'Tis a Puzzlement

[kerravonsen]

Oh, Harry Potter fans and Brits, and those who happen to be both, lend me your wisdom!
I've come across a couple of things in HP stories I've read recently, things which puzzle me.

A. Dementors
The assertion that "Dementors feed on happy thoughts". When I came across this the first time, I thought it was an aberration, a misinterpretation, but when I came across it a second time, it obviously isn't a solitary one. Where did people get this idea? To me, it seems the complete opposite of what canon tells us. Dementors don't feed on happy thoughts, they feed on despair. Or, more precisely, they create despair and feed on souls.
How could Dementors feed on happy thoughts when happy thoughts (in the form of a Patronus) drive them away?
How could they feed on happy thoughts when people who have lots of unhappy thoughts (such as Harry) are more vulnerable to them?

Is it that people give that interpretation because they think that "evoking worst memories" is equivalent to "destroying happy thoughts" which is equivalent to "feeding on happy thoughts"? But I don't think that's the case at all.

My personal theory about Dementors is that Dementors bring up people's worst memories because they need to induce despair, suicidal despair, in order to more easily consume someone's soul.

B. Forms of Address

"Miss Granger" versus "Granger" versus "Hermione":
1) "Miss Granger" is the most formal (yes)
2) "Hermione" is the least formal and most friendly (yes)
3) "Granger" is less formal and more friendly than "Miss Granger" (huh?)

That last is what puzzles me, though I've come across it more than once in Severus Snape/Hermione Granger stories; that Snape calling her "Granger" is a form of respect and/or friendliness, and that when he goes back to calling her "Miss Granger" it's an indication that their relationship has gone a step backwards.
Maybe my puzzlement is due to the fact that I'm not British, but I thought that the Surname form of address is less friendly than the full honorific; certainly Snape doesn't mean it in any friendly manner when he addresses Harry as "Potter". I thought the Surname form of address is one that emphasises the Teacher-Student dynamic, while the Honorific-Surname form of address, while being more formal, is also more polite, and thus in some ways is more friendly.

Any Brits care to enlighten me?

Comments

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

First names are also used for children and social inferiors

And Vila. Thus proving that Gan is a higher grade than Vila.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Exactly, as a delta Vila is as low as they come. It might also indicate that Gan is an off worlder, his 'status' is a little difficult to define so everyone errs on the side of politeness.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

Years ago, when I taught in a boys' school, we addressed the pupils by their surnames. Which equals formality with an inferior, I assume.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Not quite as low as they come. There were bond slaves, people who were owned by others.

But yes, I always have Gan as a Gamma.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, I forgot those, probably because the only one we saw was off world.
I don't associate them with the Domes.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

And there was Marryatt's family, sold into slavery. A very nasty way of getting government revenue.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

I thought they were sold into slavery off world not within the domes. Yes a very nasty way to balance the governments books.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

There are probably bond slaves in the domes too, as status symbols. Look at how Rashel was dressed. I bet they're fashionable amongst Alphas and ambitious Betas.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised, the Federations equivalent of the 40 somethings Harley Davidson. %P