Competent Hagrid? - again

jenny_ravenclaw meboriqua at aol.com
Sat Jan 26 14:15:23 UTC 2002


No: HPFGUIDX 34105

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "judyserenity" <judyshapiro at e...> wrote:

 Hagrid also is very childlike -- emotional, impulsive, unable to see 
the consequences of his actions. I think this is supposed to be out of 
Hagrid's control -- he's not selfish or inconsiderate; he's just not 
capable of acting any other way.  As others here have said, he's 
somehow "stuck in time", and has not truly matured.  Maybe this is 
because he's part giant; maybe his intelligence is fairly low; I'm not 
sure.  But, I'm certain it's not supposed to be his fault.>

If this is the case, my belief in his incompetence as a teacher is 
confirmed even more.  If Hagrid is not *supposed* to be at fault for 
the things he does, how can he possibly be trusted as a teacher 
responsible for "interestin' creatures" and Hogwarts students?  I see 
no evidence that Hagrid has below normal intelligence, but if he does, 
than he is clearly in no way qualified to be a teacher.  

On another note, I am uncomfortable with the argument that characters 
(or real people) are not in control of themselves and are therefore 
excused from their behavior.  I am not talking here about the fact 
that many of us do and say things based on what we know (such as 
Draco's behavior often being based on what his father has so 
meticulously taught him), but when adults *choose* to turn backsides 
into pig tails or slam other adults into trees, or even adults who 
choose to turn students into ferrets, I say that these adults are in 
complete control of their behavior and know exactly what they are 
doing.  Once again, I cana't let Hagrid off the hook.

--jenny from ravenclaw, wondering if Tabouli has an acronym for those 
of not who are *not* Hagrid fans ************





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