WW communications (was Jo's site etc)

[carolynwhite2]

No: HPFGUIDX 119719


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Meliss9900 at a... 
> wrote:
> 
> > I really seem to remember Dumbledore (or maybe it was 
> another order member)  saying that the order had more efficient 
> methods of communication than Flue > powder ect.  > 
> 
> Pippin:
> Dumbledore says the Order's methods of communication are 
> "more reliable" than the fire in Dolores Umbridges office. He 
> doesn't say they are more efficient. They probably aren't or they'd 
> be in wider use. 
<snip>
> Of course they'd have been better off using a fellytone, but I'd 
> guess this is just another one of Rowling's warnings against 
> prejudice. Everything magical does *not* have to be better than 
> everything Muggle. 
> 
> Pippin

Carolyn:
I've never decided whether we have found out what Jo was referring to 
in this interview quote about WW communications:

Q. Has Harry ever used the Internet? 
A. No. He's not allowed near Dudley's computer and Dudley's the only 
one who's got a computer. He gets beaten up if he goes too near the 
keyboard. So no, he's never used the Internet. I use it a lot but 
not Harry. Wizards don't really need to use the Internet but that's 
something that you'll find out later on in the series. They have a 
means of finding out what goes on in the outside world that I think 
is more fun than the Internet. Could anything be more fun than the 
Internet? Yes! 


Variously, it's been suggested that it's the portraits, or mirrors, 
or travel devices such as the Floo network and portkeys. Or magical 
books, rather like Riddle's diary, where you can literally lose 
yourself in the pages (shades of Jasper Fforde). Maybe she meant Gred 
& Forge's extendable ears ?

But none of these things seem to quite fit, IMO. She seems to be 
indicating something which you can search for news and information.  
The closest thing I can think of that we have seen so far is a 
crystal ball. 

Are we not yet done with Trelawny and divination, I wonder? It would 
be a Jo classic misdirection - we are set up to regard everything to 
do with divination as farcical, even to the extent of severely 
doubting that the prophecies mean anything. And in the process, we 
don't realise that crystal balls can work, in the right hands?

And what exactly does she mean by 'the outside world'? The muggle 
world ? Even though she's also told us that that it will always 
remain separate from the WW? Or just the WW outside Hogwarts or the 
UK? 

Sounds as though it will be very useful in the coming war, whatever 
it is.

Carolyn