Hmm. I don't remember exactly what she said, but I seem to remember that it followed the "trying to get the truth out there" method, rather than what we see in politics a lot, where anything can seem like the truth if you choose the right words. Actually, I would think the part where she didn't tell anyone the whole truth about signing up for the DA (that the paper was charmed to show who they were if they betrayed them) more of a Slytherin way of using words, but that's not really the point. Yes, they use words to inspire, to get people involved. That's not always the same thing as using words to get your way.
Yes, I definitely think that Gryffindors can be friends with Slytherins. The problem is that they're too similar in many ways, and too different in others, which can lead to prejudices on both sides, because both can hold grudges like no one's business. When they have opposite ideas -- a Slytherin being prejudiced about blood, and a Gryffindor staunchly defending Muggleborns, for example -- they conflict explosively. It seems much easier for them to explode rather than to meet in the middle, and as a Harry/Draco shipper, I can honestly say that getting them to work well together can take quite a bit of work. But that's an extreme case of being too alike and yet too opposite to have a peaceful relationship, even if it's not romantic. XD
In cases where a Slytherin doesn't have the extreme opposite ideas of a Gryffindor, however, they can get along fine. Slughorn, for example, makes a point of getting along with anyone from any house as long as it suits his purposes. And a classic example is that of Narcissa helping Harry in the woods: they both wanted Voldemort gone, because he was a threat to them and the people they cared about, albeit in slightly different ways.
I personally admire a Gryffindor's ability to stand staunchly by their cause even in the face of adversity. That's just not the way I go about getting something done. I tend to find that I agree with Gryffindors on a lot of things, but I have different reasoning than they do; for example, I think a few American politicians are complete idiots, liable to get caught in their lies. A very political, self-identified (and sorted) Gryffindor friend of mine doesn't want to believe that anyone could vote for that sort of politician, whereas I must grudgingly admit that even though they have failed to impress me, they must be doing something right, even if they seem like complete fools to me, because people are voting for them. I don't want a president that always does the morally "right" thing, no matter what, but would prefer someone who knew how to minimize their losses, which might involve the sort of compromising beliefs (it might seem like not being brave enough to stand up for what they believe in, in some cases) that I would expect a Gryffindor to dislike.
Their similarities are, essentially, a willingness to go very far for something they believe in. But, as I tried to show in my last answer, what they're willing to do is different. And that's important, because they can balance each other out: I think a real Slytherin would recognize that sometimes, the passionate Gryffindor approach is the one that will work best (again, prizing subtlety means knowing what to do and who to be in what situation, which doesn't mean they're always underhanded), and I'm sure a Gryffindor would be willing to take a Slytherin's route if they could see how it furthered the cause, too.
I do apologize if it sounded, above, like I think Gryffindors and Slytherins are oil and water and can never get along. You asked me to identify what makes bold Slytherins different, and I attempted to show the differences. ... I guess I got caught up in that and didn't show the similarities well, either. I also didn't keep to the word count, oops. >.>
I've had a nap now, and hopefully I've managed to answer the question to your satisfaction? I'm a bit of an insomniac lately and it's making me incoherent.
Gryffindors will use words to get their way when their way and their cause intersect, IMO, and the cause can be outside the realm of altruism (though I'm not sure a Gryff would admit that it is). Anyway, I should hope there are Gryffindor wordsmiths out there. For example, HiH's Gryffindor House has *four* lawyers (though Gryff lawyers/law students are rarities indeed)!
I digress.
You have answered the questions in a way that I feel more comfortable sorting you, but I don't think you were necessarily improperly sorted the first time. This is just one of those times I think you could benefit from either house, which is why I'm pushing you to make me pick one. XD
That's essentially what I was attempting to say. And that the difference is that Slytherins would count words as a tool in almost any situation, even if it has nothing to do with their cause. Anytime they need a tool, really. XD
I should say that I think it's a good thing for a Gryffindor to know how to use words to suit them, I think it's a good thing for anyone to know how to do that. It's an interesting difference between Claws and Slyths, too, since a Claw would use words to show the facts more often than actually serve any purpose other than knowledge and communication. :)
That's essentially why I appealed. I think I could fit into any house in some way (although I haven't ever been sorted into Gryffindor) but I think I'd get more use out of Slytherin, personally. It's up to you as judges in the end, though, I've just tried to make my case.
Yes, I definitely think that Gryffindors can be friends with Slytherins. The problem is that they're too similar in many ways, and too different in others, which can lead to prejudices on both sides, because both can hold grudges like no one's business. When they have opposite ideas -- a Slytherin being prejudiced about blood, and a Gryffindor staunchly defending Muggleborns, for example -- they conflict explosively. It seems much easier for them to explode rather than to meet in the middle, and as a Harry/Draco shipper, I can honestly say that getting them to work well together can take quite a bit of work. But that's an extreme case of being too alike and yet too opposite to have a peaceful relationship, even if it's not romantic. XD
In cases where a Slytherin doesn't have the extreme opposite ideas of a Gryffindor, however, they can get along fine. Slughorn, for example, makes a point of getting along with anyone from any house as long as it suits his purposes. And a classic example is that of Narcissa helping Harry in the woods: they both wanted Voldemort gone, because he was a threat to them and the people they cared about, albeit in slightly different ways.
I personally admire a Gryffindor's ability to stand staunchly by their cause even in the face of adversity. That's just not the way I go about getting something done. I tend to find that I agree with Gryffindors on a lot of things, but I have different reasoning than they do; for example, I think a few American politicians are complete idiots, liable to get caught in their lies. A very political, self-identified (and sorted) Gryffindor friend of mine doesn't want to believe that anyone could vote for that sort of politician, whereas I must grudgingly admit that even though they have failed to impress me, they must be doing something right, even if they seem like complete fools to me, because people are voting for them. I don't want a president that always does the morally "right" thing, no matter what, but would prefer someone who knew how to minimize their losses, which might involve the sort of compromising beliefs (it might seem like not being brave enough to stand up for what they believe in, in some cases) that I would expect a Gryffindor to dislike.
Their similarities are, essentially, a willingness to go very far for something they believe in. But, as I tried to show in my last answer, what they're willing to do is different. And that's important, because they can balance each other out: I think a real Slytherin would recognize that sometimes, the passionate Gryffindor approach is the one that will work best (again, prizing subtlety means knowing what to do and who to be in what situation, which doesn't mean they're always underhanded), and I'm sure a Gryffindor would be willing to take a Slytherin's route if they could see how it furthered the cause, too.
I do apologize if it sounded, above, like I think Gryffindors and Slytherins are oil and water and can never get along. You asked me to identify what makes bold Slytherins different, and I attempted to show the differences. ... I guess I got caught up in that and didn't show the similarities well, either. I also didn't keep to the word count, oops. >.>
I've had a nap now, and hopefully I've managed to answer the question to your satisfaction? I'm a bit of an insomniac lately and it's making me incoherent.
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I digress.
You have answered the questions in a way that I feel more comfortable sorting you, but I don't think you were necessarily improperly sorted the first time. This is just one of those times I think you could benefit from either house, which is why I'm pushing you to make me pick one. XD
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I should say that I think it's a good thing for a Gryffindor to know how to use words to suit them, I think it's a good thing for anyone to know how to do that. It's an interesting difference between Claws and Slyths, too, since a Claw would use words to show the facts more often than actually serve any purpose other than knowledge and communication. :)
That's essentially why I appealed. I think I could fit into any house in some way (although I haven't ever been sorted into Gryffindor) but I think I'd get more use out of Slytherin, personally. It's up to you as judges in the end, though, I've just tried to make my case.
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