What would the ring tempt you with?

[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]

the ring would tempt me with the power to go back in time, to relive my life and make better decisions. It would indulge my "what-ifs" to the point that I'd forget who I really was, and then would abandon me when things went wrong -again-. I'd soon find out that all it was doing was pulling a very vivid illusion over my eyes, making me believe that I was really experiencing life all over again.

[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?

[Loslote]

Originally Posted by skip spence

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?

...seriously? You don't think that sounds amazingly awesome? How boring.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by skip spence

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!

Understood. Think that the dream is working out very well currently for Tiger Woods.

Anyway, my point (I'm going to pretend to have one) is that the One Ring does not create. It gives power and control. So to get that hot spouse you would have to exert that power and control.

Not that they were 'spouses', but look how well the relationship between Saruman and Wormtongue worked out. Saruman used - controlled - yet despised Worm, and Worm needed yet despised Saruman.

One day someone gets stabbed.

I think that the One Ring would pervert any gain obtained by its use. It's a jealous thing, and won't appreciate you spending time with that supermodel spouse while it sits at home.

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?

Understood - there has to be worm on the hook, or some bait in the trap.

But to sell one's soul for some empty pleasures? Sounds like a life like Turin's in the making.