Snape's abuse (Re: Would an "O" for Harry vindicate Snape?)

[Chris]

No: HPFGUIDX 131679

Magda:
> I think I'd be more impressed with Lupinlore's, Chris's, and
> Phoenixgod's arguments if someone could explain to me how attacking 
> a fictional character's actions is somehow assisting in the fight 
>against child abuse of real, living, breathing children.

  I think I can, hopefully in a cogent way. First, regardless of how 
fictional it is, Harry Potter has become an institution in and of 
itself in the real world. It is being used in English classes as 
extra-curricular reading, and it has spawned thousands of websites, 
chat groups like this one, and other outlets. Hundreds of Thousands 
of children as well as their parents are reading these books. I know 
of several individuals within my own age group who even discuss these 
books with their children. They have found that their children are 
becoming immersed in the Potterverse, and that parents can use these 
books as a teching tool about good vs. evil, morality, and the real 
world.
  I for one, have always read books, be they fiction or nonfiction, 
not just merely for entertainment, but for what kind of lessons I can 
glean from the writer and what they are trying to say. JKR injects 
little nuggets like these into her writing and they can be used for a 
teaching tool.
  I think this group gives us adult readers a chance to have some 
real discussions about issues like these that come from the books. 
The conversations on here definitely transcend the general 
ones: "Draco is so hot, I hope he hooks up with Hermione." Anything 
that can generate the kind of debate we have on here, and make us 
think about the themes involved, I am all for. 
  No, in no way are our discussions helping to solve child abuse, or 
murder, or any other major problem in the real world. But they do 
make us think, don't they. And I enjoy learning about what other 
people from all over the world think about these topics. I try to 
stray away from attacking anyone's personal character, but sometimes 
we do have strong opinions. I have never taken anything said about 
what I think as a personal attack on me or my beliefs even if it 
sounded like one. I like the debate that is generated on here, and it 
gives me insight into other people. Are we curing Cancer, of course 
not. But we are thinking, aren't we? And it's even more interesting 
that what generated this thinking seems to be the same thing that got 
our kids interested in reading again.
 
> I personally don't need any lecturing from anyone on the subject of
> Child Abuse is Bad - to which the only civilized response is "Well,
> DUH!"  Being on the side of the angels does not give anyone carte
> blanche to be rude and insulting to fellow listees.  And - Earth to
> Lupinlore - accusing people of "endorsing and defending the 
>emotional abuse of children" is pretty damn insulting.

  I have never said that you go out an endorse this behavior in the 
real world. If anyone has thought that about my posts, then I 
apologize to you all, and I will admit that I was wrong in doing so, 
as that was not my intention. I have very strong opinions about this 
subject, based on a fictional work or not, and the idea that someone 
like Snape exists and could do these kinds of things in the real 
world, piss me off. Again, I apologize if anyone mistook my post for 
a personal attack.
 
> Hoping the Admin-elves will bring this sorry episode to a conclusion
> soon.

  Think of something thought-provoking to discuss and I'm all for it. 
This particular topic has worn me out emotionally. :-)


Chris
labmystc
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