Identifying with Muggles - The Dursley and 'Terrifying' Abuse

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 158194

---  "horridporrid03" <horridporrid03 at ...> wrote:

> > >>bboyminn:
> > OH MY GOD! Dumbledore annoyed the Dusleys, he should
> > be shot!
> > <snip>
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Goodness, Steve, no one's suggesting shooting Dumbledore.
> I'm merely expressing a bit of disappointment that he 
> released his anger (as understandable as that anger was)
> in such a petty and childish fashion. I mean, let's keep
> things in perspective. <eg>
> 

bboyminn:

Well, I'm going to assume you understand that statement 
as sarcasm. I understand that you didn't like the scene
and that's OK; some do, some don't, that's life.

But, as many people state their objections, they are 
inflaming the scene beyond reason. Some make it sound
like Dumbledore is engages in this horrible and 
terrifying abuse of the Dursleys when in fact he merely
annoyed them. 

For example, while Dumbledore forced the courtesy of
inviting himself in, which by the way was a move as much
for safety and security as it was for hospitality, he did
not force his way in against the objections of Vernon. I 
don't recall Vernon objecting. Certainly he wasn't pleased
to have Dumbledore there, but he never refused Dumbledore
entry and he never told him to leave.

Dumbledore is polite, never hostile or threatening, he 
greets Vernon, he greets Harry, he introduces himself, 
and certainly once he introduced himself and made them 
aware of who he was and why he was there, the most basic 
and minimal courtesy should have been observed. 

It's clear who he is and it is clear why he is there, 
from point on a reasonable, though terse and abrupt, level
of courtesy could reasonably be expected by the Dursleys.

Now, I understand that we all frequently over-emphasize
a particular point simply to focus our point and comments
on the subject in question, and I allow for that. But 
some comments are exaggeration in the extreme; beyond 
making a point and into the realm of rewriting the story.

For example-

Post #158187 by Marion Ros

" ...than to offer tea to somebody who barged in when you
told him to get out or to cuddle to your heart a child you
did not want but were forced to accept..."

Vernon never told Dumbledore to 'get out', and the 
Dursleys were not 'forced' to accept Harry. It is this 
kind of overstated hyperbole that creates such polarized
discussions. No one objects to you or Marion not liking 
the scene, but we do object to such extreme 
overstatements.

True it is clear that the Vernon is not pleased to have
Dumbledore there, but there is no indication, that he is 
even remotely 'scared to death'. (which is a bit of my 
own hyperbole used to make exactly the counterpoint)

Marion carries on in this vein -

"They were forced, by Dumbledore, to accept Harry as 
their 'guest',..."

"But they did not *choose* to take in the boy.(Harry)"

First and foremost, the Dusleys have a legal and social
obligation to look after Harry. Yes, is is a legal and
social obligation they can legally and socially refuse, 
but until they refuse it, the obligation is theirs.

Second, Dumbledore left a note explaining everything, 
until we read that note, which I hope we will do, we 
can't say what did or didn't happen when Harry was 
dropped on their doorstep. It's possible the note had 
instruction for what to do if they preferred not to take
Harry. 

So, while they did so reluctantly, the Dursley DID indeed
/choose/ to keep Harry in their care. But once having made 
the choice, didn't really extend a legally and socially
acceptable level of 'care'.

So, you and others are certainly free to not like this 
scene. This is especially true when you are expressing
your gut feelings as you read the scene. Those of us
arguing for Dumbledore can accept that. I know for my
self, and I suspect for others, making Dumbledore case 
here, is not to counter your gut feeling, but to counter
the extreme rhetoric we see. Feel free to not like 
Dumbledore here, but keep the conversation within the 
bounds of what actually occurred.

In that context, my statement -

"OH MY GOD! Dumbledore annoyed the Dusleys, he should 
be shot!"

does make some sarcastic sense. 

Steve/bboyminn