Death Note

[Meilag32]

This might be less of a Death Note question and more of a Death Note themed opinion question. 

Light once commented that he wouldn't take the Shinigami Eyes but may have traded for wings.  And there's that dumb theory about the Shinigami in the first Relight that the unnamed Shinigami may have been Light. 

Anyway, so here's my question:  if the option to become a full-fledged Shinigami was available, would any of you take it?  This comes with both the strengths of becoming one but with the weakness of never being able to interact with the Human Realm in the same way you used to, ever again.  As well as other strengths and weaknesses.

I would, but only if no other option was available to me.  See, I'm one of those guys who, if I was a final boss fight, I would be one of those that has multiple stages with the last having me morph into a hideous monster.  As such, I would only choose to become a Shinigami if my plans have all failed and everything is crashing down around me.  At this point, I think I've lost no matter what: I lose if I stay human and let what happens, happen (probably death or life imprisonment).  And if I become a Shinigami, I lose the world which was the very basis for all my actions.  But, at least as a Shinigami, I would be able to get revenge on the one or ones responsible for destroying me.  I'd become a Shinigami, but only as a last revenge, when all other options are exhausted. 

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

I don't think I would want to live as a shinigami.  The realm is just so ugly and there's nothing to do.  I'd probably spend all my time looking into the human world.

Of course I'd have to write names in my book to continue living (there is that survival imperative), so I'd hunt for the biggest douchebags I could find and write their names.  Doesn't appeal to me.

Come to think of it, there's nothing about being a shinigami that appeals to me at all... except maybe the wings.

[Meilag32]

This is what went through my mind.  I'd of course miss the Human Realm.  If my revenge went through without any repercussions for me, I'd initially be lost: hence my saying I'd lose no matter what choice I made.  But in the Death Note universe, there's a Human Realm and a Shinigami Realm.  I'd very likely take my fight upward to find the highest being of all. 

[Bad_Witch]

No. I want nothing after death, why would I want to choose to live "forever" as a Shinigami?

You speak of revenge, but what if you couldn't get it. What if becoming a Shinigami meant you lost all memories about your human life? Would you still choose it?

[Meilag32]

Like I said, for me it would be a lose-lose situation.  If I don't do it, I die or end up in prison for the rest of my life.  If I do it, well, like I said, there are definite disadvantages.  That's why I'd only do it as a last resort.  You don't lose your memories if you get the Eyes.  I'd just be taking more.  I wouldn't let my memories be erased.  My hatred of whoever did this to me would seep through.  Afterwards would be the problem.  What to do for eternity as a Shinigami?  I'd probably turn my eyes upward instead of downward to the Human World.  There's a Human World and a Shinigami Realm, after all.  Stands to reason there would probably be more.  I'd assault the highest power.

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

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Meilag32 wrote:

Like I said, for me it would be a lose-lose situation.  If I don't do it, I die or end up in prison for the rest of my life.  If I do it, well, like I said, there are definite disadvantages.  That's why I'd only do it as a last resort.  You don't lose your memories if you get the Eyes.  I'd just be taking more.  I wouldn't let my memories be erased.  My hatred of whoever did this to me would seep through.  Afterwards would be the problem.  What to do for eternity as a Shinigami?  I'd probably turn my eyes upward instead of downward to the Human World.  There's a Human World and a Shinigami Realm, after all.  Stands to reason there would probably be more.  I'd assault the highest power.

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Yeah, you know?  That makes me think of what Light said to Ryuk in the beginning, Ryuk saying that the shinigami realm was rotten and Light telling him when he goes back to take what he learned there and try to make it better.

How would Ryuk make it better using what he learned with Light?  Kill off other shinigamis?  Doesn't sound like there's crime in that place, people are too lazy and dissipated for that.  Writing their names in the death note doesn't work.  I wonder if it would be possible to grow things there that came from the human realm.  Maybe take a few apple trees and see if they grow the same fruit there as they do here.  That sort of thing. 

Would you want to make the shinigami realm better?  Or just 'assault' things as you put it?  And if you wanted to make it better, how would you do it?  What would have to change about the shinigami real that would make it better in your eyes?

I'm not trying to be confrontational these questions, I really am interested.

[Meilag32]

I wasn't talking about the Shinigami Realm.  I don't even remember Ryuk saying that. 

I was saying that since two planes of existence are present in the Death Note universe, there might be others, in fact there probably was.  And I'd find out what the highest plane was.  To find God.  And to kill him. 

[SpikesMrsSpooky]

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Meilag32 wrote:

I wasn't talking about the Shinigami Realm.  I don't even remember Ryuk saying that. 

I was saying that since two planes of existence are present in the Death Note universe, there might be others, in fact there probably was.  And I'd find out what the highest plane was.  To find God.  And to kill him. 

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LOL!  Yeah, well, good luck with THAT!

[Meilag32]

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SpikesMrsSpooky wrote:

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Meilag32 wrote:

I wasn't talking about the Shinigami Realm.  I don't even remember Ryuk saying that. 

I was saying that since two planes of existence are present in the Death Note universe, there might be others, in fact there probably was.  And I'd find out what the highest plane was.  To find God.  And to kill him. 

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LOL!  Yeah, well, good luck with THAT!

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I think a Shinigami would be able to get closer than a human could.  And what the Hell else am I gonna do?  Plant apples trees in the Shinigami Realm, like a Shinigami Johnny Appleseed?  Like I said, there's no point in me meddling the Human World since I can't benefit at all from it.

[InuFan05]

I couldn't see myself becoming a Shinigami at all, even if it were the last resort. I just couldn't tolerate that existence.

[Meilag32]

Too caught up on being human, hmm?  I never put much stock in being a human.  What's so great about it anyway?

Abandoning my humanity in exchange for greater power just seems natural to me. 

[InuFan05]

I'm not saying that being human means having the most perfect existence or that it is extremely special or extraordinary. It's just life like any other organism would experience, except from the state of being of a human, which is different exclusive to our species. But I do have to admit that I'd miss everything I have here, from the memories, friends and family, the experiences, everything... Sure you don't lose memory of what you've had and learned, but it's a totally different thing knowing that it's right there and part of you than just being a spectator of what you once had and were a part of, you know? I guess I'm just too used to it. Besides, the human world is definitely more eventful and exciting than the Shinigami realm; I just couldn't sit there and twiddle my thumbs all day long, and there's no way I'd be interested in shaking things up, if you will, to pass the time or to take advantage of my newfound powers. Honestly, not even greater power could incite me to give up what I essentially am.

[Meilag32]

All the reasons you listed for staying human don't apply to me. 

And as for the specific example of turning into a Shinigami: like I said, I'd do it as a last resort when all other options have exhausted themselves.  It would definitely be different if Shinigami could interact more with the Human World, though.  It would still be a last resort, but I wouldn't feel as bad about it. 

[WinryTheAlchemist]

Fair enough. Everyone has a different reason. But then, besides losing the basis of your actions, as you so aptly put it a few posts ago, why else would you miss the Human Realm if you were to become a Shinigami? I find your perspective very interesting.

And I can see where you're going with the other scenario you've presented, of seeing things differently if you were a Shinigami and still had the capability of interacting more with the Human Realm. If that were the case, I, too, wouldn't feel nearly as dubious about the transformation, since I could still be in touch with where I came from. But then again, I wouldn't really fit in and I wouldn't have the place that I formerly had as a human, so I guess I would still feel as though I were missing something...  

[Meilag32]

All my machinations and manipulations will have been for nothing.  What's the point of controlling the Human World if you can't even benefit from it anymore? 

I admit being a Shinigami that could interact with the Human World would be different and present it's own share of hardships.

[WinryTheAlchemist]

Ah! Gotcha. I can see where you're going at there from the perspective of power...

And true that.