Pampering (was Re:Harry at the Dursleys)

[alshainofthenorth]

No: HPFGUIDX 118629


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kjirstem" 
<stonehenge.orders at v...> wrote:
> 
> 
> > Carol:
> > Sigh. You're right. We're missing the tone of voice and it's 
> >possible to read it your way, but given the context that you 
snipped,
> >I read it differently. for one thing, I don't think spoiled (or
> >pampered) is the same thing as loved. Look at Dudley, for example.
> > 
> > Carol, hoping that *someone* will go upthread and respond to the
> >idea that Dumbledore was right about not raising Harry as 
a "pampered
> > little prince"
> 
> kjirstem:
> 
> Sorry I didn't go back to your original post, I hope you aren't 
upset.
> I'm not particularly attached to one argument or another in this
> issue, but thought I'd list some of the advantages and disadvantages
> to being pampered.  I'm sure this list isn't exhaustive, and I had
> difficulty thinking of advantages.
> 
> Pampering:
> 
> Advantages:
> -Feel cared for (loved?)
> -Trust people more (?)
> 
> 
> Disadvantages:
> -Expect others to do things for you.
>  (perhaps therefore not learn how to do things oneself)
> -Expect others to indulge your desires or feelings
> -inflated sense of self-worth (?)
> 
> On the other hand we have life with the Dursleys:
> Advantages:
> -stable and consistent
> -learns how to do things (chores)
> -goes to school
> -not dead yet
> 
> Disadvantages:
> -Treated meanly
> -Not told about WW, magic, parents
> -Questions outlawed
> 

Haven't had time to read HPFGU during the week, so hope people are 
still following this thread...

One of (IMO) foremost advantages with having Harry grow up with the 
arch-Muggle Dursleys hasn't been mentioned in this thread at all -- 
by keeping Harry outside the WW, Dumbledore ensures that he isn't 
infected by the less healthy conventions, values and prejudices of 
the wizarding world until he is old enough to look at them with an 
open, critical mind. Don't have the books available at the moment, 
but consider the Yule Ball scene in GOF, when Harry says, "So what?" 
after being told that Hagrid is half-giant. Even the Weasleys, good 
people that they are, are prejudiced against werewolves. Then there 
is the problem with other magical beings such as house-elves, 
centaurs and goblins, and the Muggle problem. To put it plain, there 
are so many things wrong with the magical society that the knowledge 
of magic doesn't outweigh them. Then there's the prophecy, which 
suggests that Harry won't take out Voldemort through conventional 
magic. If the speculation that Dumbledore isn't merely aiming at 
destroying Voldemort, but everything that is wrong with the magical 
society, turns out to be correct, then I don't think that prior 
knowledge of magical practices and ideas is going to serve Harry at 
all.

*empties the glass of Butterbeer and lays two Knuts on the bar*
Alshain