Why did you join?

[VanimaEdhel]

I started going to the chatroom back around winter of 2001 when I was fourteen. I'd been a fan of Tolkien since I was about nine, but didn't really get into going on the internet until about the summer of that year. Then when I saw that the movies were going to come out, I decided to look around for a chatroom, figuring I would have to find some people who were interested in the books. I stumbled across the chatroom through Google, I believe, and zifnab and Sharku were the first two people on the Downs that I spoke to, I think.

I joined the Forums finally after lurking around February of 2002. I've been coming on-and-off ever since.

[Orominuialwen]

I never liked and had barely heard of LotR until I saw FotR somtime in the last week of 2001 with my dad and brother. A few weeks later, my dad bought us copies of LotR and The Hobbit, and we both read them. I took a long time to get through them, owing to the fact that I lost FotR on the bus when I was partway through it and had to wait until we could get another copy. By this time we had 2 copies of The Hobbit and it was to be the beginning of a long history of owning multiple copies of all the books for me and my brother. (At current count, 2 of FotR, 3 of TTT, 4 of RotK, 2 one-volume copies of LotR, 2 copies of The Hobbit, 2 of Silm, and much overlap of the shorter works in various different collections.) We became obsessed with LotR sometime in the spring of 2002 and nobody has been able to stop us since, although many have tried and failed.


I discovered the 'Downs in September or October of 2002, because something on the main part of the site (I'm not sure what) came up when I googled Eowyn. I spent the next seveeral months reading things on the main site, never knowing that there was a forum. I finally discovered the forum sometime in the spring of 2003 and lurked for a bit before actuallly joining in May. In November I finally convinced my brother to join, although his presence is sporadic during the summers and almost nonexistent during the school year. (He mostly spends his spare time playing video games and very graciously allows me to use the internet most of the time.)

[Gothmog]

First time, I were looking for some information or answer to some question, which I do not recall at this time. I stumbled upon the mainsite and found some funny games and stuff to make my time go. Then there were more questions (there always is) and I found the answer to many of them by reading posts by the excellent members of this forum.

As the time went, I found myself wanting to participate in some of the discussions, but I doubted I could contribute with much. Still I signed up and here I am! As predicted, there's not much I can contribute with amongst Tolkien specialists as those present here, but I try my best.

I had a break from the forum of about a year. I hadn't posted much before and I doubt anyone remembers me from before it. But then I accidentely stumbled upon the forum again, and to my great surprise I remembered my login and password. And suddenly I'm addicted. Trying to catch up with lost time I guess...

[Cailín]

I think most Downers are well aware of the reason why I joined the Downs

Anyway, I stumbled on this site about six months ago, when I was googling for information for my Beowulf-paper (yes, truly, this site is most academic). I had never actually read the Lord of the Rings trilogy before, but was of course well acquainted with the movies and the story in general. I continued visiting the site every once in a while, just to laugh privately at all the Tolkien freaks and to read the Crazy Captions thread. Then, one good day, I discovered the werewolf games and after reading one, I was immediately addicted. I didn't even stop to consider and instantly joined the Barrow Downs, my nickname being the first word that came to mind, and signed up for WWIX. And that is how it began. After a few weeks of quality Downs time, I was so completely in love with all of you I never wanted to leave again. I guess I am one of the few members who became a Tolkien fan because of the Downs, and not the other way around.

I must say I am quite grateful for not knowing much about Tolkien before joining this forum, mostly because there are many intelligent people out here who can be really intimidating, I think, to outsiders. I would probably have been so pre-occupied trying to impress everyone, I would never have enjoyed it so much. Though basically all members are very warm and friendly towards newcomers, the Barrow Downs know a whole range of unwritten rules that probably scare many a newbie off. It is almost strange how online fora can seem like complete, individual subcultures.

Because I had nothing better to do.

Yeah, this post is really an extended version of the same reason.

[Thinlómien]

I loved the books and I wanted more information about them and Arda itself. I also thought that discussing things and sharing my knowlegde with people would be really fun. And it really has been.

[Formendacil]

Word of mouth.

Literally, I heard about it from a flesh-and-blood human being- in person.

I've been a Tolkien fan for years- to the despair of most of my friends. Last year I had the fortune to acquire a new friend who didn't find me QUITE so nuts as the rest of them...

She was one of those movie-fans who were drawn in by family at the time of the movies. Being a more involved net-browser than I, she was one of the many fans who had discovered the 'Downs as one of the foremost online sources of Tolkien information and community.

We got to talking one night about Tolkien, the 'Downs came up, and in a fit of consummate boredom on January day, I took the plunge and arrived in this intriguing land of black, green, yellow, and Werewolves.

[Lhunardawen]

Bacause I was desperate. If I didn't get to talk ask anybody how Faramir knew that Aragorn is the king, I feared I would explode.