OoP: Defending Hagrid

[medeacallous]

No: HPFGUIDX 68659

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jenny_ravenclaw" 
<meboriqua at a...> wrote:
> Damn, you, Joywitch!  I was just about to log off and go to bed, 
and I 
> see this!
> 
> Joywitch, Supreme Curmudgeon, writes:
> > There are certain misguided people here who have called Hagrid 
names  
> such as "moron" and "idiot."   Some of these people can be 
excused  
> because they are still grieving over Sirius Black.  (Great filk,  
> Marina, BTW.)  Others of these people are simply wrong, wrong, 
wrong  
> and they know it.>
> 
> They *know* they're wrong, do they?  Oh, I'll show you who's wrong!
> 
> Joywitch again explains: 
> > Several people have expressed the opinion that Hagrid is 
an "idiot" 
> > because he likes large, scary, dangerous monsters.  I want to 
point 
> > out here that every single one of Hagrid's large, scary monsters 
has 
> > not only wound up doing nothing more than scare and threaten but 
not 
> > actually injure anyone, but has actually provided useful 
information 
> > or services to our heroes.>
> 
> and gives examples and then concludes with:
>  
> > So, in each book, Hagrid's monsters serve a purpose, and do far 
less 
> > damage than a number of the evil humans in the story.>
>  
> > --Joywitch, who can feel Jenny breathing fire>
> 
> ROAR!  
> Just kidding.  Here's what I will say:
> First, Hagrid knows his stuff.  I won't deny that and never have.  
He 
> does have a gift when it comes to dealing with creatures who 
really 
> are dangerous, and Grubbley-Plank compliments him quite 
professionally 
> to the evil troll that is Umbridge.  He also did not deserve in 
any 
> way to be treated so despicably by the despicable Umbridge.  I 
also do 
> not wish for him to be one of the characters who dies, as that 
would 
> devastate my dear Harry. 
> 
> However, Hagrid needs to freakin' listen to people when they warn 
him 
> to tone things down.  He was told point-blank about Umbridge and 
her 
> observation warpath and he completely ignored it.  Harry and his 
> friends know what they are talking about.  Hagrid should have 
> respected the Trio enough to heed their warnings.  I was irritated 
to 
> no end when he brushed them off (but then, anyone who brushes off 
> Harry irritates me).  Hasn't he been in enough trouble throughout 
the 
> last four years that he should want to avoid it now?
> 
> I also hated when he asked Harry and Hermione to watch Grawp for 
him.  
> That was unfair - because it meant he was not only willing to 
allow 
> them to get in trouble, but he was willing to put them in danger, 
as 
> his many injuries from Grawp prove.  Bringing Grawp (who was 
> reluctant) back to Hogwarts was his choice and should remain his 
> responsibility only.  Why can't he just be the adult for once?
> 
> Joywitch, he's all yours!
> 
> --jenny from ravenclaw, who won't be able to smear Hagrid again 
until 
> tomorrow afternoon - damn! *****************




I agree with you completely, jenny.  IMO, the problem with Hagrid is 
simply that he accrues to the children in his classes the same skill 
(or luck) with animals that he has had thus far.  He assumes that 
because he can deal with them without dying (which may be a true 
gift, it may be pure chance, or it may be the fact that he's 9 feet 
tall and probably weighs 500 lbs), these creatures are not 
really 'dangerous'.  In OotP, children in his care came closer to 
dying as a result of these assumptions than ever before, and I think 
it demonstrates his unfitness as a teacher.

I hadn't yet answered the question about whether or not Hagrid 
should come back this year in CoMC, but I think not.  With the plot 
thread involving Gawp, IMO Hagrid has demonstrated that he's 
completely out-to-lunch when it comes to the real dangers of magical 
creatures.  I don't disagree that the creatures he nurtured turned 
out to be useful, but they also injured and/or terrified Hogwarts 
students, which is NOT the purpose of CoMC.

MC