(no subject)

[cmdrchloe]

I'm not trying to question authority or anything, but I don't really understand what all the fuss is about the sledding. I mean, maybe I just don't understand something because I'm muggleborn, but quidditch seems just as dangerous? I mean, you're way up high on brooms jostling each other, and there are two iron balls enchanted to attack you and try to knock you off your broom. People get hurt plenty at that, right? And there were broken bones and concussions from hockey the other day, too.

And I get that there was underage drinking, and people were hurt and there was no healer on hand, but if people do this every year anyway, why don't they just turn it into a school sanctioned event? Staff being there would keep people from drinking, and Mufferaw could be there to fix any injuries.

Or is it just that we're only allowed to endanger ourselves for sports? You're allowed to get a concussion as long as it's something you can win at?

Comments

[ninjaleo]

There's rules to Quidditch. It's regulated. And the pitch is free of tree branches and rocks, so there's another plus.

[cmdrchloe]

But if this was a staff sanctioned event, there would be rules to sledding too.

And quidditch has two people with bats trying to hit iron balls at you on purpose. At least the rocks aren't magicked to intentionally come after you, and no one's going to throw anything other than a snowball at each other.

[bambae]

You're not wrong.

[ninjaleo]

If it was staff sanctioned, sure. But this time wasn't. It could be a good idea to make it official. Some people might like the unofficial way better anyway.
Quidditch is dangerous, but if you intentionally hurt someone, at least you can get fouled and punished for it. And we at least know the people we're hitting the thing at has been trained to dodge it.

[knightly]

Yes, but broken bones aren't the norm in Quidditch? Meanwhile, when it comes to sledding down a giant hill covered in rocks and trees, I can't think of many ways a teacher can watch the entire hill or prevent people from getting seriously hurt. Even if Healer Mufferaw were present, people would still be breaking their arms and legs and collarbones, because that is the norm when people go sledding on that hill.

[windless.insanejournal.com]

That would be a smart thing for the administration to consider.

[cmdrchloe]

I thought so, but I guess I'm foolish.

[knightly]

The "fuss" is exactly that: it's not a school-sanctioned event, and staff has continued to choose not to sanction sledding down that hill, and people have continued to do it despite the serious injuries, and while drinking alcohol.

Quidditch is dangerous, and it has rules which are enforced by Mr. Thorn. Hockey can get dangerous too, and it's student-organized, and Quinn created a system so that physical contact is opt-in. People jump into the lake in December, which is unbelievably dangerous, and no one got seriously hurt because standbys were assigned and Mufferaw called out anyone who was staying in too long. In all these cases, we have staff present and we have safety measures in place.

This might be a different discussion if people had asked permission from the teachers and laid out a plan to keep things safe, but they didn't.

[cmdrchloe]

But people continue to have grotto parties too, and that's not staff sanctioned, but that one's okay? Because it's an old enough tradition?

That's all I was really getting at, though, is thinking that maybe it could be a real, staff-sanctioned event next year, since it's not all that different than other activities, but apparently I'm just foolish for not understanding how this school works.

[firstposition.insanejournal.com]

Because it's dangerous and we are not allowed to do everything we like. Some things are off limits. What happened was undeniably dangerous, prefect supervision was insufficient, and something much worse could have happened. Compare the dozen or so injuries in that one afternoon to the perhaps one or two in a Quidditch game. That hill is impossible to sled down safely. The staff would be foolish to let us do it.

All the people who participated knew it was breaking rules. Complaining that it was unjust after the fact and criticizing the staff is ridiculous. You all should have thought about this first and proposed an alternative that worked within the rules, but instead, you willfully broke them.

[cmdrchloe]

Okay, you don't have to be a jerk about it? I said I didn't understand and I had questions, I wasn't complaining. I specifically said I wasn't trying to question authority. Maybe save the "YOU, YOU, YOU" for the people who did anything?

But sorry to question anything that happens at this [water droplets on the page] weird dumb school where there's a quarantine every day and something weird every ten minutes.

Chloe/Pippa

[orangepip]

Are you okay?

Raf

[browbeats]

This might sound wrong, but I'm actually glad to see I'm not the only one who's made her cry. I was starting to wonder if I really was the meanest prefect.

[doobwaa.insanejournal.com]

I am gonna agree with you here. Perhaps we just don't get it. I mean isn't Quodpot or whatever it is even more dangerous than quidditch? Anyway, I dunno. I just love sledding. Petition to make school sanctioned event?

[cmdrchloe]

Right! I mean, quodpot is like quidditch, but with explosions.

And what's a broken arm, anyway, with magic? Muggles have to sit through it the old fashioned way, but with magic, it's over in a couple of days.

I thought that might be a good idea, but apparently I'm awful for thinking maybe it could be school sanctioned, because a hill is the most dangerous thing ever.

[unregrettable]

My thoughts exactly. Plus, if we want to put ourselves in danger, isn't that our choice?

[cmdrchloe]

It's your choice if you want to dive in freezing water but not if you want to sled, I guess.

[browbeats]

The staff spends enough time trying to make sure we don't kill ourselves and we keep trying. We get hockey, and literally days later, while most of us are still sporting black eyes and bruises, we're topping that. They'd probably appreciate it if we kept those attempts at a minimum so they can focus on educating us instead of healing and disciplining.

[cmdrchloe]

But we did get hockey. So apparently we only get to do dangerous things if we can win at it.

[cyrano.insanejournal.com]

Sugar, they're just mad because we went out and had fun and didn't let them ruin it with their boundaries and rules. Prefects and professors have a way of sucking all the fun out of being a teenager and stupid, so don't let them trouble you none. Authority's just like that: if they can't control it, they don't like it.

[cmdrchloe]

Did you get in trouble?

[alohaha.insanejournal.com]

I think a lot of people are allergic to fun, especially if they're adults.

[cmdrchloe]

It isn't the adults that I guess so.

Chloe

[catseyenebula.insanejournal.com]

I feel the same way but typically if I say anything I get jumped on by the 'good' prefects. Just know that I totally agree. They should just make it a thing, there are ways to make it work.

Chloe/Katya

[cmdrchloe]

Thank you, Katya. I was starting to think maybe I was just nuts for thinking sledding wasn't so bad compared to everything else that happens here. And I know half the people that are being nice are just going to talk about me behind my back anyway and say, "Wow, what a whiny moron, right? Lol."