Harry Potter discussion

So I'm trying to explain the Slytherin House to my friend and I'm getting a bit muddled. The line between Slytherin and Gryffindor seems very blurry to me and the main difference I see is that in the books Slytherin was evil and Gryffindor good. What characteristics do you think Slytherins represent?

Slytherins value ambition and the ability to get their way by any means necessary if it is needed, whereas Gryffindor's value bravery and friendship above all else.
This does not necessarily make Griffindore good and Slytherin bad, they just value different things. I think the main reason so many Slytherins ended up becoming death eaters (but not all) Is that Slytherin is such a demonized house. For example, if Harry did not already have a pre-conceived idea that Slytherin was the "evil" house, he would have been in it. Since Slytherins tend to get bullied and dehumanized for their values, of course, they would turn to a group that valued them and treated them better than anyone else had.
Furthermore, Professor Slughorn was a kind man who made a mistake by helping Tom Riddle, yes, but he was simply trying to help a student who asked for it. He used ambition and cunning to his advantage in a healthy way, as we can see making friends with his students so he could have tickets to the quidditch games and connections in the ministry. He is an excellent example that when given a healthy upbringing that so many Slytherins are deprived of, they can thrive in the modern day wizarding world in a morally good way.

-A Hufflepuff

Adding to what Ruby Engum said, Regulus Black was a Slytherin and he helped in destroying Voldemort and the Horcruxes while sacrificing himself in the process. This showed how selfless and brave he was and he did it in order to protect his family and Kreacher. He did something no one else would do all by himself and that is extremely brave. So basically, not all Slytherins are bad. Slytherins are just thought to be bad because many were raised in a wrong way and with the wrong ideas.

I don’t think Slytherins are bad. Regulus Black, Snape and Draco all are from Slytherin. They just value their ambitions more than anything. And because of this ‘ Pure blood and mud blood’ thing , they end up becoming death eaters. They are very cunning. Gryffindor unlike Slytherins value loyalty and friendship.

I can't explain.

As a Slytherin this is what I think:

The difference between Slytherin and Gryffindor is pretty simple if you think about it. Gryffindor’s values and Slytherin’s values are basically what makes them different houses.

What I would use to describe Slytherin: ‘Cunning, ambitious, they will do anything to get what they need or want.’

What I would use to describe Gryffindor: ‘Brave, Chivalrous, Confident, they are known to be selfless and Gryffindor tends to be the house that Heroes/Heroines come from.

I’m not going to explain what they are because I feel like to some extent everyone has their own definition, but the thing that sets them apart is simply their concept of right and wrong. In the movies, but especially the books we know that there can be some good Slytherin.(even though that’s depicted on your view of Snape.) and there can be bad Gryffindors, however, it is shown constantly that Slytherin’s are willing to go to the end of the Earth to get what they want if they wanted it bad enough, we are a Gryffindor might decide to give up what they want in order for the greater good.

Slytherins aren't bad at all. I mean, in their ambition and search for power a lot of them have turned evil, but Ik a lot of Slytherins and they're amazing. I was honestly expecting to be a Slytherclaw instead of a Gryffinclaw.