gwern comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 4 - Less Wrong

3 Post author: gjm 07 October 2010 09:12PM

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Comment author: RichardKennaway 08 October 2010 04:41:36PM *  6 points [-]

Harry is smart enough not to be so scope-insensitive. It would be personally painful for him if Hermione had succumbed to that fate, but disastrous for the world which Harry wants to save if Dumbledore had. Dumbledore's power, plus Voldemort's own, plus what he got from Slytherin's Monster looks like a challenge fit for a superrational scientist-wizard.

Comment author: rabidchicken 08 October 2010 06:30:18PM *  2 points [-]

Although my point was mainly on the emotional level, I don't know... even with Dumbledores political power and magical experience, possessed!Hermione would be a much greater threat to the world than possessed!Dumbledore, given her memory, her sanity, and the speed she learns spells. combined with the motivation of wanting to take over the world, I would expect her to be much stronger than Dumbledore before long. (both in combat and politically) Though she seems like an unlikely choice for a muggle-born hater.

On another note, I do not think that Voldemort left Quirrel for someone else, he still seems to be controlled by another being most of the time, even if there are less visible marks. Quirrel may have applied some kind of permanent illusion, instead of using a turban.

Comment author: gwern 08 October 2010 06:36:38PM 2 points [-]

Or better than a permanent illusion, a magically-induced blindspot like the Interdict of Merlin or the thestrals.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 09 October 2010 10:01:41AM 1 point [-]

Why have a noticeable bald spot instead of hair?

Comment author: gwern 09 October 2010 02:07:04PM 2 points [-]

Maybe a blind spot is an empty spot, and an empty spot on a head = bald spot? Hair would be a presence, not an absence.

Presumably when one reads a book under the Interdict of Merlin, one reads blank pages, not mildly obscene limericks about a man from Nantucket.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 09 October 2010 07:35:16PM 4 points [-]

I think a sensible wizard would cover any blind spot they create with something very ordinary, if this is possible.

Comment author: AdShea 19 October 2010 01:52:44AM 1 point [-]

Possibly it's an illusion or Someone Else's Problem Field (Perception Filter) such that the evil is still there, most people just don't see it because they don't want to.

Comment author: DanArmak 10 October 2010 05:55:03PM *  1 point [-]

Presumably some people knew the real Quirrel person back when Voldermort was still alive. Maybe he just naturally had a bald patch all along.

Also, we don't know that hiding a bald spot is possible (or safe). For instance, making someone pretty using magic is known to be very dangerous.

Comment author: Document 03 November 2010 09:46:42PM 0 points [-]

Presumably some people knew the real Quirrel person back when Voldermort was still alive. Maybe he just naturally had a bald patch all along.

...in which case the bald patch isn't evidence to us that Voldemort is or was there.