Owl Post Secret Activity 1: The Secret of Magic

[brightflower]

Activity: The Secret of Magic
Points: Long debate: Participation 10pts, Additional comment: 2pts.
Deadline: April 22, 11:59 PM UTC
Details:

Let's jump right into the magical world's secrets with a debate on the biggest secret of all: the secret of magic itself.

What are your opinions on the International Statute of Secrecy? Is it a fair law? When is it okay to break the law and reveal the secret of magic to Muggles? And what would you do if a Muggle discovered your secret and tried to take advantage of it?

Initial comment of at least 150 words for 10 points, additional comments 2 points each. Let's get a conversation going!


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Comments

[brightflower]

I personally feel that the Statute in and of itself is fair, because of the ways in which Muggles would inevitably react if they were to find out about the magical world. It seems to me that most people have a tendency to be selfish and want to use things for their own personal gain. Tapping into the magical world would have dire consequences; Muggles would insist on having the ability to use magical people for their own purposes. It would be chaos. I can easily see trials against wizards on trumped-up charges, and if the wizards used magic to escape (like Apparating out of prison cells and the like), it would only enrage Muggles further. It would dissolve into warfare as Muggle and magic weapons are pitted against one another for one imagined slight or another. Really, the magical population feels safer under the statute, and I can't disagree with them on that.

However, the means of enforcing the statute make me uncomfortable. Obliviating seems like such a cruel punishment to a person. I hate to use the word "rape," but invading somebody's brain and wiping their memories away against their will, just because they happened to see something magical, seems really violating to me. Perhaps a better idea would be a binding spell of some sort, so that the Muggle cannot speak or communicate about what they have seen? That seems a little less harsh. Then again, it leaves them to realize what has happened and recognize their punishment for what it is, which is also not a very pleasant consequence. It just seems unfair to me because it's not like that person did anything wrong. The magical person did the wrong thing, by allowing their abilities to be seen. So why punish the innocent bystander?

But that leaves the question of what, then, to do when this sort of thing occurs. Incorporate Muggles into the magical society, and deal with the consequences of that as they arise? Who knows what could happen?

As for when it is okay to break the statute, I would like to say that people should be able to use magic if they need to save somebody's life, like in an emergency situation. Then, look, superheroes could be a real thing! People might then start begging that wizard/witch to use magic to do things for them, too, though. I don't know, it's such a complicated issue. I guess I'd just resign myself to keeping the status quo, because I'm not wise enough to come up with a more suitable answer.

Crystalpuff

[slumber.livejournal.com]

It's tough, definitely, because you're inherently deciding you know better than another group of people about what information they can know. Isn't that in and of itself a little bit unfair? Or... I don't know. Maybe not entirely, but the fact that there is danger in the secret getting out certainly has to play a role in it too. I feel like this is the kind of "for the greater good" thinking that Dumbledore and Grindelwald toyed with, to a certain extent.

Evyclaw

[flipflop-diva.livejournal.com]

I agree. It's kind of like, do you risk it and hope this person who accidentally saw magic keeps quiet? (I mean, in the case of Harry and Dudley, then sure. Dudley obviously knows anyway! But some stranger on the street?) Or do you go in and work a little memory magic? I can definitely see from the Ministry's point of view how that is the way better option, but on a human nature level, it's a little icky and disconcerting to think about!


Kristine | Puff

[flyingharmony.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it really is a tough way to erase the things that Muggles aren't supposed to know from their brains; especially because int he case of Obliviating, it usually erases much more than only the unwanted information; I really don't like the thought of my entire memory being erased, just because I happen to know something I am not supposed to know; but what other options are there than using a memory charm? That is the big question.

Avipuff/3

[kaitydid33087.livejournal.com]

I agree, that the ways of enforcing the statue is not okay. I mean, things happen by accident that you can't always control. Sometimes what the Wizard did, wasn't always wrong though. Like in Harry and Dudley's circumstances. I don't think that's a bad thing.

I agree though, its a really complicated thing

4

[flipflop-diva.livejournal.com]

Maybe if Muggles saw more witches and wizards uses their powers "for good," so to speak, they would be more accepting of them. It works for Spider-Man!

I totally agree about the obliviating, though. And I don't know the answer. But there are people who know about the magical world (families and spouses), so it seems like there could be some exceptions. But I would really, really, really hate to think that sometime in my life someone was able to take away/alter my memories of something. That is horrifying!!


Kristine | Puff