Academic dishonesty

[eggplant107]

No: HPFGUIDX 139511

"delwynmarch" <delwynmarch at y...> wrote:

> Hermione, on the other hand, understands
> the theory, the interactions between the
> different ingredients, and is developing a
> sense of the art of potion-making. 

Actually I don't think Hermione has much understanding of the theory
behind potions, I say that because she has never made an original
potion, neither has any other student.

> Hermione at least had an idea of what to do when they had to create
that multiple antidote. She knew the principles, she knew the spells,
she knew the ingredients and their antidotes. 

Hermione knew a spell that would tell her what was in a mixture of
poisons and had memorized the antidotes to the individual poisons and
knew how to mix them together, but there is no evidence she had the
slightest idea why any of it worked.

> And yes, following instructions can be
> the very best way to learn some things

Following lousy instructions will not give you a better understanding
than following excellent instructions. 

> if the book told Ron how to produce 
> silent magic without actually learning
> it the hard way, and Ron got better
> grades at silent fighting than Harry did?
> Don't you think that Harry would think
> that Ron cheated

No I don't think Harry would mind a bit especially if Ron offered to
share this newfound knowledge with him. The fact is that by a lucky
chance Harry found a new and better way to do things, and when luck
falls your way it's unreasonable to ask someone to forsake it, at
least I think so.

> I was disgusted because I didn't expect
> Harry to cheat simply so he could get 
> good grades and praises. It's lame, IMO,
> and not at all up to his usual standard. 

If you were 16 and in Harry's position what would you have done? I'm
not asking what a moral paragon would have done, nor am I asking what
you hope you would have done, I'm asking what you honestly think you
would have done in that class on that day. As for me, I'm certain I
would have kept on reading the notes in the margin and kept my mouth
shut about it. And suppose your debating skills were such that you
actually convinced me that it was a tad underhanded, what would I do
then? I would have kept on reading the notes in the margin and kept my
mouth shut about it. Maybe I just hang out with the wrong crowd but I
don't believe anyone I know would willingly spill the beans and give
up that book. 

And if I was Harry I'd have even less guilt about it, I'd figure I'd
already given far more than my share to the wizard world and I'll
probably be dead in a year anyway so I'm not going to ignore a rare
piece good luck that falls into my lap, life is too short for that.
I'm not saying that's what a moral paragon would feel I'm saying
that's how I'd feel if I was Harry.

Eggplant