Ron & Ginny - Who do you think was right?

[CeeEra]

Now, I don't have an older brother but I do have an older cousin who has decided that he needs to keep me safe because the "damsel in distress" I was as a child apparently still shines for him. So, as someone who's been put in a situation somewhat like that, I'd have to say that he did kind of over-react. While it's nice that he (and my cousin) care, it's pushing the line when you call someone out in an empty corridor (or in an empty hallway). It's not the same thing as PDA seeing as there wasn't anyone around before they came storming in. Now, if she'd be standing in the Great Hall during an evening meal than I may have a different opinion...I consider stuff like that kind of rude.

[TreacleFudge]

As voiced many times before, Ron overeacted to the situation. It clouded everything enough that Ginny definately won!

[meesha1971]

Originally Posted by CeeEra

Now, I don't have an older brother but I do have an older cousin who has decided that he needs to keep me safe because the "damsel in distress" I was as a child apparently still shines for him. So, as someone who's been put in a situation somewhat like that, I'd have to say that he did kind of over-react. While it's nice that he (and my cousin) care, it's pushing the line when you call someone out in an empty corridor (or in an empty hallway). It's not the same thing as PDA seeing as there wasn't anyone around before they came storming in. Now, if she'd be standing in the Great Hall during an evening meal than I may have a different opinion...I consider stuff like that kind of rude.

A corridor - or hallway - is not private. That is a public place and, just because it was empty at the time was no guarantee that it would remain empty. The Great Hall is empty at times too, but that doesn't change the fact that it is a public place and anyone could walk in on them. It is the same for a corridor. If Ginny wanted privacy, she should have chosen an empty classroom. Even a broom closet would have been a better choice than a corridor where anyone could walk up at any time.

Anyone has the right to say "I don't want to see that" - and that is all Ron did. That was not an overreaction. Ginny should have just said "Fine" and went somewhere more private.

[lil_snuffles]

Ginny was right. Ron is way too overprotective and he overreacted at the situation. Plus, it's Ginny's choice on who she wants to go out with, not Ron's.

[sweets7]

Ireally feel that while rons behaviour was perhaps not unusual for an older brother that his comments betrayed something of a Neanderthal attitude. I think the last time that I heard 'scarlet women' mentioned was in the film of the same name.

However at this time Ron is very inexperienced when it comes to matters of the heart and to those that are very inexperienced, actions such as Dean and Ginny's may appear to be a bigger deal, then it would appear to the individuals themselves. They are all teenagers and that type of behaviour from couples was very common in my experience in school and holiday camps. They weren’t really doing anything at all.

I believe that Ginny while completely justified in her response, let her temper exceed tact and diplomacy. While she may have spoken the truth to Ron about his lack of experience with girls she was very cruel.

I get the impressions from the books that perhaps the Weasley family have rather traditional male/female roles and are somewhat conservative in this manner.

I therefore feel that they both said some shocking unfair and cruel things and that if Ron had simply told Ginny he had no desire to see her snog in the corridor that the rather cruel exchange could have been avoided.

[CeeEra]

Originally Posted by meesha1971

A corridor - or hallway - is not private. That is a public place and, just because it was empty at the time was no guarantee that it would remain empty. The Great Hall is empty at times too, but that doesn't change the fact that it is a public place and anyone could walk in on them. It is the same for a corridor. If Ginny wanted privacy, she should have chosen an empty classroom. Even a broom closet would have been a better choice than a corridor where anyone could walk up at any time.

Anyone has the right to say "I don't want to see that" - and that is all Ron did. That was not an overreaction. Ginny should have just said "Fine" and went somewhere more private.

See, now I can understand it being public (I can't remember if I said otherwise or not in my previous post) but I still think that there's a difference. I mean, I don't like seeing PDA at all. I mean, walking out to the car after school is the most horrible thing of the day because I end up seeing more tongue and groping than I would if I watched an adult movie but when someplace is empty and no one else is around then I don't mind so much. I mean, two people having a make-out session in the hallway when I am not around is perfectly fine with me. I'm not seeing it, so I don't care. And no one was seeing Ginny and Dean until Ron and Harry started coming back. Not to mention, wasn't that scene just after Quidditch practice? There wouldn't be too many out at that time of night, anyway. And Harry and Ron were taking a shortcut to the common room (I remember that for sure) that most probably wouldn't know of so, if anything, they were seemingly out of the way of on-lookers.

While I do agree that she had better alternative choices, I still don't necessarily think that Ron's reaction was as it could have -or should have- been. Yes, everyone has a right to say that they don't want to see it, but throwing a tantrum isn't exactly telling a couple to chill with the PDA. Plus, if I remember correctly, Ron had been butting in before that, too. I mean, there's only so much one can take before getting upset. Ginny was 15 at the time and it seems that just like all other girls that age she wanted a little bit of freedom which Ron was preventing her from having. I can understand why she'd be snappy.

And... Wouldn't an empty classroom be a public place, aswell? I mean, anyone could walk in there, too. An example of this being shown when Ron and Lavender walked into the same empty classroom as Hermione was in. Same as a broom closet or any place in Hogwarts for that matter. Even the Room of Requirement isn't safe.

[k4r6000]

Ron was completely in the wrong here, and quite frankly in real life would have likely resulted in getting popped by Dean. I have no doubts that this was Rowling's intention as well.

[Alastor]

As this thread has now reached the magical five hundred posts, I think it's time to close it.

Thanks everyone for your input.