Sportsmanship in Harry Potter

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 151787

>   Joe: 
> Erm don't we see a great deal of Bullying by Malfoy, Crabbe and 
Goyle. Well at least attempted bullying? Just because they are bad 
at it doens't mean they aren't doing it.

Alla:

Sure we do. Neville comes to mind of the top of my head right away.


> Joe:   
>   As for Quidditch I seem to remember most of the rows in the 
Gryffindor/ Slytherin Quidditch matches being started by the 
Slytherins. Not to mention the fact that if the whole school thinks 
the Slytherins are low down no good dirty cheaters then its more 
than likely that they are. If all your peers seem to dislike you as 
the other Houses seem to do then there is probably a good reason for 
it.
>    
>   I don't think all the other House's are out of step here. I 
think most of the Slytherins are as advertised. Sometimes the bad 
guys are really bad guys.


Alla:

I totally understand why JKR makes Gryffindors win, because just 
like you I don't think Gryffindors come even CLOSE to the dirty play 
Slytherins show. So, if JKR wants to make nicer guys win, even if 
this is not how it works in real sports, I am totally for it.

But here is what I am wondering. I wonder if the unhappiness with 
JKR never letting Harry lose in the school competitions ( and I 
absolutely acknowledge everybody's absolute right to be unhappy 
about any topic raised in the books obviously. I am sure not shy of 
voicing my displeasure when I feel like it :)), would  still be 
there  if Slytherins were winning all the time? Is the argument goes 
to JKR displaying more fairness in school competition or to JKR  
simply letting Slytherins win those competitions?

As I said, I think Harry loses a lot,where it really counts. Maybe 
the message is that school competitions are not really that 
significant on the big scale of things? Maybe there is a reason why 
Hermione whom JKR loves so much does not like flying and JKR does 
not like to write about Quidditch?

I view Harry wins as JKR giving him a break( and yes, I guess at 
least scrap of happiness) before she makes him lose another loved 
one or being possessed or tortured again.

She cannot make him to have it easy on the grand scale of things ( 
remember "I know what is coming for Harry"), so she makes it easier 
for him at least in school competitions.

Funnily though, I don't get an impression that it is easy for him 
and despite him often winning eventually, I am not sure every time 
whether he will win or not.

JMO,

Alla