Good and bad expression of house traits (Was Nice vs. Good)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 153037

 
> houyhnhnm:
> 
> What I was thinking was that niceness (since that was the topic) 
would
> probably be a Hufflepuffian virtue, along with fair play,
> cooperativeness, and a willingness to set aside personal ambition for
> the common good.  So what would the corresponding bad trait of
> Hufflepuff be?  Maybe a tendency to abdicate responsibility for
> thinking for oneself, to go along with the herd at all costs, not to
> try to be the best what-you-are, whether or not you can be
> outstanding.  That's what I meant by mediocrity.

a_svirn:
This is a serious accusation to saddle the Hufflepuffs with. And for 
the life of me I don't see how it can be the other side of the "fair 
play" coin. Far from "abdicating the responsibility for thinking for 
oneself" fairmindedness implies the ability and determination to judge 
for oneself.