Potions Club: Term XXIV - Activity #1

[ivory88s.livejournal.com]

Activity: Ethics Debate
Points: Long Debate - 10pts initial comment/2pts for each subsequent comment of substance; 30pt max
Deadline: Friday, September 21st - 11:59pm UTC
Details: Potions can be a tricky business with some magnificent results. But should it be monitored and if so, how? The Ministry is considering instituting a control over Veritaserum and we're going to discuss whether or not that's necessary and/or a good idea.


For this particular debate, we'll be discussing Veritaserum use, control, and distribution. Initial comment should be at least 100 words and each subsequent should be of some substance and not just "I agree!", even if you do. Why? Anything else to add?

Some things to consider:
As such a potent and effective potion, does it need to be controlled? At first glance it's fairly innocuous. It can be used in a variety of circumstances for differing reasons. Should it be controlled by the Ministry and, if so, how? Should just anyone be able to make it? And when used by the Ministry, should they just be used whenever interrogating a criminal or only in certain circumstances?

*Note: There WILL be a 24-hour grace period after the activity ends, but please make sure you're on the roster now to save time later! Not sure? Check here. Know you aren't on it? Come join the club here! Purchase any additional bonus items? Let me know here.

Comments

[retroviral.livejournal.com]

Veratiserum is just like any other chemical with such potent effects: potentially dangerous. Yes, it should be monitored by the Ministry, but they shouldn’t necessarily control its use. And it’s especially because veratiserum is dangerous in an atypical way (rather than just causing physical harm) that the difference between regulation and control needs to be defined. People have all sorts of rights to privacy and property that people can lay claim to, including intellectual property. Veratiserum could be used to do anything from pulling the idea for the next big book from an author’s head to interrogating criminals, and even those on trial have a right against self incrimination.

Ultimately, though, I think it would be pretty difficult to regulate the use of veratiserum. It’s already been seen time and again that people can get away with just about anything (unregistered Animagi anyone?) without the Ministry every finding out. While I do think veratiserum use needs to be monitored, I can’t really hash out an effective means for doing so.

Caz // Gryffindor // 170

[flyingharmony.livejournal.com]

Monitored but not necessarily controlled, I think that's a good solution! I am totally with you that it's just another chemical that is potentially dangerous, there are plenty of potions that can be incredibly dangerous when they get into the wrong hands, so there probably should be a monitoring for all of these potions, but a control would be sheer impossible, especially for Veritaserum. Even monitoring can be potentially hard, because... Seriously, how do you watch something that looks and probably also smells and tastes just like water?

Avi//Hufflepuff//6