Double standards and believing

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 120983


Valky:
Hi Del, You are posing some interesting questions here, and if you 
don't mind, I would like to offer some *perhaps* answers.

> Del comments:
> 
> Ernie's parents believe DD so Ernie believes Harry : good.
> Seamus' mother believes Fudge so Seamus believes Fudge : bad.
>

Valky:
I think there are two positions on this issue. 
The first one being the readers sympathies: I don't know about 
others but for me as a reader I began OOtP with the image of the 
graveyard scene and the trauma Harry suffered there and thereafter 
fresh in my mind.  When Ernie lend his blind faith to Harry it was 
good,I felt, but not because I was led that way by a double 
standard, but because of what *I knew* had happened. I didn't see 
Seamus' trusting his mother as bad though, frankly though I 
shouldn't tell how deeply involved I get with the characters, I felt 
sorry for her, and concerned for her safety, again not because I was 
led to believe it was *bad* to trust Fudge or *bad* to trust your 
misinformed mother, but because *I knew* they were wrong. 
The second standpoint I see here is from inside the story, though I 
think that having the readers insight overwhelms it. Ron and Harry 
especially are the ones who find fault with Seamus over this matter 
but they also *know better* than Seamus. Harry, I think, is entitled 
to his anger, it is painful for him to lose friends due to Fudges 
poor behaviour. 


Del:
> Cho learns to think by herself and doesn't do as her parents 
wish : good.
> Percy learns to think by himself and decides not to follow in his
> family's decisions : bad.
> 

Valky:
This one is interesting, I would like to say first that I disagree 
with the statement that Percy is thinking by himself. IMHO Percy's 
rejection of his family was definitely influenced thinking. 
However, lets just for arguments sake say that Percy chooses to side 
with Fudge as an excercise in independent will, much like the claim 
Cho makes about her intent to side with Harry. Then Percy believes 
independent will, regardless of consequences, is a good thing, 
right? What about Rons independent will, then? If Percy has so much 
regard for the right of one to think for himself why does he write 
in his letter to Ron "I have always been afraid that you would take 
what we might call the 'Fred and George' route, rather than 
following in my footsteps," and "Your loyalty, Ron, should not be to 
him (Dumbledore), but to the school and the Ministry."


Del:
> Draco doesn't question his family's traditions : bad.
> Most of the Weasley children don't question their friend and 
family : good.
>

Valky:
Actually I think that most of the Weasley clan get around to 
questioning their friends and family at some stage and *that* is 
what is good, whereas the Houses of Black, Malfoy and other such are 
the places where independent thought gets suppressed.
Bill and Charlie, Fred and George, and Percy, have all taken some 
route away from their family's influence, Ron and Ginny so far have 
been a bit young to be doing so.


Del:
> A load of double-standards. That's what's used to judge the 
characters of the Potterverse. No wonder we never get anywhere.
>

Valky:
*smile* We are a many coloured group, and 13000 of us can't be 
wrong, can we? ;D