What is the truth?

[Jon Miller]

Throughout history there seems to be two competing, great ideas. One is that by naming your enemy, you gain power over them. The other is that by naming your enemy, they gain power over you.

You can see this in fiction of all types, and very explicitly in speculative fiction (but you can see it in more mainstream lit, like books by Melville for example).

Stories I have read suggest that both ideas have been arround for a long time, and both have found many proponents. By enemy I don't neccesarily mean a person, I could also mean a thing (the whole being to thy own self be true is naming your enemy..).

While lit. seems to overall be in favor of naming your enemy, it seems that in general life many many (the majority?) of people at all ages of the world have considered that in naming their enemies, that that gives their enemies power over them.

So now I ask apolyton, what is your oppinion on this?

Jon Miller
(famous example of this in speculative fiction is LoTR, but it is in all sorts of other speculative fiction, including that which isn't derivative)

[reds4ever]

Have you been drinking?

[Jon Miller]

Err, no. I have been thinking.

Jon Miller

[Vesayen]

I don't mean to be rude(really) but I'd also like, to confirm this.

Have you been drinking?

The act of naming your enemies ITSELF has no inherant power, but depending on the situation and the relationship between the two of you, it may be advantagous to one, the other, or both.

I really can't imagine any other answer....

[Jon Miller]

It's a meta concept.

Or a metacept.

Jon Miller

[Vesayen]

There is no relation. Magic does not exist and really, that is the only relationship which could be described besides the one I outlined.....

[joncha]

lol let's find out LOL

I, joncha, hereby name Vesayen as my enemy.

[Kuciwalker]

If you are sneaking through the bushes with a knife, and you name him, it gives him power because he knows to duck. If he's sneaking through the bushes with a knife, naming him probably gives you power because he could reveal himself accidentally.

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by joncha


I, joncha, hereby name Vesayen as my enemy.

"Vesayen levels up"

[Vesayen]

Originally posted by reds4ever


"Vesayen levels up"

Dun da da da da dun da dun!

[Jon Miller]

I think you all aren't being meta enough.. think about the non-speculative fiction I said. Like Melville or Shakespeare.

Jon Miller

[Jon Miller]

obviously things like magic (in speculative fiction) are just tools to get concepts across..

JM

[Donegeal]

It all depends on the person doing the naming. Its a personal thing. Are you more afraid of the enemy because the enemy knows they are the enemy, or do you feel less afraid because you know who it is?

[DanS]

Originally posted by Vesayen
Dun da da da da dun da dun!

Whatever, Fran.

[Ari Rahikkala]

There is no enemy
anywhere