Current Mood: determined

Maybe I should explain my answers. I wasn't annoyed by the poll because - 1 - I don't annoy easily, and - 2- it seemed clear to me they poll was only about Hermione's persistence, not the rightness/wrongness of her campaign.

As to what will happen, I didn't check "educate the Elves and change the way they think" because I don't think that can be done. I think she should educate the wizards and convincing them that it's wrong to have slaves. Also, I strongly suspect the house elves have a magical geas, not a "wrong way of thinking."

Also, I strongly suspect the house elves have a magical geas, not a "wrong way of thinking."

What do you mean by that?

I think that the reason the House-elves want to serve is not because of any cultural conditioning or "brainwashing" or anything like that -- that it is much more deeply-based than that, either a part of their biological nature or (more likely) a magical contract or enchantment that they live under.


I do NOT think they need to be educated by Hermione -- I think she needs to be educated by them as to what's really going on with them.

it seemed clear to me they poll was only about Hermione's persistence, not the rightness/wrongness of her campaign.


Yup. That's why I'm not annoyed by Mugglenets poll. The poll seems to point more towards the way Hermione is going about SPEW rather than SPEW itself IMO.

I also voted that I wasn't annoyed at the poll for basically the same reasons as angua - things like this don't bother me too much. I do think MN could have worded the choices much better and added a few others but again, I agree that I don't think they are trying to find out if you are for/against S.P.E.W. but just asking opinions about Hermione's methods.

Speaking of which, I chose your second selection though there were bits of the others too that I am for so maybe I should have selected "other". I personally do not agree with the way Hermione is going about her efforts to free the house-elves. It's nothing against her (I love all of the trio) but she is sometimes a bit too focused on her plan to see that it's not working.

My general opinion keeps wavering all together about whether or not they should be free and I know, if I say they should be left alone, that could be looked down upon and that maybe it means in RL I am "supposed" to be for or against other major issues. It really depends on which way Jo is going with all this.

I do NOT think they need to be educated by Hermione -- I think she needs to be educated by them as to what's really going on with them.

I do lean more towards HERMIONE being the one to be educated too. That is what make it confusing to me because the basic aspect of it - slavery - of course is wrong and immoral. BUT, if they really don't mind and are so upset about the aspect of being free - why is that? Is it because they don't know any other way of life - the unknown is scary to them so they would rather keep things as is? Is it because of an enchantment or contract? Is it because they really don't want things to change for a reason unknown to us? Or something else?

I hate when Ron is bashed for uncovering the trash over Hermione's hats or when he makes any comment about the "issue" all together. Harry isn't painting picket signs and going out on the campaign trail either. He just keeps most of his opinions to himself or between he and Ron - through glances and eye-rolls. We have seen three Pureblood families reactions/opinions/actions where house-elves are concerned and we have only seen Dobby be happy and okay with being free and clearly see Winky's view on this too. So,this is why I don't have a solid opinion - am I missing something? Is my opinion supposed to reflect what it would be if this were a real situation? Or is it a case of wait and see (with regards to events in the book and why Jo focused on this at all)?

I know the movies are NOT canon and we shouldn't take too much from what is or isn't filmed but I do think it says something when Jo gave the "okay" to leave S.P.E.W. out of GoF. Maybe she just meant that now (in GoF) it's not too important so they can ditch the scenes but maybe by book 7, there will be a reason that Hermione's efforts or interest was important (such as the elves siding with Harry and DD in the war).

Anyway, sorry this post got out-of-control (lol). I didn't think I had that much to say and I don't even know if it will make any sense. (I wanted to take that other poll but I wasn't sure about it since it was an H/Hr page - should I?)

Oh, I'm glad you gave a long reply. :) Good stuff. I agree with you that it's not quite clear how we are supposed to look at the House Elves situation, or how far we can carry the analogy to slavery in RL. It's clear, I think, that there's something not quite right, but exactly what should be done about it in the context of the world JKR has created is more ambiguous. I also agree that it's not clear how big of a role it's going to end up having in the books. In light of the GoF cut, I'm guessing that the oppression of Elves/magical creatures is not crucial to Harry's coming-of-age or the fight with Voldemort. However, I think the stuff with Kreacher and with the Centaurs in OotP shows that it is a significant subplot, and I think we will see something happen in the next two books to resolve it, even if it's only Hermione bringing Ron, Harry, and her other classmates around to see her point of view, and hints that Wizarding society will move in a more tolerant and just direction in the future.

And please feel free to vote in that poll. The poll's creator gave me permission to link it, and it's obvious that they are looking for opinions from other shippers besides just H/Hrs.

WORD. You pretty much summed up how I feel about all of it(as usual). Even Jo, said Hermione was going about it the wrong way, so I think you're on the right track.

Also, I posted at GS and OC.