How did the other BDers change you?

[the phantom]

I was thinking yesterday about how much time I have spent on this site over the past couple years. If you added it all up I don't know how much it would be- but I know it'd be a whole lot.

People don't spend their free time doing things they don't enjoy, so obviously I enjoy coming here.

But why? If it's just to practice typing then there's plenty of other things I could do instead. If it's just because I think green characters on a black background is cool then I should just download a Matrix screen-saver and stare at it. If it's just to talk about Tolkien I could just talk to my friends or my dad, or join some other Tolkien site.

So..... I guess it must be my fellow members.

The Barrow-Wight and the rest of the administration- I would just like to say "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Obviously this site would not exist without you. And BW is very funny for a big, mean, thread-closing man in green.

And all the mods deserve a pat on the back for the job they do, like Esty in the Chapter-by-Chapter section.

Then there's all those members who've been around as long as (or longer than) me, like Davem, Beth, Child, and.... you know who you are. Members who join and don't leave is what makes me feel, how would I say it, at home when I visit the Downs.

And of course, there's all the members that I have debated with and against time and time again in the books over the years like Kuru, Legolas, Maedhros, Boromir88, and others.

One of these "others" would be The Saucepan Man. SP has impressed me many times with his good sense of humor, shrewd observations, and ability to debate rough and tough but still remain friendly.

And don't forget about Squatter. I haven't seen him in an age but who could possibly forget his posts. He was top notch.

I don't come to the Barrow-Downs just to be serious. I enjoy smiling as well, and two Downers that have made me smile quite a bit are Diamond and burra. Intelligent posts are great, but intelligent posts that make you laugh are even better.

And how could I not mention Lush, someone you want to kiss one minute and strangle the next. She is.... well, she's just Lush.

Then there's Feanor of the Peredhil. A delightful young lady... but obviously too nice... I don't think anyone else would put up with my constant stream of pm babble.

I can't possibly list every member of the Downs that pops into my head (even the great phantom must go to class occasionally), so to everyone I didn't name- the phantom is glad you are a member.