Dumbledore and respect was Re: Minerva McGonagall-/Dumbledore

[snow15145]

No: HPFGUIDX 115565


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at m...> 
wrote:
> 
> > Snow:
> > No! Not staff
but
Albus does appear to make light of his own 
title 
> > and the respect for it. Albus does demand for other professors, 
> when  he tells an inferior house elf (dobby) that he may call him a 
> barmy  old codger if he likes, what he does not demand for himself. 
> (GOF The  house-elf liberation front) Dumbledore demands respect 
for 
> a  colleague's title though he does not appear to demand the same 
> > respect for himself, why? Talk about self-confidence or is it 
self-
> > doubt?
> snip
>  
> Potioncat:
> But he didn't mean for Dobby to address him as "barmy old codger."  
> Remember, Dobby couldn't say anything bad at all about his family.  
> DD was taking that restriction off.  I'll bet Snape and McGonagall, 
> in the privacy of the staff room have had a few choice words about 
> DD...but I'll bet neither of them ironed their hands.
> 
> Besides, DD seems to enjoy playing the fool all the while fooling 
> others.

Snow replies:

Yes, I think Dumbledore did offer Dobby
the actual quote from Dobby 
sounds as though Dumbledore was definitely offering for him to call 
him a barmy old codger:

GOF pg. 380 Scholastic "Oh no, sir, no," said Dobby, looking suddenly 
serious. "Tis part of the house-elf's enslavement, sir. We keeps 
their secrets and our silence, sir. We upholds the family's honor, 
and we never speaks ill of them- though Professor Dumbledore told 
Dobby he does not `insist' upon this. Professor Dumbledore said we is 
free-to- to-" 

(my emphasis on insist)

"
Dobby whispered, "He said we is free to call him a –a barmy old 
codger if we likes, sir!" 

After which Dobby replies that he could never do such a thing morally:

GOF pg. 380 Dobby gave a frightened sort of giggle. But Dobby is not 
wanting to, Harry Potter," he said, talking normally again, and 
shaking his head so that his ears flapped. "Dobby likes Professor 
Dumbledore very much, sir, and is proud to keep his secrets and our 
silence for him."

This is not demanded of Dobby at this point to keep anyone's secrets

because he is now free. Dobby is free to say whatever he likes but is 
still intimidated by how he was brought up to act. 

It is Dobby who ultimately gives the respect deserved of the position 
as headmaster and professor, which causes him not to take Dumbledore 
up on his offer to call him anything other than his title. 

Dobby gives credit to two people; one is Harry Potter for apparently 
changing things as far as house elves are concerned, the other is for 
Dumbledore's apparent acceptance of Dobby's rebellion of his elf 
status by offering him pay
yet Dobby refused the suggested amount 
bickering over wages as though he had won.  

The relevance still stands, IMHO, as to why Dumbledore offered such 
disrespect for his title(s) when the whole of the wizarding world 
holds Dumbledore in the deepest regard. Why does Dumbledore offer a 
mere house-elf the privilege of disrespect to his known 
accomplishments by suggesting that Dobby be allowed to call him 
anything but professor?

Snow