Ok, then, is what Gandalf does (getting Bilbo to let go of the ring and helping out Theoden), is that "manipulating?" I have to agree that manipulation is termed for the more evil, so maybe this again would fall under "persuasion." And what Gandalf is doing is persuading, he's telling Bilbo to let the Ring go (the Ring is telling him different), and he's telling Theoden to get up, look at the sun, flip off Grima...etc. Since, Gandalf is doing this for "moral" reasons, I would agree that it is not manipulation.
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