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Luke_A_Somers comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, March 2015, chapter 114 + chapter 115 - Less Wrong Discussion

3 Post author: Gondolinian 03 March 2015 06:02PM

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Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 04 March 2015 09:07:12PM *  29 points [-]

I would add a reason for Harry to have the wand.

Like, instead of, "You will not raise your wand", "You will only raise your wand when and how I permit it. Do not demonstrate a spell unless ordered."

That would imply that Voldemort was open to the possibility that Harry might demonstrate something, which would require arming him.

Comment author: dxu 06 March 2015 06:09:56AM 4 points [-]

This was actually my original assumption as to why Voldemort let Harry keep his wand, and I was surprised it didn't come into play. Adding a line to the effect of "demonstrate some spell" would solve pretty much every problem raised by the readers, and as such, this is by far my favorite solution proposed so far. Upvoted enthusiastically.

Comment author: Duncan 04 March 2015 09:18:47PM *  4 points [-]

Your phrasing makes it also look like a plausible mistake for someone in a new situation with little time to consider things.

Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 05 March 2015 02:23:10AM 3 points [-]

I'm not sure what you mean here.

Comment author: Duncan 05 March 2015 02:16:22PM 0 points [-]

Edited phrasing to make it more clear....

Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 05 March 2015 02:42:09PM 2 points [-]

I was aiming for it to be a mistake that someone could make even in a relatively familiar situation with ample time to consider.

Comment author: Raemon 07 March 2015 10:23:22PM *  2 points [-]

This is by far my favorite change that seems probably-acceptable-to-eliezer.

I'd have preferred if the winning stroke included (at least in the "talking to buy time" section) something that addressed learning to lose, or keeping secrets, or their different mental-frameworks that enable different powers. But I assume Eliezer's less willing to retcon that sort of thing.