House elves WAS: realistic resolutions

[kempermentor]

No: HPFGUIDX 180965


> > Betsy Hp:
> > IOWs, in scifi and fantasy, fantasy slavery *always* informs on RW 
> > slavery.  Just as the blood bigotry of the WW was meant to inform 
> > on RW bigotry.  

> zgirnius:
> I do read a lot of these genres. What you say is true, but it does 
> not have to inform on RW slavery in the particular way you insist it 
> does/ought to/must. It could also be in there on the RL need to 
> understand other cultures before messing with them, as Hermione in 
> GoF did not. This is very much something that comes up in SF/Fantasy -
> people not taking these precautions, and the unexpected consequences 
> of their actions. (See Winky, on the advisability of immediately 
> freeing all House Elves against their wishes and 'for their own 
> good'.)

Kemper now:
I think you are correct with people taking precautions and that the
immediate giving of clothes would be a poor and harmful means of
Freedom.  It would be like attacking a foreign country without a plan.
 There needs to be a system designed prior to the freedom that allows
for the physical/emotional safety of the Elves which considers the
elves and their perceived culture.

Hermione doesn't consider the Elves' culture.  Which is normal.  She's
following the golden rule (egocentric: do to others what you would
have them do to you) instead of the platinum rule (considerate: do to
others as they would want done to them).  

 
> > Betsy Hp:
> > I have no idea on the coverage of slavery in Britain ... 
> > but yes, there's an overlap into the RW that makes
> > it even harder to make the "different society, different 
> > values" argument.  Part of the charm of the series was supposed to 
> > be the connection to the RW I'd thought.

> zgirnius:
> The charming connection to the RW is why Hermione reacts as she does 
> when this fact of the Wizarding world is first brought to her 
> attention. It is why it makes sense for her to be the character that 
> drives this issue forward. It does not require, however, that her 
> birth society's uninformed views of the subject, her initial view of 
> the problem, must win. Or even, that this would be desirable.

Kemper now:
But it lacks some charm if she's the only one reacting.  It's kind of
sad, really, that others (not just Harry, but all the Muggleborns or
those raised in the RW) aren't compelled to voice dissent.  Hermione
seems the lone moral compass.  I wish I liked her more. 

Kemper