LV never loved anyone

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 110384

Alla:
> Hey, Susan! I agree with you. I don't think it was that simple and 
> what Tom Riddle chose, eventually will come back to haunt him, but 
I 
> am trying to figure out that obvious inconsistency how could he not 
> to be born evil and never loved anybody. Hmm. Another mystery. :o)

SSSusan:
I guess I look at it this way.  NO, Tom was absolutely not born 
evil.  He was *just born* and, unfortunately, was one of those very, 
very unlucky people who ends up in an orphanage because there is no 
family member willing or able to take him.  I reiterate, no, he was 
not born evil.

While I assume we're supposed to believe the orphanage experience 
wasn't a pleasant one, I still believe that there may have been a 
worker or two who showed an interest in him.  And even if not, when 
he arrived at Hogwarts, I'm betting that at LEAST DD, and likely 
other people [his HoH, teachers, fellow students], showed an interest 
in him as well.  Granted, having had NO time w/ a loving family, his 
task of learning to love or empathize w/ others is a pretty big one, 
but per Pam's comments earlier, it would be possible.  

Now, Harry had the relative luxury of having had 15 very important 
months of loving and bonding with his parents.  Unlike Tom, we *know* 
a certain amount about what his treatment was like for the next 10 
years, and it wasn't pretty.  Yet when Harry arrived at Hogwarts, he 
was OPEN to reaching out to others, being compassionate, establishing 
loving relationships.  

Can the differences in Harry & Tom ALL be attributed to the 
differences in the first 15 months of their lives?  I'll bet some of 
it can be, but I'm not buying that ALL of it can.  Based on the kinds 
of things JKR has stated about choice so far, I believe that we'll 
find that Tom had opportunity to overcome the bummer of a start he 
had in life and that he ELECTED to not do so.  

Just my hypothesis on this one.
Siriusly Snapey Susan