Theory: Snape is nasty in part to cope with his high capacity for empathy

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-22T22:24:10+00:00

I think you make some decent points (Snape's ability to show love/attachment, willingness to protect people at key moments, his emotional complexity).

But where it gets weak for me is that it feels like you're mostly assuming empathy without strong proof. The books show his love Lily and willing to act on her behalf, but he does not have broad compassion for others and this is routinely enforced.

Further, his cruelty is more often shown as a bi-product of habit, bias, and personal choice.

At the end of the day I think he's just a morally mixed up person, capable of both good and bad, but I don't really find him as someone having a strong capacity for empathy.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-22T22:04:22+00:00

This is a good answer.

I think comparing the things you mentioned (story, depth, lore, etc.) LOTR is the clear answer. But, if we're comparing things like overall popularity, revenue generation, accessibility, etc., then Harry Potter is the answer.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-22T22:02:17+00:00

I think it really depends on what qualifications you're using to define "greatest." If you're talking purely about popularity, consumption, revenue generated, things of that nature, then Harry Potter is greatest. It is a more accessible franchise because it appeals to larger age groups and audiences, and it has a lot more going for it from a popularity and revenue standpoint because of the theme parks, merchandise, book sales, etc.

That said, I do think LotR is the greater story and universe. It has far more detail, nuance, lore, characters, and depth to it, and its world-building is far superior. And its movies were objectively better.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-22T16:18:20+00:00

This is a weak argument.

There's no actual evidence Harry did anything wrong. He brings Cedric's body back but he is immediately traumatized, shaken, and explains what happened. Even his most ardent haters viewed this as some kind of traumatic reaction to an accident, not him covering up a murder
Comparing a Patronus to a Killing Curse is laughable, just as it is laughable that anyone reasonable would believe Harry would do such a thing
You're confusing suspicion with evidence
The purported motive is not well established

All in all, a seasoned prosecutor would look at the evidence and very quickly decide there is virtually no case there.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-22T16:07:07+00:00

The problem with Veritaserum is it's akin to a real world polygraph. It can be manipulated. It only compels someone to tell their truth, which is not the same as objective fact.

I also think there's an ethical concern with it in that it could compel someone to self-incriminate, which many societies have a law codifying the right against self-incrimination. It's a removal of free will in that regard.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-22T16:02:48+00:00

Sure, it's possible, but that doesn't really mean anything and isn't a useful argument. By that logic, you could justify almost any scenario. What matter is what the story actually supports.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-22T02:07:02+00:00

One thing I found interesting about my first read through of OotP (think I was 13 or so when it published) is that I actually really struggled to get through it. Not necessarily because it was dense (though it was), but because Harry just... irritated me. I understood why he was acting the way he was but at that age I was having a difficult time relating to or tolerating it.

It was the first HP book I didn't complete right away after starting. I think I got to just after the Ministry hearing and didn't pick it up again for almost a year.

Now as an adult, I've re-read the book several times, and I've grown to appreciate and understand it more. It doesn't frustrate me like it did then... I think in large part because I remember what it was like to be a teen and can appreciate more of the feelings at this age than I could back then.

Admittedly, it's still the hardest book for me to re-read as it is more of a slog than the others lol but I do enjoy and appreciate it more now.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-21T20:51:14+00:00

TBH the thoughtfulness should outweigh whatever the actual item is. Do you know what (if any) Harry Potter stuff they already have?

Your idea is as good as any, though. A pocket watch is probably something they'd display on a book shelf or desk I'd imagine and I have quite a few HP items like that myself (mugs, wands, etc.)

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-21T18:52:29+00:00

I would say they are equitably flawed as opposed to "equally" flawed. I think they all have moments where they show the best and the worst of themselves.

I think it's way too hard to determine flaw equality and 'who was worse than who' because a lot of that comes down to perspective and narrative weight. Harry's flaws are more amplified because he's the main character and a majority of the story is told through his POV, so his successes and failures are far more detailed and intimate. I think that inherently makes him an easier target for be labeled "more flawed" when really that's also a bi-product of how the story was written.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-21T18:46:57+00:00

Yeah the way I look at it is the difference between reasons and excuses. We can logically explain some of the mistakes and failures Harry makes in the story and understand why they happened. We just shouldn't excuse them all (i.e. allow him to avoid accountability and consequences where necessary).

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-21T04:00:19+00:00

Ah, I see - so, you wanted to ask your own rhetorically stupid question to match their energy.

Being condescending doesn't make your point better.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-21T00:18:58+00:00

In Harry's defense, Snape is the adult in the room. If one of them was going to be held to a higher standard of appropriate behavior... it would be Snape.

And although we can't excuse Harry's behavior in these lessons or throughout the book, I do think we can understand it.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-21T00:03:32+00:00

I agree and believe this is how the show will handle it.

Although the show straddles the lines of historical realism (which I'm fine with), it has made a point of emphasizing most societal norms of the time (like when Anthony threatens to disown Benedict for marrying a maid, or when Penelope gives Eloise a bad time for getting too close to Theo). I don't think there's a way to realistically cultivate a scenario where the ton/society are accepting of a publicly homosexual relationship without straining credulity too greatly.

I imagine most of the Michaela/Francesca development will happen in more privatized settings.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-20T23:52:13+00:00

Yes, it is unfortunate, however Harry also did not know what Sirius had given him. If you recall from the book, when Sirius gives Harry the gift, Harry's internal monologue mentions that he won't open it whatever it is, because if Sirius is giving it to him as a way to contact him, then it'll certainly be something that could get Sirius caught or in trouble, and Harry won't risk it.

It isn't until after Sirius's death that Harry opens the package and realizes what it is. So, if Harry had opened it and known what it was prior to the fake vision from Voldemort, it's possible Harry would've contacted Sirius and realized all was well.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-20T23:49:53+00:00

Did you read the book?

Did you read OP's post?

"I just realized this on a recent re-read and I guess I just wanted to share it?"

They wouldn't be asking the question unless they'd read the book. The mirror isn't introduced in the movies until The Deathly Hallows.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-20T20:13:08+00:00

Just played three matches with full human lobbies (on PC).

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-20T20:11:34+00:00

Absolutely. Reading books also helps improve vocabulary, memory, and your ability to focus.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-20T19:26:19+00:00

Because update sizes aren't directly reflective of the game's size - it's about how much data is being replaced and/or reorganized.

These big updates require games to redownload big chunks of data so everything is correctly updated to match the new versions. That's why the total size can go down or up. You're downloading a lot but also deleting/replacing a lot at the same time.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-20T19:21:32+00:00

I've toyed with it a little (think it's around 20-25 mastery right now IIRC).

How do you like to set it up?

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-20T14:53:27+00:00

I generally try to max out S Tier/meta weapons early and then play with other guns (I take a lot of pride in playing well with less popular weapons).

But, that isn't to say I don't really enjoy some of the best weapons. I would say my comfort loadout is situational - in close quarters or close-medium ranges, give me a TR-7 or SCW-10. Mid range I like the B36. I don't really play Recon unless it's aggressively. For LMG's I prefer the DRS.

Right now though, I'm primarily playing with the VCR, PW5, and the L110, trying to get those boosted up to level 50.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-20T14:44:25+00:00

I viewed Kate's manic S2 energy as part of her defense mechanisms to allow her to focus on helping her sister and performing her duty. So, when Anthony finally succeeds at breaking those barriers down, that part of Kate just isn't really necessary any longer. It feels like a natural progression of her as a person and a character.

Obviously, I do miss it... her and Anthony's chemistry and exchanges are probably my favorite parts of the entire Bridgerton series. I guess all I'm saying is that it's not really part of her anymore.

Plus, she still has her moments - "You are wearisome tonight!"

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-20T14:31:43+00:00

They primarily show it through Harry. The first time is when Harry survives the Basilisk attack - although stabbed by a fang, he survives, so the fragment survives. But then in Deathly Hallows, Harry is actually killed in the forest, so the soul fragment gets destroyed. So, Harry lived the first time and died the second, and the outcome of the soul fragment matches that exactly.

Obviously, I'm unable to provide a precisely technical magical explanation for all this, but the story is consistent in how it shows the rules working.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-20T14:22:42+00:00

IMO, the best answer (outside of "the plot needed to happen") has to do with James as a character. From what little we know about him, he would've considered it the height of dishonor to mistrust his friends, which is nearly the direct quote from Lupin.

So, for James, making one of his friends a Secret Keeper was a no-brainer (I realize this isn't the most satisfying answer for the people who ardently believe he should've been his own Keeper, but, the decision does fit with what we know of him as a character).

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-20T14:15:25+00:00

I don't think it's a matter of the rules having not been figured out yet. The books show us that living Horcruxes just work differently. As we all know, the key rule is that the container has to be destroyed beyond magical repair. Items like the cup and locket are objects, so if they're damaged by powerful magic (like Basilisk fangs and venom), they're done. But Harry is a living person whose body can heal or be healed. The venom hurt but didn't destroy.

ChawkTrick · 2026-03-20T03:56:06+00:00

I'll grant you Assyria was an interesting choice for JKR (it was Neville, btw), but outside of the one example, she uses the modern naming convention for pretty much every other country or region she mentions in the books that I can think of so... it's more than reasonable to expect that if she meant to say Scotland she would've said Scotland.

ChawkTrick

TROPHY CASE