Hogwarts is Home

I can see where you'd get offended by people denigrating Hufflepuff! There are probably qualities that the 'Puffs have that we haven't seen. In my opinion, only the Gryffindors have had any sort of depth in characterization in canon.

At the same time, my intuition is that Hufflepuffs are more than just genuinely nice and giving. I'd say that they're particularly able to empathize and self-sacrifice, which are virtues that don't seem glamorous but are very needed. However, I'm not sure.

I've been discussing this with my friends, because I'm a huge geek. I'm wondering if the true nature of each house shows when its members are down to the wire. In other words, in the face of an insurmountable-seeming challenge, Gryffindors will fight outright, Slytherins will manipulate the people around them, Ravenclaws will research and/or ask experts what to do, and Hufflepuffs will call in favors from friends and family. Opinions, anyone?

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mybabyangel.livejournal.com

god i love your icon

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Thank you! I didn't make it myself, and I need to do another search through LJ so I can credit it properly! I've been a bad, bad, icon-stealing (with permission) girl.

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chenpion.livejournal.com

Cedric Diggory was supposed to be the exemplar of all Hufflepuffishness (though maybe he had a healthy dose of Gryffindor as well).

Maybe it's more about being fair, and compromise? Being willing to sacrifice yourself for 'the greater good' (though in an unaggressive fashion).

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shallowthoughts.livejournal.com

In my opinion, the Hufflepuffs show all of the house qualities - it is indeed the best house. They're the most well-rounded house.

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jedilora.livejournal.com

For the purposes of here, I've been looking for (pos/neg)

Gryff: Brave/Foolhardy
Slyth: Cunning/Whatever it takes
'Claw: Smarts/Arrogance(in an academic sort of way)
'Puff: Loyalty/Stolid

Whichever they get the most of, I sort there. Plus, a gut feeling based on writing style.

Rachel, Ravenclaw

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chenpion.livejournal.com

Personally, I rarely sort anyone into Gryffindor. It really takes someone special to make me sit up and say "Hey, this person is really brave and heroic!"

For the most part, I've noticed that the older applicants and/or with longer posts tend to be sorted into Ravenclaw.

In terms of Hufflepuff... it seems to be my default for a lot of people, mostly because it tends to be a little more ordinary. I reckon it should be (by far) the most numerous house, because it really doesn't have anything 'outstanding' besides niceness. If it's a run-of-the-mill application, then I'll probably say 'Hufflepuff' not because "Hey, you're not brave, cunning or intelligent" but more "OK. What community will you like hanging out in and also feel comfortable in? Do you want to be with the foolish and headstrong... nasty and backstabbing... snobbish and elite... hm... or maybe the tree-huggers and a little more ordinary"?

There's nothing wrong with being ordinary. You write the application... people interpret it, and bingo. That's where you go.

There ARE key words that I pay attention to, but I also try and notice whether people are trying 'too hard' to get into a house. I like the question "What would you do if your friend got attacked?" because it's more of a situational one, and allows you to see the reasoning behind someone's action (since nobody will flat out say 'I'm going to let him/her get attacked').

Congratulations on getting into Gryffindor, by the way!

Robert - Ravenclaw Prefect
(http://www.livejournal.com/community/ravenclaw_house/)

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Thank you for the congrats. I'm kind of surprised by the sorting, as I thought I'd either be put in Ravenclaw or Slytherin - not social enough to be a Hufflepuff.

I've been reading the posts and responses for weeks, and it seems like the only people who are selected for Slytherin are either snarky, purposefully trying to seem "hard," or both. It seems like the younger crowd gets placed in Hufflepuff, or in Gryffindor without much explanation. Ravenclaws are people who say they like to read; since this is a site based on a series of books (and their associated movies), I'd imagine that's just about everyone.

I'd really appreciate it if more members gave their reasons for their votes!

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chenpion.livejournal.com

Traitorous as it may be to say, but Iwouldn'thavemindedbeingsortedintoGryffindor *cough* Still, I fit Ravenclaw a lot more.

It goes to show, though... presentation is everything. How you carry yourself (how you write your application) is how people see you. Sometimes you can be blinded to your own... uh, character flaws/virtues.

Part of the reason why people don't give comments beyond a simple House vote is that the community doesn't encourage responses to comments (flames, I believe the problem was). Other times, of course, it's a simple lack of time or anything to say.

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tytaniaherself.livejournal.com

I've read a lot of other people's votes, just to get an idea of what kind of person fits into which house. In general Slytherins and Ravenclaws are often very similar and I find the same goes for Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors. I look for:

Slytherin: cunning, ambition and a take no prisoners way of doing things

Gryffindor: strong principles, bravery and a desire to be heroic

Ravenclaw: clever wit, an interest in learning, Slytherin-like pride

Hufflepuff: Honesty, loyalty, compassion and concern for others

In my personal opinion, the real heroes should all be in Hufflepuff!

-Tytania, Slytherin

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The more I think about Hufflepuff, the more I think you're right. It's just that Hufflepuff's strengths seem to be things that people consider lesser virtues than the more macho characteristics of the other houses.

But, a question. Let's say that you've got someone who really cares about his or her family and is prepared to do anything to protect them. The same person loves to read and study and has a hero-type job - say a fire fighter. Which house would you choose?

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aurora-borialis.livejournal.com

Oh, I so agree on the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor similarities and Ravenclaw/ Slytherin similarites. When I got sorted I was Gryffindor, Hufflepuff in a dead heat. By one vote I got into Hufflepuff. Hufflepuff are the type of people you want for best friends. I see on countless applications of what they look for in a friend and it's 98% of the time the qualities you just mentioned above. (compassion, loyalty, etc.).

Austynne, 'puff

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siriuslyorli.livejournal.com

I'd have to say I look at the style of writing and the choosing of words, the applicant uses. I guess I jsut have a gut insticnt too when deciding on placing also

Welcome to Gryffindor btw! *best house by far ;) hehe*

Heather//Gryffindor

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I try to get around using the usual list of traits in my decision making. Mainly, because I notice it tends to lead to very stereotypical placing (like the long posts get Ravenclaw and people not voting for Slytherin unless someone seems eeeeevil).

I use set up based on the Myers/Briggs test that I read on HP for Grownups
Gryff= Extrovert guided by emotion
Slyth= Extrovert guided by intellect
Claw = Introvert guided by intellect
Puff = Introver guided by emotion

I think this gets you slightly more "real-world" placings. Remember, there are Slytherins you'd want to bring home to Mother. Sorry if I harp on that, but it really bugs the shit out of me. There've been so many applications I've read where someone has been like "I don't wanna be a Slytherin because I don't think I'm that cunning (read eeeevil) and they tend to be mean."

Not to be eeeevil, but it really takes all the strength I have not to bop those people upside the head.

Maggie/Slytherin

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I like your sorting scheme. May I steal it? I'd at least like to use it as part of a strategy for sorting.

I agree with you about people talking smack about Slytherin, although there seems to me to be an equal contingent of those who really want Slytherin because of the cunning (and eeeevil). Any house's defining qualities (in that they're defined) can be used for nefarious purposes. It's partly JKR's fault; we haven't had any pleasant Slytherins in canon.

I have a secret pet theory: Dumbledore's a Slytherin. Shhhh, don't tell anyone.

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Indeedio, feel free. Like I say, I didn't invent it.

(lookit me - being peppy and friendly and Slytherin all at once)
m

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sffl.livejournal.com

You know, that's a really interesting way to look at it. I hadn't thought of that before. I agree with you on the Slytherin thing, and it's annoying when people do that with the other houses, too. There's more than one trait to take into consideration when sorting. ^^

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Actually, since you're here natasha, can I just say that I HATE the friends/family v money/success question. I skip it every time I vote. One of the new applicants really hit the nail on the head today:

"Does anyone ever choose money/success?"

And, honestly, if they did...wouldn't we all call them a muggle for trying too hard for Slytherin?

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sffl.livejournal.com

I'm not fond of that question, either, to be honest. You also have really good timing, since

chenpion just brought up the issue of changing/adding/deleting questions in the officials community. Thanks for reminding me! :)

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possibilities.livejournal.com

... I choose money and success. I tried to make it sound good by saying that, assuming by choosing that I hadn't made my family cease existing, that I'd send enough money to my brother so that I'd never have to see/take care of/contact him ever again. But even without that, I'd've choosen money and success. Family does not equal happiness/love - with money, you can buy enough to at least fake it and delude yourself into thinking it's real. I can't understand why that wouldn't be enough for people.

I actually like that question, though. The *way* people choose family/friends often is very often one of my biggest tie-breakers.

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shayuko.livejournal.com

hmm, I've seen people choosing money/success lots of times and they were definitely not always muggled or sorted into Slytherin. It's the explanation that counts, and some people can explain that choice very well.

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vampirehobbit.livejournal.com

I did the truly Slytherin thing to do and didn't settle for either and insist that i get both ^^

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To jump on the asking-Natasha-questions bandwagon - why ask about greatest strength without asking for greatest weakness? That seems like information that would be worth knowing, at least to me.

Oh, and someone recently *did* say they'd prefer money and success. Yep, sorted Slytherin.

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sffl.livejournal.com

I see the "greatest weakness" as the "what would you change about yourself" .. maybe we could reword that question. ^^; It sounds like a good question to me.

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ascendingflame.livejournal.com

Uhm... I am not really a fan of the Meyers/Briggs test but on what do those people base that?

I find it very oversimplified. I also don't like the dual system, because a person can be both intellectual and emotional (I for example am totally both). Also for me it totally depends on the surroundings if I am extroverted or introverted. Most people who don't know me well would see me as an introvert. My closest friends would laugh at me and think I'm joking if I said I was introverted (in fact they do).

Also I don't see how this sorting would fit.

I don't see Neville (Gryffindor) as extroverted - and I strongly believe he is VERY Gryffindor.
I don't see where the intellect comes in with Slytherins: Crabbe, Goyle, Millicent Bullstrode, even Pansy Parkinson or Draco Malfoy don't seem rather intellectual (Draco's father even scolds him in book 2 for not having the good grades he should have).
Cho Chang (Ravenclaw) doesn't seem very introverted to me, quite the opposite really and on the other hand I found Cedric (Hufflepuff) rather extrovered and open, and very practical. He'd use logic rather than intuition...

And I am a strong believer in the astrological/elemental placing and that doesn't tie in with the MBTI at all...

Sorry, didn't want to bash your theory, I just don't see how it would fit at all...

Julia // Slytherin

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mydocuments.livejournal.com

I pay a lot of attention to what the applicant says they want to do, what they think their 5 best qualities are, what they would do in an emergency, and what they say they look for in a friend. On top of that too, it's gut instinct. I wouldn't put someone with atrocious grammmar in Ravenclaw or Slytherin, because in my opinion, they're the more academic types, and I wouldn't put someone with a cooler disposition in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff, because they seem like much friendlier houses.

In general I sort them by these attributes:
Slytherin: Ambitious, academic, calculating, sarcastic/witty, very proud/arrogant.
Ravenclaw: Academic, dilligent, witty, a touch of arrogance (though not as much as a Slytherin might have).
Hufflepuffs: Very loyal, very accepting, tends to have large groups of friends, non-judgemental, and willing to stick with things until the end.
Gryffindors: Passionate, courageous, loyal, friendly, and a bit impulsive. OK, a lot impulsive.

Every house has their good qualities and their bad qualities. And I can't speak for the rest of the house, but I know I'm especially careful about sorting people into Slytherin. We can't let just anyone in, after all. =)

-Juliet, Slytherin

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I know you've already received quite a few answers, but I shall add my $0.02 nonetheless.

Generally, I view each of the houses as having the following qualities (both positive and negative):

Gryffindor: Brave, reckless, sociable, somewhat lazy, adventurous, spontaneous, extroverted, friendly, superficial, arrogant.

Hufflepuff: Friendly, hard-working, loyal, moral, modest, orderly, practical, laid-back, ordinary, sentimental.

Ravenclaw: Clever, eager to learn, studious, witty, stubborn, independant, critical, moody, old-fashioned, cultured.

Slytherin: Passionate, sarcastic, clever, judgemental, ambitious, cunning, witty, cultured, apathetic, deceitful.

-Angela,
Ravenclaw

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sarcastic, judgemental, ambitious, cunning, cultured, apathetic, and deceitful vs. uh, passionate, clever and witty.

hmmmm...

At the risk of proving your point: golly, but doesn't that make us sound like lovely people?

Maggie//Slytherin

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Since when is being cultured or ambitious considered a bad thing? I, personally, am also a big fan of sarcasm.

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foreverquatre.livejournal.com

What?

Hufflepuffs are no more "ordinary" than any other student in any other House. Being rather mundane is not a trait that would place someone in Hufflepuff.

The main traits of Slytherin are ambition and cunning. Being sarcastic, judgmental, cultured, apathetic, and deceitful are not. Those are really stereotypes of Slytherins. Slytherins simply will not waver upon their convictions, which is really an admirable quality. They'd have more sticktoitiveness and determination than any other trait.

I do understand that you're stating both positive and negative traits, but really one just needs to pay attention to what is important in placing a person in a House. Several of the traits you mentioned should have no baring on what House a person is placed in.

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As I stated, this is how I view the houses. Not by any means intended to be a definitive list, just a bit of my sorting criteria.

Ever so sorry for offending you.

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ascendingflame.livejournal.com

I absolutely love how you characterized every single house!

Julia // Slytherin

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