::takes you aside, whispers::

Have you noticed that it is apparently no longer cool to have low self-esteem?

When people mention it, they disclaimer.
"It's not like my self-esteem is low, or anything..."

Also, it gets mentioned often in connection with violent crime and icky habits.
"The rapist usually suffers from low self-esteem."
"If she had any self-esteem she would exfoliate more."

It is a quality people can use to attack each others self-esteem.
"You're just a little low self-esteem whiner."
"Yeah, and you're using your own insecurities to try and bring me to your level."

Weirdness.

Not that I'm feeling, erm, self-hating! NO, I like myself just fine. It's these *other* people...
;O)

Again with the Meta.

Just read an interesting bit of discussion on J.K. Rowling's moral structure in the HP universe here.

It brought to mind some thinking I've been doing about the subject lately myself, and led me to comment. Here's the text of the comment I made.

~
I've been trying to pinpoint the source of my dissatisfaction with the HP universe, and a lot of it stems from the problems you mention (see her post). At first I felt there was a lack of coherency in her (Rowling's) views, but now I am not so certain.

What, exactly, is the basis for Rowlings's HP moral universe? The best I can come up with is a clannish morality, very much about the recognition and acceptance of clan members, with concommitant rejection of non-clan others. Loyalty to the clan, appreciation of the individual members' uniqueness, courage in the defense of the clan against threatening other clans, seem to be the "good" behaviors.

Others are, by their very nature, evil when they want access to the goods/services/lands/moral highground of the clan. Or when they withhold the taking of the above by clan members on behalf of the clan. Oh, and if they are blond.

Clan members can become "others" if they show too much disloyalty to the clan, or threaten the clan's unity/honor/power. [EDIT] Oops, spoiler. ( FNORD )

Dumbledore is always right, even when he's wrong, because he is Clan Chieftain and Harry is his heir. Thus, they represent the clan as a whole.

Just some thoughts. I'll probably change my mind later.