The wages of gluttony.

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 145500

> >>Magpie:
> I also think that the idea that because the twins are wizards     
> Dudley should know not to trust them is exactly what Arthur is    
> trying to fight against.  He doesn't want his family confirming   
> the stereotype that wizards all play magical pranks on Muggles.  

> >>Gerry: 
> That is not what Arthur is fighting against, i.m.h.o.

Betsy Hp:
But not in Arthur's opinion interestingly enough.  He fights, daily, 
against Muggle-baiting.  He's made rather unpopular laws against 
such acts.  Work that has lead his family to be labeled "blood-
traitors", I believe.  So if anyone is able to recognize a bit of 
Muggle-baiting when he sees it, it's Arthur.  And he's furious at 
the twins.

> >>Gerry:
> There are certain wizards who think it funny to play              
> magical 'tricks' on Muggles because they are Muggles. It is their 
> idea of fun, and is based on the idea that wizards are superior to 
> Muggles. And Arthur is firmly against that idea. That is not what 
> the twins were doing at all. They don't like Dudley because he    
> bullies Harry. And that is why they played the joke on him. That  
> he is also a Muggle does not interest them at all.

Betsy Hp:
And why did the twins think the ton-tongue toffee trick would be so 
amusing?  Part of it must have been the panic they knew the muggles 
would feel.  In fact, they laugh all the harder when Arthur 
describes the panic that set in, IIRC.  I'm sure quite a few wizards 
pick only on muggles who've managed to upset them in some way: a 
rude salesperson, a noisy neighbor, etc.  The entire point is they 
use a method of attack that the muggle has no chance at defending 
against.

Also, Dudley *used* to bully Harry, like, years ago.  Since Harry 
was revealed as a wizard Dudley has pretty much ignored Harry.  So 
the twins are claiming to be getting revenge for Harry (who didn't 
ask for it, mind you) for something that was done to him years ago.

> >>BAW:
> <snip>
> And the fact remains, no matter how you argue it, if Dudley had
> kept his gluttonous mouth shut and his fat, grabby hands to
> himself, he would never have gotten his tongue engorged. The
> next time he's confronted with wizardling candy, he'll probably
> think twice at least before eating it, and anything that will make
> Dudley think can hardly be a bad thing.

Betsy Hp:
And yet, when Dudley *does* refuse to take food from a wizard, he 
gets repeatedly hit in the head with a glass.  Can't seem to win for 
losing.  I guess the lesson is, whatever the wizard decides is best 
is best, and muggles should shut up and do as their betters tell 
them.  Yes, that must be JKR's overall lesson.  (I'll add that it's 
incredibly hard to figure out *what* JKR's overall view is when it 
comes to muggles.  Wizards that attack muggles are bad.  Except when 
they're the good guys?)

Betsy Hp