# Harry Potter and the Straight Dope Message Boards OR . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 9, 2000, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052 "2000-07-09T20:57:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/21 "2003-03-13T20:50:30Z")
I don’t really know anything about Harry Potter, but I don’t think any school would ever be part of the equation. If somebody ever told me I was a wizard and gave me a magic wand, I’d put the over/under at about 45 minutes before I managed blow my own ass up(and possibly half of the city) trying really stupid things. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/22 "2003-03-14T02:11:51Z")
Ravenclaw all the way. I’m the bookish sort. Plus, I like the name. PLUS, Ravenclaw has the cutest girls. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/23 "2003-03-14T03:31:00Z")
Well, based on the “bookish” thing, you’d think Hermione would be in Ravenclaw, but the Sorting Hat put her in Gryffindor, so you never know. StG ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/24 "2003-03-14T03:37:21Z")
**a35362** - Remember, Harry is a Parseltongue, which was the same trait as the founder of Slytherin. That’s probably what the Hat was thinking about. StG ---
**Author:** ![hyperjes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df705f/32.png) [@hyperjes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyperjes)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/25 "2003-03-14T03:56:51Z")
Hmmmm… I’d really have to leave it up to The Sorting Hat. It might have put me in Slytherin, honestly. I was a rotten little kid- sneaky and conniving. But then again, it IS The Sorting Hat, so it might have seen the potential ahead. I could have ended up in Gryffindor. I bow to the Sorting Hat’s wisdom.😃 ---
**Author:** ![hyperjes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df705f/32.png) [@hyperjes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyperjes)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/26 "2003-03-14T04:02:09Z")
Sorry for the double post, but I just had to share! According to the site provided by **a35362** , The Sorting Hat says Gryffindor! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/27 "2003-03-14T04:18:37Z")
Definitely Ravenclaw! I’m not outgoing or showy enough to be Gryffindor material, nor malicious and calculating enough to be a likely candidate for Slytherin. But I’ve have my spells down and would have a couple areas of significant specialized expertise where I found a flair, and I’d coast without much huffling or puffling and do most of my exams spontaneously without studying for them. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/28 "2003-03-14T04:34:35Z")
I would have to be in Ravenclaw. From the little that we know about that house, it seems quite similar to the magnet program I went to in high school. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by a35362 \* > \*\*Yeah, you’d think they’d take note of the fact that they’re educating the kids who will grow up to be evil wizards and witches. Unless the point is to have the general magic community, especially future generations as represented by Harry et al., aware of who these evil punks are so they can keep an eye on them. I mean they already KNOW how dangerous Draco Malfoy’s dad is, fer crine out loud! > \*\* I’ve always assumed that the reason why Slytherin is still open is that many of the wealthiest alumni were in that house, and they might withhold donations if it was closed down. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/29 "2003-03-14T05:09:30Z")
Total Ravenclaw all the way. The site confirmed this, too. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/30 "2003-03-14T05:46:47Z")
The website put me in Ravenclaw, which is what I was going to have said. I’d almost be in Hufflepuff except for the “hard-working” part. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by betenoir_ > **Ok I realize this is not particularly appropriate for this thread but I work in a bookstore and I sold about 800 copies of Harry this weekend. I’m a bit out of sorts.** I don’t understand. Why is that bad? Do you have to personally autograph them or something? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Mook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Mr.Mook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Mook)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/31 "2003-03-14T05:53:53Z")
You just KNOW that Slytherin has the best weed. ---
**Author:** ![PRNYouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PRNYouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PRNYouth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/32 "2003-03-14T06:05:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by StGermain \* > **a35362 - Remember, Harry is a Parseltongue** [extremely minor nitpick] Isn’t Harry a Parsel **mouth**? Parsel **tongue** is the language, I believe, isn’t it? [/extremely minor nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![Boondock\_Saint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Boondock\_Saint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boondock_Saint)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/33 "2003-03-14T06:19:07Z")
Gryffindor, cause the Sorting Hat said so. The hubby said I was probably a Ravenclaw like him- So HA D.E.S.K.Top668- ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/34 "2003-03-14T06:24:55Z")
While I have traits that would fit in any of the four houses, I pretty much expected I would wind up being a Hufflepuff. Hard work and loyalty always seem to win out over other things for me. However, according to the site **a35362** posted, the Sorting Hat would place me in Gryffindor. Who am I to differ? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cataclysm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Cataclysm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cataclysm)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/35 "2003-03-14T06:25:11Z")
Slytherin was for the ambitious and those who ‘could be great’ (I actually went through my Harry Potter books to see what the Sorting Hat said about each house). The only problem with most of the Slytherins was how they went about with their ambitions - generally in nasty, sly ways. Personally, I think I’d be in Slytherin. I think I’m one of those nasty sly people. My sister even bought me a Slytherin jumper back from her overseas trip. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/36 "2003-03-14T06:30:24Z")
I’m more of a Ravenclaw. More academic than anything else really. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/37 "2003-03-14T07:33:34Z")
I’d aspire to Ravenclaw, and the sorting hat appears to agree. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/38 "2003-03-14T08:00:05Z")
The sorting hat would put me on the kitchen staff. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/39 "2003-03-14T10:40:02Z")
THey actually had a little test you could take when the first movie came out to see what you’d be. A group of friends and I took it (there were about seven of us). The more gothic boy of the group got Slytherin, which was very fitting. Five of us (including myself) all got classified as Gryffindor, and the last member was a Hufflepuf. We all made fun of him. He retook the test two more times in order to get classified as a Gryffindor, but we still just called him Hufflepuf for a week or so. Pretty lame for college students, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052/40 "2003-03-14T11:52:19Z")
I’m a Gryffindor, despite strong Ravenclaw-ish tendencies. In this case, it feels a bit too much like following the crowd for my taste, but on the other hand, I do have a certain history of doing stupid things because they were the right things to do at the time, or so it seemed.:o Oh well. _Someone’s_ got to be a troublemaker! By the way, I think **Cataclysm** makes a good point about Slytherin being more about ambition than evil. Picture not only future CEOs, but people who have the will, drive, and focus and to found successful businesses or win championships. CJ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-straight-dope-message-boards-or/25052.md?page=3)