there are no experts
I really don't think anyone is an "expert" at Tolkien, maybe not even Tolkien himself. No matter what you know there is always much more you can learn. There are ones who are more knowledgeable on Tolkien then others and may seem like "experts" but truth is there is always more to learn when you talk about something as broad as Tolkien. I have run into my fair share of annoying amateurs and annoying "experts." I only get cocky to the ones who lie and say they have read the books when they really haven't, yes, I will correct people but as the knight of gondor posted, not really in an "arrogant" way. For there have been many times when I myself have been wrong about something.
The most recent one would be one that didn't involve me but a guy came in arguing he knew everything on Tolkien, and gloin is to be pronounced "Glowen" and not "gloyn," this would be a case of someone who is so pig headed he can't see that he's wrong. Which is the case for everyone in my opinion, there will be some point when even the most knowledgeable Tolkieniest will be wrong, sometimes less then others but so far I have not met a Tolkien fan that has misinterpretted atleast ONE point. And in many cases there really is no right or wrong for its someone's opinion.
|