Character Preference - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

MatthewM · 06-24-2008, 06:50 AM

This is a weird question but I thought of it the other day. Do you ever feel like you favor certain characters based upon if their appearance is akin to yours? Or do you mainly go by personality of a character?

Just a random question I thought up. Most of the time we probably don't even think of that and just are drawn to certain characters. Just curious, though.

Gordis · 06-24-2008, 10:47 AM

Not for me. I favor the nazgul- but their appearance is not akin to mine. Not yet.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 06-24-2008, 02:28 PM

My mom said I look much like Arwen... apparently I act like her too...

Groin Redbeard · 06-24-2008, 07:29 PM

With me, I go by characteristics. I look nothing like a dwarf, yet I like them because they carry similar characteristics that I like: toughness, hard work, loyalty, love for their kin, a deep sense of patriotism for their race, and their appreciation for all things that are beautiful.

TeleriFan · 06-29-2008, 02:58 PM

Yeah sometimes and sometimes not. Celeborn for example...well what can we say bout that guy lol, but nonetheless I still have him on my favourite character list...and I knw I'm not like him at all

Aganzir · 06-29-2008, 04:39 PM

Ever wondered why of all my favourite book characters I only liked Boromir and Saruman in the movies?
I always, always favour characters with a hooked nose (unless they are absolute fools, which is very seldom, though, for authors always seem to associate hooked noses to a certain kind of personality which I find attractive). Actually, nose is the first thing I notice in a person also in real life. I am quite confident it has something to do with the fact that I have a hooked nose, too, but it might also be possible that I just find them beautiful without any conceited reasons.

My friends say I look like a dwarf, but I am not sure if that is just because they want to be nasty (you see, most people probably think that telling a young maiden she looks like a dwarf is not to be taken as a compliment). Though as far as I recall they started it only after I had expressed my identification with the noble dwarvish race. Pets come to resemble their owners and vice versa, or however they say it.
I don't really know how I look like a dwarf, though. Maybe because of my profile? The way my cheeks and eyes go when I smile? I am short but not that short. But I am pretty positive I would look good with a beard.

More often than not I like characters because of their personality, not looks, though. But I don't know if anyone else has noticed it is sometimes hard to like ugly characters (except for Quasimodo), or characters whose looks differ much from what is usually considered "beautiful". I guess they are difficult to identify with (I just don't believe people can seriously consider themselves ugly), and therefore more difficult to really like. Or then writers just want the character's looks to reflect his foul nature. Or then I am a snob who cannot tolerate abnormality.
(Anyway, if anyone has read the Soldier Son trilogy by Robin Hobb they hopefully know what I mean. It took me the whole of Forest Mage and a greater part of Renegade's Magic to get used to Nevare's sudden obesity, yet I was ultimately disappointed when he eventually lost weight.)

06-24-2008, 06:50 AM	#1
MatthewM Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 628	Character Preference This is a weird question but I thought of it the other day. Do you ever feel like you favor certain characters based upon if their appearance is akin to yours? Or do you mainly go by personality of a character? Just a random question I thought up. Most of the time we probably don't even think of that and just are drawn to certain characters. Just curious, though. __________________ "Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills...and then let all the foes of Gondor flee!" -Boromir, The Fellowship of the Ring

06-24-2008, 02:28 PM	#3
TheGreatElvenWarrior Mighty Quill Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walking off to look for America Posts: 2,230	My mom said I look much like Arwen... apparently I act like her too... __________________ The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.

06-24-2008, 07:29 PM	#4
Groin Redbeard Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Facing the world's troubles with Christ's hope! Posts: 1,635	With me, I go by characteristics. I look nothing like a dwarf, yet I like them because they carry similar characteristics that I like: toughness, hard work, loyalty, love for their kin, a deep sense of patriotism for their race, and their appreciation for all things that are beautiful. __________________ I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old, familiar carols play. And wild and sweet the words repeatof peace on earth, good-will to men! ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

06-29-2008, 02:58 PM	#5
TeleriFan Newly Deceased Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4	Yeah sometimes and sometimes not. Celeborn for example...well what can we say bout that guy lol, but nonetheless I still have him on my favourite character list...and I knw I'm not like him at all __________________ “The Teleri are the Foam-riders, Musicians of the shore, the Free, the Wanderers, and the Elves of the Sea, the Sailors, the Arrow-elves, Ship-friends, the Lords of the Gulls, the Blue Elves, the Pearl-gatherers, and the People of Elwe.”

06-29-2008, 04:39 PM	#6
Aganzir Woman of Secret Shadow Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in hollow halls beneath the fells Posts: 4,511	Ever wondered why of all my favourite book characters I only liked Boromir and Saruman in the movies? I always, always favour characters with a hooked nose (unless they are absolute fools, which is very seldom, though, for authors always seem to associate hooked noses to a certain kind of personality which I find attractive). Actually, nose is the first thing I notice in a person also in real life. I am quite confident it has something to do with the fact that I have a hooked nose, too, but it might also be possible that I just find them beautiful without any conceited reasons. My friends say I look like a dwarf, but I am not sure if that is just because they want to be nasty (you see, most people probably think that telling a young maiden she looks like a dwarf is not to be taken as a compliment). Though as far as I recall they started it only after I had expressed my identification with the noble dwarvish race. Pets come to resemble their owners and vice versa, or however they say it. I don't really know how I look like a dwarf, though. Maybe because of my profile? The way my cheeks and eyes go when I smile? I am short but not that short. But I am pretty positive I would look good with a beard. More often than not I like characters because of their personality, not looks, though. But I don't know if anyone else has noticed it is sometimes hard to like ugly characters (except for Quasimodo), or characters whose looks differ much from what is usually considered "beautiful". I guess they are difficult to identify with (I just don't believe people can seriously consider themselves ugly), and therefore more difficult to really like. Or then writers just want the character's looks to reflect his foul nature. Or then I am a snob who cannot tolerate abnormality. (Anyway, if anyone has read the Soldier Son trilogy by Robin Hobb they hopefully know what I mean. It took me the whole of Forest Mage and a greater part of Renegade's Magic to get used to Nevare's sudden obesity, yet I was ultimately disappointed when he eventually lost weight.) __________________ He bit me, and I was not gentle.

06-24-2008, 10:47 AM	#2
Gordis Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minas Morgul Posts: 431	Not for me. I favor the nazgul- but their appearance is not akin to mine. Not yet.