What's in a Name? (CHAPDISC - Spinner's End)

[Goddlefrood]

No: HPFGUIDX 142610

Snip most of reply
> Bart Wrote:
Snape was in love with Lily Potter.

Goddlefrood responds:

Well, as you mention, this has been discussed at length here and 
elsewhere and it is a matter that appears to have been accepted by 
fandom. There is some evidence to support it; why then did Snape 
call Lily a mudblood? This is after all one of the worst insults in 
the wizarding world. Even for a broken-hearted teenager it seems 
rather extreme to throw this loathsome insult, that is assuming that 
Snape already had some infatuation with Lily prior to the incident 
experienced in the Pensieve.

One thing that I find interesting about Snape and Lily is that they 
were undoubtedly in the same Potions class. This then led me to 
believe that Lily was responsible for the Potions tips contained in 
Snape's copy of Advanced Potions. Snape merely copied from her 
notes, thus becoming more proficient at Potions himself to the 
extent that he is often described in canon as the Potions Master. 
Therefore, his prowess in Potions is from Lily and not his own 
efforts. Whether this led to his having a crush on Lily I don't 
really know but I would suggest not. That Lily was a respected and 
talented witch would also lead to the conclusion that Snape revered 
Lily without necessarily being in love with her.

> Potioncat now:
BTW what is the origin of "spin doctor"?

Goddlefrood pretending to be expert, but really quoting from 
Wikipedia:

"Spin" was originally an acronym, "Significant Progress In the 
News," used by public relations specialists in the Strategic Defense 
Initiative (SDI) in the mid-1980s. SDI had come under criticism as 
technically impractical. "Spin" was a public-relations attempt to 
counter these claims by issuing news releases showing steady 
progress.

Skilled practitioners of spin are sometimes called "spin doctors", 
though probably not to their faces unless it is said facetiously. It 
is the PR equivalent of calling a writer a "hack." Perhaps the most 
well-known person in the UK often described as a "spin doctor" is 
Alistair Campbell, who was involved with Tony Blair's public 
relations between 1994 and 2003. (Goddlefrood adds – and is now back 
in the fold).

Spin doctor is, then, of recent origin, less than twenty years ago.
Regarding the remainder of your riposte I offered only my reaction 
to the name as it suggested a meaning to me and other meanings would 
be equally valid. As I have implied in the original post and 
elsewhere (particularly in #141482) I hope Snape redeems himself 
without holding out too much faith that he will do so.

I have not attempted to read the HP books to my son yet, he has the 
attention span of a gnat and it would probably take months to read 
one chapter, far better for me to read them to myself in a day and 
content him with the DVDs.

Goddlefrood waiting for the boy to share the joys of the Potterverse 
and with another on the way.