Neville

[maria_kirilenko]

No: HPFGUIDX 56503

bboy_mn wrote:

> Sorry my writing was a little clumsy there. I was implying that in a
> conversation about his grandmother, who he would treat with some
> respect, he would not be likely to refer to himself by a crude term
> like 'squib'. That may be some convoluted logic, but my main point 
is
> that the word 'squib' is probably an insult, and would be considered
> crude and vulgar. As much as Neville is intimidated by his
> grandmother, the mere fact that the conversation involved her would 
be
> enough to put him on his best behavior.

Me:

Yes, I agree with you, Steve. I like this explanation better 
than "JKR thought of the term 'squib' only when writing CoS," 
although the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. :)

[aside]
BTW, in your previous post, which was about 100 messages back, you 
said that no one could find the "horrible to write" quote. I believe 
you meant the "fan of Harry's" quote?
[/aside]

Katy wrote:
>Now i get you. I still wonder though if the "degrees of vulgarity" 
>are really that wide between Muggle and Squib. I'm trying to think 
>of something to compare it to...lessee...

>Let's pretend that i'm some type of scholar (i know, it's a real 
>stretch for the imagination...lol)...now, if i were horrible in 
>school as a child, i might say that everyone thought i was "dumb" or 
>i might say that people thought i was a "moron." Now dumb and moron 
>mean pretty much the same thing (except, of course, one's an 
>adjective and one's a noun...but you get my point)...is there really 
>that big of a difference in their conotations? That's rather how i 
>see Muggle and Squib. But maybe that's just me ;)


Well, actually, I believe that there is nothing derogatory abou the 
term "Muggle." It's a perfectly acceptable word for referring to non-
magic people. Arthur Weasley works at the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts 
Office (written from memory), which would appear to be an official 
title. Hermione is always called a Muggle-born witch, as well as many 
other characters, and no one seems to find it offensive or 
unacceptable.

A Squib, OTOH, is a *failed* wizard. Of course, it's not the Squib's 
fault, but it's still true. That's the main difference between 
Muggles and Squibs. I think that there are two reasons for why they 
might be resented. One is the failure aspect, and the other is the 
fact that wizards, IMO, want as few non-magic people as possible to 
know of the WW's existance. Each Squib is an extra, unnecessary 
person.

>Actually, in my mind, a Squib would be a step up from a Muggle. For 
>example, they gave Filch (a squib) a job at Hogwarts. How many 
>Muggles do you see working there? None. And we know how "pure-blood 
>activists" feel about Muggles and Mudbloods - they hate them. But 
>we're not told any of their thoughts on Squibs. So it would seem 
>that there is no animosity towards them...perhaps just some pity.

Yes, I feel that pity is present there. Take Ron's "it's not funny, 
really" comment.

But, Muggles don't know about Hogwarts and the WW to begin with, so 
they would even be offered a job there. The majority of those that do 
are parents and siblings of magical children, and consequently they 
are quite comfortable where they are, in the Muggle World.

And as for "they gave Filch (a squib) a job at Hogwarts" - it's 
not "they." It's Dumbledore (I assume, at least, and if he hadn't 
hired him in the first place, he let him stay on). He's also been 
known to hire Voldemort, DEs, werewolves, and idiots. And, er, half-
giants.

Maria