[Morthoron]

My, for never having posted on this thread, I certainly have many posts here. Gordis, I name thee Lord of the Cut and Paste. Instead of Rings, you'll be handing out scissors.

Now, back to what I was saying, or at least trying to imply. Sauron, in a mephistophelian manner, beguiles and plays upon inherent character flaws of each of the races (Elves, Dwarves and Men).

The Elves eventually prove to be incorruptible, but were, nevertheless, naive at best, or at worst overambitious and greedy, and welcomed Annatar; that is, Celebrimbor and Smiths of Eregion did. Wiser and more calculating Elves such as Gil-Galad and Galadriel seemed to have asked the simple question: 'Annatar, just who in the Angband are you?' This is one of those annoying little points that is rarely discussed on these and other fora. Did some of the Elves so lack common sense that they accepted Annatar without reservation? I mean, really, many of the Elves in the 2nd Age had lived in Aman previously, and were intimate with both the Valar and Maiar. Isn't it odd that no Eregion Elf asked, 'Ummm...dude, like, I never saw you boogie-boarding Taniquetil, and, like, I didn't catch you at any frat-parties at Ezellohar. What, were you like hangin' with Irmo in Lorien in, like, a dream state or sumptin?'

The warnings were there. Other Elves eschewed Annatar's advances. Was it naivety then, or was it (and this seems more likely) a character flaw in Celebrimbor? It would seem the curse of Mandos was visited on the clan of Feanor down to its last generation. Blind ambition, loving too well the work of one's hands, vanity, conceit -- these are the hallmark of the Feanorians, and Sauron found in these traits the method by which he could control the Noldor of Eregion.

Of the Nine and the Seven, I believe you can lump them together into the 'Sinful Sixteen', as they really did not have separate traits; rather, Sauron merely divided them up according to his designs, playing on the character flaws inherent in the Dwarves (avarice) and Men (lust for power as well as greed):

But Sauron gathered into his hands all the remaining Rings of Power (that is the Seven and the Nine]; and he dealt them out to the other peoples of Middle-earth, hoping thus to bring under his sway all those that desired secret power beyond the measure of their kind. Seven Rings he gave to the Dwarves; but to Men he gave nine, for Men proved in this matter as in others the readiest to his will [my emphasis].

The Dwarves proved impossible to dominate, but the Rings awoke their lust for gold (and the seven hordes of the old Dwarf Lords was each founded on a Ring). Of Men, however, Sauron seems to have chosen more selectively:

There were evil Numenoreans: Sauronians, but they do not come into this story, except remotely; as the wicked Kings who had become Nazgul or Ringwraiths.

...But also they enhanced the natural power of a possessor -- this approaching 'magic', a motive easily corruptible into evil, a lust for domination [my emphasis].

Men proved easier to ensnare. Those who used the Nine Rings became mighty in their day, kings, sorcerors and warriors of old. They obtained glory and great wealth, yet it turned to their undoing.

'Wicked Kings', 'sorcerors', 'warriors' -- you will notice Tolkien never uses a definor such as 'wise loremasters', benevolent lords', 'noble knights' -- he preyed upon those who already exhibited traits necessary to ensnare them: they were the 'wicked Kings', the Black Numenoreans who already worshipped Sauron in the Dark Ages of the Second Age; they were 'sorcerors' (like the Mouth of Sauron, another Black Numenorean in the next Age), who sought arcane power through the necromantic arts (again, Tolkien never uses the words 'sorceror' or 'sorcery' in a positive or good light); and 'warriors', which by any sense of the word does not indicate an interest in statecraft, charity or compassion, rather, bloodlust, vainglory and conquering. There had to be a flaw for Sauron to work on. Each candidate was already exhibiting some trait that the Ring could swell to enormous proportions. If someone does not seek power, does not lust for gold or is not ambitious in the negative sense, it doesn't make much sense that Sauron would be handing them a Ring.