  I need you to go and 'take care' of this situation.  Eliminate
the problem," missions.

When it comes to intelligence, Voldemort is an equal opportunity employer.
He has jobs to suit all capabilities and abilities.

Kelly Grosskreutz
http://www.idcnet.com/~ivanova