Do we realize how crazy we are?

[Meneltarmacil]

Generally, the way I act on this forum is the way I act in "real life," at least when I am in a good mood in RL (though it wasn't originally that way, I was rather quiet in RL to begin with. I think posting here has brought out my more outgoing, creative, and generally crazier side) And most people who know me in RL usually appreciate that aspect of me, and consider me somewhat "unique," but in a good way.

[Glirdan]

On this site, you guys get to see the part of me that only my good friends (i.e Wilwa) and my girlfriend get to see. Normally, I'm not this crazy or outgoing, unless I'm around good friends, right Wilwa? So this site brings out the part of me that I would like to come out more often. As for us being freaks, ya right! As Wilwa put it:

Freaks? Us? I don't think that we are the freaks. I think everyone else in the world who doesn't like Tolkien are the freaks.

So true, can't argue with that.

[alatar]

My wife and close friends are glad that I have an outlet other than their ears for all of my thoughts regarding Tolkien. And as she married me, Ms. alatar must be okay with my version of reality (note to those of you who are dating: if you still have to be someone else when you've been dating someone for a time, that might tell you something and you might want to rethink that relationship.).

And considering all of the other things, vices, etc in which I could be involved...and you'll never catch me sitting inside on the couch watching (American) football on TV on a sunny autumn day while the kids played outside - how nuts is that?

And what else would I do while I was at work?

[Kath]

Well I know that my friends and family think I'm a complete nut with the amount of time I spend on here. It got worse when the Werewolf game started, as you tend to get some odd stares when you refuse to budge from the computer to get to your next lesson or to eat whilst muttering about who needs to be lynched today And then of course yesterday, was it only that long ago, when the Downs was closed and I spent every possible moment on the computer trying to find a way in.

So with that added to my slight withdrawal symptoms every time I can't get on for more than two days I am considered obsessed and weird. But I agree with wilwa, it is those who don't know the joys of this site that are the odd ones, not us!

Of course, all insane people say that

[Durelin]

Crazy is a way of life. Joining a forum isn't enough to be crazy. Try harder.

[VanimaEdhel]

My dad used to be part of something called Comp-U-Serve (or something of a similar pronunciation) back in "the day". He kind of sees forums as a similar thing - he thinks that it's great that I can come on and talk to people from all over the world that are so different, but who share at least one common interest. Now that I'm at Wellesley College, it's basically the same thing all over, but in person. My mom probably thought it was a little odd, but she kind of respects me, so she never said anything.

It's an unsaid surety amongst my friends that I'm weird. Then again, we're all kind of weird. I have a feeling if I told most people here at college, they wouldn't bat an eyelash - they'd probably tell me what forums they belong to.

But you know, any Forum dedicated to one thing is kind of odd if you consider it. At least we have a broader topic - there are many books Tolkien wrote, we can discuss his life in general, and there are the movies to talk about. Plus Role-Playing is always an option. Meanwhile, at boards dedicated to a single person - Dominic Monaghan, Andy Roddick, Derek Jeter, Josh Hartnett, etc. - how much can they really talk about? All they can discuss is whether Dominic Monaghan is "really" dating Evangeline Lilly or something equally as inane. We can broaden our conversation, discussing cultures within the books, how it reflects on our culture, language, nuance, metaphor, biography, religion - the whole nine yards. That's why our Forum has lasted so long, I think. Even after all this time, we can still find ways of discussing new things - that's the difference between books and people or even books and movies. There's just more to talk about when you're discussing and author and his works.

[The Barrow-Wight]

Me? Crazy? What did I ever do except build a website and forum around a fictional graveyard in a fictional world inhabited by elves, dwarves, ghosts, trolls, and hairy little hobbits? Only a completely sane person would dedicate a kabillion hours to such a thing AND name himself after an animated corpse. Parents around the world must surely consider me a perfect role model!

[Orominuialwen]

I'm fortunate in that my family and real friends tolerate my oddities. My mom belonged to at least one forum before I even know such a thing existed (circa 2000), and she tolerates and encourages my activities here (although she thinks I should spend less time on the computer). I think this is fair, since I tolerate the fact that she has only missed watching Jeopardy! a handful of times in the last 16 years or so and hates being interrupted when it's on. My friends tolerate my interest too, especially since one of them is an avid LotR fan herself and likes to spend time on forums.

Originally Posted by VanimaEdhel

But you know, any Forum dedicated to one thing is kind of odd if you consider it. At least we have a broader topic - there are many books Tolkien wrote, we can discuss his life in general, and there are the movies to talk about. Plus Role-Playing is always an option. Meanwhile, at boards dedicated to a single person - Dominic Monaghan, Andy Roddick, Derek Jeter, Josh Hartnett, etc. - how much can they really talk about? All they can discuss is whether Dominic Monaghan is "really" dating Evangeline Lilly or something equally as inane. We can broaden our conversation, discussing cultures within the books, how it reflects on our culture, language, nuance, metaphor, biography, religion - the whole nine yards. That's why our Forum has lasted so long, I think. Even after all this time, we can still find ways of discussing new things - that's the difference between books and people or even books and movies. There's just more to talk about when you're discussing and author and his works.

Even stranger than a forum devoted to just one person, I once stumbled a forum devoted completely to long hair. I've been trying (unsucessfully) for 12 years to grow my hair (it's only grown a foot or so in that time), so I thought I'd join. Before I did, I realized that there had to be a very finite number of ways in which long hair can be discussed. What was the nail in the coffin was that this forum had a section entirely of members' journals about their hair. I still can't comprehend what sort of things these could possibly contain, other than this type of entry:

Dear Diary,
Today it was very warm and humid. My hair was frizzy. It's still the same length and color it was yesterday. I washed it today.
Love,
Hair forum member

See what I mean? Compared to something like that, our discussions here are incredibly diverse and varied.