Dark Arts: Friend or Foe?

[Headmistress Hells]

Do you like the Dark Arts or do you completely loathe it? Would use the Dark arts if given a chance, or would you stand up and fight against it?

Please vote above, and give a reason why below.

Thanks for your time.

[Mrs Gerard Way]

I voted for "I hate the dark arts and I would fight against them" because I do feel that the Dark Arts are bad, that's why we take lessons in fighting against them.

[sinistercancer]

Well, I have said it before, and I say it again : If guns are outlawed, only outlawed will have guns.
Dark Arts are powerful, so use them. Use them against Dark People. Skills are not bad, people who wield them are. Being ignorant to Dark Arts is like : closing your eyes towards the reality, and the fact that, in the right hands, Dark Arts are a powerful weapon.

And in My hands... deadly.

[Headmistress Hells]

My reply to that, would be why fight evil with evil? Two wrongs do not make right. The Dark Arts are called the Dark Arts purely because of the destructive nature of the spells. During Voldemort War 1, Crouch Snr allowed his aurors to use the unforgivable curses against the DE's. Why? There was no need - the reason? Because he felt that he needed to show that he was as good as the DE's. Little did he realise that there are other powers that are just as effective, and by using these Dark Arts to fight his cause, he was in some ways just as bad as the DE's. We know there are ways of fighting against the Dark Arts without needing to resort to them ourselves. Has anyone seen Dumbledore crucio someone? Has anyone seen Dumbledore put anyone under the Imperious charm? No. No-one has, and why is that? Because he never uses them, he doesn't need to use them. That is why we have here DADA, not to teach you how to use the Dark Arts, but how to defend yourself against them. Life is about choices. If you choose to use the Dark Arts, then what exactly have you chosen for your life. Because once you have tasted the thirst for power, you will go back for more. The Dark Arts are like an addiction - they begin to take over your life, whereas before you used to take control of your own life.

I know which side I'll be fighting on, and I can promise you this, it will not be the Dark Arts side.

[fierymari]

I would totally fight it because it is the reason I have been so worried lately, The death eaters kidnapped my mother!

[sinistercancer]

Well Hells, I agree with you that two wrongs do not make a right. I just don't agree with your obvious assumption that Dark Arts are wrong in the first place. You actually need to defend yourself against the person who performs the 'Dark Arts' , rather than the Dark Arts themselves. Knowledge can never be Evil. Dark Arts can not control you. You don't put Dark Arts to evil use unless you already had that 'thirst for power' in the first place. Tom became Voldemort not because he delved into Dark Arts. He delved into dark arts BECAUSE he was evil. He didn't know he was a wizard... still he did do a lot of evil, didn't he ?
It was just a trivia that he chose Dark Arts as his weapon. He could have started using the "Light Arts" , if he thought they were fun or powerful enough, ie, if he thought they were any use at hurting people. (I am sure no-one here doubts that Voldemort can perform Expelliarmus just as well as any other Powerful Light Wizard). I wouldn't want to show them (DEs) any mercy. If they think Dark Arts are more powerful at killing people... I will just assume that they got this trivia right, but just to be sure they are right.. I will test them on their own self.
That Dumbledore didn't choose Dark Arts against the DEs doesn't mean he was right. Who knows... had the Phonix been equipped with the knowledge of Powerful Dark Arts, had Dumbledore been keen enough, ruthless enough to show those who don't deserve it, any mercy, who knows Voldemort would have had any support at all. Death Eaters would have been scared of him like crazy. Come to think of it.. none of them would have escaped the Prison, 'cos all of them would have been dead (Why keep them in prison at the first place). Wormtail : would he have ever dared to go back and help Voldemort return ? He would just be living a RAT's life all his life, if he knew the Order was after his life.

[Headmistress Hells]

sinistercancer said:

That Dumbledore didn't choose Dark Arts against the DEs doesn't mean he was right. Who knows... had the Phonix been equipped with the knowledge of Powerful Dark Arts, had Dumbledore been keen enough, ruthless enough to show those who don't deserve it, any mercy, who knows Voldemort would have had any support at all. Death Eaters would have been scared of him like crazy. Come to think of it.. none of them would have escaped the Prison, 'cos all of them would have been dead (Why keep them in prison at the first place). Wormtail : would he have ever dared to go back and help Voldemort return ? He would just be living a RAT's life all his life, if he knew the Order was after his life.

[/color]



The Death Eaters are scared of him already. The reason being, that Dumbledore doesn't have to use Dark Arts to get results. Even Voldemort is scared of him. Why? Voldemort who thinks of himself as the greatest wizard of all times, still fears Dumbledore. I'm sure it's not entirely down to the fact that Dumbledore doesn't use the Dark Arts, but I'm sure its one of the major factors.

The Dark Arts are named such, because of what they do. Anyone choosing to use them in my belief are in the wrong. How is it right in anyone's books, to willingly injure or harm another person? The main line of all this, is about choice. Dumbledore chose not to perform the dark arts, for he did not wish to harm others in the way that DE's do. Voldemort chose the Dark Arts for he believed that they would make him the greatest of all wizards. I agree with what you say, about even if Voldemort had chosen to use 'light' arts instead, he is still evil. But the fact that the Dark Arts are there to be used, is enough to show that there are those that are willing to do anything to get what they want. Even if you had a thirst for power before using the Dark Arts, the Dark Arts are what makes that thirst continue to grow.

I agree with you that Knowledge is not evil - it is again the choices that people make with that knowledge that deems what is right or wrong. Once again what is right and what is wrong? Those that are using the Dark Arts themselves, may feel that they are in the right to use them, whereas I would believe them to be in the wrong.

Now Wormtail. If he had not been found out by Sirius And Lupin, I believe that he would have stayed as a rat. I do not believe he would have gone out of his way to find Voldemort. He was safe with Ron, he could have gone on to live a happy life (as much as a rat could have) until he died. Okay, so he was not free to live as he pleased but he was alive, and that is all that Wormtail worried about at the time.

Overall the main line of argument here, is that it is all down to choice. You have to choose what you think is right and what is wrong. Only the person can make them choices. Yes, they may have chosen to use the Dark Arts for good, but how is it right for a person to decide whether or not another person should suffer, or at worse die, even if they have taken another life? We were not put on this world to be cruel to each other, nor to make the decisions, whether someone should live or die. I strongly believe, that the Dark Arts, no matter whether they are used for good or bad, are wrong. Anything that can kill, or in anyway hurt another being is wrong.

Dark Arts is a tool. A tool to hurt and harm others. To use them would be a sin to mankind. And that is wrong.

[sinistercancer]

Hi Hells,

Sorry for the late reply, I was out for the weekend. So let's see what you have said..

hellsbells said:

The Dark Arts are named such, because of what they do. Anyone choosing to use them in my belief are in the wrong. How is it right in anyone's books, to willingly injure or harm another person?
My Answer : I am glad we finally agree on the point that Dark arts are named because of what they do. The point we don't agree upon is the second one. Of course, it is alright in my books to injure willingly (and pleasingly, longingly, happily, deliriously, myteriously, sinisterly for that matter) those who DESERVE TO BE INJURED. I will take full responsiblity of those attacks, and would expect an applause for the act,

I agree with what you say, about even if Voldemort had chosen to use 'light' arts instead, he is still evil. But the fact that the Dark Arts are there to be used, is enough to show that there are those that are willing to do anything to get what they want. Even if you had a thirst for power before using the Dark Arts, the Dark Arts are what makes that thirst continue to grow. My Answer : Just the fact that dark arts help those who are evil doesn't mean that Dark Arts won't help those who are opposed to it


I agree with you that Knowledge is not evil - it is again the choices that people make with that knowledge that deems what is right or wrong.... My Answer : finally you have started agreeing with me on most counts


Now Wormtail. If he had not been found out by Sirius And Lupin, I believe that he would have stayed as a rat. I do not believe he would have gone out of his way to find Voldemort. He was safe with Ron, he could have gone on to live a happy life (as much as a rat could have) until he died. Okay, so he was not free to live as he pleased but he was alive, and that is all that Wormtail worried about at the time.

Overall the main line of argument here, is that it is all down to choice. You have to choose what you think is right and what is wrong. Only the person can make them choices. Yes, they may have chosen to use the Dark Arts for good, but how is it right for a person to decide whether or not another person should suffer, or at worse die, even if they have taken another life?

Answer : Without generalizing this time, without saying anything about 'someone who has taken another life' , Let me just talk about Death Eaters and Voldemort. Who in his right frame of mind would want NOT to take their life ? Do you really think a CHOICE exists ? What exactly is Harry's aim at the moment ? What's left to decide?


We were not put on this world to be cruel to each other, nor to make the decisions, whether someone should live or die. I strongly believe, that the Dark Arts, no matter whether they are used for good or bad, are wrong. Anything that can kill, or in anyway hurt another being is wrong.

Dark Arts is a tool. A tool to hurt and harm others. To use them would be a sin to mankind. And that is wrong.

My Answer : You should seriously get your priorities right. You are asking us to decide whether the Death Eaters deserve the suffering, and death. You are asking us to decide whether it is right to give them pain and misery, just because they kill other people ? Be careful, my dear. I might have to put you under Imperius if that's what it takes to get you back on track

[Headmistress Hells]

We have no rights in life to take other's lives. Peoples can be punished in other ways. By killing these people, we are giving them a way out - they will not go through the torment of knowing what they did - they will not have the chance of repenting, should they wish to take it, they will not have to see the hatred in peoples eyes when they introduce themselves, or see people in the street. They will not have to go through the day to day humiliation of knowing that everyone hates you for what you did. Death is the easy way out for them - Death lets them leave the broken pieces behind, that everyone will have to pick up.

Everyone has their opinions - nobody is right, and nobody is wrong. We can only disagree, or agree with what is said. It does not make us a worse person, for what we believe in.

But we are digressing, this topic is for whether the Dark Arts are 'friend or foe', not wether we have rights in taking human lives. What we must remember is that Dark Arts will still be the Dark Arts no matter who uses them.

[Lily Evans]

My little input here: the Dark Arts can be useful. People who deserve to be cursed and hexed should be so. But the majority of people who use them are using them for the wrongs reasons, and I fight THEM.

[Marilyn DeLine Snape]

I personally really agree with Lily. Sometimes the dark arts are necessary but they are abused by far too many. And thats where the horrid, violent reputation comes from. Those people do not deserve to practice magic and I'd do just about everything to stop them.

[sinistercancer]

Thanks Lily, Marylyn.
My Point Exactly. No harm in using the Dark Arts against those who deserve to be shown no mercy.

[Headmistress Hells]

Why is there no harm? At the end of the day, Dark Arts are still Dark Arts, whether you use them for good or wrong. The fact that you are willing to use the dark arts against those that use them theirselves, proves to me, that you are no better then they are. There are other ways of defeating these people, without having to resort to their level. Just because they use them, doesn't mean you have to use them too, to defeat them. Dumbledore never used the Dark Arts at the Battle in the Ministry- and he managed to round up the DE's and make Voldemort retreat. Which proves to show, you need not use the Dark Arts against the Dark Arts

[Kira Kingston]

my entire family is into it except me

[Lila Kingston]

Love them their very useful, although I qwould never use them against my own twin sister *smirks*