This is Tolkien's SOLVE for Gaslighting and Manipulation

Comments · 1.7K

• SA

  @SaturnsWorldView · 1 year ago

  I was a whistleblower many years ago and the woman who had committed the crime had a lovely soft voice. I remember the lawyer leaned down to my ear and we entered the meeting. Interrupt her politely, he whispered. Because if you let her condemn you in the sweet voice, you are truly F*****. I did as he suggested and eventually that lovely voice turned dark and harsh and everyone in the room seemed to shake themselves and come out of a dream scowling at her. I’ve never seen anything like it.  But you should know, I still lost my career and she did not, but a year later she quit because no one left behind ever trusted her again. Gently, quietly and persistently interrupt the voice.

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• ME

  @MetroidPrime35 · 1 year ago

  A cool detail about Gimli being the one to break the silence after Saruman first speaks to Theoden is that dwarves are naturally more resistant to magic than other folk.

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• FU

  @Funatamafox · 1 year ago

  Forgiveness is for your own benefit, it does not entitle your abuser to renewed trust or second chances 😊

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• MI

  @mikchilton · 1 year ago

  "Suddenly another voice spoke, low and melodious,..."   Aaaand that's why Jackson forced Christopher Lee to play Saruman instead of Gandalf.

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• LI

  @LizBlock-r7g · 11 months ago

  How many narcissists does it take to change a light bulb?  Zero, they use gas light!

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• GR

  @gregorysmull8068 · 1 year ago (edited)

  The worst part of the kind of narcissist who gaslights is that they go from a bullying abuser and immediately play the victim card claiming your just reaction to their insult is offensive. They most often will never admit they are wrong and for this reason they will never learn or change. This is why they remain as immature like children.

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• LE

  @legolegs87 · 1 year ago

  I always thought that it was Tolkien's mistake to write Saruman talking to Theoden, failing, butthurting, then switching to sweet mode again, now for Gandalf. It feels like crouching again right after being detected in Skyrim - it should not work. Surely one shall  not let the next victim and the public see their fail at attempting to lie! But now I wonder how often IRL the gaslighters are successful at pulling that trick out. It is likely that Tolkien knew people better than I do.

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• BL

  @BladeOfLight16 · 1 year ago (edited)

  Apologizing for reading large quantities of Tolkien's text is like apologizing for giving someone too much gold and silver.

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• MY

  @mystbunnygaming1449 · 1 year ago

  One thing I disagree on. If you're dealing with a narcissist, and they think the best way to claim power over you again is to take some "redemption" you offer them, they will seem to take it, but they do this as a tactic, and a way to bide their time so they can weave another spell over you. When dealing with a narcissist, the best thing to do is to cut off contact.

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• MO

  @morganrasmussen5071 · 1 year ago

  Some of us have an internal Saruman. We become spellbound by the interior voice, seemimg reasonable,  actually poison.  Hearing my own voice of Saruman gaslight me, understanding that I can 'not listen' and break the spell,  has improved my life. Thanks for your essays!

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• JA

  @janflewelling6277 · 1 year ago

  I first read the Ring Trilogy in the early 70s when I was in high school. I was mesmerized by the story and characters and beautiful prose. I revisited the series when I was in my mid 40s and appreciated the command of language at a very different level than my younger self. Having just discovered this essay, I am urged at age 70 to go back once again to the source and see what it has to say to today's world. People who only know Tolkien through the movies have missed the power of language in a book that a fantasy action film struggles to capture.

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• HA

  @haleyschreiter9746 · 1 year ago

  Another fantastic chapter! I love those creepy moments when Saruman's friendly mask slips, and we can his true malice underneath. Also, Gandalf's line about "He who has escaped by the roof will think twice before he comes back in by the door" is a classic!

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