Nice vs Good - Compassion

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 153065

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, puduhepa98 at ... wrote:
>
> 
> > > Lanval:
> > > Can you name one of those acts? 
> >
> >Lanval
> >Next -- at the end of HBP, which you mentioned in another post. Snape  
> >yells at the DEs to leave Potter for LV, right?
> 
> <snip>.  
> >Until we know beyond any doubt what Snape's role was in that book,  
> >and whether he's only acting the DE here, I will not pass judgment.  
> >Besides, strictly speaking, Snape does not save Harry 's life -- the  
> >DE is 'only' using the Cruciatus  Curse.
> 
> > 
> >  Leslie41:
> > If one defines "compassion" as the awareness of suffering and  the 
> > wish to stop it, or to prevent it, I can name many.  Starting  with 
> > his work as a spy, and his attempts to save Harry's life.
> >
> >.Pippin
> >Snape seems almost incapable of compassion, which makes him
> such a  pain to be around, while Lupin is an extremely compassionate
> man.
> Nikkalmati:
> I can think of several acts of compassion on Snape's part beginning with  
> Spinners End where he certainly had compassion on Narcissa when 
she went all   weepy on him.
>   He also had compassion on Draco, when Harry performed the  
Sacrumsempra  curse on him and Snape healed him.  Both of these acts 
of  compassion were  directed toward a Malfoy for reasons that we probably will  
understand better in the  future. 
>  He may display compassion for Ginny, when she is taken by the  Basilisk, if 
> the clutching of the back of the chair means he is concerned for  her. 

Pippin:
We have different definitions. My dictionary says compassion is a *deep* 
awareness of others' suffering, coupled with the desire to relieve it. It does
not take a deep awareness of suffering to notice when someone is 
dissolving in tears, under the cruciatus curse, kidnapped by a bloodthirsty
monster,bleeding to death from multiple wounds or lying in a dementor-
induced coma. 

Snape doesn't seem to be aware of suffering when it 
presents itself more subtly, Whether that's because he doesn't care, or
because he doesn't easily pick up cues from other people, is hard to
say at this point. People who dish out ridicule but don't seem to be 
able to take it often have trouble reading cues: they're unaware of
how much they're affecting others and at the same time they tend to take
every insult as mortal because they can't tell when they're being
teased.

Pippin