| Manticore
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: *Nom nom nom*
Posts: 43,197
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Mercer Branxton
Ravenclaw Seventh Year
  x7  x8
|  Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
SPOILER!!: Hi, frens Quote:
Originally Posted by nicole black  Maxie's fears weren't fully assuaged by any means, but the class was going to carry on whether he was calm about it or not. The hufflepuff did not reply to the Professor, choosing instead to chew on his chapped bottom lip and listen to his classmates. There wasn't much to focus on, the majority of the comments were common sense or conjecture, nothing to wrap his thoughts around.
The young boy fidgeted, his eyes time and time again finding the runes covering the portholes. "Beings. W-w-we're beings. Humans a-are." He distractedly said, tucking his hands forcefully into his robe pockets.
He clutched his wand tightly, comforted by it's presence and familiar weight. Maxie exhaled deeply. He was fine. this was fine. Humans. Yes, that was an apt assessment. Cornish tried not to look amused by the absolute trembling of that answer, since the lad seemed to think he could possibly have gotten it wrong. "We're beings. Correct. Not much to say for the category, though, is it?" Quote:
Originally Posted by Bazinga She was hanging on every word the professor was saying now that he brought up merpeople. She thought they were so interesting and loved reading about them. It was one of the languages she wanted to try to learn someday, so this was going to be super cool if they were going to get to see them or learn more about them.
Listening to everyone and writing things down in her notebook Chloe was taking it all in but soon her hand was up. "Merpeople wanted to be classified as beast and they have a classification of XXXX." Though when someone else said being she started to second guess what she read was outdated or she didn't read correctly. No, she had read a few books and Chloe was certain she had it right. "Right, they're classified as beasts, but do you know why? An XXXX classification suggests they're terrible and dangerous, but the only people I know killed by a merrow really really deserved it." That sounded sort of flippant about death, but honestly? Don't poke a bear and don't tick off a mermaid. Quote:
Originally Posted by Fireheart Avalon wanted to sink so far down into her cushion that she became invisible. Cornish thought her answer was disrespectful to the merpeople! Obviously, that wasn't her intention, but upon reflection, she realized that her phrasing could have come across as rude. She debated whether to laugh it off or offer a response. After a quick moment of deliberation, she opted for the latter. "I apologize, sir. I didn't mean to sound disrespectful." And it was true that merrows were a lot less attractive than the other species of merpeople. She didn't think it was just because they looked less human that she found them ugly. Some fairies didn't look like humans at all, but she found them to be quite striking nonetheless. "You're right - I was just trying to say that they're less human-looking that some other species." And that would be a great segue into her response to his next question.
"But they're still amazing creatures. I personally think they should be classified as beings. They have the ability to understand speech and the magical world in general." She paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts. "Do you think that some merpeople are smarter than or at least just as smart as we are as humans?" If his answer was yes, merpeople should definitely be categorized as beings. She thought it was rather odd that they refused to join the category. "I know what you meant, kid. I'm not upset, but I want you to broaden your mind." She shouldn't believe that he was mad just because she held the same opinion as pretty much everyone else... or that they had different opinions. She seemed more concerned with not upsetting him than she did with really understanding what he was trying to say, but she'd get it. Hopefully.
"I think most merpeople are smarter than most humans I know, honestly. What makes you think they aren't? Do you remember what your classmates said? They have language, culture, music, art. What else do you need?" Quote:
Originally Posted by MunchyBubbles Was the look intimidating.. yes.. yes it was and Kamryn bit her lip and looked away for a moment. Taking a moment to compose herself as she looked over at Bast, Just in time to see him mouth that he was sorry.
She just gave him a shrug and turned back to the Professor. It was getting rather annoying that all her friend did lately was check out everyone.. and forget about her.
Anywaysss..
She listened to the question and she titled her head a bit as she raised her hand. “Acromantulas.. ” Look Professor, she got their name right this time. “Are classified as a beast with a XXXXX rating.. though it’s possible that they could have been a being since they can speak. ” However they also liked to dine on humans. So there went that idea. "Acromantulas are classified as beasts, although you bring up a good point. What do you suppose keeps them from qualifying as a being? They have language, albeit they speak our language." He hoped they would see that it wasn't as easy as all that. It wasn't simply a matter of sentience. Quote:
Originally Posted by Nordic Witch After the praise she got Ellie was beaming from ear to ear up at Professor Cornish and listening closely to every word uttered about merrows and merpeople in general. Seeing her professor tap the portholes in the wall again she wondered if he did that to attract the attention of the merpeople in the lake or some other creature. It was hard to know if it was going to be merpeople or the giant squid or something else that answered professors porthole tapping. Time would tell. Merpeople we’re though pretty fascinating to read about since they we’re like humans in many respects.
The next question though was not on merpeople at all but creatures of different classifications. Thinking of banshees a chill went up Ellie’s spine as she raised her hand to answer. "Banshees are classified as spirits. They are dark creatures that look like old ragged aunties and their cries are fatal to anyone that hears them." She wondered what made a creature a being or a spirit was it certain boxes of classifications that needed to be ticked off for the creature to fit or not fin in a classification?
"Good. We often forget about the spirits. A banshee is a good example. What do you suppose are the characteristics of a spirit?" They could make a list, but it was likely that no one would come up with the same list. Quote:
Originally Posted by oh its Erik ok She was still amazed and its been oh whatever month it is that Cornish Pixie was not saying dude after each sentence or something like that. Maybe it was in his contract. That made the most sense to one Eloise Fairfield. She took his whatever attitude to heart and had planted herself on the couch and was just listening.
The classifications of such things should have been left to the mermish anyway and not the dumb humans at the ministry but she was only 15 and hardly had a say in that.
She was just going to judge all the answers she hears and than Cornish Pixie of course. Quote:
Originally Posted by gritandgrace Was the Professor sounding...happy? This is...strange. Too strange. Strange that made her a little uncomfortable. She'd never really heard him be jolly before. Eni shrugged it off trying to get back to the normal Cornish. That she was comfortable with.
Getting back to the questions the Professor asked, "Giants, sir. They're classified as beings, but that doesn't mean they're treated equally by the Wizarding community." It was horrible to think of how some beings and beasts are treated. "So giants get to be beings, but acromantulas and merpeople are beasts. Doesn't seem very fair, does it?" Not to mention the second part. The interesting point that she'd just brought up. "And an excellent point. Even the creatures that we've deigned to classify as beings aren't treated as if we believe them to be equals." Quote:
Originally Posted by TakemetotheBurrow Merpeople chose their classification based on what other creatures were listed in the beings class, or so she'd read. As far as she was concerned, if a creature was of sound mind to decide something like that, they should be able to. Who was she to comment on their choices? Speaking of reasons for their choices...
"Hags are classified as beings, sir. " "Exactly so, Mallari. Thank you. Hags are considered to be beings, as they are sentient. But more so than acromantula? Merpeople? Centaurs, who also have opted to be considered beasts?"
"So we have some in each category. Thank you to those who contributed." Looking at you, Rasting and Castillo. "Banshees. Ghosts. Those are considered spirits. Merpeople, acromantulas are considered beasts, along with unicorns and plimpies, and baby kneazles. And salamanders and flobberworms. Most of what we study, really. And beings includes humans, giants, hags." It was such an imperfect system, and if Cornish could shove his way into the Ministry, he'd tell someone about it.
"Frankly, kiddos, I hate this system. I think it's stupid. You can write your parents about it, and I'll tell them that too. Our merpeople friends have made the decision not to be categorized as beings out of protest. No one mentioned that, so I'll bring it up. They hated it too, hated that creatures they knew to be capable of self government, of community and art, were considered beasts out of our own snobbery." And now he'd ranted and raved like a lunatic. Not chill.
"Sorry about that. I feel strongly about it, although I don't expect any of you to feel the same way. Shall we move on, or does anyone have some opinions of their own to express? I welcome debate." Merlin knew they'd probably be wrong, but at least it would be entertaining.
While they debated, Cornish had a little project for them. "But back to the merrows of Black Lake. If we want to visit with them, we need to make it worth their while. They like music, but they also love jewelry." Cornish grabbed a box resting behind one of the cushions and opened it to reveal brightly colored beads and great balls of twine. "I want you to pick out a few beads, make something worthy of their attention... and discuss with your classmates what songs we should try singing to draw the merrow down to our portholes. And for those who worry about it, the beads are made of natural ingredients and won't pollute the lake." Not that any of them cared, tbh. So, lots of questions to answer AND a fun jewelry making project. We'll start up again in 48 hours or so (maybe more, if you're having good discussion), and I want TWO good posts of discussion, creation, and SINGING if you want.
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