Alternate "Hiding the Ring" strategies

[Tuor of Gondolin]

Let's say Gandalf, Elrond, et. al. decide that it may
be "wise" to hide or protect the Ring for a while
(hey, at least elves and maia might escape Middle-earth ).

For one, how about putting it on an island?
While it's speculative, how absolute is
the dislike/fear for water bodies by Sauron and
his chums and was it a defining barrier?
For example, there are at least three
islands west/northwest of East Beleriand
http://www.tuckborough.net/coastal.html#Tol_Fuin
http://vaugnfreech.tripod.com/evandil/id6.html

The only effective ways for Sauron to get it, if he found
out where it was, would seem to be flying nazgul
(probably dizzy over Ulmo's ocean)
or the corsairs- but they'd be questionable since even
if they succeeded their leaders would probably then
want the Ring. And the very fact of the Ring's existence
in a place inaccesible directly for Sauron, could cause
envy, desire, unrest among even his forces.
And if sauron heard of it on an island beyond, say,
east Beleriand he might be tempted (being a rather
hasty maia) to push right through bypassing much of Rohan,
Gondor, Lorien, and Rhovannion---leaving himself open
to harassing and sapping attacks. Of course, there could
be a certain hobbit attrition.

[narfforc]

If The (un)Wise had tried to hide The One Ring instead of destroying it, then the said island would have to be unhinhabited. How far would the exclusion zone have to be around the island?I do not begin to imagine. For even knowledge of the treasure on the island would corrupt. Who would take it there, would Frodo have become another Gollum, marooned on the isle?. What damage would be done, if the Ring was sent all the way to Aman, what powerful being would it corrupt there. It would not be safe in the air, would it not corrupt The Maiar of the Heavens, or Earendil himself. I am afraid it could not be hidden safely, lest it was placed in the hand of Eru himself, why this is not an option I know not, for surely a thing made of the substance of Arda, would have no power of its ultimate creator.

[Farael]

I believe that the Valar could have resisted it's temptation.... it's a Maiar's "thing" and the Valar are mightier than them (or so I understand). But even then, Sauron would have probably taken over Middle Earth anyhow. It was only a matter of how long it would take him (barring a lucky break or another intervention by the Valar)

Yet, as the topic of this thread is to propose ALTERNATE strategies, I would suggest just tossing it into the ocean. Sure, it COULD wash up in some shore, but by tossing it into the ocean you make sure that no-one can know for certain where to find it... and thus, it's harder to be corrupted by it

[Tuor of Gondolin]

While Elrond (or Gandalf?) dismissed the ocean
solution (presumably on the suggestion of
JRRT) it has some merits. Wouldn't Ulmo,
one of the most (the most?) committed to
Middle-earth vala, have had an interest in safeguarding it?

Another thought. If the "good guys" had gotten
control of Orthanc could it have been sealed there
(covering the top entrance with more orthanc rock
and barring windows with orthanc rock?

And there seems to be a strong element of natural
fractiousness among the bad guys (remember the
two orcs in Mordor thinking of the "good old days"
and musing on becoming freelancers after a bad guy win
against Gondor. But more fundamental is an underlying
philosophy that i see in Tolkien's Middle-earth that
Iluvatar would not permit a permanent Sauron taking
over Middle-earth (areas could be dominating, as in the
Second Age, but eventually there would be a redressing of
Middle-earth ills).

More later.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Farael

But even then, Sauron would have probably taken over Middle Earth anyhow.

Isn't this rather the point. They might have hidden the Ring. They might even have been able to do so securely. But it would not have prevented Sauron defeating the Free Peoples militarily.

Originally Posted by Tuor of Gondolin

But more fundamental is an underlying philosophy that i see in Tolkien's Middle-earth that Iluvatar would not permit a permanent Sauron taking over Middle-earth

But doesn't it rather defeat defeat the point of their (and particularly Frodo's) struggle and make it all rather unnecessary if Eru was always going to "save" them in the end anyway?

[Tuor of Gondolin]

But doesn't it rather defeat defeat the point of their (and particularly Frodo's) struggle and make it all rather unnecessary if Eru was always going to "save" them in the end anyway?

Actually, I factor that in. The view is what some perceive as Tolkien's
pre-Christian Christian philosophy, and it involves free will. Allowing
free will necessitates bad/evil things happening/being enacted by
"bad guys". To allow this while still not permitting it to permanently
pervert God's/Eru's design/music means that poor decisions (Feanor)
evil acts (Morgoth) do have effects, sometimes long-lasting,
but that eventually actions will be taken to redress the
balance, but there will still be great damage done. Think of Eru's
comments when Morgoth tried to take over the music of the Ainur.
And I can't find the quote now, but someone says (Gandalf?)
something like "It cannot be as though evil never was."
Also recall the longterm, permanent damage done to Ea by the
struggle between Morgoth and the Valar which left it permanently
marred, yet still essentially intact.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

But doesn't it rather defeat defeat the point of their (and particularly Frodo's) struggle and make it all rather unnecessary if Eru was always going to "save" them in the end anyway?

I warrant that the best place to hide anything would be in the midst of the debate that this is about to spark off....

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Isn't this rather the point. They might have hidden the Ring. They might even have been able to do so securely. But it would not have prevented Sauron defeating the Free Peoples militarily.

But doesn't it rather defeat defeat the point of their (and particularly Frodo's) struggle and make it all rather unnecessary if Eru was always going to "save" them in the end anyway?

Yes, I think that even if they did hide it, then Sauron would have killed off everyone anyway, and the Ring would be prolonged even further from being destroyed, and more people would die than was needed.