[HPforGrownups] Re: Scene with likeable James WAS: Re: Eileen Pince

[Kemper]

No: HPFGUIDX 156325

> Carol  wrote:
> We have both of them attacking Severus unprovoked, James hexing other
> people in the hallways because they annoy him, James trying to attract
> the attention of the girls, especially Lily, by showing off; and
> Sirius ignoring the girls who think he's attractive.
>
> <HUGE SNIP>
>
> Joe responded:
> You believe the attack on Snape is unprovoked. Not knowing what might have happened earlier that day or the day before or the day before means that all of us are at best making an uneducated guess.
>
> The entire scene lasts what, five minutes maybe?
>
> I think making any deep character judgements about ANYBODY based on a five minute segment of their life is deeply flawed.
>
> BTW you might think that James and Sirius weren't fond of Lupin but Lupin seemed to think otherwise doesn't he?
>
> We do have evidence that others liked them outside their pack. Hagrid, Rosmerta, McGonagall all speak fondly of them.
>
> Honestly I'm glad I didn't have my worst moment picked apart like this with all these assumptions.
>
> I understand the desire to take the good guys down a peg or two esp. when they might seem to be a bit too good to be true but making wild assumptions based on a five minute span in their fifteenth year seems way over the top.
>
> Oh one more thing. Can we please stop calling people bullies because they hexed someone? We have a good bit of canon evidence that supports students hexing each other frequently. Its a guy thing and I'm guessing girls don't understand but boys play rough. The only thing that was wrong was Lily interfering in what obviously seemed to be a long term grudge on both sides.
>
> You think Snape was humiliated by James and Sirius? Having a Mudbllod girl come to try and help him was WAY more humiliating. I'm betting thats a guy thing too.
>
> 

Kemper now:
I can see the difference between hexing in the halls and the bullying
that James and Sirius throw down on Snape.  The hexing if more
prankish (like 'kick me' taped to someone's back) and the bullying is
more threatening which is why Snape goes for his wand.  And, yes, Lily
defending Snape would be humiliating and emasculating... though I
don't think he would really care about her being Muggle born in spite
of calling her a mudblood.

So Joe, I posed a scenario on a different though similar thread.  Here it is:

 What if at the end of Harry's written DADA O.W.L's, he and Ron
rolled-up on and started provoking Draco while Hermione pretended she
didn't know what was going on?  We already know what an arrogant prick
Draco is, but would we think this scene of righteous bullying funny?

Would Harry be in the right here?  Or would we think a little less of
him based on only a 5 minute incident?

Kemper, a guy but not an asshole