What would the ring tempt you with?

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Originally Posted by alatar

I'm confused...where in the history of the One Ring did it ever beget peace, riches and supermodel spouses?

Power, that's all it gives. Control of others to do what they would not do otherwise.

I'm also confused. Does power not come in handy obtaining supermodel spouses, riches and peace?

I would try my best to refuse it. We say now that we wouldn't accept it, but we wouldn't really know until we came into contact with it, and by then it might be too late. Even the least power-hungry person could be attracted to it. It's probably best that rings like that don't exist.

Maybe the One Ring is lost but there are plenty of lesser Rings of Power still out there, and even they are very dangerous for mortal men. And most ringbearers really do start out with the best intentions. Take for example the fight against terrorism or the fight against drugs. Noble intentions yes, but at the moment it looks like the war against the phenomena in question is causing much more problems than the phenomena itself. Or here in my country we have the fight to stop men from abusing women, a very noble cause. But not seldom this in practice has meant easing the burden of proof if a woman accuses a man of something, and in some cases innocent men have been send away on long prison sentences because of ludicrous charges without any real evidence.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by skip spence

I'm also confused. Does power not come in handy obtaining supermodel spouses, riches and peace?

First off, I don't think I need provide any additional evidence that supermodel spouses and peace could ever coexist - just read any media source.

Anyway, how many of the wraiths died rich, at peace and with their wives accompanying them?

How fun would it be to have a spouse that required a Ring to be held? How long would that be pleasurable?

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by alatar

Anyway, how many of the wraiths died rich, at peace and with their wives accompanying them?

But that doesn't mean that a first they didn't believe they would.

[Airaloske]

the ring would tempt me with the power to go back in time, to relive my life and make better decisions. It would indulge my "what-ifs" to the point that I'd forget who I really was, and then would abandon me when things went wrong -again-. I'd soon find out that all it was doing was pulling a very vivid illusion over my eyes, making me believe that I was really experiencing life all over again.

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by Airaloske

the ring would tempt me with the power to go back in time, to relive my life and make better decisions. It would indulge my "what-ifs" to the point that I'd forget who I really was, and then would abandon me when things went wrong -again-. I'd soon find out that all it was doing was pulling a very vivid illusion over my eyes, making me believe that I was really experiencing life all over again.

That sounds quite familiar. It took me a long time to come to the point in my life when I learned to thank Whoever Is In Charge for most of the mistakes I made and forgive myself for the rest. If I could go back, chances are I'd just make different mistakes this time - and who knows, it might be for the the worse!

[Lush]

What would the ring tempt you with?

Boys. Booze. The Nobel Prize for Literature.

Professional success, in a nutshell, is what's important to me. And I feel it's easy to fall into the trap where it eclipses everything else, and I see that with people who, like me, chase their own metaphoric One Rings. It's a need that, once you let it take over, can never be sated, even as it saps your relationships, which is the scary part.

Or maybe it would go all cheap on me and offer a decent new external hard drive. God knows, I need me one of those.

[Airaloske]

Originally Posted by alatar

How fun would it be to have a spouse that required a Ring to be held? How long would that be pleasurable?

isn't that the way most marriages work

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Originally Posted by alatar

How fun would it be to have a spouse that required a Ring to be held? How long would that be pleasurable?

Well, I'd like to think that Donald Trump isn't really happy when he grasps his latest supermodel wife who doesn't really love him in his gold plated, diamond studded jacuzzi. Could also be that the sound in hos head is ka-ching!

Originally Posted by al

Anyway, how many of the wraiths died rich, at peace and with their wives accompanying them?

We know they didn't end up happy, sure. Accepting a Ring of Power is the road to ruin, I get that. But that doesn't mean they didn't initially have a good run. I'm sure WiKi fex got a hot wife and a nice castle and lots of shiny things to look at to begin with. I mean, where's the temptation in becoming a powerful yet wretched ghoul, doomed forever to walk in the shadows between life and death, joyless but hateful, a slave to the Dark Lord?

[Loslote]

Originally Posted by skip spence

I mean, where's the temptation in becoming a powerful yet wretched ghoul, doomed forever to walk in the shadows between life and death, joyless but hateful, a slave to the Dark Lord?

...seriously? You don't think that sounds amazingly awesome? How boring.

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Originally Posted by Loslote

...seriously? You don't think that sounds amazingly awesome? How boring.

You have issues, lassie...

[alatar]

Originally Posted by skip spence

Well, I'd like to think that Donald Trump isn't really happy when he grasps his latest supermodel wife who doesn't really love him in his gold plated, diamond studded jacuzzi. Could also be that the sound in hos head is ka-ching!

Understood. Think that the dream is working out very well currently for Tiger Woods.

Anyway, my point (I'm going to pretend to have one) is that the One Ring does not create. It gives power and control. So to get that hot spouse you would have to exert that power and control.

Not that they were 'spouses', but look how well the relationship between Saruman and Wormtongue worked out. Saruman used - controlled - yet despised Worm, and Worm needed yet despised Saruman.

One day someone gets stabbed.

I think that the One Ring would pervert any gain obtained by its use. It's a jealous thing, and won't appreciate you spending time with that supermodel spouse while it sits at home.

We know they didn't end up happy, sure. Accepting a Ring of Power is the road to ruin, I get that. But that doesn't mean they didn't initially have a good run. I'm sure WiKi fex got a hot wife and a nice castle and lots of shiny things to look at to begin with. I mean, where's the temptation in becoming a powerful yet wretched ghoul, doomed forever to walk in the shadows between life and death, joyless but hateful, a slave to the Dark Lord?

Understood - there has to be worm on the hook, or some bait in the trap.

But to sell one's soul for some empty pleasures? Sounds like a life like Turin's in the making.

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Originally Posted by alatar

Understood. Think that the dream is working out very well currently for Tiger Woods.

Okay, Tiger's seen better days, maybe, but surely you can see how his lifestyle would be tempting to some, if not wise and sustainable?

Anyway, my point (I'm going to pretend to have one) is that the One Ring does not create. It gives power and control.
...
I think that the One Ring would pervert any gain obtained by its use. It's a jealous thing, and won't appreciate you spending time with that supermodel spouse while it sits at home.

Yeah, I think the idea of the One Ring is absolute power and control, and how it (to rule others) corrupts, regardless of the wielder's intentions. With the ring on your finger you have the means to enforce your own world-view on others. Few people in that situation would let the opportunity pass by, because they would fail to see the "bad" in it. Needless to say, the idea of throwing the Ring into the fires it was made from wouldn't have occurred to any leaders of the West or East in the real world, something Tolkien was well aware of.

Speaking of the supermodel wife, I think the Ring would give you the means to find out what she is doing and thinking at all times. And with the opportunity to listen in, who can resist?

But to sell one's soul for some empty pleasures? Sounds like a life like Turin's in the making.

You mean unhappy? I never got the feeling that Turin was chasing empty pleasures. He seems to have been burdened down with conflicting, high ideals rather...

[alatar]

Originally Posted by skip spence

Okay, Tiger's seen better days, maybe, but surely you can see how his lifestyle would be tempting to some, if not wise and sustainable?

Tempting to some, I guess (I'd leave the golf ). My point is that money, fame, prestige, supermodel wife doesn't always equate with a viable life. So if it *can* happen (as shown by Tiger), with the One Ring as a jealous evil player in one's life, the scales may be tipped so that it is the more probable outcome.

Yeah, I think the idea of the One Ring is absolute power and control, and how it (to rule others) corrupts, regardless of the wielder's intentions. With the ring on your finger you have the means to enforce your own world-view on others.

Force is the word. For every force there is an equal and opposite force (not sure how that comes into play).

Few people in that situation would let the opportunity pass by, because they would fail to see the "bad" in it. Needless to say, the idea of throwing the Ring into the fires it was made from wouldn't have occurred to any leaders of the West or East in the real world, something Tolkien was well aware of.

Much agreed.

Speaking of the supermodel wife, I think the Ring would give you the means to find out what she is doing and thinking at all times. And with the opportunity to listen in, who can resist?

You must not be married.

"Honey, are you listening to me?!?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well then, what did I just say?"

"Uhh..." runs for the man cave.

You mean unhappy? I never got the feeling that Turin was chasing empty pleasures. He seems to have been burdened down with conflicting, high ideals rather...

What I meant is that he used force at times to get his way, and was a bold man as well, and yet his life turned to grief. Sure, Morgoth had it in for him - bet the One Ring would act the same.

Note that we seem to be discussing two different sets of Rings as one: The One Ring, which was always trying to get back to Sauron (and so would jump to a more useful vehicle) and one of the Nine, which were made to 'stick' to the person to whom it was given in order to enslave the wearer.

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Originally Posted by alatar

Tempting to some, I guess (I'd leave the golf ).

Right.

Force is the word. For every force there is an equal and opposite force (not sure how that comes into play).

It doesn't. Applying the methods of natural sciences on human relations is a huge mistake. I suppose the modernists were first to make make that mistake, and although it should be clear by now it was a terrible idea, politicians and social engineers show no sign of giving it up.

You must not be married.

"Honey, are you listening to me?!?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well then, what did I just say?"

"Uhh..." runs for the man cave.

Haha, as you probably guessed, I was thinking more along the lines of jealously guarding over your young supermodel wife and less about for the umpteenth time having to listen to what Debbie or Paula said at work and how that made someone feel and yada yada...

What I meant is that he used force at times to get his way, and was a bold man as well, and yet his life turned to grief. Sure, Morgoth had it in for him - bet the One Ring would act the same.

I see.

[Urwen]

Only one thing-bringing Lalaith to world of the living (the Silmarilion one)

[deagol]

I imagine it would tempt me in much the same way the world itself tempts me . . .

with redheads.

Only . . . you know . . . worse.