Question for Snape Bashers

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 101904

Darrin (my sweetie pie) wrote:
> > -- Finds it's better to expect people to behave themselves.
> 
> Del replies :
> I agree. But they should be given incentives to do so when they don't
> find it in themselves to behave. Nobody's giving Snape any incentive
> to behave, why should he care ?>

It is true that Snape has no incentive to behave more appropriately so he 
feels free to be nasty a good deal of the time, but that doesn't make it okay.  I 
don't believe for one moment that Snape isn't aware that he often treats 
students (Gryffindors) in particular with a complete lack of respect.  He must 
have known he was terrifying Neville when he used Trevor in an experiment.  
Using someone's pet in an experiment where the pet may die?  Anyone 
would know that was malicious.  

It is also true that Hogwarts students generally do not complain about their 
professors (well, the Slytherins do), but again, that does not mean their 
professors are all saints.  Children often find it difficult to find their voices to 
speak up against authority figures.  It is amazing that children come forward 
at all, in many cases, which is why so many abusers and so many bad 
teachers have long lasting sadistic careers and retire with pensions (or a long 
list of victims).

Maybe Snape's actions do not affect his students as much as we make out.  
That doesn't mean that Snape is a nice guy who really cares about his job.  If 
I worked with someone like him, I'd avoid him if he spoke to me the way he 
spoke to Hermione in GoF.  If he was my teacher, I'd probably fail his classes 
and if he taught in my school, most of the students would cut.  Isn't he lucky 
to teach in an environment where his authority knows so few boundaries?

--jenny from ravenclaw, eagerly awaiting the start of her summer vacation