[HPforGrownups] Re: muggle baiting vs. muggle torture

[P J]

No: HPFGUIDX 155291





Alla:
 > Um, of course Dudley will disapprove of his punishment, but as long
 > as I agree with the author that what Dudley did is wrong, I could
 > care less, really.
 > If there are no objections to the fact that Dudley should be
 > punished, does it really matter whether he is punished with magic or
 > not?
 >
 > Magpie:
 > Because as a Muggle when I see Dudley punished with Magic I can't
help
 > but see more than just a couple of 16-year-olds punishing a 14-year-
 > old. It speaks to an entire attitude towards Muggles.

PJ:

I clipped these two quotes because, to me, they pretty much sum up both 
sides of the arguement and I'm too lazy today to go hunting for more.  <g>

I guess I see Muggle baiting as purposely trying to harm someone 
specifically *because* they're Muggles and therefore inferior... This 
doesn't qualify for me

The WW seems to be really baffled where muggles are concerned.  Even Arthur, 
who professes to love muggles doesn't have a clue.  If he doesn't understand 
how they differ in more than just magical ability then I can't imagine how 
the twins, who've never really been exposed to a muggle before, can be 
expected to.  How would they know that a muggle is not just a squib-like 
person and that the candy that is simply amusing to them could actually be 
dangerous to a nonmagical person?  The half muggles and those at school from 
muggle familes (like Hermione) don't seem to be harmed by them at all!

So basically I see the twins using the candy to get back at Dudley for all 
the nasty things he's done to Harry in the past but also totally unaware of 
the real harm they could do.  That to me isn't muggle baiting, it's pure 
ignorance...

PJ