Emphasis on proper address was: Snape as father figure

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 131281

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Magda Grantwich 
<mgrantwich at y...> wrote:
<SNIP>
> 
> 
> One of the main reasons I find this argument tiresome is that at 
the
> ripe old age of 15, uncurious-to-the-point-of-braindead-sometimes
> Harry Potter is in no position to decide whether Snape deserves
> respect or not.  He knows next to nothing about the man's life and
> actions, except the snippets he's heard from others, and without a
> more complete knowledge of Snape I really don't see how a teenager
> can make a sweeping assumption about whether or not he "earned"
> respect.
> 
> Lupinlore and Phoenixgod will rush in to claim otherwise of course
> but I don't find their arguments at all persuasive.  
> 
> Magda (cant wait for the next 26 days to be over so we'll stop 
going

Rushing in, as predicted.  :-)  I suppose it all depends on your 
idea of what respect should be.  Respect, IMO, is not like a badge 
that you pin on and wear so that someone automatically accords you 
certain deference irregardless of how you treat them or your actions 
that they have seen and experienced.  It is not a gold star awarded 
by a great teacher in the sky (although Snape, I'm sure, thinks 
that's exactly what it should be). It is not a quality that someone 
can be "competent" or "incompetent" to judge like technical ability 
or academic achievement.  Nor is it something that can be given just 
because someone else says "so and so is worthy of it" Respect, in 
other words, is not a quality that adheres to a person like being 
tall or kindly or snarky or whatever.  To say whether Snape 
is "worthy of respect" is therefore, IMO, non-sensical.  Rather 
respect is something that arises within the context of a given 
relationship when one person earns the respect of another.  And 
Snape has not earned it from Harry in most of the contexts within 
which they interact, irregardless of whether he's earned it from 
someone else in other contexts.

And of course it is your right not to be persuaded, Madga.  I don't 
find a lot of people's arguments, statements, prejudices, and rants 
(and everybody indulges in all four) at all persuasive, particularly 
where the adults of the Wizarding World are concerned.  Being 
persuaded, like giving respect, is not a quality that adheres 
mechanically.

I do agree that we will have more to chew on come July 16.  But that 
won't last long.  After a relatively brief period of novelty we will 
gradually settle into gridlock again.  It probably won't be exactly 
the same gridlock over exactly the same issues, but the trenches 
will inevitably get dug once more.  Then after Book 7 a true 
quagmire, characterized by issues and opinions that evolve with 
glacial slowness, will ensue.  All of which is to say, don't get too 
upset over treading the same ground.  This, like it or not, is our 
life.

And with that cheeful and (I'm sure) heart-warming bit of prophecy, 
I'm done for the day.

Lupinlore


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