Electronics at Hogwarts

[Ken Hutchinson]

No: HPFGUIDX 158423

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jordan Abel" <random832 at ...> wrote:

> 
> The spark plugs, headlights, etc, on the Anglia seem to work well
> enough - sure, it breaks down when they get to hogwarts, but shouldn't
> the charms on the car itself interfere with those?
> 

That's a good example, Jordan! I'm not familiar with British Fords, I
wonder if that model would have had an electronic engine control? An
electronic engine control is really a small, single purpose computer.
Potentially then computers *do* work at Hogwarts! Was it Phill who
recently suggested that Colin's camera is an Arugs C3? Do we know that
from the books, from JKR's website, or is that movie contamination?

I didn't mean to be dismissive of your post, BTW. It's just that once
I re-read that FAQ on JKR's web site I realized that she didn't think
all these things through and that there is unlikely to be any way to
make everything consistent in regard to how electronics work or do not
work at Hogwarts. Trying to do that for her is looking more and more
like a fool's errand to me. If she doesn't understand "maths" she
certainly doesn't understand electonics and we are just going to have
to ignore the inconsistency, which after all is the hobgoblin of
little minds. Hollywood has elevated this hobgoblin to high art, or at
least huge profits. I guess I just expect more of book authors than
screenwriters. Another one of life's disappointments, I'll get over
it. Mark Twain had similar problems with James Fenimore Cooper but at
least, like Geoff, I can suspend my disbelief and enjoy the HP novels
anyway. It would be nice if we didn't have to suspend our disbelief
over every stinking detail ....

Ken