The Sorting Hat doesn't sort

[halli]

No: HPFGUIDX 105906

> Cathy:
> > Also, in GoF the Sorting Hat says: "The founders put some brains in 
> me So I could choose instead!" Not make a decision based on what the 
> kid thought would be best...Choose.
> 
> happybean98:
> Yes that's what the hat says because it's effectiveness depends on 
> everyone believing in that pretense. If the hat openly admitted what 
> was happening, the first years would be at risk of being pressured 
> into houses they didn't really want to be in because they would have 
> to consider not only what they wanted, but what everyone else would 
> think about what they wanted. (Would Neville ever have openly 
> admitted that he wanted a shot at being in Gryffindor? I think not.)
> 
> Cathy:
>  The Hat needs to be able to sort based on abilites not just student 
> whims, especially in the case of a student, like Dean Thomas or the 
> Creevey kids, who would have no idea which would be a good house to 
> want to be sorted into.

Halli:
  I would like to point out that they do have a way of knowing about 
the different houses before hand, from the same impartial judge that 
sorts them. What I imagined (and even did myself) as I read the 
Sorting Hats first song was everyone thinking "Hmm, I think I'd do 
well in a house that values that...I don't think I'm much like 
that...ect."  So this is the equivalent of a leaflet about all the 
houses, and I heard somewhere that desisions you've made quickly 
relflect what you feel, or your instinct, so what they think so soon 
after hearing about them all would be less tainted by other peoples 
opinions, because no one would be there thinking for them, or even 
helping them decide...so i guess I agree with the people who say the 
kid really chooses, because isn't that what DD says? So the hat 
would reflect that, as it does alot of DDs other ideals.