The Middle Earth Popularity Cup - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Groin Redbeard · 12-07-2008, 11:18 AM

Ooh, this is a hard choice, I really like both of these characters.

However, I shall vote for the character that I most identify with. For king and country!

++Boromir

All my reasons for voting for him are already stated.

Nogrod · 12-07-2008, 11:36 AM

I'm kind of agreeing with many here that we should eliminate Skip indeed for presenting us with such a choice.

But aren't these two, Saruman and Boromir so much alike?

Both were great heroes of their days and both were confident they could win the war themselves in a way they saw it fit. Also they both had to perform a treachery on their friends to succeed - and they both died because of that (remember that most of the heroes do survive the war in the LotR unlike in more modern stories).

I do like Boromir as a person more but I find Saruman much more fascinating. And also because there will be an ample Boromir -fan club around I will try to even this out a bit.

++ Saruman

skip spence · 12-07-2008, 12:25 PM

It was close but in the end Boromir won by 8 votes to 7. Saruman will have to scurry away and cause trouble elsewhere.

Now for two character accounted wise. One is, according to Lal anyway, a non-violent hippy-meister who invites his weird friends to his homely house. The other has the biggest eyebrows in the free world and one of the worse tempers too. According to some sources he eats Hobbits.

Gandalf vs. Elrond

Thinlómien · 12-07-2008, 12:44 PM

++Gandalf

No question. Such a gentle and wise person with amazing sense of humour and a temper that gives him an edge.

Andsigil · 12-07-2008, 12:46 PM

++Elrond

Ibrîniðilpathânezel · 12-07-2008, 12:50 PM

++Gandalf

There is no contest in this for me, regardless of who he's up against. When you're a much abused kid and you have to turn to books for a proper role-model, the one who provides it will forever have a more than merely special place in your heart. That consideration aside, Gandalf is at turns rather predictable and astonishingly unpredictable. And when the war was over, though he was largely responsible for moving the free peoples toward victory, he didn't go around hogging credit. He did the job he was sent to do, and when it was done, he surrendered his stewardship without any apparent regret or complaint. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Would that our so-called "public servants" did their jobs half so well, with half as much humility.

That said, Elrond's a good steward, too, but he did not have to bear the weight of the future of all Middle-earth as Gandalf did. He also did what was needed (and perhaps asked) of him, and did it well. There likely would have been no king to whom Gandalf could surrender his stewardship, but for Elrond; even so, without Gandalf, there would have been no Middle-earth free of Sauron's threat for that king to rule.

Rather an unfair match-up, I think, but it does not change my vote.

Morthoron · 12-07-2008, 01:05 PM

++Gandalf

What a delightfully irritable old coot!

Ilya · 12-07-2008, 01:17 PM

++Gandalf

For his sense of humor, if nothing else.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 12-07-2008, 01:27 PM

++Gandalf

No question for me. He is just a great fellow.

And I have to comment on the way Saruman was outed - that surprised me, actually. Before the match started, I thought that he is going to be an obvious winner from the beginning till the very end. But not that I mind - it has actually eliminated the possibility I was worried about all the time: that eventually, I will have to choose between Saruman and Galadriel, and I really don't know what would I do.

skip spence · 12-07-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

And I have to comment on the way Saruman was outed

Saruman is outed!? Saruman of many colours of the Rainbow, eh?

++Gandalf

Elrond is out of his league here.

Lalwendë · 12-07-2008, 03:27 PM

It's got to be...

++Grandalf

Not only one of the most famous pipe smokers ever, but sarcastic too. Bonus! And he's actually much more of a crusty old hippy than Elrond, he doesn't even have a house, he just crashes on other people's sofas for generations of Men and wanders round with unkempt beard and hair and a mucky old cloak. No wonder they turned him into Gandalf the White, he probably needed a bath.

mormegil · 12-07-2008, 04:44 PM

++Gandalf

I like him but the fact that Elrond allows elfs who sing 'Tra-la-la-lally' makes me dislike him.

12-07-2008, 11:18 AM	#1
Groin Redbeard Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Facing the world's troubles with Christ's hope! Posts: 1,635	Ooh, this is a hard choice, I really like both of these characters. However, I shall vote for the character that I most identify with. For king and country! ++Boromir All my reasons for voting for him are already stated. __________________ I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old, familiar carols play. And wild and sweet the words repeatof peace on earth, good-will to men! ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

12-07-2008, 11:36 AM	#2
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	I'm kind of agreeing with many here that we should eliminate Skip indeed for presenting us with such a choice. But aren't these two, Saruman and Boromir so much alike? Both were great heroes of their days and both were confident they could win the war themselves in a way they saw it fit. Also they both had to perform a treachery on their friends to succeed - and they both died because of that (remember that most of the heroes do survive the war in the LotR unlike in more modern stories). I do like Boromir as a person more but I find Saruman much more fascinating. And also because there will be an ample Boromir -fan club around I will try to even this out a bit. ++ Saruman __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...

12-07-2008, 12:25 PM	#3
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	It was close but in the end Boromir won by 8 votes to 7. Saruman will have to scurry away and cause trouble elsewhere. Now for two character accounted wise. One is, according to Lal anyway, a non-violent hippy-meister who invites his weird friends to his homely house. The other has the biggest eyebrows in the free world and one of the worse tempers too. According to some sources he eats Hobbits. Gandalf vs. Elrond __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan

12-07-2008, 12:44 PM	#4
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	++Gandalf No question. Such a gentle and wise person with amazing sense of humour and a temper that gives him an edge. __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

12-07-2008, 12:46 PM	#5
Andsigil Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Deepest Forges of Ered Luin Posts: 733	++Elrond __________________ Even as fog continues to lie in the valleys, so does ancient sin cling to the low places, the depression in the world consciousness.

12-07-2008, 12:50 PM	#6
Ibrîniðilpathânezel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the Helcaraxe Posts: 733	++Gandalf There is no contest in this for me, regardless of who he's up against. When you're a much abused kid and you have to turn to books for a proper role-model, the one who provides it will forever have a more than merely special place in your heart. That consideration aside, Gandalf is at turns rather predictable and astonishingly unpredictable. And when the war was over, though he was largely responsible for moving the free peoples toward victory, he didn't go around hogging credit. He did the job he was sent to do, and when it was done, he surrendered his stewardship without any apparent regret or complaint. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Would that our so-called "public servants" did their jobs half so well, with half as much humility. That said, Elrond's a good steward, too, but he did not have to bear the weight of the future of all Middle-earth as Gandalf did. He also did what was needed (and perhaps asked) of him, and did it well. There likely would have been no king to whom Gandalf could surrender his stewardship, but for Elrond; even so, without Gandalf, there would have been no Middle-earth free of Sauron's threat for that king to rule. Rather an unfair match-up, I think, but it does not change my vote. __________________ Call me Ibrin (or Ibri) :) Originality is the one thing that unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of. — John Stewart Mill

12-07-2008, 01:05 PM	#7
Morthoron Curmudgeonly Wordwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits Posts: 2,515	++Gandalf What a delightfully irritable old coot! __________________ And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.

12-07-2008, 01:17 PM	#8
Ilya Wight Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: In the cold Posts: 202	++Gandalf For his sense of humor, if nothing else. __________________ Arvedui III has walked to Rivendell!

12-07-2008, 01:27 PM	#9
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	++Gandalf No question for me. He is just a great fellow. And I have to comment on the way Saruman was outed - that surprised me, actually. Before the match started, I thought that he is going to be an obvious winner from the beginning till the very end. But not that I mind - it has actually eliminated the possibility I was worried about all the time: that eventually, I will have to choose between Saruman and Galadriel, and I really don't know what would I do. __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

12-07-2008, 03:27 PM	#11
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	It's got to be... ++Grandalf Not only one of the most famous pipe smokers ever, but sarcastic too. Bonus! And he's actually much more of a crusty old hippy than Elrond, he doesn't even have a house, he just crashes on other people's sofas for generations of Men and wanders round with unkempt beard and hair and a mucky old cloak. No wonder they turned him into Gandalf the White, he probably needed a bath. __________________ Gordon's alive!

12-07-2008, 04:44 PM	#12
mormegil Maundering Mage Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,651	++Gandalf I like him but the fact that Elrond allows elfs who sing 'Tra-la-la-lally' makes me dislike him. __________________ “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”