Sportsmanship/legitimacy

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 151955

> Pippin:
> The rules seem to be that scoring is totally within the judges' 
> discretion, just like the scoring for the House Cup.
> 
> a_svirn:
> If you can call that rules
 Besides, your simile is not particularly 
> accurate. In the House Cup points are being awarded for pretty much 
> everything, whereas in the tournament the participants had concrete 
> tasks to accomplish. It follows, therefore, that points should have 
> been awarded for the accomplishment of these tasks. 

Pippin:
It doesn't follow at all. The fact is, we don't know how the tasks are
scored -- it could be the way you suggest, or it could be like figure
skating, where you are scored on artistic merit as well as technical
performance. Harry doesn't get complete instructions for the second
task -- as in the House Cup contest in PS/SS, he shows up late,
and doesn't get to check his possibly imperfect understanding of
the rules against anyone else's. It doesn't help that Dobby told
him his Weezy would be lost.

I have a feeling this is one of JKR's Inkling moments -- we're
being asked to consider whether miracles are really God bending
the rules, or is it just that we have a very imperfect, limited 
understanding of what the rules are.

> 
> Pat:
> How do we know that anyone, if caught, goes unpunished?  I have no
> recollection of anything from canon that discusses this.
> 
> a_svirn:
> Because they cannot be disqualified – these magical contracts see to 
> it. The worst that can be done is (presumably) the subtraction of 
> points. And that's no big deal – because judges can cheat by 
> awarding points unfairly (like Karkaroff) and without fear of 
> reprisal. And even if you get 0 points you are allowed to enter the 
> maze. Indeed, that's an honour you cannot refuse. 

Pippin:
Oh, there's fear of reprisal. As Karkaroff says, if his champion is not 
treated fairly, Durmstrang will not participate next time. Dumbledore
asked if anyone had an alternative to letting Harry compete as the
fourth Hogwarts champion, and no one did. It's not as if he railroaded
everyone into accepting Harry.

 In any case, the argument that widespread cheating invalidates
the rules doesn't work in the real world -- try it in tax court and
see how far it gets you :)


Pippin