To the merriment

[Mister Underhill]

Originally Posted by Squatter

Mister Underhill, whose keyboard has been the fount of much classic comedy

Flatterer. I can only return the compliment: besides the post to start off the "Curious Evening" thread -- which is a strong contender for best post, ever, anywhere on the Downs -- you had at least as big a hand in the development of Travest-o-technology™ as I did. Also, you proved again that brevity is the soul of wit with a short but exceptionally funny post in Sport in Middle-earth that makes me chuckle out loud to this day.

Although the Straight Way to many of the old threads has been lost, clever mariners can still navigate to the ancient shores, as in this link to the aforementioned battle between Spellcheck Man and his nemesis. Look here at lindil's Should all posts be polls? to laugh while you learn why polls are not generally accessible on the Downs.

I have more merry memories of times on the Downs than I can count. Most of the older ones involve half-joking, half-serious analyses with Sharkey, or impromptu iron poetry with the Wight, or the interpretation of the prophesies of Malbeth. Also, I miss Maril; she was always good for a laugh.

Originally Posted by Lush

One of the more hilarious instances of newbies-gone-bad that I remember was a character named Zones...

"Zones for ops!"... I haven't thought of that for years.

And speaking of, does anyone else remember -- I think his handle was Gimli son of Gloin? I'm sure that kid still holds the record for most bans and reinstatements, not to mention dramatic farewell-I'm-leaving-forever posts. There was one old thread in particular that gave me a few days of laughter, where I pretended that he was a character that I had created, but I can't seem to turn it up either here or at the old site. I think we lost more stuff in our periodic UBB corruptions than we realized at the time. Maybe that one was another victim.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

And speaking of, does anyone else remember -- I think his handle was Gimli son of Gloin? I'm sure that kid still holds the record for most bans and reinstatements, not to mention dramatic farewell-I'm-leaving-forever posts.

*gets ready to break some records*

Farewell, my loves, I am leaving you for eternity! Do no lament; no, do not anguish, for I will be far happier where I do go...

However before I leave, I shall post several of my fondest memories for you to know me by:

The impromptu creation and immanent administrative squashing of one Inktomi Slurp Spider has provided me with countless laughs.

One late, late night in the chat room where the phantom and I kept Esty up long past her bedtime. I shudder to think... when I finally took my leave, it was past my own bed time.

Keeping tabs on the ever dynamic Fill-in-the-blank-ship on their Quest for Reunification.

Forhedgethistledim: our dear professor has provided me with laughter beyond explanation. Most especially when he and our supreme Wightness agreed to become espoused... or at least when they released that their RPG characters were.

And now... I bid you adeau. Farewell, my doves, my sugarsweets, and do not miss me too badly for my departure... shall only actually last a few hours.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Speaking of merry blasts from the past

How I miss Birdland aka Bird ! Who could resist her impish posts on the original Entish Bow, or her brief, humorous comments in the Books and Movies forum. As someone who'd actually worked with films, she had a fun and insightful perspective on PJ.

Her post comparing the new VLASIC pickle commercial with Gollum's dialogue in the Hobbit was typical of her offhand wit. Since this dates from 2002, I can't seem to link to it so here it is:

Gollum should sue!

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Quote:
"Is it nice, my preciousss? Is it juicy? Is it scrumptiously crunchable?" - Gollum, The Hobbit

I heard the brand new ad campaign for Vlasic pickles as I was cruising the Downs, and almost fell out of my chair.

In the ad, a couple of children are apparently about to share some Vlasic pickles. One child asks: "Is it juicy? Is it crunchable?" The tag line of the commercial is "Vlasic pickles. Juicy and crunchable!"

If this wasn't lifted straight from Gollum's most famous line, I'll eat my hat!

I'm afraid I'll never be able to look at a jar of Vlasic pickles now without busting out laughing. A shame, really, for they are pretty good pickles. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

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Alas, Bird, you are missed....

[Mister Underhill]

Yeah, Birdie is missed, and Diamond18 too -- she only very rarely shows her head in here these days.

Fea, you're gonna have to work a lot harder than that to beat ol' Gimli, but you're off to a good start. Next time you decide to leave forever, mention how the Downs has changed for the worse, and don't forget to emphasize that you won't be coming back. Ever. You might also want to consider creating a second account so that you can use an alias to post about what a shame it is that Fea is leaving.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

You might also want to consider creating a second account so that you can use an alias to post about what a shame it is that Fea is leaving.

How do you know that I haven't already? Oh, I forgot...

Me... leaving... permanently.

The 'Downs just keeps getting worse. It's those old misers like Underhillo and Squatter that keep this place from growing and changing with the times. These days discussions run the risk of stagnation and concentration on boring topics like "Was this canonical?" and "Who determines canonicity, the book or the reader?" and "Just what is this canon thing anyhow? A camera? Or a badly spelled gun?" and it's people like them that still deny the coming of the inevitable: swoon rooms. If there was a swoon room, you bet I'd stick around. But since there isn't, and my entertaining memories of the phantom who be short aren't enough to keep me here, I regret to inform you that this is the end. I am leaving. Goodbye.

[Aiwendil]

I had completely forgotten about Gimli son of Gloin. It seems that most of his theatrics have been deleted, but a search turned up this small sample. For a real laugh, look at what he posted only a few days later, cheerfully addressing "Mr. B" as if they were old chums.

[Lush]

Blazes! It seems my polygamy practices have been exposed!

The Lupercalia thread is a classic; for something that's been deleted long ago, its ghost is surprisingly active in my mind.

I also remember a few hilarious moments referring to someone known as "the late-night rhyming Underhill." Oh dear.

Then there was that time when Sharkey thought it would be funny to pour salt on my wound when Italy bombed out of the World Cup. And it was funny, let me tell you.

I would be remiss not to mention Marileangorifurnimalium. It's been years, and I still remember how to spell her name. Lots of funny stories there. I miss her.