Did JKR cheat with the prophecy?

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 124878




Steve said:
<SNIP>
> 
> Locally, a great and reliable Prophet has made a prophecy that effects
> me, a prophecy that resticts my logical choices, but doesn't prevent
> me from choosing less logical options. The Prophet is the weatherman
> and the prophecy is 'freezing rain tomorrow'. Yes, that prophecy
> effect my life, it effects the choices I am going to make, it dictates
> some of the choice I should make, but I would never go so far as to
> say that it has restricted my free will. 

Because that isn't a prophecy.  It's a prediction based on certain
methods that are not 100% accurate.  A true prediction is one that
happens to be right.  A true prophecy, on the other hand, is an actual
glimpse of the future, which is something else entirely.  A prediction
is made from the point of view of probability of error and is a piece
of advice saying "I think this will happen."  A prophecy is a
completely accurate LOOK at the future that says "This WILL happen." 
 The two things are totally different, and so, IMO, the analogy of a
weather prediction and Sybil's prophecy is totally false.

It is true that the weather prediction does not absolutely restrict
your choice because it is a calculation that does not depend for its
validity on the future being fixed.  The prophecy, however, DOES
depend on the future being fixed.  The first, you are right, does not
deny Free Choice.  The second is pretty much incompatible with it
unless you are a divine being or else you predicate some VERY strange
things going on with the timeline.

Sorry, but IMO, and it IS of course my opinion, your argument is based
on a false premise and simply does not stand up to the test of analysis.


Lupinlore