(no subject)
Torture is not the same as bullying or name calling. Torture feels worse than being ostracized or picked on. Torture is not an experience easily forgotten. Neville tells us in DH that Greg Goyle and Vincent Crabbe tortured their fellow students. This would affect their future relationships. I am sure of this.
I've read a number of fics by authors I respect where Neville or another Hogwarts student develops a relationship with either a close friend of Crabbe and Goyle a former girl-friend of Crabbe or Goyle or even between Goyle and a student. I don't see the writers of these stories dealing adequately with the glaring issues involved in such a relationship.
Torture is horribly intimate. Wizard torture may be less so because of the use of magic, but a twisted unwanted physical bond would still be present. Torture is akin to rape; both involve the application of physical power, dominance and control over another person's body against their will. A torture victim feels powerless and very often humiliated and ashamed. Since the experience at Hogwarts appears to have often occurred in class or in detention there may have been witnesses.
I can't imagine that Neville or any of the other students could approach one of Crabbe's or Goyle's friends without wondering if they approved their friend's actions; if they took part. I can't believe that Neville (to use him as an example) wouldn't wonder if the pair had talked about what they did to him, how he acted, or even ridiculed him in front of these friends and girl-friends. This would not be a childish thought. We are talking about one of the most demeaning experience that can happen to a person. One that forces victims to work hard to recover their self respect. These are experience that often create triggers that bring back unwanted memories. Don't you think meeting Crabbe's old girlfriend, best friend what ever would be an issue?
As a reader I wondered what the characters thought about meeting a person their friend or boyfriend had mistreated. Did they ignore what was going on? Approve of it?
Often the biggest issue between the characters are how good looking, cool, popular or accomplished they appeared in school as if these issues were bigger than the small thing of having close friends who regularly hurt people for fun and profit, of having the sort of character and values that can overlook such a thing.
Often the biggest post DH issue in fanfictions is whether people are being judgmental or mean toward Slytherins. The assumption is that the characters are being judgmental and unfair if they do not want to embrace the friends of their torturers or even the torturers themselves. Are people required to forgive those who have hurt them badly? As a Christian I believe so, but I do not believe it is an easy thing or accomplished quickly. Sometimes it is the work of a lifetime. I believe they do so for God, themselves, society and the person. I also believe forgiveness is an undeserved gift -- grace.
Often the author seems to believe the victim owes the perpetrator forgiveness like an unpaid debt.
We know Draco was forced to torture against his will. This may have happened to other characters as well. I almost never see this dealt with in a fic.
I don't care how the author deals with these issues, but I can't believe in a story where they aren't dealt with at all. Characters could grow, change, whatever, but the issue can't be ignored, at least in my opinion.
I understand why an author would want to avoid these issues. But then why not call the story AU? Assume that the torture never took place and write the story accordingly. I would respect that and I think that is what many of these authors are doing. I wish they would say so, then I could read the story free of concern.
I've flisted this because I don't want to publicly discuss problems with fics I actually respect. I've gone on over long and have only touched on half of what I think about the issue. Sorry.
Yes, I know Crabbe is dead and that very much affects all his future relationships.
I've read a number of fics by authors I respect where Neville or another Hogwarts student develops a relationship with either a close friend of Crabbe and Goyle a former girl-friend of Crabbe or Goyle or even between Goyle and a student. I don't see the writers of these stories dealing adequately with the glaring issues involved in such a relationship.
Torture is horribly intimate. Wizard torture may be less so because of the use of magic, but a twisted unwanted physical bond would still be present. Torture is akin to rape; both involve the application of physical power, dominance and control over another person's body against their will. A torture victim feels powerless and very often humiliated and ashamed. Since the experience at Hogwarts appears to have often occurred in class or in detention there may have been witnesses.
I can't imagine that Neville or any of the other students could approach one of Crabbe's or Goyle's friends without wondering if they approved their friend's actions; if they took part. I can't believe that Neville (to use him as an example) wouldn't wonder if the pair had talked about what they did to him, how he acted, or even ridiculed him in front of these friends and girl-friends. This would not be a childish thought. We are talking about one of the most demeaning experience that can happen to a person. One that forces victims to work hard to recover their self respect. These are experience that often create triggers that bring back unwanted memories. Don't you think meeting Crabbe's old girlfriend, best friend what ever would be an issue?
As a reader I wondered what the characters thought about meeting a person their friend or boyfriend had mistreated. Did they ignore what was going on? Approve of it?
Often the biggest issue between the characters are how good looking, cool, popular or accomplished they appeared in school as if these issues were bigger than the small thing of having close friends who regularly hurt people for fun and profit, of having the sort of character and values that can overlook such a thing.
Often the biggest post DH issue in fanfictions is whether people are being judgmental or mean toward Slytherins. The assumption is that the characters are being judgmental and unfair if they do not want to embrace the friends of their torturers or even the torturers themselves. Are people required to forgive those who have hurt them badly? As a Christian I believe so, but I do not believe it is an easy thing or accomplished quickly. Sometimes it is the work of a lifetime. I believe they do so for God, themselves, society and the person. I also believe forgiveness is an undeserved gift -- grace.
Often the author seems to believe the victim owes the perpetrator forgiveness like an unpaid debt.
We know Draco was forced to torture against his will. This may have happened to other characters as well. I almost never see this dealt with in a fic.
I don't care how the author deals with these issues, but I can't believe in a story where they aren't dealt with at all. Characters could grow, change, whatever, but the issue can't be ignored, at least in my opinion.
I understand why an author would want to avoid these issues. But then why not call the story AU? Assume that the torture never took place and write the story accordingly. I would respect that and I think that is what many of these authors are doing. I wish they would say so, then I could read the story free of concern.
I've flisted this because I don't want to publicly discuss problems with fics I actually respect. I've gone on over long and have only touched on half of what I think about the issue. Sorry.
Yes, I know Crabbe is dead and that very much affects all his future relationships.