The Meaning of Pity and Mercy...what is the RIGHT thing to do? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

dragongirlG · 04-22-2002, 03:01 PM

I believe that in do-or-die situations you don't act by reason. You act by instinct. If someone is about to kill you, then instinctive self defense will come into play. You'll hurt him or her, if not kill for your protection. You wouldn't act by what you believe, as mentioned before, you'd act by what you've been taught, which is (in most cases) self defense. Do-or-die situation? Then kill, or at least hurt as much as possible. Would you show pity and mercy to a serial killer just because someone you loved and trusted told you that he would save the world? To Timothy McVeigh (if he was still living) or Jack the Ripper? Though Middle Earth reflects many of the same values and morals of our world, it's not the same world. Frodo knew and trusted Gandalf, and knew that Gandalf could foretell what would happen, and why he should not kill Gollum. Unfortunately, in this world, there are not many Gandalfs we can trust in this world, probably none at all.

As Kalessin mentioned before, these are fictional characters. It's not real life. Many here say they would have showed others pity because of the Gollum example. However, we knew Gollum had an important part to play because of Gandalf. But that was in a book. We knew Gandalf was a good character. But how do you know, in our world, if someone is telling the complete truth about why you should not kill someone, even if he or she is someone you deeply trust? How do you know that he or she is simply in league with the serial killer or criminal that he or she is telling you not to kill, sort of like Saruman was with Sauron? In Middle Earth, we could trust Gandalf. But in real life, there are no Gandalfs. We are men and women, after all, and temptation still lives in our blood.

[ April 22, 2002: Message edited by: dragongirlG ]

04-22-2002, 03:01 PM	#9
dragongirlG Wight Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Stock, the Shire Posts: 151	I believe that in do-or-die situations you don't act by reason. You act by instinct. If someone is about to kill you, then instinctive self defense will come into play. You'll hurt him or her, if not kill for your protection. You wouldn't act by what you believe, as mentioned before, you'd act by what you've been taught, which is (in most cases) self defense. Do-or-die situation? Then kill, or at least hurt as much as possible. Would you show pity and mercy to a serial killer just because someone you loved and trusted told you that he would save the world? To Timothy McVeigh (if he was still living) or Jack the Ripper? Though Middle Earth reflects many of the same values and morals of our world, it's not the same world. Frodo knew and trusted Gandalf, and knew that Gandalf could foretell what would happen, and why he should not kill Gollum. Unfortunately, in this world, there are not many Gandalfs we can trust in this world, probably none at all. As Kalessin mentioned before, these are fictional characters. It's not real life. Many here say they would have showed others pity because of the Gollum example. However, we knew Gollum had an important part to play because of Gandalf. But that was in a book. We knew Gandalf was a good character. But how do you know, in our world, if someone is telling the complete truth about why you should not kill someone, even if he or she is someone you deeply trust? How do you know that he or she is simply in league with the serial killer or criminal that he or she is telling you not to kill, sort of like Saruman was with Sauron? In Middle Earth, we could trust Gandalf. But in real life, there are no Gandalfs. We are men and women, after all, and temptation still lives in our blood. [ April 22, 2002: Message edited by: dragongirlG ]