I can play devil's advocate just the same. ((Sounds fun, actually. She thinks a moment, and starts.))
Let's say we have a group of gods. No, I don't mean our BELOVED gods of Asgard. I'm taking about an entirely different sort. Omniscent as they are, they pray upon a brother and a sister--and I say brother and sister to make pronouns easier to follow. The brother is a little cooler than his sister, so he always wears sunglasses, even at night. Every night they each can look into the sky and speak with these gods. Because he has his sunglasses, though, he never really speaks with them.
The girl, though, does and they offer her a chance to save the world, IF she listens to them. And only if. She doesn't have to though, they say. She can ignore them just the same and move on her way. But she doesn't. She falls victim to their persuasion and is more than happy to follow.
Later she speaks with her brother and attempts also to persuade her brother to follow her. Her attempts to convince him are honest, and perhaps more than necessary; regardless, because she persuaded him, she did have the intention to make him do what she wanted. Maybe she needed help? Probably, dealing with gods.
And he agrees to it, because she's his sister. In a sense, she's manipulated their relationship in her favour.
So, point being... I suppose with a story like that, two ways to persuade, one with evil intention and one with good. Seems as though both of them were trying to pull strings. So then, the point is there really is no fine line. More examples would be needed to prove its density--or rather, lack there of.
no subject
Let's say we have a group of gods. No, I don't mean our BELOVED gods of Asgard. I'm taking about an entirely different sort. Omniscent as they are, they pray upon a brother and a sister--and I say brother and sister to make pronouns easier to follow. The brother is a little cooler than his sister, so he always wears sunglasses, even at night. Every night they each can look into the sky and speak with these gods. Because he has his sunglasses, though, he never really speaks with them.
The girl, though, does and they offer her a chance to save the world, IF she listens to them. And only if. She doesn't have to though, they say. She can ignore them just the same and move on her way. But she doesn't. She falls victim to their persuasion and is more than happy to follow.
Later she speaks with her brother and attempts also to persuade her brother to follow her. Her attempts to convince him are honest, and perhaps more than necessary; regardless, because she persuaded him, she did have the intention to make him do what she wanted. Maybe she needed help? Probably, dealing with gods.
And he agrees to it, because she's his sister. In a sense, she's manipulated their relationship in her favour.
So, point being... I suppose with a story like that, two ways to persuade, one with evil intention and one with good. Seems as though both of them were trying to pull strings. So then, the point is there really is no fine line. More examples would be needed to prove its density--or rather, lack there of.