Draco's nature, LV's abiliity to love, Dudders and Harry, etc. (long)

[tylerswaxlion]

No: HPFGUIDX 110666

> SSSusan:
> I'm glad you said "infer" because we just don't know the details 
> of this particular orphanage...but the consensus around here does 
> seem to be that the orphanage staff was indifferent at best.  

TL:  All we know for sure is that Tom didn't like it and didn't want 
to go back.

> SSS:  
> Anyway, I felt a jolt when you mentioned your assumed treatment of 
> Tom in the context of "so were all the other orphans."  Does this 
> make anyone else curious about the moral & emotional development 
> of all the others???  Surely we don't assume that if there were 20
> or 80 or whatever orphans in this orphanage that we ended up with
> 20 or 80 or whatever psychopaths or severely damaged individuals, 
> do we?  (Or *do* some of you?) 

TL: Actually, I DO assume some degree of damage for any and all 
other orphans subjected to the same treatment.  What I don't assume 
is that any of the other orphans were there from day one through 
year 18.  I think that is unusual.

Most newborns are adopted.  Children also become orphans at 
different ages, and these other (supposed) orphans undoubtedly 
experienced affection (or dislike) at early stages--modelling of 
attachment behavior.  Other newborns were adopted early enough to 
negate the "indifference treatment."  Yet, others, like Tom, were 
damaged.

For a fact, I know that no one's experience was identical to Tom's, 
because no human's experience is identical to another.  Even in the 
same circumstances, people "experience" or rationalize events 
differently.

What I do want to know is why a cute baby like Tom Riddle wasn't 
adopted?  Here in the US, a healthy causcasian baby has a waiting 
list.  Was it something in his wizarding nature that threw off 
potential adoptive parents?  Was it something in the WW?

> SSS: I don't...and for me that's why I still keep 
> coming back to a degree of choice for Tom.  


Having had the misfortune of knowing a sociopath, I know it's 
possible for them to survive in society.  They don't HAVE to become 
the GREATEST EVIL WIZARD OF ALL TIME. ;^)  Tom made choices that led 
him there, but his lack of ability to love affected why he made 
those choices.  Again, it explains them, it doesn't excuse them.  
Harry's ability to love makes him different, and I think JKR is 
hinting that this ability is what is going to make the difference in 
their final confrontation.

TL