Survivor: The Second Age

[Lalaith]

Anarion, Tar Miriel, Cirdan, Celebrian, Narvi, Fangorn, and Ohtar, eh?

.....oh, and as you've frequently said, you don't like Galadriel either...well now...how many girls does that leave?
Oh, yes, none at all....what a surprise.

[Anguirel]

In terms of principles on how these things should be conducted, I agree with Saucie and am prepared to defend many of the minor characters the phantom just condemned.

But when it gets down to particulars, Elrond is no tedious lorekeeping pedant. (I like lorekeeping pedants anyway, since I seem to be fated to become one.)

He's the foster-son of Maglor, so I'm not budging in this particular.

Long ago, Saucie manipulated transatlantic inferiority complexes. I now propose to do the same...a bit more openly, perhaps.

Ye...ah, I believe ye are named nerds...give ear.

You are one of a pair of twin brothers, children of parents as beautiful as they are affluent and adequate.

Everyone likes your little brother more than you. He's bouncy and enthusiastic and sporty, and people are saying he'll grow up to be a fine Balrog-killer. But you don't like swords much and stick to your books.

Your brother becomes ever more extrovert and insufferable. You realise he is a jock. You are also thoroughly bored with your beauteous, perfect, absentee parents.

Then two cool Feanorions turn up, massacre your people, drive off your mother and adopt you. One of them is the greatest bard and scholar of the Age. Life is good. And you've got one up on sporty Elros who whines for his Mummy. Then he has to swan off to the War of Wrath and become King of Numenor, and the Feanorians die or vanish. Typical.

You keep studying and reading. You know that unlike Elros-who is now mortal-you are going to have a chance for some revenge. You study and study until you can beat Gil-Galad at his own game.

You marry a wench far more delectable than Elros' unnamed Numenorean she. You own Middle-Earth's best fortress. You have brilliant children.

What I'm saying...

is that Elrond's story is the story of a scholarly nerd triumphing against the odds...

Vote Sauron, the Jock of the Dark Side. With Tolkien-based reasoning.

[the phantom]

Oh, get off your high horse, Lalaith.

oh, and as you've frequently said, you don't like Galadriel either...well now...how many girls does that leave?

It still leaves one- Galadriel. Despite the fact that I have a couple problems with her (especially when I compare her to Elrond, he really highlights her faults), you will notice that I did NOT place her on the list of unworthy winners.

If Galadriel wins, though she is not someone I "like", I will not consider the game a loss, or a failure, because I think she has enough going for her to make her a worthy champion.

Just like Sauron. If I were dropped into Middle Earth, I would undoubtedly be opposed to Sauron and fight against him. But despite that, I think he would be a very worthy winner of this game, on the basis of his accomplishments, however evil he may be.

That's why I'm not about to hop onto the Sauron bandwagon to save Elrond. Sauron controlled a good portion of Middle Earth throughout the 2nd and 3rd age, and shaped events in the world more than anyone else. He hatched a flawless plan for world domination. Only divine intervention saved Middle Earth from him.

I don't care if he is evil, and I don't care that, if he were real, I would try to kill him. His deeds earn him a place far beyond little specks like Ohtar, Narvi, and Tar Miriel.

[Anguirel]

Originally Posted by the phantom

His deeds earn him a place far beyond little specks like Ohtar, Narvi, and Tar Miriel.

phantom, you're a fine dictator, but like most such you don't understand the significance of the insignificant. Nor the insignificance of the significant.

Citizens of Arda, eject Sauron and let the minor characters have their day...

[Lalaith]

Ang, if we ask him nicely, maybe he'll teach us the goose-step...

[Firefoot]

++Elrond

The guy seriously has to go. He's a disappointment (his family), a wimp (watch me sit back and relax while everyone else goes to war), and lacks the persuasive powers that all Elven leaders ought to have (Isildur). What more must be said?

Anarion, Tar Miriel, Cirdan, Celebrian, Narvi, Fangorn, and Ohtar

Congratulations, you have just picked several of my favorite remaining characters.

[the phantom]

you don't understand the significance of the insignificant. Nor the insignificance of the significant.

Actually, I do have an understanding of the role minor characters play. They often make invaluable contributions. However, major characters make several invaluable contributions, and in many cases cannot be replaced.

For instance, some other guy could've saved the shards of Narsil. It didn't have to be Ohtar.

Sauron and Elrond on the other hand- some of the things they did could not have been done by anyone else. They are singular talents. I am of the opinion that we should protect our singular talents.

if we ask him nicely, maybe he'll teach us the goose-step...

I imagine anything more complicated than putting one foot in front of the other is a bit beyond your capabilities.

Congratulations, you have just picked several of my favorite remaining characters

So what? I happen to like a couple of them too (but I'm not foolish enough to say who, as it would make them a target of those who envy me).

It doesn't matter so much to me that someone I love wins. It matters more that someone worthy of representing the entire Second Age wins.