001 Important Questions

[speterman]

Am I the only one that questions what people were thinking as they made the first wands? Or Brooms? Or anything else for that matter? Who just woke up one morning and went "Wow, I think creating a wand would be a mighty fine thing to do?"

I mean, I guess that question kind of goes for any sort of invention, huh? I don't think I want to know what the first guy that discovered milk was thinking. This would be a thing I'd think about researching but I really don't want to end up thoroughly squicked out.

Are these seriously things no one thinks about?

Comments

[speterman]

What's that? I wasn't asking about historical matters? Nuh-uh, no way!? There's no way I was actually asking what was going on through these people's heads which doesn't really relate to History of Magic that much? No way.

[preanimator]

You might find some key to their motivations if you did the reading, but you would also probably know that there was no 'first person'. Neither the wand, nor the broom, were the invention of a single person. It isn't as though Mr. Richard Wand just spontaneously decided one day to carve a bit of wood into some interesting shape and try to channel magic through it.

[speterman]

So if there wasn't a person that decided "I'm going to carve up a bit of wood and try to channel some magic through it CHEERS." Then how does it exist now? There had to be a person that had this thought process at some point.

[preanimator]

Trees were revered spiritually by our ancestors. They believed some of them to contain spirits or gods, and therefore pieces from the tree were held to have magical properties. Of course, actual wizards and witches found that certain types of wood DID enhance their magical abilities when held on their person, usually in the form of a small branch, or a larger one used as a staff, in much the same way as certain leaving from magical animals did the same, such as unicorn hair. It was hardly a big step to combine the two, and over time, this method has been refined into the modern wand making we know, though several non-European cultures still prefer staves or others magical foci. The carvings and polishing seem to be primarily aesthetic, and do not actually affect the magical properties of the wand.

[speterman]

That's what I'm saying though, you're getting into the historical detail oriented bit of this, I'm trying to look at the psychological factor. Which I guess if I squint, and close one eye... and were blind in the other, you touched on as well. What were they thinking as they found certain woods did enhance their magical abilities.

For my sake, to get you off your tangent of history of magic, MILK. What was he thinking?

[preanimator]

I imagine they were thinking, 'Oh, wonderful, my spells are more powerful, how can I get more of this?' It's really not very complicated.

And I don't know about milk, I think it's disgusting. Probably someone with some sort of breast fixation.

[speterman]

You don't step out of the box very often do you?

Oh my god, don't even, I like to think it was some sort of scientist that figured oh milk helps babies so maybe it will help us.... Oh my god. Don't say that. That's horrid.

[preanimator]

But it doesn't. Feeding cow's milk to an infant will kill them eventually, of malnourishment. Goat's milk is marginally better, but it's still not a proper substitute. Unless you think some human was comparing himself to a calf.

[speterman]

I was actually using 'babies' as a vague term for young, well in this situation baby cows. I probably should have specified for you, mister anal retentive.

...

Hi, I'm Peter.

[preanimator]

I'm aware of who you are, we're in the same House.

You might want to learn to be more specific, yes, except that I have found actually knowing things and not talking about them in vague, what if terms gets one mocked, case in point, our conversation. So for your own comfort and popularity, certainly continue pointless speculation without considering facts.

[speterman]

It's a good thing I'm not very popular then, isn't it? I don't really care about that stuff. I'm not going to sit here and be one hundred percent precise when talking to someone because I'm not really insecure about my intelligence.

What was it?

A D?
Or maybe an S?

Harry? Was it Harry West?

[preanimator]

I consider this conversation over. Do enjoy your day, Parker, and enjoy your milk.

[speterman]

Oh come on, you know I was joking, it's Herbert.

Sheesh.

[preanimator]

[And sometime later, making it clear Herbert did actually close his journal and go off and do something else, there's a terse reply.]

It wasn't very funny.

[speterman]

OK, tough crowd, gotcha, no more jokes. I can do that.

[preanimator]

I'm still not sure what the point of this conversation is, anyway.

[speterman]

What's wrong with having a meaningless conversation with your friendly scholastic Ravenclaw?

[preanimator]

It's a waste of time. I have better things I could be doing - it isn't as if I'm learning anything from this.

[speterman]

You seriously don't talk to people just to talk to people? I get the whole into learning, I really do, but you really don't socialize just to?

You really should.

Social health is a key factor of physical health and ties in with emotional health.

[preanimator]

I socialize with those who share my interests.

[That's ... pretty much one other person.]