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Originally Posted by Selador

Oh, heck yeah. I'm not afraid to admit it. I am wise enough to know that I should not use such a ring, but the urge to do good with it would be too strong for me to resist and would lead me down a crooked path. And the urge to do a little evil with it would not be completely irresistible to me. Like I say, I am not proud of it, but I know myself to be a less than perfect man.

At least you're honest with yourself, which is healthy. Myself, I would quickly learn to call everything I did a virtue...as, well, I'm just sure that it would be.

No, it would really be about helping the poor, but not some vague poor-at-large, nor all the poor. My hope is not so grand as that. Rather I would make a small effort to help those good folk I know who in my opinion suffer unjustly in this too often unjust world. Those who if they were paid according to their virtue would live like kings, but have little prospect of such reward this side of heaven.

Life's not fair, and making it so is impossible, but I applaud your sentiment.

And I would not simply be taking from the rich-at-large either. When I wrote that I would be selective of my victims, I meant that I would be very reluctant to steal from anyone, and would have to consider the matter and the individuals very closely. But if, for example, you have a chance to save 'Tiny Tim' by filching a bit of silver from 'Mr. Scrooge' (who you feel certain is unlikely ever to miss it at all), well then, what is the greater good?

Ahh! Every time I hear those words I flinch - it's genetic - as that whole road of good intentions thing. Plus, I believe the worst of everyone, not because I'm a cynic, but because I'm an optimist.

Should Tiny Tim be doomed so that I can keep my consience clean? I guess I should just leave it in the ghosts' hands, but what if they never come?

True, but there's that Law of Unintended Consequences, and there's that slippery slope thing that old curmudgeons like me like to mention as well. Today it's Tiny Tim, tomorrow it's
G. Richard Wagoner, Jr.

I am certainly no better qualified than anyone else to decide who is deserving and who is not. No. And I am very aware of the fact that I might end up doing more harm than good. But then I have no other eyes and no other heart to judge with but my own, and everyone must do as they can and judge as they are able.

You'll never make it as a despot with that attitude.

As for Sméagol, I am quite convinced that the Ring was behind the murder of his best friend, although I know that some don't believe it.

You can find out a lot about what people think about Gollum here.

And while I'm certain it is possible, I can't put too much store in the rumor of his killing babies, as it is only a rumor. It has always struck me as exaggeration. However, all of that is really beside the point. I've no agenda here. I am only wondering what others think. Considering Sméagol only prompted my question. I am not trying to mount any defense of him, and I am not telling anyone that they should pity him. I am only trying to get people to ponder the temptations of a Ring of Invisibility on a more personal level than they might have were they only to do so in the abstract, through the character of Sméagol.

Excellent idea. Hope the discussion continues.

And as for the airlines. Bah! I could lose a few pounds, sure, but I don't think they'll go bankrupt over me. I think I would enjoy the mischief and adventure of tramping more than the real financial benefit. But, hey, I never said I was a saint. Even Frodo nicked a few mushrooms in his day, eh?

I hear ya. I would be lying if I said that I didn't have a mischievous side, but when taking the high road to the ivory tower, I tend to forget that part of me - makes being condescending so much easier.