Annoyed with Harry

[rbookworm46]

No: HPFGUIDX 129431

Magda:
- He doesn't appreciate his friends enough.
- ...it's amazing how clueless he can be about the big picture.
- Ron was hurting in GoF, thinking that Harry had cut him out of 
things; Harry never tried to get past Ron's barriers but instead got 
behind his own protective shield too

Kemper:
I think Magda points out Harry's character flaws well. To sum her
points: He's generally inconsiderate and self involved. Really, I
don't see why Ron hangs around.

Bookworm:
Of course he is inconsiderate and self-involved.  He is a teenager.  

The same goes for most of Magda's points.  (The point about not 
asking questions has been discussed before.  As Magda wrote, it 
seems to be an (annoying) plot devise.)  A social worker I know 
recently said it the best: a teenager's world stops at the end
of his/her nose.  Let's see:

-Doesn't appreciate friends: Just this week, one of my
daughter's friends (aka Mary) told another (aka Jane) that she
hated her, and other hurtful comments.  The reason?  Mary
couldn't find her pencil and accused Jane of stealing it.  (These 
girls have been friends for several years.)

-Clueless: Is there a parent who doesn't agree?  The same kid who 
can memorize the lyrics to an entire album can't remember what
they studied in school earlier in the day, steps over the dirty 
laundry instead of picking it up and putting it in the basket...

-Protective shields: A natural response to hurt.  Many adults do it 
too.  It is easier to hide your own feelings than expose them by 
confronting others. 

I found this list of traits that, in my experience, pretty 
accurately describe "normal" teens:

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT (of adolescents) 
www.uwyo.edu/CES/FAMILY/CYFAR/FACT_SHE/Unders~1.htm (University of 
Wyoming)

1. Move away from parental influence toward greater independence
2. Begin to criticize opinions, suggestions, and actions of adults
3. Frequently fluctuate between emotional peaks of excitement and 
depths of moodiness
4. Isolation from and lack of involvement in the community leads to 
feelings of being ignored and not needed
5. Can be very unstable
6. Often make rude comments that can hinder another's self-concept
7. Learn to feel, think, and act according to congruent sex roles
8. Develop further interest in ethics and morality and form own 
opinions about these issues

That's just for 'normal' teens.  Harry has the additional stress of 
being unfairly accused and ostracized during 2 of his 5 years in 
school, forced to participate in a dangerous competition against 
older competitors (He may have dreamed of it, but the reality is 
something else), seeing a school-mate killed, being kidnapped by 
parents' betrayer then used by his parents' murderer to regain 
corporeal form, and being ignored by someone he saw as a mentor.  
All that was before he saw his godfather die and was told he is the 
Chosen One – the only one who can save the WW.  Not exactly 
your `normal' experiences.

Inconsiderate and self involved?  It's a wonder if that is the worst 
that is said about Harry.

Ravenclaw Bookworm