Scapegoating Slytherin - Snobbery or Bigotry

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 144285

> bboyminn:
> 
> That bring up the question whether Slytherins are uniformly 
engaged in
> Bigotry, or whether, as a whole, they are merely engaged in 
Snobbery. <snip>
> 
> Part of my central point is that while MOST of Sltherins might 
engage
> in a passively snobbish attitude, only a few of the cross the line
> into actively working against their preceived lessers. 
> 
> We can't really make a blanket statement about MOST Slytherins
> because, as I have pointed out more than once before, we haven't 
seen
> MOST Slytherins. Really, that active sample we have consists of 
Draco
> and his associated. Far more Slytherins choose not to get in 
Harry's
> face. Far more Slytherins choose to keep their heads down and mind
> their own business. At least, in any significant way, we never see
> them getting into Harry's business. 

a_svirn:
But that's not the point, Steve. Certainly, not all Slytherins are 
pureblood bigots, just like not all Gryffindors are brave or all 
Ravenclaws are blessed with the extraordinary brainpower. The point 
is that those qualities are regarded as ideal in the respective 
houses, not always attainable, but certainly desirable. And ideal 
Gryff should be brave and chivalrous. An ideal Slyth – canning, 
ambitious and pureblood. You may call it snobbery, I still say it's 
bigotry, but really, when you are on the receiving end of it the 
difference is too nice to appreciate.