What does it mean to be a true fan? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lord of Angmar · 04-26-2004, 07:17 PM

To be a true fan, you have to really like the books or movies.

Elianna · 04-26-2004, 07:52 PM

A true fan does not only drool over the cute/hott guys. They can (Faramir...drool...), but it's not all they do.

A true fan at very least makes an effort to read the books.

Mad Baggins · 04-26-2004, 08:08 PM

I think realizing the beauty of Middle-earth and the depth of Tolkien's works is a major part of it. You don't necessarily have to know each and every thing about Middle-earth(but it would help!

), you simply have to love the books and/or movies.

Knight of Gondor · 04-26-2004, 08:37 PM

*Shrugs, then chuckles*

A true fan, eh? Well, I suppose it would mean that you have a good collection of books about Middle-Earth. You've read the Silmarillion at least once. You can distinguish between movie and book. If you like the movie (not mandatory, but a large, missing chunk if you don't), you have a basic, working knowledge of cast and crew members, scenes, actors, weapons, art, design, and a good deal of behind-the-scenes knowledge. You have a feel for the history of Middle-Earth, and at least a little knowledge about Tolkien itself.

I'd shy away from saying that these are qualifications, however, for entering the kingdom of fan-dom. I was a hard-core fan years ago when I first picked up the FotR book. (I had to sacrifice my reading rights to the next four Left Behind books in order for my older brother to let me go ahead and read RotK ahead of him!) I think it depends on mindset and passion for it. If you gradually fail to meet those "qualifications" I listed, then it would seem you're gradually losing your fan status.

Orophin · 04-26-2004, 10:10 PM

Being a fan have different levels I suposse. From little to big. There are some who have just seen the movies and like them or maybe have even read the books. Hard core fans I believe relate middle earth to reality. They begin to see things in our world that relate to tolkien's. Some may think that's weird but only the true fans can understand I guess.

**The Saucepan Man** · 04-27-2004, 02:48 AM

Surely it is rather beside the point to try to impose criteria by which people can measure themselves and others in order to decide whether or not they are true fans. You know if you are a fan or not, and you don't need to prove yourself as such to anyone.

Although I would say that it is a pretty safe bet that anyone who posts in any meaningful way on this forum more than a handful of times is a true Tolkien fan.

The_Hand · 04-27-2004, 05:27 AM

To be a true fan I would say all you have to do was like the book and /or movie. No more, no less, but if you have read all the books a number of times, seen the movie, slept outside to get tickets in the snow, know alot about everything Tolkien ever wrote, sees Middle-Earth all around you, like to say quotes in elvish to friends and posts more than a handfull of times on this or another Tolkien forum I'd say that you're no longer a fan, but a fanatic! I think I just decribed myself... hmmm

Liriodendron · 04-27-2004, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord of Angmar

To be a true fan, you have to really like the books or movies.

You took the words right off my fingertips!

Lhundulinwen · 04-27-2004, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Surely it is rather beside the point to try to impose criteria by which people can measure themselves and others in order to decide whether or not they are true fans. You know if you are a fan or not, and you don't need to prove yourself as such to anyone.

Exactly! Of course, it doesn't hurt to be a barrowdowner, quote random LOTR passages to friends, and save up your money to be able to buy the soundtracks and/ or the extended versions of the DVD's.

Vanya · 04-28-2004, 05:17 AM

Well, there are quasyfans, fans and fanatics. I belive I'm a fan. This means, for me, that ME is paralel world, where I escape every once in a while. It means that stories touch me every time I read them. It means that the first thing I look when I enter a bookstore is Tolkien shelf. It means trying to convert people that I find worthy of that effort. It means using Lotr screensaver or using film as background while working on comp, and then picking it up when some of favorite scenes starts. It mans telling my daughter ME bedtime stories. I could go on like this for long....
But, still, I'm not fanatic, because I didn't t learn elvish (like some people I know), or couldn't force myself to read HoME, because it's not translated yet. Even if it was, there are too much oposite informations, so I don't need the confusion. I can't pick quotes out my sleeve, I don't buy Lotr items, I hate comercial impact the film had .

HerenIstarion · 04-28-2004, 05:30 AM

And, of course, true fan always writes Tolkien without capital T and exercises his correctness and happy agreement with gender equality principles by referring to much esteemed professor with 'it'

Silent Sam · 04-28-2004, 08:33 AM

In my humble opinion, I would definately side with Elianna; DON'T drool!

I also think that it's a good idea to have read the boks as well as seen the movies.
But really, you can't say. LOTR can touch someone in hundreds of ways, not just a selected or named few.

05-29-2004, 05:41 PM

There is no reason why a true fan can't 'drool' over the men in Middle Earth...why the heck not? One of the reasons I love Lord of the Rings is because of the values it advocates...and if some of those men happen to have those particular values I find attractive then I don't see the problem with it. I think the problem occurs when people ONLY drool...and then call themselves fans. They aren't. They'll be 'in love' with the next 'hot' thing to come out of Hollywood next month.

I also disagree with people who are rabid fans of the books who find it necessary to trash everything Peter Jackson did. That just annoys me, because film is a completely different medium to text, and I think that the changes PJ made were, for the most part, necessary. I agree totally with what Meela said, you have to appreciate that PJ is also a fan, and the films are his interpretation of the text.

I also personally love collecting LOTR merchandise. My study is filled with action figures, posters, books, games, stamps....etc etc. But that doesnt make me a true fan. I just don't think there is anything wrong with collecting stuff.

I guess to me a true fan is someone who appreciates the books of Tolkien as well as PJ's films. A true fan is someone who wants to learn about LOTR. A true fan probably bores their non-Tolkien loving friends stupid with details about the book and films. (Like I do..hehe!)

Gorwingel · 05-30-2004, 04:24 AM

Quote:

To be a true fan, you have to really like the books or movies.

What! Does this mean you can't like both?

(I get the quote, don't worry)

I personally believe that it is very hard to make any kind of "qualifications" for something like this. If this topic would have came up a couple months ago I would have gone straight into the "you must be into the books to be a true fan" kind of thing. But I guess (recently and surprisingly) I have grown up, and I am ready to accept fans of all types. I guess you just have to be in to it in a way, and exposed to it, and maybe it has to be part of your everyday life. But, yeah, this is hard

04-26-2004, 07:17 PM	#1
Lord of Angmar Tyrannus Incorporalis Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: the North Posts: 833	The Secret of the True Fan To be a true fan, you have to really like the books or movies. __________________ ...where the instrument of intelligence is added to brute power and evil will, mankind is powerless in its own defence.

04-26-2004, 07:52 PM	#2
Elianna Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ad finem itineris Posts: 384	A true fan does not only drool over the cute/hott guys. They can (Faramir...drool...), but it's not all they do. A true fan at very least makes an effort to read the books. __________________ Enyale cuilenya, ú-enyale mandenya.

04-26-2004, 08:08 PM	#3
Mad Baggins Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: A place where after thunder golden showers come falling like a rain of flowers. Posts: 371	I think realizing the beauty of Middle-earth and the depth of Tolkien's works is a major part of it. You don't necessarily have to know each and every thing about Middle-earth(but it would help!), you simply have to love the books and/or movies. __________________ I like buying snacks from a vending machine because food is better when it falls. Sometimes at the grocery, I'll drop a candy bar so that it will achieve its maximum flavor potential.

04-26-2004, 08:37 PM	#4
Knight of Gondor Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 744	Shrugs, then chuckles A true fan, eh? Well, I suppose it would mean that you have a good collection of books about Middle-Earth. You've read the Silmarillion at least once. You can distinguish between movie and book. If you like the movie (not mandatory, but a large, missing chunk if you don't), you have a basic, working knowledge of cast and crew members, scenes, actors, weapons, art, design, and a good deal of behind-the-scenes knowledge. You have a feel for the history of Middle-Earth, and at least a little knowledge about Tolkien itself. I'd shy away from saying that these are qualifications, however, for entering the kingdom of fan-dom. I was a hard-core fan years ago when I first picked up the FotR book. (I had to sacrifice my reading rights to the next four Left Behind books in order for my older brother to let me go ahead and read RotK ahead of him!) I think it depends on mindset and passion for it. If you gradually fail to meet those "qualifications" I listed, then it would seem you're gradually losing your fan status. __________________ Eagerly awaiting the REAL Return of the King - Jesus Christ! Revelation 19:11-16

04-26-2004, 10:10 PM	#5
Orophin Animated Skeleton Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lothlorien Posts: 48	Being a fan Being a fan have different levels I suposse. From little to big. There are some who have just seen the movies and like them or maybe have even read the books. Hard core fans I believe relate middle earth to reality. They begin to see things in our world that relate to tolkien's. Some may think that's weird but only the true fans can understand I guess.

04-27-2004, 02:48 AM	#6
The Saucepan Man Corpus Cacophonous Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A green and pleasant land Posts: 8,390	Surely it is rather beside the point to try to impose criteria by which people can measure themselves and others in order to decide whether or not they are true fans. You know if you are a fan or not, and you don't need to prove yourself as such to anyone. Although I would say that it is a pretty safe bet that anyone who posts in any meaningful way on this forum more than a handful of times is a true Tolkien fan. __________________ Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!

04-27-2004, 05:27 AM	#7
The_Hand Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Mordor, M&Mcastle (Minas Morgul) Posts: 72	To be a true fan I would say all you have to do was like the book and /or movie. No more, no less, but if you have read all the books a number of times, seen the movie, slept outside to get tickets in the snow, know alot about everything Tolkien ever wrote, sees Middle-Earth all around you, like to say quotes in elvish to friends and posts more than a handfull of times on this or another Tolkien forum I'd say that you're no longer a fan, but a fanatic! I think I just decribed myself... hmmm __________________ Member of: The Bodyparts of Sauron Russ 2006

04-28-2004, 05:17 AM	#10
Vanya Animated Skeleton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Belgrade Posts: 43	Well, there are quasyfans, fans and fanatics. I belive I'm a fan. This means, for me, that ME is paralel world, where I escape every once in a while. It means that stories touch me every time I read them. It means that the first thing I look when I enter a bookstore is Tolkien shelf. It means trying to convert people that I find worthy of that effort. It means using Lotr screensaver or using film as background while working on comp, and then picking it up when some of favorite scenes starts. It mans telling my daughter ME bedtime stories. I could go on like this for long.... But, still, I'm not fanatic, because I didn't t learn elvish (like some people I know), or couldn't force myself to read HoME, because it's not translated yet. Even if it was, there are too much oposite informations, so I don't need the confusion. I can't pick quotes out my sleeve, I don't buy Lotr items, I hate comercial impact the film had .

04-28-2004, 05:30 AM	#11
HerenIstarion Deadnight Chanter Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,244	And, of course, true fan always writes Tolkien without capital T and exercises his correctness and happy agreement with gender equality principles by referring to much esteemed professor with 'it' __________________ Egroeg Ihkhsal - Would you believe in the love at first sight? - Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time!

04-28-2004, 08:33 AM	#12
Silent Sam Pile O'Bones Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The Land Of The Living Skies Posts: 11	Interesting... In my humble opinion, I would definately side with Elianna; DON'T drool! I also think that it's a good idea to have read the boks as well as seen the movies. But really, you can't say. LOTR can touch someone in hundreds of ways, not just a selected or named few. __________________ We got older, But we're still young, We never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up... -------------------- Beware of still people and silent watchers...

05-29-2004, 05:41 PM	#13
thalionkrisiel Guest Posts: n/a	There is no reason why a true fan can't 'drool' over the men in Middle Earth...why the heck not? One of the reasons I love Lord of the Rings is because of the values it advocates...and if some of those men happen to have those particular values I find attractive then I don't see the problem with it. I think the problem occurs when people ONLY drool...and then call themselves fans. They aren't. They'll be 'in love' with the next 'hot' thing to come out of Hollywood next month. I also disagree with people who are rabid fans of the books who find it necessary to trash everything Peter Jackson did. That just annoys me, because film is a completely different medium to text, and I think that the changes PJ made were, for the most part, necessary. I agree totally with what Meela said, you have to appreciate that PJ is also a fan, and the films are his interpretation of the text. I also personally love collecting LOTR merchandise. My study is filled with action figures, posters, books, games, stamps....etc etc. But that doesnt make me a true fan. I just don't think there is anything wrong with collecting stuff. I guess to me a true fan is someone who appreciates the books of Tolkien as well as PJ's films. A true fan is someone who wants to learn about LOTR. A true fan probably bores their non-Tolkien loving friends stupid with details about the book and films. (Like I do..hehe!)