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07-28-2009, 02:55 PM
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#1
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Literotica Guru
penandpaper is offline
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Southern California
Posts: 502
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Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it
Is this true?
I'm working on a story in which the MC is endowed with unbelievable power. Is there a chance he would use it altruistically? He had lived forty years as a normal human being with a wife and now, just recently, two sons. A few deep emotional scars, but none as great as many of us carry around.
I would really like to know why you would consider it not possible or possible. Thanks.
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07-28-2009, 03:21 PM
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#2
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overworked and underdrunk
The_Fool is offline
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,290
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Not if it is going to be posted on Lit. Said character must take sexual advantage of as many bystanders as possible.
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07-28-2009, 03:29 PM
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#3
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Literotica Guru
penandpaper is offline
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Location: Southern California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Fool
Not if it is going to be posted on Lit. Said character must take sexual advantage of as many bystanders as possible.
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Sorry, should have prefaced that this is not an erotic story. My erotic story for the summer is nearing completion. I'm trying to give it a happy ending, but it's just not working out.  |
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07-28-2009, 03:35 PM
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#4
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Otherworldly
lesbiaphrodite is offline
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 3,190
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I would like to give you a considered answer, so if I knew a bit more about this power your character has, it would help. But, in general, I would say that unlimited power definitely corrupts and makes people take horrible advantage of others.
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07-28-2009, 03:46 PM
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#5
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CHARACTER ASSASSIN.
JAMESBJOHNSON is online now
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Last edited by JAMESBJOHNSON : 08-03-2009 at 01:22 PM.
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07-28-2009, 06:09 PM
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#6
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Literotica Guru
penandpaper is offline
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Southern California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lesbiaphrodite
I would like to give you a considered answer, so if I knew a bit more about this power your character has, it would help. But, in general, I would say that unlimited power definitely corrupts and makes people take horrible advantage of others.
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He has the power to not get harmed, by anything (that he knows of). He has the ability to instantly discern truth from lie. And laslty, he has the power to blink and send a person into, what can only be described as hell. He is going to slowly make his way across the country to Washington DC. He is going to become popular, a beloved hero to much of the general public for the violent crime he deters. Washington DC is petrified. He is their last stop.
Hope that helps.  |
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07-28-2009, 06:41 PM
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#7
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Literotica Guru
rgraham666 is offline
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Location: Toronto, Ontario
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Yeah, he'll become a monster. No doubt about that in my mind.
I'm thinking he'll send Congress, much of the civil service including the Pentagon and the FBI as well as most of the White House to 'Hell'. Which will open the floodgates. Such a power vacuum will demand to be filled and the people who rush to fill it won't be nice about how they get and hold that power. I'll bet he'll feel wonderful about devolving the country into chaos.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
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07-28-2009, 06:44 PM
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#8
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Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche
kendo1 is offline
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Good to see you, Rob.
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07-28-2009, 06:48 PM
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#9
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Literotica Guru
JackLuis is offline
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: La La Calif
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Quote:
Originally Posted by penandpaper
He has the power to not get harmed, by anything (that he knows of). He has the ability to instantly discern truth from lie. And laslty, he has the power to blink and send a person into, what can only be described as hell. He is going to slowly make his way across the country to Washington DC. He is going to become popular, a beloved hero to much of the general public for the violent crime he deters. Washington DC is petrified. He is their last stop.
Hope that helps. |
By the time he gets to DC he is starting to believe his own press, and believes that he does know best what is good for America.
Congress calls a recess and leaves town, The Pres, has a pressing matter in Madagascar and is out of town, leaving Joe to welcome the MC.
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07-28-2009, 07:58 PM
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#10
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It's one of those days
TE999 is offline
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Good and evil would war in his mind. Righting a wrong could harm someone and doing nothing would do harm. He'd be viewed as the Messiah or the Anti-Christ. A blessing or a curse on humanity. If he's of average intelligence, he could be manipulated...again to do good or to subjugate mankind.
IMO this inner conflict, Ego and Id, would be the crux of the plot.
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07-28-2009, 08:03 PM
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#11
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Otherworldly
lesbiaphrodite is offline
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 3,190
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I think TE999 is right. This character could use his power to do ultimate good or evil, but given the fact that this person (if typical of most individuals with power) would undoubtedly want to control and dominate others, he would be corrupt.
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07-29-2009, 11:36 AM
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#12
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Literotica Guru
penandpaper is offline
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Southern California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TE999
Good and evil would war in his mind. Righting a wrong could harm someone and doing nothing would do harm. He'd be viewed as the Messiah or the Anti-Christ. A blessing or a curse on humanity. If he's of average intelligence, he could be manipulated...again to do good or to subjugate mankind.
IMO this inner conflict, Ego and Id, would be the crux of the plot.
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That is exactly what is in my outline. There are a few static characters and a way for him to be harmed which the government is working on solving, but what you mention above is 15 pages of a 21 page outline.
I'm wondering if you think it would be possible for him not to become the Messiah or Anti-Christ? (Which, clever you, is exactly how people are referring to him in the story.  ) |
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07-29-2009, 11:43 AM
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#13
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Just Sayin'
Recidiva is online now
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Happiness
Posts: 66,868
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Power is exerted by will and choice. Have good will, make good choices, power is increased. Have weak will, make poor choices, power is diminished.
Most important part of being powerful is knowing when NOT to use it.
It may have a tendency to corrupt, but there are people who are capable of weilding power without it weilding them.
Someone already with a decent dose of compassion will do good things with it. I don't think corruption is an absolute necessity in all cases. It's likely and it's apt, but it's not a sure thing always.
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07-29-2009, 12:11 PM
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#14
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Literotica Guru
xssve is offline
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It's a good life.
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07-29-2009, 01:29 PM
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#15
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Opinionated Old Fart
Weird Harold is offline
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: "No Lost Wages", NV USA
Posts: 20,308
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Quote:
Originally Posted by penandpaper
He has the power to not get harmed, by anything (that he knows of). He has the ability to instantly discern truth from lie. And lastly, he has the power to blink and send a person into, what can only be described as hell.
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I think your character is too powerful to be a good hero and almost too powerful to be a good villain.
" When all you have is a Hammer, all your problems look like nails" -- your hero is going to resort to using his powers more and more often with less justification; or under-use his powers for fear of using them capriciously with tragic results (a la spiderman's "great guilt") and be forced to over-react when he does use them. His intent in doing so may not be corrupt, but the results will appear so to most people.
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Answers! I got lots of answers!
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07-29-2009, 01:42 PM
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#16
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Literotica Guru
penandpaper is offline
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Southern California
Posts: 502
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Weird Harold
I think your character is too powerful to be a good hero and almost too powerful to be a good villain.
"When all you have is a Hammer, all your problems look like nails" -- your hero is going to resort to using his powers more and more often with less justification; or under-use his powers for fear of using them capriciously with tragic results (a la spiderman's "great guilt") and be forced to over-react when he does use them. His intent in doing so may not be corrupt, but the results will appear so to most people.
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Weird Harold,
I really like that last line. It says something about the public that views him; how they may choose to not view his motive, but rather his results. Thanks. |
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07-29-2009, 02:22 PM
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#17
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Terminally Innocent.
Handley_Page is offline
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 6,278
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Unless, of course, the hero is a cross between Superman, Captain America and Green Lantern, in which case he's Impossible.
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07-29-2009, 05:49 PM
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#18
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Literotica Guru
Verdad is offline
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 832
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rgraham666
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
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A wonderful saying. There's a thread nearby sorely in need of it. |
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