[HPforGrownups] Do Slytherins deserve their bad reputation?

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 167626

From: coriandra2002 <coriandra2002 at yahoo.com>
>Of course, this is just my impression. All the Houses have a few less
>than stellar members.  If I was being sorted, I'd be whispering like
>Harry, "Not Slytherin, please not Slytherin."

Bart:
There is an interesting book on the market, called "Sales Dogs". It's essentially written for sales managers, comparing various types of salesmen to various breeds of dogs (like the "chihuahuah"; knows all the technical details of the product, and can go on for hours and hours, or the "doberman", who always takes charge of the room, etc.). The idea is how to take advantage of each "breeds" strong points and cover their weak points. Now, let's take a look at house personalities, and police-type work:

1) Gryffindors: They would stagnate with clerical work or staying behind the lines, and are too foolhardy for undercover work. But for front line type work, such as making arrests, swat teams, marshalls, or backup for undercovers, witness protection, etc., they would do great.

2) Hufflepuffs: Their ability to handle tedium and hard work would make them good for positions requiring patience, such as management positions (desk sergeant up to precinct commander), clerical positions, evidence gathering, and lab assistants. Also good for stakeouts. But they would not be good for positions requiring rapid thinking such as undercover assignments or front line work.

3) Ravenclaw: Their high intelligence and quick thinking would make them good for crime scene investigation and lab work, dectection, profiling, etc. But they think too much for work that requires acting on reflex, such as front line work. Also, would probably not be good in management or other work that includes a lot of repetitive action.

4) Slytherin: These are your undercover guys; the ones you know will get out of a bad situation before it becomes untenable. Also, they know all the tricks, so they would be good for internal affairs. Just don't put them in charge.

In the books, we only see the worst of Slytherin; I am STILL annoyed that JKR didn't put a single Slytherin into the DA (while whistling, "Weasley is Our King"). But the fact that the hat (AND Dumbledore) said that Harry would have done well in that house shows that, although the temptation is there. Besides, I've developed a fondness for Finny Black; even though he's a portrait, he is one of the very few adult types who was always straight with Harry (others include Minny the Cat, Nick, and, hmmm.... can anybody think of anybody else?).

Bart



Bart