OoP spoilers - Why I hate the prefect selection etc.

[Alia]

No: HPFGUIDX 71899

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Przemyslaw Plaskowicki" 
<przepla at i...> wrote:
*snip* 
 
> Well, that is not exactly true. Firstly we were never informed by 
JKR 
> who is exactly better in grades: Ron or Harry. Undoubtly Harry is 
better 
> in DADA and Ron is better in potions (though mainly because of 
Snape's 
> hatred of Harry). 

It's what's implied that I focused on. In the first book she only 
says that "...both [Harry] and Ron passed with good marks..." (pp.222 
Raincoast hardcover printing of PS). Which indicates similar results 
but better than mediocre. But throughout there are many instances 
indicating Harry is the better student - Ron trying to get the 
answers from Hermione, Ron trying to finish his essay at the last 
minute by writing in large loopy script to make up the space while 
Harry merely opens his finished essay to double check it etc. (I 
don't' have time to look up the exact locations of these, but I 
remember them quite clearly) *snip*

JKR has been clear that Harry performs very well in DADA - better 
even than Hermione in many aspects. I don't recall anything 
indicating that Ron does better than anyone in Potions...
 
> Secondly there is "who else?" question: We know, from DD that he 
had 
> chosen not to pick Harry, because he has enough problems -- and 
indeed 
> he had. 
*snip*

Perhaps Harry could have done with something to take his mind out of 
his own problems... I've never been a fan of the reasoning of 'you've 
got too much to deal with with your own problems to take on anything 
extra...' That only results in the person with the problems drowning 
in said problems sometimes - as happened with Harry (and I know this 
from personal experience as well)

> Thirdly, exactly why prefects need leadership qualities? They don't 
> lead, they are policing their fellow students. I belive that Ron 
for 
> sure can do that (with the exception of his brothers).

Being a prefect is supposed to be about more than 'policing' other 
students - or it was in my experiences. They were more than "older 
students with disciplinary authority" they were student leaders. 
Perhaps your experience with prefects was different - and I'm sure 
the reality strays from the ideal quite a lot, clearly, if there is 
nothing else to it, and JKR is actually saying that Ron earned the 
position on his own merits, then clearly her experiences were also 
different from mine.

> 
> Fourthly, you stated: "A follower is a dangerous person to give 
power 
> to." That is a bit far fetched. I don't see Ron being a follower, 
and I 
> don't see why following is bad. It's is rather who (or which 
morality) 
> is being followed.

Anyone who follows without thought to whether or not it is a good 
idea is dangerous. If for no other reason than because it is so easy 
for anyone (good or ill) to lead them. Any charismatic person 
promising something interesting can lead them astray.

I've long thought - since even the first book that Ron would be the 
person who would struggle the most with which side he was on. He has 
so many issues with jealousy, and being unhappy with his 'lot in 
life' that it would be easy to tempt him with shiny promises. I'm not 
saying he'd fully turn against good - I just think he'll struggle.

Cheers,
Alia 
> Regards,
> Pshemekan
> --