Wizard supremacy (was:Re: Nel Question #4: Class and Elitism)

[kjirstem]

No: HPFGUIDX 125890


<much snippage of discussion between Betsy and a_svirn on who beats
whom, Muggles or Wizards>

> a_svirn:
> 
> While Muggles are incapable of magic, nothing can stop wizards from
> mustering Muggle "fighting tactics". Wizards can do everything
>Muggles can AND magic. Surely it gives them a great advantage on
>Muggles.
> 

kjirstem:
I don't agree, one could regard magical people as
electro-magnetically handicapped, after all.  There are forces that
Muggles can work with that wizards apparently cannot, or Muggles can
work with those forces in ways that wizards cannot.  I happen to 
agree with Arthur C. Clarke that "Any sufficiently advanced 
technology is indistinguishable from magic."  And it appears that 
some simple Muggle devices are real puzzlers to the wizards, if like
Arthur Weasley they bother to notice what exists in the Muggle world.

In addition, while the wizarding world plays Quidditch, we don't
see them doing much else that is very physical.  They may be capable
of learning some Muggle ways of fighting but since it isn't 
something valued in their world they may not have the mental
flexibility to think of doing that.  In fact, never mind physical
fighting, it seems that most wizards have very little idea of what
Muggles know or are capable of doing.  I don't think ignorance of
one's opponent is a very useful weapon in a fight or war.

<more snippage>
> a_svirn:
> How exactly can 
> scientific efficiency hurt wizards? From what we saw in the books 
> magic is far more efficient than technology. <
> And they
> succeeded in overpowering  other magical peoples like goblins for
>instance. 
> 

kjirstem:
Magic sure seems more *fun* than technology, but more efficient? 
Which would you really prefer, putting your head in a fire or using 
a cell-phone?  Owl post is lovely and romantic but not as speedy as
email or telephone.   

As far as how can scientific efficiency hurt wizards, I don't know
what Betsy was thinking but here's what occurs to me.  There are
a lot of Muggles trained in the sciences and if the WW was perceived
as a problem then money and people would be allocated toward solving
that problem.   Not necessarily a nice thing, but there you have it.

Also, the goblins, ummm.  They appear to be in charge of the only
bank.  All the wizard/goblin interactions I can think of indicate a
certain wariness. (Hagrid speaks quietly regarding them, Bagman 
seems to be in hot water over his crooked dealings with them.)  I'm
not sure they lost.

kjirstem – who would love to be a witch but thinks the WW is a
little daft