Theories and burden of proof. Was: Putting words in other posters' mouth - Rape

[Lawrence Carlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 136854


Troels replies:
> 
> May I remind everybody that the absence of evidence
> disconfirming a
> theory is not in any way to be taken as confirming
> evidence in itself.
> 
> In the absence of evidence the burden of proof lies
> on the person who
> propounds the more radical interpretation. In this
> case the person who
> propounds the idea that Harry /can/ turn into a
> 'sexual predator' must
> provide canon evidence confirming this proposition
> -- it is not the job
> of other posters to disprove it: in this case it is
> not the proposition
> that receives the benefit of doubt, but the other
> way around.
> 
> Troels



Larry:

Allow me to put it another way. Any wild and baseless
assertion can be made, such as Harry really being an
adopted extraterrestrial, or Dumbledore being a
kiddieporn afficianado. Of course there is nothing in
canon to suggest this sort of nonsense, but
nevertheless they cannot be disproven.

We deal in canon here, and canon asserts much,
suggests much, and implies much. There is a flow to
the narrative, a flow that has a direction the
attentive reader can and should decern.

Hence, the absurdities that I have mockingly posted
above, along with all other non-textually based
speculations are wholly unworthy of comment or
response.

Larry