Fear as a Crime --Long (Re: muggle baiting )

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 156142

> >>Inky/Julie:
> <major snippage>
> I've read several arguments that seem to imply that unpleasant 
> characters like the Dursleys, Aunt Marge, Slytherins in general,   
> and Marietta "deserve" the bad things that happen to them.  Maybe, 
> although Lord preserve us all if that's the case. I've been 
> increasingly concerned in the later books how often 
> supposedly "good" characters chose to ignore the rules that 
> supposedly apply to everyone, and receive "rewards" for doing so 
> in the form of points, knowledge, the embarrassment of enemies.
> I keep waiting for consequences.

Betsy Hp:
Amen, and amen.  Honestly if there *aren't* consequences for the 
good guys' bad behavior, not only will the series lose most of it's 
magic for me, I'll be *very* careful about sharing it with 
children.  Talk about a wrong message!

However, I'm quite positive that the reason I find the bad behavior 
so distasteful is because JKR *means* for me to.  If she wanted us 
to simply cheer the twins terrorizing the Dursleys she wouldn't have 
shown how utterly terrified Dudley already was at having wizards 
visit, as you pointed out.  If JKR thought scarring a fellow 
classmate was a good thing, I really doubt she'd have pointed out 
Marietta at the start of HBP.  (Actually JKR did an excellent job of 
showing how completely the DA collapsed, with former members 
attacking each other before the school year even got started.)

I *do* think there are some things that are just true to JKR's 
personality that will never sit well with me.  I'm betting she was 
happy with Dumbledore's petty bait and switch with the House Cup at 
the end of PS/SS, for example.  And that's fine.  We differ.  But on 
the more aggressively cruel actions, I think there's still another 
shoe waiting to drop.

> >>Inky/Julie:
> Unless the ministry is going to obliviate the Dursley's on 
> Harry's 18th birthday, I fear Dudley will take what he's learned 
> about wizards and become a viable agent against wizardry, if the 
> muggle world wanted to strike aback at wizards.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
You know, I've become more and more sympathetic towards Dudley, drip 
that he is.  I was glad that he took up boxing since he's in 
desperate need of a good father figure and the boxing coach might go 
towards that.  I enjoyed Dudley snapping back at Harry in OotP in 
almost the same manner I enjoyed Harry snapping back at Dudley in 
PS/SS.  And weirdly enough, I *loved* that Dudley punched Harry when 
the Dementors attacked.  Sure, he'd picked the wrong wizard, but 
having the hutzpah to take on Harry after all he's suffered at 
wizards' hands...  It was enough bravery to prove that he and Harry 
really are family, IMO.  

(And I love the idea of Dudley becoming a specialized wizard-hunter 
in a dystopian future where the WW takes over the world.  Someone 
needs to write that! <g>)

Betsy Hp