Question for Snape Bashers

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 101907

I, Del, wrote :
> > Well, I'm still waiting for someone, *anyone*, to do something 
> > about Snape's classes.

Darrin replied :
> You expect a group of students to band together and say "Hell no, we
> won't go!"

Del replies :
Actually, they did do it with Umbridge. We are told that entire
classes started using the Skiving Snackboxes to skip her lessons. But
we don't hear anything like that about Potions. And I don't think
that's just because they are all too petrified by fear to think of it :-)

When I said "someone", I was more thinking of people in power : other
teachers, DD, parents...

Darrin wrote :
> All I keep hearing about is the culture of abuse that is somehow 
> acceptable in these schools, even though NO OTHER teacher behaves 
> like Snape. Wouldn't that culture also mean kids aren't going to be 
> as independent? 

Del replies :
I don't get your link between abuse and independence. Could you
elaborate ?
And I'd like to point out that it's not really a culture of abuse
we're talking about. It's a culture of toughness, with Snape adapting
that to his own twisted ways.

I, Del, wrote :
> > I won't believe that DD doesn't know *exactly* what's going on 
> > during Potions.

Darrin replied : 
> Fine, don't believe it. But D-Dore's public responses to Snape 
> indicate that if he knew everything that was going on in Snape's 
> class, he'd have a different reaction. 

Del replies :
Snape has been a teacher for 14 years, and he's been abusing some of
his students for at least 5 years. If DD doesn't know yet, then he's
senile and should be replaced presto !

Moreover, if DD isn't aware of the extent of Snape's abuse of Harry,
how does he explain that Harry hates Snape so much ? He *does* know
that Harry hates Snape with all his guts, so unless he knows why, why
doesn't he ask ?

Not to mention of course, that DD is a Legilimens. Few people can hide
the truth from him. Snape might, but none of the students can.

Darrin wrote :
> Hermione is verbally abused and is left to fend for herself after an
> injury. Ron is also verbally abused.

Del replies :
The kids are often left to care for themselves when they are injured.
Once in a while a teacher or a Prefect will accompany them, but often
they are trusted to find the way to the Hospital Wing on their own.

And would you also call McGonagall's taunt to Harry and Ron when they
were playing with Fake Wands, abuse ? I mean, she said they were
acting like little kids in front of the whole class.

And what about the bullying of the Slytherins chanting "Weasley is our
king" at each match ? A whole House bullying a single student. And yet
no teacher tells them to shut up.

Life at Hogwarts is tough, and the kids have accepted that. We might
not like it, but it won't change anything.

Darrin wrote :
> Even if I bought, which I don't, the premise that people above Snape
> should be doing more to stop this, that still doesn't mean Snape is 
> right.

Del replies :
If people above Snape are not the ones who should react, then who
should ??
And I have a feeling that Snape might not agree with you about what is
right or not. And I say he's entitled to his opinion. If someone
doesn't like it, they should go and talk with him. Since nobody does,
I guess his idea of right is not that uncommon, or at least it doesn't
bother people that much.

Darrin wrote :
> You are talking about Snape as my sister talks about her 
> three-year-old niece. 
> "No one says it's wrong, so keep doing it!"
> 
> This is a man who is nearly 40!

Del replies :
Yes, but if he grew up hearing those same words, as Draco did, then
it's logical to me that he should still think that way now. Especially
 if nobody ever gave him a reason to change his opinion.

Del, who shudders to think what Darrin will think of her new thread -
hope it won't give him a heart attack, or worse, make him leave the
group...