Holes in Harry Potter storyline

[Thangorodrim]

2) Oh come on, it operates on the principle of the Somebody Else's Problem Field!

 

[Cuivienen]

And were supposed to believe that a wizard can say "avada kedavra" in the <0.1s or so flight time of a bullet?

The holder of the gun needs to pull the trigger, too. They would also need to load the gun (probably not right before shooting, but you get the idea), whereas a wand user would not. The logic is fairly simple: guns were never picked up by wizards because they weren't really any more efficient than wands. Not less efficient, either, in sheer terms of causing death, but guns can't do much else and wands can.

 

[Dida]

The holder of the gun needs to pull the trigger, too. They would also need to load the gun (probably not right before shooting, but you get the idea), whereas a wand user would not. The logic is fairly simple: guns were never picked up by wizards because they weren't really any more efficient than wands. Not less efficient, either, in sheer terms of causing death, but guns can't do much else and wands can.

Gun is less powerful, but what about a machine gun? AK47 vs. a wand?

 

[Cuivienen]

Well, once handguns and muskets were ignored, why should wizards continue to pay attention to guns at all?

 

[Dida]

Well afterall, it sounds like technology is still more powerful than magic. How about a thermonuclear weapon vs. a wand?

 

[Cuivienen]

Technology is more powerful in terms of causing massive death and destruction, yes. But, to a world that looks down with disdain on the non-magiccal community, wouldn't that merely be a sign of how uncivilized the non-magical peoples are? Certainly those who do not condone violence would think so, and those who do condone violence are the most ardently pro-magic (or, at least, anti-Muggle) advocates who wouldn't want to dirty themselves by studying a non-magical weapon even if it could win them a war. It's deep-seated prejudice; no one said it was logical.

 

[Syterion]

Gun is less powerful, but what about a machine gun? AK47 vs. a wand?

Shield Spell plus Imperius = Forced Suicide.

And the best part is when your hand is on the gun pointing at your own head, people don't jump to the conclusion that a wizard made you do it.

 

[Dida]

Technology is more powerful in terms of causing massive death and destruction, yes. But, to a world that looks down with disdain on the non-magiccal community, wouldn't that merely be a sign of how uncivilized the non-magical peoples are? Certainly those who do not condone violence would think so, and those who do condone violence are the most ardently pro-magic (or, at least, anti-Muggle) advocates who wouldn't want to dirty themselves by studying a non-magical weapon even if it could win them a war. It's deep-seated prejudice; no one said it was logical.

Well not exactly. Voldemore's little gang sound like a joke in an age when one bomb can devastate half the planet. The dark side in HP is badly done. How on earth is Voldemore and Co. scary? They just run around and kill people. What's the big deal. They are like heavily armed serial killers. It is not like he has the power to vaporize the universe. Why would wizards be so afraid as to not wanting to speak or hear his name?

 

[Sims2789]

Headless Nick's 500th Deathday cake said that he died in 1492, making the third year of the story take place in 1992, but Dudley has a Playstation, which had not been invented yet.

 

[Shylock]

Gun is less powerful, but what about a machine gun? AK47 vs. a wand?

An AK47 is a selectable fire assault rifle, not a machine gun.

 

[Cuivienen]

Headless Nick's 500th Deathday cake said that he died in 1492, making the third year of the story take place in 1992, but Dudley has a Playstation, which had not been invented yet.

Behold, the first true plot hole uncovered in this thread!

 

[nonconformist]

I stil lsya that if Harry Potter really was at any English school, the use of his genitalia would have been rendered useless many moons ago.

(Neve rmidn I'm frikking arguing locigal fallancies in a kid's book)

 

[JtheJackal]

Headless Nick's 500th Deathday cake said that he died in 1492, making the third year of the story take place in 1992, but Dudley has a Playstation, which had not been invented yet.

Apparently some Harry Potter fans actually use this as the storylines dating system for timelines and such.

 

[Dida]

Headless Nick's 500th Deathday cake said that he died in 1492, making the third year of the story take place in 1992, but Dudley has a Playstation, which had not been invented yet.

They also talk about some Japanese guy winning Quinditch in 1994.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

Behold, the first true plot hole uncovered in this thread!

[apologeticist_mode]
No, it isn't! You're presupposing things about the alternate-reality Playstation!

There is little sense in applying the laws of the universe as we know it to a different universe.

[/apologeticist_mode]

To make an extreme case, do you think that basic things like gravity should not be required to apply in other universes?

I never got an answer to this.

My plotholes are of the same nature.

 

[jameson]

I never got an answer to this:

(added)

To make an extreme case, do you think that basic things like gravity should not be required to apply in other universes ?

Sorry, didn't get around to it. In answer, I'll quote myself:

all I ask is that they don't make it too hard to suspend my disbelief.

Obviously, it's not a hard-and-fast rule.