(no subject)

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

Am I the only one a little bothered by Dumbledore? Not only with the fact he could end up in the Guinness Book Of World Records for "Most Incompetent Headmaster of All Time" (though I'm sure there's worse. :P), but also because...he just bugs me. I know JKR was trying to write him as the "flawed Yoda", so to speak (and to be fair, he's nowhere near Yoda. XD), but it's also how...preachy he gets. Towards Fudge, for example. You know, in Goblet of Fire, with, "You place too much importance on purity of blood, yadda yadda et cetera et cetera" -- which considering how he treated Tom Riddle and the Slytherins is...slightly hypocritical isn't it? Probably bad writing on JKR's part, though. :/

Anyways, sorry 'bout the rambling. Thoughts?

Comments

[oneandthetruth.livejournal.com]

and I don't like what she did with the love potion, then again, it's not like we ever get her side of the story, just Dumbledore's assumptions)

Come to think of it, do we have any proof that Merope used a love potion on Tom Sr.? Or is that just Dumbledore's assumption? Sure, Tom Sr. dumped her after she got pregnant and he lost interest in her, but lots of men do that even without magic being involved.

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to go with that Dumbledore was lying to Harry about Tom Riddle the whole time. It just...makes more sense that way. :)

[oneandthetruth.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to go with that Dumbledore was lying to Harry about Tom Riddle the whole time. It just...makes more sense that way. :)

I said on Snapedom several months ago that if you assume Dumbledore is a narcissistic psychopath, and that everything he says is a lie, the books make a whole lot more sense.

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

I think JKR realized that. And that's why Dumbledore calls his Pensieve memory of Riddle "satisfyingly accurate". (Or it could have just been another case of Dumbledore pimping how awesome he is. :P)

*Pours everyone juma juice*

Christ, here we go again...

[oryx_leucoryx]

Well, Tom Sr supposedly also claimed to have been 'hoodwinked'. Which could be taken in all sorts of ways. For all we know, maybe he was complaining that she lied about using birth control. Or something entirely different. Or perhaps Tom Jr was right and he left because he discovered she had powers and got scared.

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

"Well, Tom Sr supposedly also claimed to have been 'hoodwinked'. Which could be taken in all sorts of ways. For all we know, maybe he was complaining that she lied about using birth control."

XD

Okay, you just won a freaking Internet. :3

[oneandthetruth.livejournal.com]

Well, Tom Sr supposedly also claimed to have been 'hoodwinked'. Which could be taken in all sorts of ways. For all we know, maybe he was complaining that she lied about using birth control. Or something entirely different. Or perhaps Tom Jr was right and he left because he discovered she had powers and got scared.

What birth control? Tom Jr. was born in 1925. The only birth control they had back then was the pessary (diaphragm) and condom. As for Tom Sr's being conned, again, that's something men have said many times without magic being involved. "You tricked me into marriage!" "You're not the person I thought you were!" And so on.

[oryx_leucoryx]

Various forms of low-tech birth control of assorted levels of efficacy existed since antiquity. Acidifying the vagina works to some degree (a slice of lemon is supposed to do the trick). I wouldn't rely on it, but it helped with spacing births.

But yes, Tom Sr may have meant any odd thing when he claimed he was 'hoodwinked'.

[seductivedark.livejournal.com]

But, using birth control was considered a sort-of sin before the fact, planning on *gasp* having sex before marriage. And, you know, what decent woman back then would not have a child once she was married? That's what completes a woman, according to the old-speak. Besides, it's her "duty." And, God won't give you what you can't bear. Platitude, platitude, put yours here.

Maybe she let Tom Sr. think she was pregnant before they got married when she wasn't and only got pregnant after they married. That's a hoodwink.

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

do we have any proof that Merope used a love potion on Tom Sr.?

EXACTLY. This series is so weak with the way it constantly presents speculation as proven fact. Merope gets condemned for something we don't even know she did! I mean, was the girl educated at all? I don't think so, not from the way she was derided as a 'Squib' and the abusive home she was in, doubt she'd be afforded that opportunity. So...how's she supposed to brew this special potion? Or get the ingredients for it?

Tom Sr. dumped her after she got pregnant and he lost interest in her, but lots of men do that even without magic being involved.

Good point. I'm glad other people are willing to critically re-examine the situation without the Harry-filter clouding their judgment and accepting Dumbledore's word as law. *eyeroll*

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

I...well said, borg_princess. Well said. :)

Trust me, I think the lack of logic in HP would be enough to make Jon Stewart shit his pants. :P