Do we realize how crazy we are?

[Glirdan]

We are not lunatics!! How could you say such a thing!?!? As we have clearly staed before, they are the crazy ones for not joining this awsome site! I do however agree with the fact that if all of us were pushed into our little group (I mean those that post on here frequently[ie. myslef, you Valesse, Wilwa, Gil, phantom, Enca, B-W, Eomer, Fordim, Perky, TGWBS, Saucy, morm, Kitanna, and a whole bunch of others]) and they started insulting us and making fun of us, we could probably come back with some pretty witty comebacks, that they wouldn't even understand!! GO US!!!!

[the guy who be short]

Originally Posted by Glirdan

we could probably come back with some pretty witty comebacks, that they wouldn't even understand!! GO US!!!!

Alas, quoting Tolkien at idiots is only likely to make people think we're even weirder than they thought before. And there's no point using an insult nobody can understand, eh?

Now that I'm at 6th Form, I have enough free time to visit the Downs during (restricted) daylight hours. People observing this generally claim I'm weird, can you imagine? I reply that they should develop a scary obsession with something quaint and odd - it does one a lot of good.

Screw conformity.

[Encaitare]

Originally Posted by The Short One

Alas, quoting Tolkien at idiots is only likely to make people think we're even weirder than they thought before. And there's no point using an insult nobody can understand, eh?

I can just see it...

Enca: For I also am a steward! Did you not know?
Tolkien Fans: Oooooh, snap!
Non-Tolkien Fan: I never said anything about stewards, loser. [Or, more likely, "Uhhh... what's a steward?"]

[Glirdan]

Originally Posted by Encaitare

I can just see it...

Enca: For I also am a steward! Did you not know?
Tolkien Fans: Oooooh, snap!
Non-Tolkien Fan: I never said anything about stewards, loser. [Or, more likely, "Uhhh... what's a steward?"]

That's awsome Enca, I can so picture that!! Not only do they have no idea what the heck you're talking about and what we're laughing at, but we get the satisfaction of saying that they don't have anything better to say than loser which is such an over rated word that it's use will eventually stop!!!

[Encaitare]

That's awsome Enca, I can so picture that!! Not only do they have no idea what the heck you're talking about and what we're laughing at, but we get the satisfaction of saying that they don't have anything better to say than loser which is such an over rated word that it's use will eventually stop!!!

A word more... shall we say uncouth would probably be used instead of "loser," but I didn't want to get smited for having a potty-mouth.

[Gurthang]

Originally Posted by the guy who be short

Screw conformity.

I couldn't agree with you more! You say so much in those few words.

When I see people doing the 'in' thing, I can only laugh. I'm usually not doing the 'in thing', and not just to be not doing the 'in thing'. All those people who do the 'in thing' have so much to worry about and often don't even really know what the 'in thing' is. I do my own thing, say screw whatever the 'in thing' is, and have way more fun being me and laughing at them.


On a side note, I was eating a formal dinner the other night, and my date commented on how it was fun to be 'proper'(not sure if that's the exact word, but it's about the same). That's one reason that I like this site. I can try to use more complicated sentence structure, better descriptive words, and come up with off the wall analogies, and you all don't (usually ) make fun of me. It's really a lot of fun to be 'proper'.

[Glirdan]

Ahhhh, the "in thing". I know it well. Not that me and him personally met at all during my life time. I don't even know why people try to be, what's that word I'm looking for? Oh riggghhht!!! "Cool". What's the point of being "cool" if you can't be yourself? I like the way I am and I'm not going to change it any time soon. So, as I nomally say, if you don't like me the way I am, live with it.

[the guy who be short]

This is all really interesting to me because I just started studying Psychology this week and the first topic we did was... conformity.

We discussed how, in a sense, everybody conforms. We may not conform to the norms' point of view, but we conform on the Downs. For example, to try to fit in more, a newer member could decide to read HoME so they can quote it. So... I'm not sure why I brought this up actually. I just think the whole conformity issue is interesting, and the way we think we're independant when we're actually conforming to the rest of the Downs.

Bottom line, none of us are as crazy as we think or hope to be.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

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?

[Glirdan]

Very encouraging Fea, very encouraging indeed. I'd rather be in a history book for being me than falling in with the "in" crowd. Besides, as you said, all that happens when you're with the "in" crowd is that you get into trouble. And if excessviely liking something makes me a nerd, than I'll die with that tittle, nerd. I'd rather be a Tolkienite than someone who smokes anyday.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by the guy who be short

This is all really interesting to me because I just started studying Psychology this week and the first topic we did was... conformity.

We discussed how, in a sense, everybody conforms. We may not conform to the norms' point of view, but we conform on the Downs. For example, to try to fit in more, a newer member could decide to read HoME so they can quote it. So... I'm not sure why I brought this up actually. I just think the whole conformity issue is interesting, and the way we think we're independant when we're actually conforming to the rest of the Downs.

Bottom line, none of us are as crazy as we think or hope to be.

A very interesting perspective, subjunctive guy. Certainly posters here don't stay long if all they produce is chat posts--Estelyn's skwerls will get them sooner or later, as will that legendary long green sword of BW and the Admins.

Nor does this site encourage picture or image additions to posts; it relies mainly on text and text of a certain style; there's a slightly tongue-in-cheek atttitude here that requires a particular light hand and those who can't get a handle on it tend not to stay very long--or tend to stay only on certain threads. And everyone here understands the hierarchy of threads, whether seriously or winkingly. Witness all the newbie and not so newbie comments about being intimidated and not wanting to post on Books or Chapter by Chapter. In fact, there's very much a sort of a testosterone-driven competitive wiff along with that sweet smell of the dead.

Every community creates its own identity. In short, by coming here, we respond to all those nay-sayers "out there" and happily it seems create a style which many of them possibly cannot aspire to. (And note please what my placing of 'possibly' means. )

It's a society/culture/community which provides its own rewards.