Scene with likeable James WAS: Re: Eileen Pince

[Joe Goodwin]

No: HPFGUIDX 156309



wynnleaf:
While I'm sure this is the way you experienced things, apparently
that's not a general "truth." As a mom of three teenagers, I've been
pretty interested in this aspect of the conversation, and so started
asking my kids and their friends (and boyfriends). It all depends on
how you look at what James and Sirius were doing. If you see it as
equivalent to mild pranks, then yes, most guys pull pranks on each
other at one time or another. But if you see if as equivalent to
accosting another kid without provocation, and having your friend hold
him down while you and your friend hit and insult him -- well, that's
not *nearly* a common thing and seems to be regarded by the kids I
asked as bullying behavior.
   
  Joe:
   
  No offense intended at all but are you sure your kids and their friends didn't just tell you what they thought you wanted to hear? Honestly if they had done those things do you think they would just tell you?
   
  Even so if I am right neither Sirius nor James used any spell that harmed Snape beyond his being embarassed so wouldn't that fit your kids idea of a prank? As far as I remember only Snape used a spell that caused  bodily harm so only that would be anywhere near related to punching someone.
  
Wynnleaf:
  As regards the "pantsed" thing, I do recall a specific instance among
my kid's friends of a teenager who *was* pretty destressed when that
kind of prank was pulled on him, and he was a fairly popular kid with
lots of public support. I know that's anecdotal, but I'm not trying
to say, Joe, that you're *wrong,* exactly, but that it's not
necessarily the same among all teenage guys everywhere.

Joe:
   
  Somehow I don't think that Snape is so weak willed that a little embarassment would bother him so.


wynnleaf
I don't think anyone really expects Harry to be forgiving Snape if
Snape is really an evil Death Eater who murdered Dumbledore. 
Obviously, this is assuming Snape's loyal and Harry will need to
forgive him to get on with destroying LV. In which case, he'll need
to find it in himself to forgive Snape's initially joining LV and
taking the prophecy to LV. Understanding the nature of the hatred
between Snape and James *may* help in that, particularly if Harry sees
that much of the blame for the enmity between Snape and James lies
with James.

  Joe:
   I don't see Harry being able to forgive Snape if he's good or evil. Snape's actions led to the death of his parents. Dumbledore's death aside. Harry has no reason to forgive Snape.


I think we see the measure of James Potter in the regard the good guys had for him. I know it might not be politically correct but their opinions should matter more than others. At least in the HP universe there are truly good guys and truly bad ones.
   
  As for Snape do we need to see scenes of him doing "bad" things? He joined the Death Eaters right out of Hogwarts. You don't just wake up one day and decide to join a band of genocidal murderers and thugs. 
   
  Joe