In defense of Ron

[Susan McGee]

No: HPFGUIDX 4911

> Note: I don't hate Hermione.  There's a difference between being 
assertive 
> and willing to share the answers and being obnoxious about it IMO.  
Just 
> because Hermione knows all the answers doesn't mean she *has* to 
display it 
> in front of the class every single time a question is asked.  To me 
it 
> doesn't even seem like she gives anyone else the opportunity to 
answer.
> 
> "The Mandrake forms an essential part of most antidotes.  It is 
also, 
> however, dangerous.  Who can tell me why?"
> 
> Hermione's hand narrowly missed Harry's glasses as it shot up again.
> 
> "The cry of the Mandrake is fatal to anyone who hears it," she said 
> promptly. (CoS)
> 
> Neville is in the same Herbology class and it's his best subject.  
He may 
> have known the answer, but because Hermione insists on answering 
every 
> single question so quickly, we just don't know.  I have no 
objection to 
> raising her hand and telling the answer if no one else knows or if 
she 
> doesn't do it as frequently as she does, but she rarely, if ever, 
gives 
> anyone else the opportunity to answer.  That's why I feel like 
she's 
> showing off.  Oh, and I don't think she realizes how much it 
appears to 
> others that she's showing off and how obnoxious it can be just 
yet.  She's 
> also continually nagging Ron and Harry to study.  While they need 
some 
> prompting her tendency to do things like arranging their study 
schedules 
> for them in SS/PS is just -- irritating.  One of the things that's 
been 
> happening as she progresses through the books is that she has 
> matured.  These instances become far fewer and as a result, I find 
Hermione 
> less irritating in GoF than I did in the earlier books.  However, 
she still 
> has that tendency.  But if the trend continues . . . . I'll be able 
to like 
> Hermione in book 7 far more than I did in SS/PS.
> 
> Okay, I think I'm done now <whew>.  This is by far the longest and 
most 
> time consuming response or post I've ever made . . . Hopefully it 
makes 
> sense <g>
> I was going to go on to other posts . . . but I think this is 
enough for 
> one night.
> 


What so Hermione should censor herself so that the boys, oops, other
classmates don't feel bad and have a chance to answer the questions?

it's the teacher's responsibility not to call on the smartest/best
prepared student and equalize the answers. The student's 
responsibility
is to answer the questions.

Dr MM I'm afraid I must suggest that you have problems with females.
Sounds like your older sister intimidated you.

My older brother (six years older) was a star on the High school 
basketball team, was in high honors in every class, was extremely 
popular with girls, and didn't like losing (even to his little 
sister). 

I took it as a challenge, competed with him when I could (tennis, 
pingpong, chess) and carved my own way. 

Of course, he was actually very kind to me, and helped me along, and 
my parents were very positive about both of us.

Susan