10th Title: Eagle of the Star

[somanytitles]

Fate is a troublesome thing indeed. Is it something that men cannot control or is one in charge of their own destiny

Comments

[baixin]

Maybe it's a mix of both? Fate clearly has a hand in some things, but I think or would like to think that we can be in charge of the general direction life takes us.

That's an interesting question; I think I'm going to meet some people soon who know about my future. Would I want to know what happens? Probably not. And if I could change it, I'm not sure. I suppose it depends on the type of things revealed in such a conversation.

Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't introduce myself.

My name is Takiko.

[somanytitles]

It very much depends on such a thing, though once the knowledge is yours, it cannot be given back and must be acted on one way or another.

A pleasure, Takiko. I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn.

[baixin]

What do you think you will do? Just be careful, because as bad as what you learned might seem; something even worse could happen because of it.

What are the stakes in this case, if I may ask?

It's a pleasure to meet you, too.

[somanytitles]

Is that not the dilemma of all situations?

The stakes are no less than the fate of all men.

[plz_2_b_an_hero]

It doesn't really do much for me to know about the future, now, so I don't think I can really give a good opinion on it from personal experience.

But hypothetically... Depending on the situation, I think changing things is a pretty dangerous idea. Even if you prevent one tragedy, who's to say preventing the one won't cause others?

[somanytitles]

True, though does that theory not also hold for preventing tragedies that you do not know of beforehand?

[plz_2_b_an_hero]

...True. But if a guy knew he was intentionally changing something and something worse happened because of it, he'd end up blaming himself.

I have a few friends that have a tendency to do that enough as it is.

[somanytitles]

Indeed, but could he live with himself if he did nothing at all and allowed it to happen?

[punnotintended]

You can try to change the future, but sometimes it doesn't end up the way you hoped. You don't know if one event could end up effecting a bunch of others.

[somanytitles]

Is that not the way of life even if it does not include knowledge of the future?

[punnotintended]

Yeah, but if you're trying to change a specific event, you could make the future even worse even with unintended consequences. Butterfly effect, you know?

I mean, I think instead of wondering how to avoid certain events, it's better to just concentrate on doing your best.

[somanytitles]

And if doing your best would mean preventing a tragedy you have knowledge of from happening?

[nogoldbikinis]

It's a touchy subject, especially here. Altering the events of time, changing fate, it leaves more than just your own destiny hanging in the balance.

[somanytitles]

I have heard such a thing from others here. But is that not the way of life even when one does not have knowledge of the future?

[nogoldbikinis]

The difference is you do and can have knowledge of it. Changing it directly, when you know the path and the outcome, is different than changing it as you move through it.

[somanytitles]

Then you believe that there is a set path to things and that to wander from it tempts danger?

audio;

[treadingdawn]

What if it is your destiny to change things, Aragorn?

Re: audio;

[somanytitles]

That is the question I am asking myself. I am glad that I am not the only one that thought perhaps that was the purpose of gaining the knowledge.

Re: audio;

[treadingdawn]

I would hope not to gain such knowledge myself. As they say ignorance is bliss, but neither do I want to run away from the future. I would rather face it.

Re: audio;

[somanytitles]

A wise stance indeed. Your kingdom is lucky to have you. I would hope that you would not gain such knowledge either. It has been said to me that in other worlds there are books that contain the story of the Fellowship and now I am sorely tempted to read them.