[HPforGrownups] Dudley. Was Re: Are we abusing the concept of "abuse?"

[Jocelyn Grunow]

No: HPFGUIDX 124703


On Thursday, February 17, 2005, at 06:59 am, dumbledore11214 wrote:

> Maybe because to me is the intention is what counts the most and no
> matter how hard I try I cannot find anywhere in the books that
> Dursleys intend to harm Dudley. I mean, harm can come even from the
> best intentions, but I cannot call such person an abuser.
>
I am told that a lot of paedophiles believe that the child wanted it, 
and will come to no harm.  This is not an opinion shared by the rest of 
the western world, so we call it child abuse.

However, broadly I agree with you that the Dursleys love Dudley and 
their completely wrong-headed treatment of him should not be called 
'abuse' as we generally define the word.  I think he is most likely to 
end up in jail.  His complete lack of life-skills and sense of 
entitlement will surely land him in the courts sooner or later.

Jocelyn