|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
noWizardme
Half-elven
Dec 21 2012, 6:59pm
Views: 1404
Shortcut
|
The palantiri are certainly most unreliable! I think one thing is that they seem to offer objectivity, but actually things are badly distorted by the will of the user,or someone manipulating the user. So Saruman and Denethor, spying on Sauron, cannot be shown out-and-out fabrications, but Sauron can influence what they do see, and that is enough to turn it into propaganda. He can also compel the to see more. Beyond this, if you did have a device that could theoretically see anything, you would still have to choose where to look, and how to interpret what you saw. Perhaps there's a parallel with us in the Internet age: we theoretically have access to more, and more varied, sources of information than ever before. Some of it is intended to manipulate, to be sure. In theory, the viewer can observe widely enough to form a balanced view. But that can be hard to do, requiring hard work and Judgement. And I've heard the idea that many people instead restrict themselves to information sources which re-inforce their existing prejudices, perhaps not realising that they are getting a more and more atypical view of the world. In another part of this thread, CuriousG has contrasted the palantir users with Galadriel, who says her mirror works best when left undirected. Also that viewers must be very careful when interpreting what they see. Perhaps the palantir users should have done the same. The limits of the palantiri thus seem quite natural. Just as well, as otherwise the palantir could cause huge plot holes: a force able to see anywhere should have a huge military and political advantage, you'd think.
|
|
|
Subject
|
User
|
Time
|
'The problem of magic' in Tolkien
|
noWizardme
|
Dec 18 2012, 11:53am
|
A thought about games
|
noWizardme
|
Dec 18 2012, 1:33pm
|
Galadriel and semantics
|
CuriousG
|
Dec 20 2012, 7:37pm
|
Magic vs Blessed
|
Cyberia
|
Dec 21 2012, 12:22am
|
Elvish magic (a helpful/distracting thought from "On Fairy Stories"
|
noWizardme
|
Dec 21 2012, 4:12pm
|
Palantiri vs Skype
|
CuriousG
|
Dec 20 2012, 10:14pm
|
Or the palantir as YouTube?
|
noWizardme
|
Dec 21 2012, 6:59pm
|
Gandalf's magic: a wizard's must
|
CuriousG
|
Dec 21 2012, 2:51am
|
Compare & Contrast: Terry Pratchett's witches
|
noWizardme
|
Dec 27 2012, 12:55pm
|
Magic and knowledge to Medieval witch hunters
|
CuriousG
|
Dec 28 2012, 2:06am
|
A problem of terminology
|
Mim
|
Dec 23 2012, 6:41pm
|
Magic & Grace of Valar/Aman/Undying Lands
|
Nolofinwe
|
Dec 24 2012, 3:38pm
|
You can add to that
|
sador
|
Dec 24 2012, 4:33pm
|
The dark side of magic: Nazgul
|
CuriousG
|
Dec 24 2012, 7:56pm
|
passive elven magic
|
Cyberia
|
Dec 24 2012, 10:10pm
|
Light vs. Dark..
|
Nolofinwe
|
Dec 25 2012, 4:56am
|
Perception of Lorien (and Imladris for that matter)
|
Nolofinwe
|
Dec 25 2012, 4:09pm
|
Good comparisons
|
CuriousG
|
Dec 25 2012, 4:24pm
|
Yes
|
Nolofinwe
|
Dec 25 2012, 4:31pm
|
Evidence of anger?
|
Otaku-sempai
|
Dec 26 2012, 2:37pm
|
Read Gandalf's explanation to Frodo
|
CuriousG
|
Dec 28 2012, 1:55am
|
Well, to be fair...
|
Otaku-sempai
|
Dec 28 2012, 9:26pm
|
Please do!
|
noWizardme
|
Dec 27 2012, 12:45pm
|
Hobbit magic (to add to the pot!)
|
noWizardme
|
Dec 27 2012, 6:21pm
|
Elves/Rivendell
|
Nolofinwe
|
Dec 31 2012, 3:05pm
|
|
|
|