Voldemort good/bad. Was: Twisted Irony

[msbeadsley]

No: HPFGUIDX 139999

Rebecca Hoskins wrote:
<snip>
>>>But I do have to stress that an upbringing such as his
[Voldemort's] is not guaranteed to bring about the development of a
psychopath. I have not read David Pelzer's books, " A child called
'it'" and " A boy called David", but I know that he was extremely
badly abused for most of his childhood and had no period of love
during those formulative years at all. His treatment was far worse
than that of Tom Riddle and Harry Potter together. Yet he has somehow
managed to become a normal and emotionally sound individual, fully
capable of love and generosity. A lack of love at a young age can
bring about some terrible problems, but it is not certain that this
will happen, as David Pelzer can testify.<<<
<snip>

If you had read Dave Pelzer's books, you would know that the abuse in
his life did not begin until after an incident where his drunken
mother broke his arm accidentally when he was four years old. Prior to
that he was loved, cared for, and cuddled. Although I do not have the
books available at the moment to quote from (I own the first three of
the four he has written (and although one is called "A Man Named
Dave," none are called "A Boy Called David")), here's a link where you
can find synopses and many quotes:

http://www.metroactive.com/sonoma/pelzer95.html

On the other hand, the issue of whether or not psychopathy unfailingly
results from infant/child failure-to-bond (or attachment disorder)
refers to a baby's development from birth to 3 years of age. Those who
do not have a consistent, loving caretaker to attach to at all during
that crucial period miss out on actual brain development thought
necessary to an ability to love/empathize later. Although not all
mental health professionals are willing to make a flat declaration
that babies with profound attachment disorder all grow up to be
psychopaths, much of the reason is that such controlled clinical
trials on human young are frowned upon, and therefore all of the data
has had to be cobbled together retroactively. There are gorilla
studies, however, which indicate just that. An awful lot of agonized
adoptive parents of children they got after that "window" had closed
have a lot to say on the subject as well.

In re: Pelzer, I could fill this post with quotes, but I'd
rather anyone who's interested follow the link (and maybe even
actually obtain and *read* his books). They're marvelous; how this man
survived such extreme and harrowing child abuse for eight or nine
years (4-12) and grew up to be a contributing member of society and a
loving person and father is one of the most inspiring stories I've
ever known.

It seems absolutely obvious to me, based on canon from the books and
from JKR interviews, that something like attachment disorder is going
to play a large part in the final disposition of Voldemort as a
character. I have to go back yet again to a quote from JKR...

http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2005/070
5-tlc_mugglenet-anelli-3.htm

MA: "Has Snape ever been loved by anyone?"
JKR: "Yes, he has, which in some ways makes him more culpable even
than Voldemort, who never has."

Isn't it interesting that she pops up spontaneously with a mention of
Voldemort here, when the question is whether or not *Snape* was ever
loved? Why does JKR show us TMR's infant history so plainly; and why
would Dumbledore suggest Harry was feeling sorry for Voldemort?

Sandy aka msbeadsley, whose fella suggests that filk should be "Foggy
*When* A Courtin'" (instead of "Foggy Went A Courtin'"); any takers?
Somebody take this one off my hands, please; I'm still working on one
based on a song from Roxy Music which would be obvious to anyone who
really thought about it...