the ring had such a different effect on Bilbo and Smeagol/Gollum? This question was posed to me by my father, and I was startled to realise that I wasn't exactly sure how to answer. For starters, Smeagol, upon seeing the Ring, immediately lusts for it, murders his cousin, and takes the Ring. He then uses it for finding out his family's secrets, becomes shunned and turned out, and becomes a despicable, miserable, and pitiable creature, consumed by the Ring.
      It is true that Bilbo, upon finding the Ring, tried to claim the Ring for his own, and make that fact clear beyond any doubt, hence his altered version he told to the dwarves and Gandalf. But other than not so obvious changes, such as not seeming to grow any older, and how he was beginning to feel stretched and thin, he basically remained the same. Although the Ring slowly grew in it's power over him, it was not in the extent to which it consumed Gollum. True - Gollum possessed the Ring for a much longer period than Bilbo did, but looking at the effect that it had on them at the start, when they first came upon it, it seems to be different. And as they were "akin", it cannot be argued that it was because they were of a different race. Any thoughts as to why this might be, or any thoughts on why you might argue that they *are* similar effects?

-arwëon
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ahh...need I say anything? Can you disagree with "A picture is worth a thousand words?" :)
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Ú i vethed, na i onnad. Si boe ú-dhanna[thach]. Ae ú-esteli, esteliach nad.
Estelio han...estelio veleth...etelio ammen...estelio Ilúvatar.

I amar prestar aen. Man prestant i ardhon? Si man i yulma nin enquantuva? I amar prestar aen.