Bullying was Re: [HPforGrownups] Re: Prodigal Sons

[IreneMikhlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 140733

Sherry Gomes wrote:

> And on the subject of James being a bully, this question just occurred to
> me, though I don't know why it occurred just now.  How is it that people who
> defend Snape so vigorously can refuse to admit his terrible bullying of
> children for years, even giving him the excuse of toughening up the kids,
> and yet, they can dismiss James as a bully based on one scene from Snape's
> memory?  

You've got me thinking - why I'm much more appalled by James&Sirius 
flashback in OoTP than by all the things Snape did as a teacher.
I believe I know an answer.

In the UK, when a child or a teenager commit suicide, it's a rare enough 
event to reach the front pages. These poor children often leave suicide 
notes, which are published as well, more often than not.
I'd guess I've seen about 30 or 40 such notes. A minority of them 
mention unrequited love. The rest mention bullying by one's schoolmates.

I have yet to see a suicide note that reads: "My chemistry teacher is a 
mean, unfair, sarcastic bastard; and that's why I've had enough".

Do you see what I mean? Snape, as horrible as he is to Harry and Neville 
(and I leave arguing about ABUSE vs. "abuse" to another day), does not 
really have as much influence over their lives as people imagine.
Really, they have Potions 2 hours a week. As soon as they are out of his 
classroom, that's it. Classmates, on the other hand, can turn one's live 
into a 24/7 living hell.

Irene