[HPforGrownups] Maturity of kids in Potterverse was Re: So, why did Snape turn on

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 39959

>From: "alhewison" <Ali at zymurgy.org>
>I think it is generally accepted that Harry is less mature than
>comparable kids in our world. 

Just as a side note..sexually, yes, you're right.  Emotionally? In the sense of behaving like (fairly healthy) adults?  I think Harry and Co. are far ahead of their RL peers in these respects.

Ryoko Blue:
>Hmmm...I don't think Harry is less mature when it comes to girls. If I 
>recall Harry started crushing on Cho in PoA, he is 13 years old there.  That 
>seems like a good age for boys to start noticing girls. 

A good age?  Sure.  A realistic age?  Not by a *long* shot.  IRL..in my experience, the boys I knew started *noticing* girls in 5th grade *at the latest*...At that age, I remember my entire class being obsessed with it...who's "going out" with who...etc.  I remember a "boyfriend" gave my cousin a gold necklace when they were around 10 or so, I think...I remember, our moms (they're sisters) were *horrified*...but to me, it seemed perfectly natural.  


In preschool I had a friend who used to get under the picnic tables and kiss various boys..the teacher used to keep her inside for recess.

As for me, I was very *aware* of boys from the time I entered kindergarten..I had a raging crush on one boy from the time I was 5 until the time I was 13.  And I am *not* the boy-crazed type at all..  far from it.  Most of my friends would swear that I've never had any strong feelings towards a particular member of the opposite sex in my life -- but that's just because I would never tell anyone.  But if people like *me* got crushes at that early an age -- I imagine the more normal types progress even faster.

Ryoko:
And just because 
>JKR doesn't go into everything about Harry maturing doesn't mean hes not 
>developing at the right speed and time, you have to assume that he is 
>changing.  I being a girl would rather not read about everything that 
>happens to boy when they start to mature, just like boys would not want to 
>read about everything that happens to a girl when they start to mature.  

^_~ Are you so sure of that?  

Ryoko Blue:
>Some things about growing up are better left unsaid and for good reason.

mmm...Maybe I'm a freak, but I believe that *all* the parts of growing up should be okay to talk about.  IMO, the cultural taboo on things like menstruation, wet dreams, and masturbation is not only ridiculous, but damaging.  They aren't dirty, and hushing them up is only going to make a kid that is already frightened and uncertain by the changes in his or her body feel guilty and unclean as well.

*looks down* Hmmm..now where did this soapbox come from anyway?  *steps down, looking slightly embarrassed*

However, I can see where these things aren't really a part of the story JKR is trying to tell...The books aren't really supposed to be about how Harry deals with puberty, now are they?  No, he's definitely got bigger fish to fry, poor kid.

laura


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