The "in" crowd scares me. They always get caught when they're up to mischief, rarely think for themselves, and never are remembered in history books. Or even fictional ones.
Frodo of the Nine-Fingers: Mad Baggins's heir. He dreamt of adventures... most unhobbitly. He learned high Elvish. Most uncommon. He was friends with a wizard... most terrifying. He went on a quest to save the world. Most impressive. Ended his life in Middle Earth by sailing into the Uttermost West with the most divine beings around to live with them in the most perfect place around until he healed enough to die happily and go off to greener shires.
Saruman of Many Colours: Headed the White Council. Tried to be someone he was not (equal to Sauron, creator, that sort of thing), and ended up with the "most popular" one (Sauron) doing all of his thinking for him. Fell so far that all he could manage was spiteful mischief in the Shire where he got caught, got pitied, and in the end, died anyhow, hated by everyone.
Now isn't that just proof enough that you should do your own thing? I don't necessarily want to be a hero (too much publicity... I'd never get a moment's rest, what with distant relations hanging on the bell all day, and all that), but I certainly don't feel like being the pathetic little twerp in the history books that couldn't even find one decent adventure to be remembered for.
And if being a "Lord of the Rings nerd", or a "you're on that website AGAIN" nerd, or a "Tolkienite", or on occasion, a "Tolkienist" makes me happy, then according to my short and mediocre proof up there, it means that I'm more likely to go to Valinor than the in-crowd. How's that for encouragement?
