Why are flying carpets illegal?, A bias at the Ministry? |
 Sep 16 2005, 09:45 PM
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Perusing the Magical Menagerie Posts: 97 Joined: 11:52pm August 28, 2005 Location: Scarfing green chile in Albuquerque, New Mexico  |
Why are flying brooms legal in wizarding society, and not flying carpets? They are both Muggle artifacts. I must be honest; I do not remember the reasons given in the books. I have three different theories about this:
Either, flying brooms were invented long before flying carpets, so flying brooms were allowed because they had been allowed for so long. or... The British Ministry of Magic is protecting the British flying broom industry. or... There is a bias in the British Ministry of Magic against Southwest Asian magical technology. -------------------- :aeagle: "I don't go looking for trouble," said Harry nettled. "Trouble usually finds me."
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Sep 16 2005, 10:33 PM
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#2
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Official Singer of the Sorting Hat Song Posts: 6,606 Joined: 3:12pm July 22, 2005 Location: Lost in Hermione's beaded bag   |
Well, I think it's a joke on the ban on Persian carpets. The US has had a ban on carpets from Iran for sometime. At least, I think it's Iran or was it Iraq? And I wouldn't be surprised if Britain has a ban on certain carpets. It does seem funny. Well, mildly.
-------------------- Come the words that bubble
Up through broken laughter, Sweeter than spring-water, "Gods, I am so happy!" |
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Sep 17 2005, 04:20 AM
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Hiding in the Iron Maiden at Borgin and Burkes Posts: 320 Joined: 6:47am August 14, 2005 Location: Essex |
It's one of these odd things that has to be legal because there weould be outrage and uproar if it weren't. Everybody flies broomsticks so they can't illegalise it. If anything a flying carpet would be less conspicuous but it still won't be made legal. I like to think of it with relation to drugs. Alcohol and tobacco are worse than cannabis and yet getting cannabis legalised or alcohol and tobacco illegalised (or even banned in public places) are both unbelievably tricky proposals
-------------------- Heaven is for the Hedonist
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Sep 17 2005, 07:08 AM
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#4
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Gringott's Security Goblin Posts: 3,963 Joined: 11:23am July 15, 2005 Location: Ollivanders |
I think Mr. Weasley said because they were classified as a muggle object. Although I'm not sure why they use brooms, then.
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Sep 17 2005, 07:42 AM
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#5
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Professional Diagon Alley Window Shopper Posts: 59 Joined: 11:53am September 11, 2005 Location: Hanging onehanded from my firebolt in an invisibility cloak while fighting off inferi.... |
Maybe it's becuase the Ministry of Magic (UK) got into a tiff with the coutry that imports the carpets?
-------------------- "He has, to use a common phrase, done a bunk," replied Professor McGonagall.
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Sep 17 2005, 10:00 AM
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#6
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Professional Diagon Alley Window Shopper Posts: 77 Joined: 10:24am September 1, 2005 Location: Argentina |
i think that the brooms they use are nothing like the actual muggle brooms... they must be different (and we see it in the movies).. but, for the descriptions JKR made about brooms, i never imagined them like muggle ones.. i always pictured them in my head with differences, so if a muggle sees them they would surely think it is a broom, but a broom like they had never seen before...
-------------------- "When dark times arouse, just remember to turn on the light" - Dumbledore, POA movie (or something like that, =P) ---> actualy it was "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light" , but anyway:
LUMUS MAXIMA!!! "I solemny swear I am up to no good... or Malfoy is anyway" - Harry, HBP |
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Sep 17 2005, 10:49 AM
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#7
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Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes' best customer Posts: 1,006 Joined: 9:53pm August 23, 2005 Location: Behind the veil, chatting with Sirius and Mrs Lovegood about the latest dress robe fashions |
QUOTE(Theuz @ Sep. 17 2005,11:00 ) i think that the brooms they use are nothing like the actual muggle brooms... they must be different (and we see it in the movies).. but, for the descriptions JKR made about brooms, i never imagined them like muggle ones.. i always pictured them in my head with differences, so if a muggle sees them they would surely think it is a broom, but a broom like they had never seen before... Yes! Brooms nowadays look very different from the ones wizards use! And I think wizards treasure their brooms too much for muggles to get a hold of one! On the other hand, wizard carpets would look pretty much the same as muggle ones! -------------------- Proud member of W.A.S, Beauxbatons student in the Triwizard tournament and Gryffinclaw!
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Sep 17 2005, 09:47 PM
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Monster Book Stacker Posts: 393 Joined: 5:23pm September 3, 2005 Location: Attempting to convince the Monster Books to attack Snape but not me. |
A carpet flying at a certain altitude will be more visible than a broom flying at the same altitude. Thus, it's more conspicuous.
-------------------- |Proud member of the Harry is not a Horcrux movement|
Read Banned Books! I'm a Ravenpuff!   I'm a Bibliophile!  "Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot." -Notice, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn |
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Sep 18 2005, 04:35 AM
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#9
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Hiding in the Iron Maiden at Borgin and Burkes Posts: 320 Joined: 6:47am August 14, 2005 Location: Essex |
You can still get old style brooms, some people prefer them
-------------------- Heaven is for the Hedonist
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Sep 18 2005, 02:26 PM
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#10
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Junior Dishwasher at The Leaky Cauldron Posts: 601 Joined: 9:59am June 7, 2005 Location: Looking for a new client |
QUOTE The British Ministry of Magic is protecting the British flying broom industry. Absolutely. The broom industries provide wizarding jobs and boost the wizard economy. Foreign carpets would detract from the brooms, weakening the economy. Could this be an insight into her thoughts on globalization and outsourcing jobs?
-------------------- RIP Bellatrix.
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