I’ve considered that myself before, part of the response I eventually got to was that my standards don’t have to lower. I can just have high standards. Just as my morality can be demanding regardless that I fail to reach its demands.
That is, my answer to the Draco-style thing is that it is good to encourage him to get better. To notice that he was worse, that he’s gotten better and that is an improvement. Just as someone who was a hitman-for-hire giving up on that because of a moral revelation and being merely a sneak-thief is still a win.
They are still a person who fails, who does not reach my bar; I hold disgust for their actions even within their newly-better state, but that I can still encourage them to become better. I still hold my bar higher than they are at.
The main problematic part of this stance is that of linking your emotions and actions to it, of feeling disquiet that you and everyone around you fails to reach the brilliant gleaming stars they could be, and then still being happy. Trying to improve, not out of guilt, but out of a sheer desire to do better, to see the world grow.
I really liked Replacing Guilt by So8res, not just in the avoiding relying on guilt part, but of instilling a view of reaching for more.
Hermione’s issue is one of blame and not quite understanding change, of still blaming Draco for his actions before he improved himself, of thinking that because Draco had failed so harshly he couldn’t be recovered. Whereas Harry views Draco as someone he can convince and tempt to become a better person, because Draco can choose to be better, that his failures are not intrinsic to him as a person. The issue is not precisely her blame, I can still be angry at someone for their actions before they changed though it loses impact, but rather the lack of a drive to push Draco to a higher point.
So the issue is not a bar, but rather the willingness/belief of dragging them up to the bar.
I’ve considered that myself before, part of the response I eventually got to was that my standards don’t have to lower. I can just have high standards. Just as my morality can be demanding regardless that I fail to reach its demands.
That is, my answer to the Draco-style thing is that it is good to encourage him to get better. To notice that he was worse, that he’s gotten better and that is an improvement. Just as someone who was a hitman-for-hire giving up on that because of a moral revelation and being merely a sneak-thief is still a win.
They are still a person who fails, who does not reach my bar; I hold disgust for their actions even within their newly-better state, but that I can still encourage them to become better. I still hold my bar higher than they are at.
The main problematic part of this stance is that of linking your emotions and actions to it, of feeling disquiet that you and everyone around you fails to reach the brilliant gleaming stars they could be, and then still being happy. Trying to improve, not out of guilt, but out of a sheer desire to do better, to see the world grow.
I really liked Replacing Guilt by So8res, not just in the avoiding relying on guilt part, but of instilling a view of reaching for more.
Hermione’s issue is one of blame and not quite understanding change, of still blaming Draco for his actions before he improved himself, of thinking that because Draco had failed so harshly he couldn’t be recovered. Whereas Harry views Draco as someone he can convince and tempt to become a better person, because Draco can choose to be better, that his failures are not intrinsic to him as a person. The issue is not precisely her blame, I can still be angry at someone for their actions before they changed though it loses impact, but rather the lack of a drive to push Draco to a higher point. So the issue is not a bar, but rather the willingness/belief of dragging them up to the bar.