This topic was suggested by Graveyard member DalekDeatheater -

If you had been in Tom Riddle's place when you found out that you were a wizard what would you have done? Would you be evil or good?

I would probably do everything that i please. I would probably do good and bad. I have magic! and I will do everything as I please.

I would have done whatever served me best if I was in his shoes. In other words, I'd have taken advantage of the situation much the same way he did if I had the chance, though I'm not sure I would be as bad as all that! I don't think I would because unlike Voldemort, I have a heart.

I guess if I was in his shoes, I would have felt excited and elated; to find out that I was special after being so alone. I would have done alot of good things, nothing really bad, and definitely nothing Evil.

I mean, he was born a parselmouth, that's not a good sign. But it didn't mean that he would have to be evil.

I would have used my gifts to help myself, but not to hurt others. Whatever you become is based on your choices, he choose to be evil, he chose to want to conquer the world.

If I woke up one day and found out I was a witch, the excitement and happiness in knowing that alone would have been enough for me.

If I'd been in Tom Riddle's shoes, I think I probably would have used magic for my own personal gain, but I don't think I would use it at such a great expense to others. I'd like to think that while I may use my skill to bolster my popularity and impress those around me, I wouldn't use my abilities to hurt others. I don't even like to watch others get embarrassed because it makes me feel really awkward, so I don't think I could do that to others either.

Unlike Tom, I am very social and I enjoy having friends, so I would have actually used my magic to help those I considered a friend, in addition to myself. But, knowing what his upbringing was, I too would have used my magic to help me learn about my history.

So, basically, I'd do a little of what he'd done and a lot more of what he wouldn't and couldn't.

While young, I probably would have gotten drunk on the knowledge and power that magic would have brought me, but, unlike him I would not have caused that much havoc to 'get back' at the group of people I perceived as being at the root of my problems. I would have researched for my own roots to better comprehend my circumstances. Lacking any family references or presence, I would have built up a good group of friends that would serve as my surrogate family.

Since I care for people in general, I wouldn't have killed for my own benefice or gain immortality. Life must have a natural end, this I have learned through the multiple deathbed vigils I have had to witness in my nursing career. That being said, since he was the quintessential slytherin, he would have used all of it to further his own cause... I would have used it to further the causes that helped mankind. (muggle and wizarding people equally) Though i would not have sneezed at the few perks it could afford me, once in a while. And I would get to see Thestrals!

I think I would have shot for the stars. I would have become the best witch in the world. Sort of a rock star in the magical world.

I don't think I would have hurt people just for the sake of reaching the top. You never should have to stop low and hurt and embarrass people to make yourself look better. If you can't stand out on your own then there is something wrong.

I rock myself out without any help or tearing others down.