Am I the only one...

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 134926

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Ersatz Harry"
<ersatzharry at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Milz" <absinthe at m...> wrote:
> > I'm with you here all the way. I saw this flaw in Hermione since the
> > PS/SS. Hermione is clever in that she has "book smarts" and is no
> > doubt a good test taker. But when she's without the books, without
> > the instructions, she falls apart as HBP has shown. 
> 
> There have been many occasions in the series when Hermione used some
> of her book smarts to do something that neither Ron nor Harry could do
> because of their relative ignorance.  Think back to some of the traps
> that were set on the way to the COS, or her coming up with the idea of
> using Polyjuice Potion, or the clever SNEAK hex that she used on
> Marietta, for example.
> 
> But while I haven't compiled a complete list of the occasions, my
> sense is that they are becoming less frequent as the trio gets older
> and experience begins to grow in importance.  Still, I cannot agree
> that Hermione "falls apart" without the instructions, as you have said.
> 
> Ersatz Harry, who would adore Hermione if we were the same age

With all due respect, almost anyone can "memorize and regurgitate". A
parrot can be trained to memorize and recite Newton's 'De Analysi'. It
takes REAL intelligence to be able to think outside of the box with
the knowledge base and tools available. The Half Blood Prince = real
intelligence because HBP was able to devise hexes, spells and find
more efficient ways to create the potions---those things take a
combination of book smarts, the application of book smarts and a
deeper understanding of that book information---much deeper than
reciting memorized passages and superficial applications of that
memorized material. 

As underrated as they are, the Weasley twins are on the same plane as
HBP in regards to their application of magic theory and practice.
However, Fred and George don't get respect because their magical
endeavors are jokes and other seemingly frivolous things, but their
creations involve a complex magicks. Moreover their lack of academic
excellence tarnishes their reputation amongst people who can't fathom
that grade point average does not necessarily indicate intelligence. 

Issac Newton, Godfried Lymans, Linus Pauling, Blaise Pascal,
Bernoulli, etc. were all teenagers or young adults who contributed
greatly to science and mathematics---and they did that not by reciting
verbatim, but through innovative and creative application of that
knowledge. And let's not forget the young men and women who win the
prestigious Westinghouse awards.

As for falling apart without instructions: yes she does. HBP showed
that Hermione is a limited talent because she worships the god of
knowledge at the altar of textbooks. Classic case: polyjuice potion
brewing---again, Hermione followed instructions in a book. But if you
really want to test Hermione's real intelligence vs. booksmarts, you'd
have to ask, would Hermione had been able to devise a polyjuice
potion, de novo? In other words, if polyjuice potion never existed,
would Hermione been able to create a polyjuice potion? My guess is no,
because as she's demonstrated in the past books, Hermione depends too
heavily on what the textbook and not on creatively applying that
information. She worships the god of knowledge at the altar of the
textbook. Don't get me wrong, she does apply the info, but she does so
in a superficial manner. The greats of science, mathematic, medicine,
literature, music, cooking, etc. were great because they "broke" the
rules of convention and opened up new avenues of possibility and
thought.. In doing so they opened up a new world of possibilities. 

Again, I'm not saying that Hermione isn't bright and isn't a good
student, but don't inflate her abilities to something more than it
really is.

Also, I've seen what happens to "talented and gifted kids". Some of
them become even more talented and gifted--these are the kids who are
the innovators and who realize that book knowledge isn't all the
knowledge in the world. These are the kids who constantly are
searching for answers and pushing the limits to find those answers
because they know the books don't contain everything. Some of them
peak at the age of 14 to 16 and progress no further because they
mistakenly believe that everything can be found in a book. So
Hermione's "dumbing down" in this book came as no surprize to me. Her
intellectual growth is stagnating because she's taken the role of a
walking encyclopedia as opposed to the role of a fountain of ideas,
discovery and innovation. And Rowling uses her well as that sort of
plot device--a walking encyclopedia who conveniently offers some bit
of information in a book that Ron nor Harry has bothered to read.

Milz