Nice vs good was Re: Favorite Snape Scenes

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 122579


Nora:
So I would say that yes, a person must be genuinely nice--that is 
to say, treat other people with respect for their subjectivity--to 
*be*a good person.

Pippin:
My problem here is that  in some cases, consideration of other 
people can be  so effortless  that it may not be a good indication 
of  how much  someone would actually put themselves out for 
another person. 

Such people can be  full of  genuine warmth and helpfulness 
until it's going to cost them something they don't want to give; 
then, somehow, they don't perceive the need, or pretend that they 
don't. Think of Lupin, deciding  that he knows nothing useful 
about Sirius, or Fudge deciding to believe Rita Skeeter instead of 
Dumbledore.

On the other hand there are people who require tremendous 
effort to be civil, much less nice, but who are determined to use 
the skills they do have for others benefit. I would put Snape in 
that category.

Pippin