Etiquette WAS Re: polite Dumbledore?

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 142635

> > SSSusan:
<snip>
 I thought he treated the Dursleys *exactly* as 
> they 
> > deserved to be treated... not to mention treating Harry to the 
> > attention he needed and deserved in that moment as well.
> > 
> 
a_svirn: 
> I can see why you could squeal with delight, but as for calling 
his 
> behaviour "polite"
 Surely you must be mistaken. <snip>
> Granted, Dumbledore did the thing with his usual style yet it 
wasn't 
> his superior manners he was demonstrating but the upper hand. 

Alla:

I suspect that I will be arguing semantics again, but here is what I 
think. I DO believe that Dumbledore was being polite. But the 
meaning of word "polite" I am using is to " use kind words", no more 
than that.

I do NOT think that Dumbledore was being RESPECTFUL to Dursleys, in 
that I suspect I agree with a_svirn. Am I making sense? He was being 
polite as in "using formalities", but definitely not respecting them 
as people.

But I completely agree with  the part of SSSusan's argument which I 
left in, Dumbledore treated Durlseys exactly as they deserved to be 
treated. 
I don't know whether JKR wrote this scene because Harry needed to 
hear it or some readers did ( myself definitely included), but I am 
absolutely happy that she did.

a_svirn: 
> And did you notice: Harry was not even remotely delighted with 
this 
> little demonstration. He was anxious to leave. Wonder what he was 
> reminded of. 

Alla:

Harry wants to leave BEFORE Dumbledore starts his litle 
demonstration, well he comes in, but does not do anything else yet.
 I interpreted it that Harry is very anxious to leave the Dursleys 
indeed. I did not interpret it  that Harry wanted to leave because 
he was unhappy with how Dumbledore treated Dursleys. JMO of course

> a_svirn:
> 
> Well, it was Dumbledore who left him to their tender mercies in 
the 
> first place. They certainly didn't ask for the job. 

Alla:

True, true of course Dumbledore left Harry there and if Petunia was 
not Lily's sister, I would completely agree with you. No matter how 
much I hate the characters of Dursleys, they did NOT ask for the job 
of caring for Harry. BUT to me and to me only the fact that Petunia 
IS Lily's sister changes everything.

Many people would argue that the fact of blood relation does not 
matter. To me it so does. I grew up believing that family members or 
at least close family members should help each other and care for 
each other. I still believe so.

a_svirn:
Besides, what it 
> has to say to anything? They may be as bad as they come, but 
> Dumbledore behaviour would still be a "glorious" bit of bullying.

Alla:

To me this scene was another example of "poetic justice" or " 
vicarious retribution".


> > Sherry:
> I thought it was wonderful.  still
> > one of my favorite scenes in all the books.  It was someone else 
> being rude
> > to them on Harry's behalf for a change.  fantastic!

Alla:

Yep. Me too. :-)


> 
> a_svirn:
> What do you mean "for a change"? We have seen wizards being rude 
to 
> them on Harry's behalf from the book 1.
>

Alla:

Could you refresh my recollection, please? Do you mean those who 
came to Vernon on the street to congratulate him in PS/SS?
If yes, I don't see it as rudeness, but more like desire to share 
the overwhelming happiness with anybody, even with Vernon. 

JMO,

Alla