Instigator / Pro
21
1581
rating
38
debates
64.47%
won
Topic
#777

Slytherins (the House) Are Misrepresented in the Harry Potter Books/Movies

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
9
6
Better sources
6
6
Better legibility
3
3
Better conduct
3
3

After 3 votes and with 3 points ahead, the winner is...

K_Michael
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
4
Time for argument
Three days
Max argument characters
30,000
Voting period
One week
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
18
1495
rating
47
debates
48.94%
won
Description

The is a large general discrepancy between Slytherin behaviors in HP and the Sorting Hat's and others' descriptions of the House's values.

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

It’s not fully clear what the resolution means, my best understanding is that pro is taking the position that the house values of Slytherin are at odds with the actions and behaviours of the individuals that are assigned to it.

What isn’t clear, is what the winning condition is. Without any clearly defined conditions, would the behaviours be at odds if the individuals would have been better in other houses? Or just if they don’t represent their house.

Pro does clearly outline the properties of slytherin, and lists some behaviours of the Malfoys and voldermort, that are exceptional and seem to go against slytherin.

These seem to be mistakes by the characters where they do not live up to the cunning and smart epithet; rather than them not living up to the house values. Con points this out, and I feel does quite well to paint these deviations as reasonable in context.

However, pro goes onto add that slytherin is more of a dumping ground for bad guys and those who don’t fit into any of the remaining houses - pointing out that there’s rarely that there is anyone so outside the generalities of the house in any of the other houses.

In essence this all boils down to the resolution. While it’s unclear to some degree, I think pro clearly elaborated on what he meant.

This is specifically about book portrayal- it isn’t about whether the individuals could technically be assigned to the house - but that syltherins are almost invariably portrayed as deviating from their house attributes whilst other houses do not.

In this respect con dropped the ball - and didn’t really address this with a substantive argument to show they were not misportrayed.

As a result Arguments to pro.

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

Kiss my goddamn ass.

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

couldn't grasp it.