Sadism or not WAS: Re: Lack of re-examination

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 186619

a_svirn:
But that only means that McGonagall is indiscriminative in her abuse, whereas
Snape has some preferences. Still they both indulge in humiliating and
inflicting emotional pain on a student – which in your book amounts to sadism.

Alla:

Not really, no. I see Snape smirking plenty of times when he deals with Harry for example, I do not remember McGonagall once enjoying what she has to do.

The fact that McGonagall is indiscriminative in her punishment  is the reason why I called it borderline abuse, I know it is mirky line, but that is why in my mind it is a **little bit** better than what Snape does, not much of course, just a little bit. Of course if she was enjoying the pain of the students, whether she gives it to everybody or to some people, I would still call it sadism.

Oh and by the way, here is the online definition of sadism that I am working with:
"a sexual perversion in which gratification is obtained by the infliction of physical or mental pain on others (as on a love object) — compare MASOCHISM2 a: delight in cruelty b: excessive cruelty"


Number two (a) is the one that I think  is applicable to Snape. Number two (b) is rather unconventional of course, so I do not think it is a widely spread definition, but before you ask, yes, if  you think that what McGonagall did was excessive cruelty, it is of course can be applied to her. I think it was cruel, I just do not think  it was excessively cruel. But it is mirky of course.

a_svirn:
You seem to be saying that meeting out abusive and emotionally painful
punishments indiscriminately is not sadism, while doing the same thing to a few
select victims is? 

Alla:

No, I do not, see above

A_svirn:
Not that McGonagall wasn't occasionally creative when it came
to punishments. That night's outing to the Forbidden Forest? Not only it
literally put her students' lives in jeopardy – I mean, there was someone out
there desperate enough to kill Unicorns! – but just imagine how utterly scared
Draco must have been! In the Forest at night with his worst enemies and a
gigantic gamekeeper who is not known for his love of Slytherins, and who had
moreover a grievance against Draco. I think he was every bit as scared as
Neville was when Snape threatened to poison his toad.

Alla:

I bet Draco was scared! I however do not remember canon supporting the idea that McGonagall enjoyed him being scared.