The importance of intelligent debate

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

I expressed the following views in a private message earlier in the week, as well as in one of the threads on this board; and was urged to publish my views on the off-chance that I can calm down some of the more heated debates on the subject of the recent Lord of the Rings films.

Now, I know that this is a very emotive subject, as it concerns our deepest feelings about Tolkien's work and how it ought to be (or has been) handled by the film-makers, but I have been growing increasingly concerned about the standard of debate in this board, so I shall quote two passages from the PM in question and then leave you to talk amongst yourselves. I see no reason to remain and discuss the films, in which I have no real interest other than as cinematic curiosities.

I have finally been able to get off my chest the nagging problem I've had with Movies for a long time. People have been polarising into two groups: those who loved the films and won't hear a word against them and those who hated the films and don't have anything good to say about them. Both groups are breaking all the rules of intelligent discussion: criticising people rather than their ideas, taking comments about the film personally and choosing their words apparently at random, with no thought to their possible interpretation. Perhaps some would have benefitted from seeing the entire Entmoot in real time to teach them a little patience.

What upsets me is that we all came here because we admire Tolkien, and people are losing sight of that in their little personal crusades; which lead to the sort of feeble debate that he would have deplored.

Please try to observe the rules of reasonable debate to which Tolkien himself conformed. If we wish to honour his memory, surely we can do so better by discussing things in a manner that would have made him proud, rather than one that would have aroused only his scorn.