[HPforGrownups] Re: Dark Book - Blood and Cruelty

[Sali Morris]

No: HPFGUIDX 177162

lizzyben:

Draco provokes w/verbal words, Harry retaliates w/physical violence.
Does Draco deserve to be beat up because of the verbal things he says?
(excluding the duels here).

 Sali:

I'm running with the assumption here that Harry's retaliation can be
considered physical bullying. This is not necessarily how I consider his
actions in all cases.

 The question could be, which is worse: verbal bullying or physical
bullying? Or who is more to blame, the instigator or the retaliator?

 Shouldn't Draco bear responsibility for what he says if Harry is expected
to take responsibility for his actions? I see his verbal bullying as having
two possible aims. One is to pick away at someone's weak spot in such a
manner that retaliation would not be feasible as it would get that person
into trouble (many people dealing with verbal bullying are afraid that
retaliating will get them into trouble and do just suffer in silence,
something the bully is counting on). The second is that he is trying to
provoke them into retaliating so that they get into trouble (even if he then
defends himself, it's usually the one who strikes the first blow who gets
into trouble).

 I personally believe that verbal bullying is nasty and insidious and far
harder to combat effectively (by those being bullied and also by teachers)
than the physical kind and therefore I consider Draco more to blame both for
the type of bullying and for being, for the most part, an instigator.
Retaliation may be wrong in many cases but instigation is always wrong in,
in my view. Other people may have different views.

 Sali


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