I myself, like Dumbledore bashing, but prefer if they bash him only once and not continue it throughout the whole story.

Even though I'm in support of Dumbledore bashing, you have to take into count that hes a 150+ year old man who knows how to get his way. He has been taking people and bending them to his will for years. He's gained all of his political power and fans with his manipulation. I'm not discrediting him, he probably has worked for some of the power and sway he has over the Wizard world.

I give him props for getting where he is, but I think that when he trys making everything his way, is when the bashing starts for me. Like getting who he wants into Minister Office is okay for me, but when he starts placing children with families he thinks is best is when it bothers me.

It really all depends on the author, story backround and beliefs onto whether or not Dumbledore bashing is appropriate.

But everyone is entitled to their own opinions and this is just mine. Sorry for the long post, but I have discussed this with a few of my friends before and have sorted out my feelings on Dumbeldore bashing.

 

what would you have had him do exactly?

 

EDIT:My apologies I read the question wrong.

I would had Dumbledore probably sit down and go over a list of families that would have been best for Harry. He wouldn't have just stuck him with a regular wizarding family, because Harry probably would have grown up acting like hes ruler of the world.

Dumbledore would have ended up sticking him with a family who wouldn't have taken him in because he was the Hero of the Wizarding world, but have taken him because he was an orphan. Thats basically what I would have had Dumbledore do

I would have better understood if Dumbledore had sticken Harry with the Dursleys because they were his only family left, if he didn't know how they thought of the wizarding world. But Dumbledore knew how they felt towards it, but instead of doing what was right he did what he thought was right.

You left me wondering with that question, "I wonder what everyone else would have done" So what would everyone else have done in Dumbleldore's shoes?

 

name 1 family that could have taken him in that would have no underlying reasons
1. purebloods would try to claim him and kill him

2. ministry is corrupt he would end up a poster child for the ministry

3. Weasleys have 7 kids they can't afford another end. of. story.

4. Bones's just lost most of there family I can't imagine them adopting

5 hogwarts proffesors/dumbledore are to busy to take care of a baby

who are you left with?

 

Erm..point taken. I guess my theory is out the window. Not that I like him having gone to the Dursleys, but where would our Harry Potter books be without him having gone there? We wouldn't have them. So madeyemoody I guess you are right.

 

Why does he have to go to any well-known family? That would, by itself, increase the level of danger surrounding Harry. He could just go to a regular Wizarding family, one who can take care of him, and not be prone to flaunting his status.

 

A not so well known wizarding family would worship him just as much as a popular wizarding family would. That is the reason he wasn't in the wizarding world growing up, because he would be pampered and become arrogant, even most respectable wizarding family would. we can all see that happening, the question didn't really need to be asked.

this is said in the first chapter in the book...do you just refuse to believe anything Dumbledore says?

 

I think he should have given Harry to a muggle family, that way there is no issue of fame.

Also an average family wouldn't treat a child like the Dursley's did. If he'd been placed in a caring home, under the fidelius charm he would've been safe.

Putting him with an abusive family makes him an accessory to everything the Dursley's did to him.

Litha

 

True...but how would he go about that?

The same approach that they did(Leaving him on a doorstep), but with a random family? that wouldn't go over well...

Leave him at an orphanage, hoping for someone to pick him up(Tom Riddle)?

I, personally, think leaving him there was the best choice, and am willing to defend the argument.

maybe leaving him at a Squibs house...but even then, some worship will be involved if the squib is related to living relatives.

Plus...He would still be intergraded into the magical world if left to anyone who knows about the magical world, which would allow Harry to see people worshipping him at a young age.

 

I like intelligent Dumbledore bashing, in situations where he truly deserves it: Portraying him as omniscient and neglectful isn't good enough; honestly, those stories show a lack of thought usually. I like it when Dumbledore is critiqued for being human while pretending he is not.
Sob stories suck, but ones where he uses Harry's occlumency lessons to redeem Snape or put Harry in a similar situation to Riddle to redeem himself of guilt (Riddle making the choice to be evil instead of the circumstances forcing him to be) are enjoyable. It largely depends on the writing ability of the writer: Badly written Dumble bashing where he sets up his pawn Harry and keeps his inheritance from him, steals from him, and hides the prophecy to suppress Harry's power are just unattractive. Creative and reasonable bashing, extremely well demonstrated in Jbern's works, are VERY nice.

Cheers.

 

I think the different era's had an influence on Tom Riddle, after all it was around WWII. In that time children weren't a top priority, especially with the amount of relocated refugee children.

Also Dumbledore runs a school, he must surely have a list of potential student's. He could've made arrangements to have him adopted by a muggleborn's family, like the Creevey's.

I'm not saying I could've written better, but it was a decision made on the spur of the moment. It was the same night his parent's had died, and he was already being dumped on the Dursley's doorstep.

He could have even let the muggle police men find him, because babies were popular for adoption in 1982. Mainly because they have the least complications.

It's just the ruthlessness that bothers me, if he'd given Harry a few more days I might think differently.

Litha

 

All very true, but for one, Dumbledore needed a way to contact him and had someone watching over him.

If he was going to leave him at a future muggleborn parents house, he would need to explain the situation, causing curiousity, and eventually, being introduced to the Magical World...

Edit: Sorry that I am not explaining myself as much as I should, but it is late...

 

Does it honestly matter if he is introduced to the magical world at a young age? Harry, would most likely never be arrogant, even if people worship him.

If he is belittled his whole life, made fun of, you'd think that when he get's to the magical world and he's worshiped, he'd think more highly of himself. Personally, I think it's just Harry's character that would stop him from being arrogant. If he was with a regular wizarding family, he would be better at magic and be versed in there customs, he'd still be Harry.

He'd be a magical, well-versed, good old humble, Harry.

 

well, I believe in Nuture over Nature, so I am going to have to disagree with you, and I doubt anything I say would convince you otherwise, as much as anything you say probably couldn't convince me.

 

You and I have been on this site a long time as such, I cant believe you forgot somebody actually wrote this scenario Happy Red Prince ring a bell.

your fellow worshiper of darkness

madeyemoody

 

Well, um okay. Err, yeah, but to be fair that's Harry's grandmother not an average family; but I see your point.

 

I value your opinion but I have to disagree. The character we know as Harry was shaped and formed by his past. If he had grown up in Ron's life, he wouldn't feel the same as he does in canon.

If he was in Ron's shoes, with a loving family and low income. He wouldn't act the same way he does, wishing he had a family, and not caring about his money. He would take his parents for granted like Ron does, and he would be embarrassed about his money issues. Well at least thats how I view it.

EDIT: I forgot that he probably wouldn't be the noble, self-sacrificing Harry we know in canon.

 

Well, in that situation, I would think Harry would work harder to get out of that situation. Ron is just different from Harry. Ron hates his life, but is too lazy to change it. Harry appreciates life, but would like to improve it.

 

I understand what you're saying, but the Harry you are talking about is the Harry that the Dursleys created. It actually all depends on people's beliefs. I feel the Dursleys created the canon Harry, I'm not trying to change your opinion, I just want you to understand I'm not coming out of left field with this theory.

 

Yeah, I know. I'm just going off the Canon Harry, since that is the one we are all arguing about. Would he be arrogant, or not? Canon Harry, is just too..good to ever be arrogant, raised by a Wizarding family, or no. Personally, I still think a Wizarding family is better. Why? Because even though he could possibly be arrogant, he would be healthy, happy, and be around magic so he can have a easier time at Hogwarts studying.

Now, he would have motivation. The Dursleys NEVER motivated him to learn, but an appropiate wizarding family would. Even if it is just too raise their status.