The folly of the Valar?

[Mithalwen]

Hmm the noble savage theory obviously didn't hold sway....

[Legolas]

Was this folly their forcing the Elves to go to Aman and live with them?

No, I think not...the folly was in allowing them to go on against Morgoth unaided for so long. As soon as they intervened, Morgoth fell quickly.

[the phantom]

They also made a big boo-boo when they let the little lying weasel (Melkor) loose amonst the trusting, open-eared Eldar.

Then again, they were only Ainur.

Yep yep yep.

[Frodo Baggins]

Good point, Phantom. The VAlar made a very serious and rather stupid mistake in letting Morgoth go free once he was caught the first time. Nienna's pity makes her a bit too trusting.

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

In the good, old Sil it says (Quenta Silmarillion, Ch.1) that 'cause none of the ainur did fully understand the thought of Iluvatar's children in the music, the ainur didn't dare to add anything to them. And if the ainur used their forces in their affairs with elves and men to give a lesson to them, there was seldom any good consequences (even if they ment well).

So maybe they could had avoided the Silmaril bickering and the kinslaying but there might have come other jewels to fight over and other differences of opinions that would have ended bloodily.

[Alda]

"And this [the sending of the Istari] the Valar did, desiring to ammend the errors of old, especially that they had attmepted to guard and seclude the Eldar by their own might and glory fully revealed"

It certainly seems like they are admitting that their over-protective act of bringing the Eldar to Valinor was rife with folly. Although I know they did it out of love like a parent might.

I often wonder why the Valar didn't forsee some of the problems that would arise by recognizing them in the different themes in the music.

[Frodo Baggins]

I was reding Loast Tales yesterday (what a confusing book!) and came across a few things interesting things.

After Melko comes to the dwellings of the Noldor during the festival, kills their guards and takes thir treasure, and the Noldor come to Manwe for help, and Amnwe says something to the effect of "This is all your fault becuase you had dealing with Melko." the account reads:

And the embassy was abashed and afraid and went back unto Sirnumen utterly cast down; yet was Manwe's heart heavier than theirs, for things had gone ill indeed, and yet he foresaw that worse would be; and so did the destinies of the gods work out, for lo! to the Noldoli Manwe's workds seemed cold and heartless, and they knew not his sorrow and his tenderness; and Manwe thought them strangely changed and turned to covetice, who longed but for comfort, being like children very full of the loss of their fair things.

After this, the elves (at least the Noldor) saw Valinor as a prison, which the lies of Melko did not help. Feanor goes to Manwe and asks to leave Aman, but Manwe forbids him, and of course, Feanor gets angry. Manwe knew that men would be arriving soon and he feard that the elves would do harm to them, and also tells Feanor of the dangers of the world. Feanor then says

Or what is this talk of the dangers of the world? A trick to decieve us; a amsk of words! O all ye children of the Noldoli, whomso will no longer be house-thralls of the gods however softly held, arise I bid ye and get you from Valinor, for now is the hour come and the world awaits.

Harsh and hasty words indeed, but perhaps with a grain of truth. The Valar seem to think that the elves are incapable of looking after themselves, or would rather have them as playthings than on their own in the world, or perhaps some of both.