Muggleborns choosing WW (was: Why did the founders retain Slytherin's house?

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 117943


SSSusan wrote :
"From a purely practical standpoint, I can't imagine many Muggle-born
witch-or-wizards *not* wanting to join the WW. I mean, just being
able to have that doohicky of Molly's to keep track of my loved ones,
to be able to shoot my dishes into the sink and have them wash
themselves, to be able to apparate to work in an instant, to 
fly, ....
I could go on & on! It makes many mundane parts of life simpler, and
it adds spark & fun!"

Del replies :
Let me go over your examples first.
The clockwork : it doesn't seem to be a common household object. I
seem to remember that someone speaks about it in a way that implies
that not everyone has one. Personally, I've found that mobile phones
are quite useful to keep track of my loved ones.
The dishes washing themselves : Muggles have dishwashers.
Apparate to work : granted, that one would be cool. Floo Powder isn't
bad either.
Flying : Muggles have cars, which all in all are about as practical 
as
brooms.
All in all, Muggles do manage to compensate for their lack of magic.


SSSusan:
These were tip-of-the-tongue examples.  I could come up with a 
HUNDRED others.  Even for these few examples, however, I can "argue" 
right back:  dishwashers require prep work, btw, and there are many 
things which can't go into them—fine crystal, copper-bottom pots.  I 
don't CARE if Molly's clock is rare.  It's representative of the 
neat-o kinds of things one finds in the WW.  As for flying, it's not 
practicality at all that I would be enjoying; it's the FREEDOM and 
SOARING and sheer JOY of them.

I didn't say Muggles don't manage to compensate for their lack of 
magic; I was saying that there are delightful things and oodles of 
conveniences which could make the Wizarding World wonderful, too.



Del:
Spark and fun ? Those are bound to diminish after a while, once you
get used to them. And I personally find the price to pay quite high.

SSSusan:
And that's your opinion.  I, on the other hand, doubt that the spark 
& fun would wear off.  WHY would they diminish over time?  I'm still 
delighted with my TV set, for goodness' sake, and I've had TV my 
whole 43 years.


Del:
*Getting cut off from your family. You and your parents have to lie
to your friends and the rest of the family about what school you go
to, what job you have, and so on. Your parents don't even know what 
is
actually happening at your school. If you marry a wizard-born, you
might never be able to introduce him/her and your in-laws to your
Muggle family and friends. You can't have people coming over if they
don't know about your secret.

SSSusan:
This might be a high price, yes.  And secrecy would be a part of 
it.  For some that might be more than they're willing to accept, 
I'll grant.  But I don't agree that it's a given that one must give 
up one's family.  Seamus' parents are a witch & a Muggle.  
Hermione's parents are both Muggles.  They don't seem to have 
stopped participating in each other's lives.  And of course you can 
have people over if they don't know about your secret—just don't do 
any magic while they're there!  Harry goes back to the Dursleys each 
summer, walks around the neighborhood.  Sure, he blows up his aunt 
now & again <g> but it's not like he can't spend any time amongst 
the Muggles.


Del:
* Having to abandon whatever you liked in Muggle life. You liked 
video
games or you wanted to become an astronaut ? Forget about it. Worse :
what about things like religion ? I personally wouldn't let my kid go
to a school where he couldn't attend our church on Sunday.

SSSusan:
Well, video games *are* gone, but that's no loss to me. <g>  NO way, 
though, I agree that religion must be given up.  Just because JKR 
has made no overt reference to it does not mean it isn't nor cannot 
be a part of the WW.  Again, as I said previously about problems 
which exist in either world—that you can work to change things in 
either place—so you can bring your beliefs to that world.  Who could 
stop you??  Start a church if there isn't one.  Visit your old RW 
church on Sundays if you like.  I don't think magic "leaks out" of 
people without provocation very often, so I can't imagine one 
couldn't go to a Muggle movie theater or church or shops when one 
chose.  


Del:
* Having to deal with the anti-Muggle racism and the pureblood
ideology. On one side, you are taught that you are somehow better 
than
everyone else in your family, and on the other you will be despised
all your life by some of the most influent members of your chosen 
society.

SSSusan:
I attempted to address this previously.  Racism and hatred 
and "pureblood ideology" are be a part of RW life as well.  From my 
view of the U.S., I don't think the WW is ANY worse in terms of 
attitudes--of rich towards the poor, of prejudice against persons of 
color, of prejudice against gays and lesbians.  So I say WORK to 
change it, whichever world in which you find yourself, plain and 
simple. 


Del:
I agree that being a wizard in the Muggle World wouldn't be much
easier. I'm just saying that I don't see why we should assume that 
all
Muggleborns necessarily want to remain in the WW.


SSSusan:
Oh, I'm not assuming that *everyone* would want to remain there, but 
I just don't see any reason to assume there would be lots clamoring 
to get out, either.  I think if the average Muggle-born witch or 
wizard found out about his abilities at age 30 or 45, then there 
would be LOTS more who'd opt out.  But finding out as 11-year-olds, 
just ready to head off to boarding school perhaps anyway, it's 
not "too late" in terms of what all is in place.  

Again, JMHO.

Siriusly Snapey Susan