James, a paragon of virtue? Was: Why Do You Like Sirius?

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 123799


Carol wrote:
Severus, in contrast, clearly *knows* DADA in detail and clearly
cares about what he knows. He's not trying to get a high mark for
its own sake or to "get by" like rich boys Sirius and James, who
won't need to earn a living when they finish school. Severus
clearly wants to *master* the subject, possibly to use it in his
career, possibly because the subject itself is important to him.
Just because a student studies doesn't mean he or she isn't
naturally bright. Look at Hermione.

vmonte responds:
My favorite psychology professor once told me that (in his 
experience) the brightest students usually finished their exams 
fastest and had the ability to not just memorize information but 
apply information in ways that the average "A" student could not. 

There is a difference between students who excel because they are 
memorizers and fact spewers, and students who excel because they 
understand the material and have the ability to apply it in new ways. 

I think that James and Sirius were probably exceptionally bright 
students (another reason for Snape to hate them). 

I'm not saying that Snape isn't a hard worker; I just don't think he 
is all that exceptional either.

SSSusan:
I think there's a WHOLE lotta assumin' goin' on here. How do know
all this stuff about Severus Snape -- that he clearly *cares* about
what he knows, that he's not interested in getting a high mark just
for a high mark's sake but because he wants to *master* the subject?
How do we know he's not studying hard and trying to do well because
he wants to impress or please his potential boss, Lord Voldemort?

snip

How 'bout he's struggled to come up with a response, has had
lots of fits & starts or moments of "writer's block," and so he's
rushing to complete the essay at the end? How do we know he's not a
master bullshitter? 

vmonte again:
Excellent point SSSusan. 

Carol:
Snape has memorized many complicated potions, which he transfers to
the chalkboard with a flick of his wand. And we *know* that Snape
is bright. We've seen him put two and two together time and
again. We never see Sirius do anything of the sort. As for James, we
don't see him do much of anything except tease Remus about being a
werewolf, show off with a Snitch, hex Severus, and talk briefly to a
girl who thinks he's a bully.

vmonte:
I have seen him put two and two together and come up with the wrong 
answer time and time again.  

SSSusan:
...[Snape's] an ADULT who's been teaching his subject area for more 
than a dozen years. You're comparing that to what we see of Sirius & 
James as teens. We *have* no examples of James in his adult work 
setting, nor Sirius, really.

vmonte:
Exactly!