Quote:
|
I think that's what Jenny meant to say when she said some of the posters were "intimidating". Obviously, I'm not actually afraid of running into SPM (unless he's a werewolf. SPM is a dangerous werewolf ) but when he takes the time to make a long, thought out post it just happens that I get the feeling I'm in way over my head.
|
Hehe. I suspect that the only thing that is intimidating about my posts is their length.
My first post here was in a thread which I created asking why the Eagles were not used to convey the Ring to Mordor. I was directed to some previous discussions, read them and summarised my findings. Hey, I'm a loyer, what do you expect?
The thread, I believe, proceeded no further.
I have never read any of the HoME series. I started the first book and, I am afraid to admit, lost interest.
I had read LotR only about three times, and only once in about 20 years, when I started posting. I had never read the Silmarillion (tried it when I was 14 but gave up about halfway through the first chapter), although I have read it since - once.
A large part of my Tolkien knowledge is derived from having read posts here over the 4 years or so that I have been here, and also from being an avid participator in the Quiz forums for about 2-3 years of that time.
All of which is meant to say - if you do not feel sufficiently confident in your book knowledge to participate in Books discussions, then read. Read the books themselves obviously (I probably would have never read the Silm had I not come here - I'm very glad that I did). But also read the existing threads. This is a place to learn from as well as for expressing your own thoughts, views and opinions. Read those old threads. Read those threads that are linked to. You will not just learn about Tolkien, but a whole range of other stuff discussed incidentally to his works along the way. You will see different styles of debate, different ways of constructing an argument. And you will learn the dark art of verbosity too, if you read my posts.
I am afraid that I am one of those who sometimes posts links to old threads in new topics. I apologise if that is off-putting. It is natural to want to do so, I find, when one recalls a discussion and some interesting points which were made which might be relevant to the new discussion and of interest to those involved in it. That doesn't mean that the topics are the same, or have been approached in the same way, and it should not be taken as a direction to read the old thread(s) before proceeding with the new discussion. That is not the intention. Not mine, at least.
I am against segregation of topics by experience or knowledge or whatever. These things cannot be measured and, just because one person is less well-read or less familiar with a particular subject, it does not follow that they cannot add value to the discussion.
The Books forum is a big forum. There is room there for all kinds of discussions there. They do not all have to require a degree from the University of Tolkien to participate. Far from it. Yes, it is a place for serious discussion. And, yes, there are some very serious dicussions which draw upon a wide range of Tolkien (biographical and academic) resources. But there is also room for discussion of more "factual" matters, relating to specific events or characters, for which a good working knowledge of the relevant book should suffice. And there is room for a whole lot of other Tolkien-related discussion too.
No one should be afraid to start threads there, post on threads there which take their fancy and, perhaps most importantly,
read threads there (especially if you do not quite feel ready to participate). And, if you feel intimidated by a thread, or feel that it is not for you, look around for another, perhaps even one of those old, dusty threads. Tolkien-related discussion should not be exclusive, not to anyone who is seriously interested in his works and in discussing them. If you get something wrong, what does it matter? We have all done that. Just learn from it and step back in.
As for starting new threads, I would endorse what Child said. Save in the limited circumstances she describes, new threads on subjects that have been discussed before will not be closed down. Threads can be merged here, and sometimes there are, but rarely in the Books forum I believe.
As for the Novices & Newcomers forum, in addition to the kinds of thread already mentioned, I have always understood it to be a place for less serious, more "trivial" discussion (and I do not mean that in a demeaning way). Threads such as: "Who is your favourite Elf?" and the like. Not everyone enjoys those kinds of discussion, but many do (and they can be quite a good way for newcomers to ease themselves into the Downs).
Did I mention that I am verbose ...
