Dehumanizing Language--Sirius' Prank

[serenadust]

No: HPFGUIDX 34366

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "ssk7882" <theennead at a...> wrote:
> Eileen, who is a Canadian, wrote:
> 
  

> 
> Well.  On the one hand, it *did* happen twenty years ago, so I 
> suppose that one could argue that it's really long past time for
> Snape to just let it go.
> 
> On the other hand, I don't feel much sympathy when the grown-up
> incarnation of the popular, good-looking *and* academically 
brilliant
> teenager's take on the affair is still: "Well, he was this oily,
> greasy, slimy kid, see, and we didn't like him, and he was always
> trying to get us in trouble, and besides, his hair was always 
dirty, 
> and so it served him right."  That doesn't win any affection points 
> from me.  
> 
> Then, I'm not at all rational on this subject.  This one is 
> *intensely* personal for me, because...well...
> 
 (Elkins relates a truly horrifying and heartbreaking experience as a 
child at summer camp)
> 
> 
> Yes.  Well.  Like I said, my feelings about the prank, and my
> identification with Snape in that conflict, are not so much
> canonical as deeply and intensely *personal.*  And while I do
> recognize that Snape's grudge-holding is a problem, well...
> 
> I was twelve then.  I am thirty-five now.  Am I still angry about 
> it?  
> 
> Oooooh, you bet.  Oh, yes.  Yes, I am.  Haven't let that one go.  
Not 
> by a long shot.  Doubt I ever will.
> 
> Angry enough that I might relish the thought of the ringleader of 
that
> little group being given the Dementor's Kiss?
> 
> <long, long, *long* silence>
> 
> <very slow exhale>
> 
> No.  No.  
> 
> At least, I hope not.
> 
> But still.  I can't say I have any sympathy for Sirius at all when
> it comes to the prank, or place much blame on Snape for feeling the
> way he does about it.  Some schoolboy grudges have more bite than
> others.
> 
> 
Wow, Elkins.  This is the first time I've ever been able to really 
understand anyone defending Snape's attitude toward Sirius.  If I 
were you I'd probably want to personally hunt down each of those 
little beasts, and even the score.  I don't think anyone could ever 
let that one go.
However, would you want to take your revenge on any offspring of any 
of these people if they happened to fall within your current sphere 
of influence?  Obviously, they would be a painful reminder of their 
parent's bad behavior, but would they be deserving of constant 
belittling, humiliation and general meanness just because they were 
available, while their parents are out of reach?
It's this behavior on Snapes part that I find absolutely 
unforgivable. I understand why he is still bitter from the schoolboy 
experience, but nothing justifies his treatment of HRH and especially 
Neville (whose parents never had anything to do with Snape as far as 
we know).  No matter what noble deeds he performs in future books, I 
can never overlook his years of pointless sadism.

Jo, now worried about sending her daughter to camp this summer