Hagrid among the shades of grey (was OoP -- Not all shades of gray are the same)

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 65971

I wrote:
>If the good characters were truly good all the time, evil would win, 
hands down.  We'll be seeing more questionable actions in books six 
and seven - I'm sure of it.>

and Suzanne responded:
 > Right you are. Rather like that Hagrid jihad some people are on.>


Here I go again:
*Gasp!*  Could you be referring to me?  Nah!  Seriously, though, it is 
true that I don't like Hagrid, but I *never* liked Hagrid.  Darrin 
pointed out that people are coming down pretty hard on characters like 
Hermione or James for things we've seen them do just once and are 
consistently excusing behaviors of characters like Draco and Snape 
even thought they've done some rather nasty things many times.  

I didn't like Hagrid in SS, CoS, PoA, GoF or now in OoP.  I'm not 
saying he's bad, because he isn't.  He means well.  I know he cares 
about the Trio and he does have a way with creatures no one else will 
go near.  Maybe it's the way JKR writes him that bothers me - I just 
don't find him the loveable oaf that everyone else does.  He annoys 
me.  I don't think his obsession with dangerous beasts is endearing.  
I hate the way he talks.  Every time he approaches Harry asking for 
some new favor or to cry on his shoulder, I roll my eyes.  In OoP, I 
found him positively revolting.  I can't see him doing anything that 
will change my mind about him because I've felt this way for five 
books now, just as I'll always have only good things to say about 
Harry.

--jenny from ravenclaw ********************************