I allow sidewalk canvassers the moral right to solicit from me exactly and only so long as they respect my moral right to not be interrupted. I often give to panhandlers, but not to the ones who are extra loud and pushy.
Your brainweasels theory is intriguing. Elaborating upon it: Was Fred perhaps an orphan, raised by Scrooge? Was Fred-as-a-boy the last person Scrooge allowed himself to express affection for? And did Fred then "betray" that affection by falling in love? That would fit the one bit of textual suggestion as to why Scrooge is so awful to Fred: 'Why did you get married?' We don't know precisely why Scrooge objected to the marriage, but one can guess that the bride's (lack of) riches was a factor. Worse yet, the notion that love could be more important than money cuts to the heart of Scrooge's ideas about value, and threatens his own self-valuation.
no subject
Your brainweasels theory is intriguing. Elaborating upon it: Was Fred perhaps an orphan, raised by Scrooge? Was Fred-as-a-boy the last person Scrooge allowed himself to express affection for? And did Fred then "betray" that affection by falling in love? That would fit the one bit of textual suggestion as to why Scrooge is so awful to Fred: 'Why did you get married?' We don't know precisely why Scrooge objected to the marriage, but one can guess that the bride's (lack of) riches was a factor. Worse yet, the notion that love could be more important than money cuts to the heart of Scrooge's ideas about value, and threatens his own self-valuation.
While we're on the topic, have I ever shown you my favorite bit of Christmas Carol crack-fic? http://www.peterdavid.net/2010/04/30/what-the-dickens/