Dumbledore Does Lie - Sort Of

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 159111

> 
> bboyminn;
<SNIP>
> Some people seem to object to Dumbledore /not/ constantly 
> explaining everything he does and everything he says to 
> everyone around him. But, whether in business or war or
> daily life, everything and everyone operates on the 
> concept of 'need to know'. Dumbledore tell people what
> he feels they need to know and does so when he feels 
> they need to know it. He is under no obligation, and 
> indeed would be foolish to do so, to tell everyone
> everything.

Alla:

That's sort of true, but only sort of IMO, because Dumbledore is not 
on equal footing with other people. He can decide to hold off 
information from everybody and nobody can hold off information from 
him, no?

I guess I would say that **need to know** should be decided mutually, 
it should not be strictly up to Dumbledore to decide that.

Let me stress again, I realise plot based reasons that Dumbledore 
withholds information because JKR cannot reveal it yet obviously, but 
very often it makes Dumbledore looks extremely arrogant in my eyes 
and wrong too.

 
> As to the Prophesy, certainly Dumbledore operated on a
> need to know basis. NO ONE, other that Harry, needed to 
> know EXACTLY what the Prophesy said. Other people needed
> to know that it existed and what, in general, it was 
> about; the Ministry for example. Some needed to know
> more, some needed to know less, but no one needed to 
> know exactly what it said. That was an act of Strategic
> Wisdom on Dumbledore's part; the fewer who know, the 
> few who can inadvertently tell.

Alla:

Um, yeah, Harry needed to know ASAP IMO. And did Dumbledore tell him 
during OOP? No. 

Now, I understand how hard it is for Dumbledore to tell Harry about 
that burden, etc. On the other hand, it also shows IMO how very 
patronising Dumbledore was being. It is not like before OOP Harry did 
not know that Voldemort was after him, and lead happy childhood and 
if Dumbledore told him , Harry would have suddenly learned about the 
burden he carries.

Granted, it would have added to Harry's burden, but Voldemort killed 
his parents, Voldemort already tried to kill him several times. Do I 
think that Dumbledore needed to tell him fast? Um, totally, I do. Do 
I think he was being wise? Um, sorry, no. As I said, I understand his 
reluctance, but certainly don't think that was wise.

bboyminn: 
> So, when Dumbledore says only he and Harry know the
> Prophecy, I think he is literally correct, but that 
> doesn't, by any means, mean that others don't know
> /about/ the Prophecy, and again, each knowing only
> what they need to know to do their job.

Alla:

Well, I also think that only Dumbledore and Harry know about 
prophecy, but who gave Dumbledore a right to decide what other people 
need to know to do their jobs?

JMO,

Alla