The Huge overreactions from a five minute time span.

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 150259

> > >>Alla:
> > Please answer me this question - do you think that Draco is 
a     
> > victim in that scene...
> > <snip>
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> I do.  Draco, Crabbe and Goyle are physically attacked from 
several 
> directions at once by five wizards, two of whom were a couple of 
> years older than them.  It don't get much plainer than that.

Alla:

I am speechless here, I confess, but before I agree to disagree on 
this part of the debate, could you please answer me two more 
questions, if you don't mind of course. Do you think Draco had a 
right to do what he did and do you think that what he did deserved 
ANY kind of the reaction or in your opinion Gryffindors were 
obligated to not react at all to his provocation ( or what I call 
provocation)


> Betsy Hp:
> Yeah, that just doesn't work for me.  Draco was being unspeakably 
> rude and unkind.  But if everyone was allowed to pound the rude 
and 
> unkind into the ground we'd have sunk back into pure barbarism a 
> long time ago.

Alla:

So, let me ask again. Gryffindors in your opinion behaved badly and 
should not be allowed to do what they did ( that how I interpret 
your opinion, sorry if I am wrong). Should Draco be allowed to do 
what he did?


Betsy Hp: 
> The Gryffindors behaved like common thugs in this scene.  They may 
> have felt justified.  Others may feel they were justified.  But 
the 
> fact remains that they responded to words with fists.  That's the 
> mark of an uncivilized man, and it's something I tend to think 
> little of. (Poor Crabbe and Goyle hadn't even said anything.)

Alla:

Yeah, they did. If someone would have mocked the dead classmate 
which death I just witnessed or issued death threats to the girl my 
brother likes, I have a feeling I would be very tempted to respond 
to such words with fists. Tempted, that is for sure, I am too old 
probably to respond to such words with fists, but I cannot be sure 
that I would not. I guess that makes me the person who can behave 
unciwilized sometimes, or at least have uncivilized impulses. Oh, 
well.
 
> > >>Joe:
> > Wasn't it Draco, Crabbe and Goyle that first attempted to 
use     
> > overwhelming force as you call it on Harry?
> > <snip>
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> No. The Slytherins didn't even draw their wands.

Alla:

They CAME there with their wands, three of them. Do I think that it 
is unreasonable assumption after what Draco said that they can drew 
their wands at any minute? No, I think it is a reasonable one.