RP: Dinner in Exeter

[shh_cedric]

Date: January 6, 2005
Characters: Katie Bell, Cedric Diggory
Location: Exeter
Status: Private
Summary: Cedric owes Katie dinner, at least.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[shh_cedric]

"I'm sneaky that way," he confirmed, still amused. "Although yes, I really do want people to feel as if the museum is theirs. Nonetheless, museums can become the sort of thing a culture thinks it 'ought' to have but doesn't find any too interesting. I'd like to change that, if I could. I've been taking notes on popular museums, including the one I work for. They tend to have community interaction. So while it's quite a ways in the future, I have plans for involvement with the school, the possibility of meeting rooms, even a wing aimed specifically at children -- very hands-on. But we're talking years down the road for some of that. Right now, I'd just like to get some of the artifacts and artwork in there." He chuckled.

"And yes, if nothing else, the current situation prevents people from simply falling back on 'if ain't broke, don't fix it.' It's very, very 'broke.' I'll be interested to see what comes, although I doubt it'll come quickly."

He poured his Tikka over the rice and took a bite, pondering. "What did you think of the first town meeting?"

[shh_katie]

"I slipped in to watch, along with half the town it seemed, but I was hardly astounded by what happened - which didn't seem to be much." Katie paused in her assessment of the meeting to cut a piece of her chicken. She forked the piece, raising it to her mouth. She could feel the flavours exploding in her mouth. Resisting the urge to grab for her water, she had to comment, "This is really good."

"But no," she continued, swallowing her first bite before she went on, "outside of a bit of talk about currency and vouchers, nothing was really discussed. And certainly nothing came from it. Not that I know what should have, but I was expecting a bunch of jockeying for position, or debate. But maybe everyone else was literally there to just watch like me."

"How about you? I was half expecting to see you get up and speak," Katie commented, cutting another piece of food.

[shh_cedric]

He smiled when she declared that she liked the food. "I'm glad.

"And I suppose I expected either a lot of people mouthing off because it was a public platform to do so, or exactly what happened -- everybody waiting to see what his neighbor said first ... so nobody much said anything except those who felt as if it were expected of them.

"But if I'd really thought about it, I'd have predicted the latter. Too many people and -- unlike me -- most aren't inclined to stand up and address a crowd of a hundred or more. Also, the questions were so broad, I'm honestly not sure most of the listeners had any idea where to begin. Notice that they were far more willing to talk during announcements -- biting off smaller chunks."

He ate a few bites, then went on, "I did think about speaking, but I didn't go really planning to. I wanted to see who else spoke first. I was trying to organize a few things in my head, scribble notes on a napkin, when the meeting moved on to finances. As I don't know much about economics, I kept my mouth shut. I reckon it'll all come back up again next time -- and this time, people may talk. Including me. We'll see.

"What I wonder is whether something called a 'focus group' might not work better? It collects a smaller number of people who get together to discuss certain topics under the direction of a faciliator. Governments -- especially local -- use focus groups to measure the mood of a community with regard to new ideas. You try to arrange the makeup of the group or groups to reflect the demographics of the larger community. So you don't have one group made up entirely of people under 40, say, or married couples, unless that's your target demographic. We'd want focus groups made up of young and old, wizards born and Muggle-born, rich and poor, etcetera.

"If handled right, people feel freer to talk and give opinion in smaller groups, and the facilitator is there to avoid open conflict or one person dominating. Still, it requires training in group mediation, facilitation or difficult dialogues to lead, and a lot more effort to arrange. Given the state of things, it's probably a bit much to expect." He shrugged.

"Maybe later, once there's a bit more structure in place. Right now, I suspect the best thing might be to break down the questions into smaller matters, and separate the pragmatic from the theoretical. We need an interim government of some kind; we can't expect a handful of people to do all the work. But we need to be sure 'interim' means interim; it doesn't slide over into 'permanent' by inertia. The same people could always be appointed -- or elected -- later if they served well.

"Once the pragmatic needs of the moment are met, then we can get down to theoretical brass tacks, so to speak -- what kind of government do we want? Constitutional or Conventional? How should the branches of government be divided? Do we want a parliament like the Muggles? Those sorts of questions.

"But it's a bit like social work. You can't try to convince somebody that he should learn to read while he's sitting there starving. You feed him first, then you teach him to read so he can go and get a job to earn money to feed himself."

[shh_katie]

Although Katie could have probably finished her entire meal in the time Cedric spoke, she took only a few bites, trying to concentrate on what he was saying, but he was certainly covering a lot of ground in one long speech.

This was why she had expected him to get up and talk. Although he may have been limited by the time restrictions anyway.

"Although I know it's not the purposes of the town meetings, I'll be there with popcorn," Katie replied, grinning at the thought of the wonderful food she had just discovered, "waiting to see who can come to blows first. If people actually talk this time, that's sure to happen."

Taking a sip of water, she contemplated what he had said about the focus groups. "I understand your points," she began, "about broad topics being harder to address, and a variety of people being inclined to speak in focus groups than just those comfortable with public speaking, but I don't know if that's the way to go."

"Other things aside," she continued, "choosing someone of the same age, sex, marital status, birth heritage, and the like isn't going to give them the same opinions on things. I realize doing it that way may give a good overview, but I like a format like the meetings where any individual who has a strong dissenting opinion can share it. People seemed hesitant about doing it so far - but at least everyone has the chance."

"As for expecting a handful of people to do all the work, we can, but it's not practical," Katie added with a grin, "but I suppose it's really time to get it all official and organized, although I hesitate to say that. I really enjoy things being a little less formal and rigid. Anyone crazy enough to get involved in all that is going to have a lot of decisions and changes to make. But, like I think you were saying in that analogy, the major things are going to have to be dealt with before other issues can be addressed."

"I for one want the bloody economy figured out," Katie grumbled slightly, scopping up some rice with her fork. Not just because she was hoping for a program to get galleons phased into being reinstated as currency - although considering the large quantity of useless ones she had right now, she would be all for it, "considering it's something we all have to deal with every day. I can't imagine going the muggle money route, or simply bartering, forever is going to work."

[shh_cedric]

He nodded thoughtfully at her comments. "I tend to agree with you on the galleon, although really, like I said, I tend to stay away from discussions of economics because I understand them so poorly. I do know a few things -- that we need to get money flowing into the community from outside. It's hard to rebuild an economy relying only on internal resources. That's part of why I decided to get job outside Stoatshead in Exeter. I exist in the Muggle world, I can hold a job here, so I take my paycheque from the museum and spend it in Stoatshead. I've been doing my best not to buy things in Exeter unless I have to.

"But beyond that, I really have no expertise. And maybe I'm old fashioned, but yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing the galleon make a comeback eventually. I have no idea when, though, or how. That's the kind of planning I stink at." He grinned.

"And you made a good point about representative demographics not always being representative of individual opinion. I dare say I'm a bit odd for my age group, for instance." This was why he liked talking to Katie, had since that first evening in the Five Alarm, even if she might underestimate herself. She was clever and perceptive and didn't just nod if she disagreed or had a different opinion.

"Focus groups are usually used to canvass general opinion early in a process of major political change, or to get some idea of needs and concerns. You have more than one, but they function best when you're dealing with a sizable community where it's just not feasible to get everybody together in a single building. Plus there's the issue of reluctance to talk in larger groups -- which really worries me here. They're often used as a prelude to a referendum, or an exploratory study for directions in future development.

"The problem is that it seems there is no perfect method of soliciting public opinion. As you note, just because somebody fits the same demographic as you doesn't mean they'll share your opinion. Focus groups are usually meant to be representative of a community or sub-community, not comprehensive. They allow you to really delve into opinion and the 'why' behind the opinion. Two people may hold the same opinion but have very different reasons for holding it. And -- more to the point -- two people may seem to hold very different opinions, but when you start prodding, it turns out they really have very similar concerns, it's just a difference in phrasing. Focus groups also overcome the difficulty of large-gathering fear. But there are lots of problems with them as well, from organizing them to, as you pointed out, deciding just how representative they are.

"There always seems to be a difference between the 'ideal' and the pragmatic, you know? I threw out the idea of focus groups, but really, I'm not sure who could organize such a thing. Not because it's especially hard, but because it's time consuming, and you do need to be sure you have faciliators who can handle conflict and various kinds of dialogue manipulation. What do you do with the aggressive bloke? Or the person who uses 'questions' as a front for statements? What do you do with the person who can't seem to stay on topic and rambles? Or the person who makes a comment that seems miles away from pertinent? Or the passive-aggessive mumbling in the back but who won't actually say anything?"

He shrugged. "So yeah, I fully recognize the problems. I wish I had a useful solution. Although I'm probably one of those crazy enough to get involved." His grin was sheepish. "As long as I don't have to hold public office. At least not in the normal sense. I never had much interest in legislation itself, more in how to facilitate conversation between constituents and elected officials, and checks and balances in government.

"As for the next meeting, I'll join you in the back with the popcorn, although I might go talk a bit. We'll see."

[shh_katie]

"Any discussion I have isn't based on any expertise," Kate admitted, "it's just from observation. Although as admirable and prudent as it is to try and spend money here in town, sometimes one has to face facts that there isn't enough here to sustain everyone. I would buy everything there if I could - heck, it's more convenient at the very least - but not many people have opened up shops and the like yet. And as much as I would buy clothes and the like here when it becomes neccessary, mine and Gilderoy Lockhart's tastes don't exactly, uh, coincide. There are too many things you can find in Exeter that you can't find in Stoatshead yet, even if they are muggle."

Like movie theaters for example.

"As for my wish for the galleon to come back, it's got nothing to do with being old-fashioned for me," Katie decided on full-blown honesty. "It's got everything to do with the fact I'm rather rich in terms of that currency, but they are essentially worthless here right now. But it's not even that bringing them back is the solution - I just think it would help to have something settled, so it's all standard."

"Basically, all it comes down to is there is no proper way to canvass public opinion there?" Katie commented. "Big town meeting - not enough people contibute. Focus groups - you miss some individual concerns, and it's still influenced by the differences in personality. Shame we couldn't send out surveys for everyone to fill out on every major topic - but that's so incredibly far from practical."

She paused for a moment as she chewed her chicken thoughtfully. Dinner out with Cedric was always a unique experience. She didn't think she talked this much any other time, and certainly not on these topics. Discussion like ths was not something she got often - and she was a little surprised to find out how much she enjoyed it.

Katie laughed slightly at his goal to facilitate conversation, thinking that his description of his interests sounded more like textbook babble than anything, but didn't comment. Maybe in a literal way it made slightly more practical sense.

"Just try not to tick McGonnagall off," she added in response to the fact he might talk, "I think she can take you, wheelchair or no."

[shh_cedric]

He laughed about McGonagall. "I'm sure she can take me, wheelchair or no. She was my favorite teacher back at school, even if she wasn't my Head of House. I went to visit her not long after I got here, talked to her a little about some of my ideas -- just to make sure somebody older than me didn't think I was completely off my rocker, you know? She didn't seem to think so."

Her comment about galleons had made him smile. "You'd be rich, eh? I'm not sure I'd be rich either way, but I agree we need something consistent. Still, it's only been a few months since the war's end. I try to tell myself now and then."

He stirred what remained of his dinner and grinned at the notion of a survey -- or Lockhart's taste in clothing. "I actually thought about going by his shop to get some new robes. I don't really wear them much -- sort of got out of the habit. But I really don't mind them ... sometimes. I wouldn't want to work in them. I much prefer Muggle clothes for that, but ... like a suit, I suppose. If we have another town meeting, maybe I'll wear some. Might be a good idea, if I start throwing out 'newfangled' ideas." He grinned. "I told you I was manipulative. Look old fashioned and respectable while you offer something completely new."

[shh_katie]

"She was one of mine as well," Katie admitted, "but I had the benefit of her being my head of house - and I'd never met someone older with a mutual love of Quidditch like her."

"I suppose change and permanence isn't going to happen right away," she agreed, taking a moment to sip at her water. While the dinner she had chosen had spice, it certainly wasn't to a feverish level. "It always feels like it's been longer since the end of the war. I think it's just because we've all settled into a routine being here, and it was a fresh start."

"Some of my clothes have muggle influence," Katie admitted; although jeans were fairly consistent between the cultures nowadays, "but not all. I still wear my cloak most of the time, and I'm rarely dressed up enough to wear robes, not that I have many left." Although, it had been far too long since she had bought something, well, relatively pretty. Nearly all the clothes she had left were more....practical. "But," she continued, "any desire I have for reform doesn't really stretch into the clothing arena. Unless whatever government we form bans jeans - then I may have a few words to say at a town meeting."

[shh_cedric]

"Merlin, they'd better not ban jeans. That would eliminate half my wardrobe. And yes, it's funny how we've managed to form routines even after a couple of months. Human beings are creatures of habit, I reckon. We're more like cats, in that. Although I guess we're like dogs in being pack animals." He shrugged. Cats-and-dogs analysis of human culture was an odd philosophical direction.

"This is a bit off-topic, but you should come visit the museum in Exeter sometime, where I work. Have you been into Exeter much?"

[shh_katie]

Katie wasn't sure how much she liked humans being compared to cats and dogs, but she supposed it was appropriate. At least he hadn't compared them to rats - infesting empty buildings.

"I wouldn't mind seeing the museum," she replied with a smile, "although you may have to make sure you have the time to show me around - I don't think the normal tour guides would realize exactly how much extra questions I would have about things."

She hesitated, thinking about her last trip into town. "Not counting tonight? I've been there quite a bit actually, at least recently. There's this little out of the way bookstore I've been going to often, much to the manager's amusement, and I run a few errands as well - like visiting the grocery store there occasionally."

"I actually had an interesting experience a few days ago," Katie continued, not letting the excitement bubble up like it wanted to. She was still in awe of the movie theater she had visited, "It's a long story, but I ended up at the Exeter Picturehouse. It was a novel experience for me - I'd never been in a movie theater before." She knew she was blatantly understating things, but it wasn't like she was going to babble on the wonders of muggle technology and the amazing taste of popcorn - Cedric was likely all too familiar with that.

"I imagine you've been in them before," Katie added, embarassed. "Well, no doubt you have. Are they always so....I don't know, overwhelming? I got completely caught up in the picture I was seeing It all seemed so, I don't know, real up there on the screen like that."

[shh_cedric]

Katie's enthusiasm for the cinema was charming. "Yeah, I've been in them -- and yeah, I know what you mean. I hadn't been to one until a few years ago, relatively, and it was a science fiction film complete with spaceships and other special effects. I was ... pretty overwhelmed. Loved it, though.

"What did you go and see?"

[shh_katie]

"I saw two actually," Katie admitted, still ashamed she had spent the obscene price twice. But once she had seen the first, she couldn't resist. "The Notebook, and the Bourne Supremacy - if you've ever heard of them. It just seemed so real, seeing the people up there on the screen, like you were a part of it. And the stories - they were so fascinating. Muggle certainly lead exciting lives."

She wasn't going to go in to how she spent some time with the projectionist afterwards, a grizzled old man who was seemed willing to buy her story about living in the wilderness for many years, and never seeing a movie before. At least she had known that filming things was possible, otherwise she would have been completely flabbergasted.

"What's your favourite one?" Katie couldn't resist asking. She was sure there had to be at least hundreds out there from over the years.

[shh_cedric]

"I saw the Bourne Supremacy, yeah. The other ... well, it's sort of a chick flick." He smiled. "That's what a movie is called that's usually a love story that the marketeers assume will appeal to a largely female audience. Or a 'date movie,' they're sometimes called. To be honest, I actually don't mind some of them -- chick flick or not. Although I'd have my boy's club card revoked if I admitted as much to some men I know." He chuckled. "But I haven't seen The Notebook, no.

"As for Muggles living exciting lives, I reckon most of them have lives more like ours and less like the movies." He smiled.

"My favorite ... Heavens, I don't know. Spider-Man, I think."

He leaned over the table as an idea just occurred to him. "Katie, do you know what a DVD is? A DVD player? You might have one in your flat. It plays these shiny round disks called CDs ... and they're recordings of films. It's not nearly as exciting and overwhelming as the cinema mind, but you can watch a lot more of them at once."

[shh_katie]

Well, she had no idea about Spider-man, not that she expected too. Maybe it would be playing in Exeter sometimes.

She could see why the Notebook would be called one of those "chick flicks". Katie was sure if she took George to see it with her he would roll his eyes throughout the entire thing, although he did seem to be a bit of a sentimentalist (if that was even a word) at heart.

"Is that the same thing as a VCR?" she asked curiously, "although I don't remember any shiney discs being involved. I watched movies on a television with friends of mine before - although to be honest, I can't even remember what we saw - I was too busy being fascinated by the technology. It took some explaining for me to get the concept of filming people, not them being in the tv, although I'm still not sure that I'm certain of how it works."