Sirius: Sensory Deprivation and Slashing the Fat Lady

[Judy]

No: HPFGUIDX 47539

Monika Huebner wrote:
> don't you think Sirius also
> qualifies for PTSD? 

There was a lively debate in the past few days as to whether Sirius
had PTSD. Several people suported the idea that he did. I said that he
didn't, because his symptoms were wrong (no overt signs of anxiety),
he recovered too quickly, and that his symptoms developed while he was
still being traumatized instead of afterwards.  If you follow the
thread up, or search on PTSD, you should be able to find the posts.

Monika also said:
> JKR did the only thing that could possibly help
> him without psychological assistance: she sent him away, *far* away,
> somewhere where neither the Dementors nor the MOM could reach him.
> He had to be given the opportunity to feel safe for a time to
recover
> enough to play his role in GoF. And while four months of safety are
> certainly not enough time to make him fully recover from twelve
> years of ongoing trauma and torture, it was the best she could
offer.

This was another point that was discussed quite a bit in the past few
days.  By the way, I believe the summer break at Hogwarts is only two
months (July and August), not four.  

I can't see the argument that Sirius "really" has PTSD but JKR just
didn't write him to fit the disorder because of plot constraints.  I
could just as easily argue that Snape is in actuality a very kind and
nice guy, and his nastiness to Harry is only because JKR couldn't fit
his sweetness and light into the plot. 

Audra had said, regarding Sirius' slashing the Fat Lady:
> >>>> Slashing the portrait -- This was an aggressive reaction, but I
> >would like to point out that the portrait was only an object, and I
> >consider it to be the equivalent of breaking down a door.<<<

And Monika replied:
> I will agree on
> this. Okay, those portraits seem to have feelings, but I still
> rather consider them as "objects". 

Are you sure you want that as your philosophy?  If things that have
feelings can be considered objects, with which one can do as one
pleases, then what objection can be given when Lucius treats house
elves, and even non-magical humans, as objects to be tortured for fun?
If we withhold all rights, even the right not to be randomly attacked,
from some beings that have feelings, then what are the grounds for
granting that right to *anyone*? 

-- Judy Serenity