What would the ring tempt you with?

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

I genuinely think I would be a Faramir and refuse the Ring. I have no interest in wealth, power or fame; perhaps I would be tempted with security, as my greatest fear is probably having those I love caught in violence.

But the only vision I can see which satisfies this (in a reasonable way) is a very small, closed community - and as a fairly social person this does not appeal! I like living in a small city, which cannot exist without some degree of threat from other people, so I'm happy to leave that Ring lying on the ground.

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

I genuinely think I would be a Faramir and refuse the Ring.

I wouldn't become a Dark Lord either, but I would've taken the ring and used it to make more lowly temptations come true, you know, kind of like Gollum but more concentrated on hedonistic pleasures than vengeance and deceit. Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll, that kind of stuff. I'd become invisible, sneak into some brilliant songwriter or author's place and steal their work and claim it for my own, become rich, moderately famous perhaps, and if the paparazzi bothers you there's always an easy solution. Of course, eventually I'd wear out and fade away yet still live on, kind of like Keith Richards. Some people would certainly have to pay for their crimes against humanity though, make no mistake about that! Where can one find such a ring?

[Andsigil]

The ring would tempt me with the power to create an idyllic existence.

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Andsigil

The ring would tempt me with the power to create an idyllic existence.

Or what you'd think was an ideal existence at the time. And then once you've achieved what you want to, you wouldn't just stop there, and you'd starting using the ring for more and more an then it would take you over. I admit that that's what would probably happen if I started using it.

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.

[Andsigil]

Originally Posted by Eönwë

Or what you'd think was an ideal existence at the time. And then once you've achieved what you want to, you wouldn't just stop there, and you'd starting using the ring for more and more an then it would take you over. I admit that that's what would probably happen if I started using it.

Well... yeah. That's very possible, since I'm a human being and therefore flawed.

I know myself fairly well (for 41 years now), and I'm both old-fashioned and simple in my tastes. So, all of my efforts would probably revolve around creating some kind of idealized version of late 19th century Europe or America.

[Glirdan]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

I genuinely think I would be a Faramir and refuse the Ring. I have no interest in wealth, power or fame; perhaps I would be tempted with security, as my greatest fear is probably having those I love caught in violence.

But the only vision I can see which satisfies this (in a reasonable way) is a very small, closed community - and as a fairly social person this does not appeal! I like living in a small city, which cannot exist without some degree of threat from other people, so I'm happy to leave that Ring lying on the ground.

I'm in total agreement with this. My biggest fear and problem in life is seeing those I care about getting hurt, and not just physically of course. I am the type of person to put other people's problems and issues before my own and am always helping my friends. Thus, a small community would be perfect to solve this....

However, for those who know me, I am too loud, obnoxious and like socializing too much to be confined to the small town, peaceful life that would be required to have this fear deteriorated. I'm a performer, I love the lime light and in turn love being in front of hundreds of people. I thrive off of it.

So, unless the Ring can somehow turn this walking, breathing contradiction into the opposite of that, I would much rather leave the Ring by the wayside and let the next poor sap pick it up.....After giving him fair warning of what the Ring might do of course.

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Glirdan

I would much rather leave the Ring by the wayside:

You say, that now, I do too, but when it's whispering to you and saying "I'll give you all of this that you want", I think we're not as strong as we like to believe. That's why the Men that became Ringwraiths were so easily tempted. Of course, some of might refuse it- I know I like to believe I could, and I'm sure you do too, but you just never know.

Of course, this is just my opinion...

[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.

The invisibility thing is nice too.

Something interesting as well in the Faramir-types. What if no one ever knew that you left the Ring by the wayside? Would you feel the same about your action? Or do you enjoy the praise of your weaker-willed brethren? What sin is that? Or do you really just not want it?

[Loslote]

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

If the Ring were to tempt me, it would probably tempt me with the prospect of getting out of the dead end that is Anchorage, Alaska and to get somewhere else. Probably Britain, because being the good little Anglophile that I am, would rather be there. It would tempt me with wireless internet connection everywhere. This temptation to be on the internet all the time is probably the Bane of my existence! Oh, and tea too.

OH yeah! Totally. Except the tea.

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

I genuinely think I would be a Faramir and refuse the Ring. I have no interest in wealth, power or fame; perhaps I would be tempted with security, as my greatest fear is probably having those I love caught in violence.

Actually, that's basically what mine would be. Add to that TGEW's eternal Internet, and that would be my idea of perfection. Maybe, to wrap all this up nicely...a secure little town in Britain with wireless Internet everywhere. I can already feel myself succumbing...

[skip spence]

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]

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

[skip spence]

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?