muggle baiting vs. muggle torture

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 155670

> Betsy Hp:
> At this point in time I honestly doubt the twins were all about 
the 
> Muggle hate.  They just saw a "great bullying git" that they had 
an 
> opportunity to "teach a lesson too".  But they are too powerful to 
> indulge in such behavior.  Arthur tries, and fails, to call them 
on 
> it.  And I think the twins suffer because of it.

a_svirn:
I'm afraid you are giving them too much credit here. The twins may 
not "hate" muggles (they consider them too unimportant to warrant 
such strong feelings), but neither they were playing avenging 
angels. Fred and George have no problem with bullying; in fact, I'd 
say its one of their favourite pastimes. They "taught Dudley a 
lesson" not because he is a bully, but because they saw him as an 
all-to-convenient target. They always prefer weaker targets for 
their "jokes": it is OK to bait Ron or Percy, but they didn't care 
to cross Charley, did they? Neville was the most logical choice for 
testing the Canary Custard, but they took pains to warn Hermione 
which candies were safe. Prudent men wouldn't want to run afoul with 
Hermione, but with someone who won't retaliate – it's quite another 
matter.