[HPforGrownups] Defending Ron ? (was: Defending Ron (was Re: SHIP: kiss on cheek before quidditc

[T.M. Sommers]

No: HPFGUIDX 77696

serenadust wrote:
> I really didn't mean to offend you, but I do stand by my statement 
> about Hermione's "people skills" vs intellect.  Yes, she does a good 
> (possibly "too good") job of explaining other people's behavior and 
> feelings, which makes her own poor people-handling all the more 
> amusing.  Do you really think she "empathises" with the house-elves, 
> or the centaurs?  I really hoped to see her develop more empathy for 
> the feelings of others in OOP, but I didn't see any progress in this 
> area.

Hermione's problem with the centaurs was due to naivete, not lack of 
empathy.  She mistakenly assumed that they were noble and intelligent 
beings, capable of rational thought.  It turned out that they were 
hot-headed, closed-minded, and intolerant, and had absolutely no 
interest in hearing anything that contradicted their prejudices.  It's 
hard to empathize with bigots.