Bullying WAS: Re: Prodigal Sons

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 140811

Magda wrote:
Nonsense. You and Alla think Snape was a bully for no other reason
than that you dislike the character.

In the scene where Harry questions Sirius and Lupin about what he saw
in the pensieve, they are very concerned that his image of James has
suffered. This is very clear. They carefully ascertain just what
exactly Harry did see and then work hard to explain to Harry that
James wasn't always like that - not that he wasn't like that at all,
but rather that he had other, better points as well.

Had there been any extenuating circumstances, any option of
explaining that things weren't quite what Harry perceived them as,
they would have said so. Because they wanted to make sure Harry
didn't lose respect for his father.

So if Snape had been a bully, they'd have mentioned it. They didn't
- in fact they discuss how Lupin wasn't able to stop the others from
bugging Snape.

As for the he-became-a-DE-so-he-could-bully/torture-people claim -
again, I say nonsense. People join cults and gangs (the criminal
kind) for all sorts of reasons, especially when you're young and
stupid. Sirius himself - with no reason to whitewash things - says
his parents were pro-Voldemort only at first until they realised what
he was all about. So the idea that VOldemort was upfront and taking
out billboard advertising about his real intentions is not
established.

vmonte:
LOL! So Snape's not a bully huh? Not even to the children he teaches 
at Hogwarts? Oh, that's right, JKR is wrong about what the word 
sadistic means. 

What kind of people do you suppose join the DEs (KKK,Nazis)? 
Certainly not friendly type people--the kind of people that believe 
in diversity and equality. And certainly not anyone I would want 
teaching my child--especially when they continue to behave in an 
inappropriate manner.

You can believe what you like, but the only person that is fooling 
themself is you.

Vivian