Invisibility

[Selador]

Thanks for your reply, Vaire. I really do want to tie this back to something specific in the books, actually, but I want to wait until there are some responses before I do that. Otherwise it will ruin the experiment.

[Selmo]

I know what I ought to do with a ring of invisiblity - destroy it, even if it costs me heavily.

But, however much I like to pretend, I'm not a Hobbit. I'm human, and therefore open to temptation; I would use the ring.

At first, I would use it out of simple curiosity, to find out how well it worked, and then to play tricks on family and friends. The next temptation would be to help friends in trouble (Bilbo and the dwarves) and to circumvent annoying restrictions on my life (Harry Potter). How long would it be before I was eavesdropping on on my friends (Lucy in The Voyage of The Dawn Treader) or spying on those neighbours I distrust?

The temptation to use the ring for personal gain, for money, influence, power or status, would quickly overwhelm me. Even without the malign influence of Sauron, the ring would, as Gandalf feared, turn me into a Dark Lord and, in the end, destroy me.

If you ever come across a Ring of Power, run.

.

[The Might]

I'd use it for myself, I don't deny that, but mostly probably for common good Robin Hood-like. Steal from those who don't deserve and give to those who do.
If it's so hard for people to learn to help each other, then I might just use the Ring to make help come, whether they want it or not.
I mean, every time I hear about that stupid My Super Sweet 16 party with rich spoiled hirls throwing away money here and there ignorant of all around them then I feel it's time for payback.

And to stay frank, I would probably try to eliminate some of the world's leaders like Iran's ayatollah or some terrorist heads. One douchebag at a time.

Ok, enough dreaming around. And yes, I also believe the thread does not belong in "Books", rather in "Newcomers".

EDIT: or I would give it to someone wiser than me or at least seek some guidance in that matter.

[Lindale]

I'll use it in school, to look at my records, and some others. Muwahahaha. I can be very evil, so maybe it's not a very good idea to let me have something like that.

[Elmo]

I would rob banks and cheat on exams.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

As an opinion thread, this does belong in the Novices and Newcomers forum, and I'm moving it there. Additional serious discussion later on can take place there as well - it's always nice to have good topics on N&N!

[Morthoron]

If one considers the attributes of a ring of invisibility, it becomes clear that there are really no good uses for one (as is evident by all the would-be criminals posting on this subject).

I would most likely reject the offer, as it would only lead to evil eventually.

[Bêthberry]

This question raises that hoary old problem in Tolkien's Legendarium, how after many years he struggled to removed all references to what he felt were the cheap thrills of magic. He attempted to make any and all special effects the result of a highly developed, elevated elven art.

So, how does a "magic ring" make one invisible? How does"art" enable a body to cross over to the other side? (And why is that other side so dark?) Is this a form of mind/body imagery that the beauty of the ring inspires? Or is there some alchemical "stuff" in the metallurgy which causes the cells of the body to disperse beyond their usual density?

And as for the question, I frankly don't think the question is at all hypothetical. After all, this internets stuff makes us all invisible, although we each see each other's thoughts. I think we Downers have already put on the "magic ring". It's called the Internet. And many people think that is e-vil.