no longer completely OT Re: Abuse

[Susan McGee]

No: HPFGUIDX 2663

 As susan said,
> 
> > Harry was seriously abused. <snip>
> > He was the classic scapegoated child in the abused family.
> 
> > His identity as a wizard was taken from him.
> 
> > He was constantly hit, punched, and kicked by Dudley and friends.
> 
> ANd one thing she didn't mention - in book 2 (i don't think it was 
book 1) Petunia throws a frying pan at his head - he ducks, but her 
intent was certainly to hurt him badly.
> 
> I do however disagree, on a purely empirical basis, with her 
statement that
> 
> > JKR vividly recreates the horrible experience of a child who is
> > abused and neglected in the worst ways.
> 
> No, neglected in the worst way would've meant leaving him locked in 
the cubboard instead of with Mrs Figg when they went on week long 
vacations. Abused in the worst way would've meant more physical scars 
on him than just the one from Voldemort. Abused & neglected, yes, but 
not as bad as I've seen it get - and I'm sure susan has seen worse as 
well.
> 
> 

Heidi, of course, you are correct. Harry was never burned, or 
tortured,or drowned...There are worse cases of physical abuse.

I think I was trying to say that the type of emotional abuse
inflicted on Harry is only done by evil people. The Dursleys
may look kind of stupid and harmless in some ways, but in fact
what they did to Harry is disgusting. 
No child should go through that type of treatment.