Why do you love the Downs?

[The Might]

Firstly, let me start by saying that I hope that this topic will be accepted and that it was a proper thing to post it in this forum. I first thought about Mirth, but then again usually just funny/comical stuff goes in there and I actually plan to make this a serious thread with a serious discussion and honest answers.

Secondly, let us get to the topic at hand and to the main question - why do you love the BD as a forum?, what makes it special for you?, why do you return to post here?

I expect a wide range of answers and motivations and am actually quite curious to see what others think.

Also: you can also mention any temporal development, if such a thing occured for you, so different reasons depending on which period of time is concerned.

And finally, as said above, let's keep this serious, so no stupid jokes. Then again I don't expect any here anyways - hey, that may be a reason for coming here too!


And because it would only be fair for me to start, here is why I like the Downs so much.
At first it was mostly just a place to test my lore knowledge and find out more information about M-e. So I enjoyed the Quiz Room, and lore discussions in the Books forum, anything that could help learn more about Tolkien's universe.
Afterwards, I became acquinted with more and more members, made friends here and so also posted more often in Mirth threads, socialised more.
At the moment, I guess I try to do both. I still like lore, but I also keep in mind that there are other real people behind the screen names and I am happy to be able to talk to them here on the Downs.
So yeah, that's pretty much why I like the BD, your turn now!

[Andsigil]

I've been to other Tolkien forums and this one lacks the banality of discussion which I find in the others. Most of the time.

[Lalwendë]

I know this sounds a dreadful thing but I like this forum because it's 'no frills'. Though that's not quite as unflattering as it sounds - it's organised into sensible sections (too many sections are a bad thing as you can't follow them and people bicker about posts being in the 'wrong section' which is boring), and it isn't hampered by stupid bandwidth-sapping avatars and signatures full of whizzbangs. It does the job it should and you can get down to discussing stuff.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

The Downs is different to any other forum I have ever been to. The community is very accepting of everyone, but knows a troll when it sees one. It was the first place I ever felt accepted or that people might actually laugh at my incredibly stupid jokes.

Tolkien's works are dealt with seriously, but not in an overly weird cult sort of way. Despite the massive brain power of our more academic members, one never feels out of place asking a question that sometimes feels silly.

I know my posting rate has gone down recently. I blame that on University and other work, by the way. But I do feel that this community is incredibly understanding. The people are friendly, intelligent and spread across many social and political dynamics. These 'dividing factors' don't matter here, because we are into something bigger than politics, bigger than national conflicts and grudges. We're here for TOLKIEN!

Let me give an example of why I love the Downs. Let's take a subject... urm... the Lord of the Rings films...

Generic other forum conversation:

"LORT IS GR8! I <3 Legols and the horses!"
"ITS GAY!"
"NO ITS NOT!!"
"YOUR MUM IS GAY!"

and so on.

On the Downs... we have a whole sub-forum dedicated to serious discussion. I'd planned on quoting a bit but then thought better of it.

So, yeah. The Downs should be knighted.

[Lush]

It's low-key.
The people on here are smart and interesting. And have consistently been so. For years.
I like the colour green.

[Inziladun]

I stumbled onto this site back in the EZ Board days and immediately saw it was different from the other Tolkien sites I'd seen. The erudition and general level of intelligence of the posters made it stand out, and to this day, save a local "community" forum, this is the only forum on which I post.

[Kitanna]

It's intelligent and the topics stay on Tolkien and his works. The Barrow Downs was the first forum I ever joined and the outstanding composure of threads and members has ruined me from less organized forums.

The lack of rabid fangirls is also a plus. Not to insult fangirls because I too had such a phase, but when they rule a forum with a glittering fist it takes away from the fun.

[radagastly]

I spent a year or so just playing "Hang-hobbit" on the Main "Barrowdowns" page. Then one day I clicked on the "forum" link. I found out that day that they were making a movie about "Lord of the Rings," and started to read more. Since then, my user-name has changed (it used to be "ainur") because of the change from e-z board to whatever we have now (or vice-versa). I lost my password and had to re-create my sign-on, start from scratch. A year or so later the "Fellowship" movie came out. I guess I was actually here fairly early, though I have never posted very much, in either of my "personas".

Why do I keep coming back after all these years? I think it has to do with the level of intelect available on this site. While I admit that you can find intelligent posting on other sites, you have to weed through many, many threads to find them. On this site, virtually everyone has some genuine insight. It's rare to find a thread worth discussing (no, I don't mean those "what if-" threads, or those "Who's your favorite-" threads) on other sites, but the good ones are common here. I seem to prefer the 'literary' discussions, and "Barrowdowns.com" has plenty of those compared to any other site I've visited.

I don't post often, but when I do (at least recently) I try to add to the discussion, and intrigue people. I am not trying to add to my post numbers or my rep. There is a lot about this site that reminds me of the kind of dialogue that I used to have years ago when I was in college, and I was in my Science Fiction course, discussing literary insights, rather than "Who's cuter, Legolas or Aragorn?" It's not that I don't enjoy light-hearted banter, but it's not what I'm after here. It seems to me that more than one 'world-class' literati has chosen to join the 'Barrowdowns.com' forum to make their voice heard, at least briefly, and rather than standing out, they fit in.

In discussions of Tolkien as LITERATURE!, this forum is as good as it gets, bar none! That's really why I'm here. I enjoy the insight and challenge that you can't get anywhere else.

[Morthoron]

What's not to love about the Downs? It is our salicylic acid for the eradication of warts, the laxative for our constipation, the benzoyl peroxide for our pustulating pimples, and our cotton swab for earwax removal.

I get all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.

[The Might]

Ah! All was so peaceful and calm and now Morthoron has freaked me out with that!
Interesting figure of speech to say the least...

I must agree with the many posters here that the intelectual level of the forums plays a key part in its popularity amongst us members. I too am member of some other communities, all however by far not as nice as the Downs, simply because you are only able to talk on a certain level. The BD just takes it to a whole new level, just by looking at a random discussion in the Books thread it becomes clear why.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Hookbill the Goomba

we are into something bigger than politics, bigger than national conflicts and grudges. We're here for TOLKIEN!

Funny, but no one has yet mentioned the Werewolf games, a stupendous source of post counts and friendships here on the Downs. I would have thought that Tol in Gaurhoth would have been first on everyone's list.

Except for Lush's. I don't think she's ever played in a Werewolf game. :merisu:

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Funny, but no one has yet mentioned the Werewolf games, a stupendous source of post counts and friendships here on the Downs. I would have thought that Tol in Gaurhoth would have been first on everyone's list.

Funny you should mention that...

Yeah, Lommy first convinced me to join this forum because of the werewolf game - girl was she excited! Now I think I lead the played games tally... or am at least a honoured second.


But I have loved Tolkien and his works from something like from the early years of the 70's or something when my dad first read the LotR as a bedtimestory to me... (well, he never got to finish but I read it myself from that on)

But this site has been a lot more than just werewolfing (even if there has been a lot of that to me).


I'd like to make three... well four points why I love this community.

1. The discussions are intelligent indeed most of the time. Even if I'm no net-forum know-it-all I've seen only worse sites. Many times it seems that the only options are being "fan-girls" or then walking "Encyclopedias" just reciting the prof's words like holy Scripture, but it's different on the 'Downs. And I also really love the sometimes wry, sometimes absurd humour people have around here.

2. Also the warm athmosphere and the respect of others has caught my eye in here. Indeed I've had quite a learning curve as this is the first forum I have really attached myself into - and being a bit older than many others around here it has taken some fumbles for me to learn the power of this one. So I'm kind of feeling a gratitude to this site (more specifically to the people around here) as well. You've thought me a lesson or two how to be in a forum. Sad that doesn't seem to happen in most other fora.

3. Even if it stalls at times and then bursts again I think that the 'Downs RPGing has been just super! It's great to get oneself into an RPG where people are not just calling when's the next fight but they actualy write about the characters and their relations. I don't think 'Downs RPG's are great literature as such but they are so much fun to write and read and many writers here have lots of talent as writers, and the feeling of a writing-community is quite overwhelming at times.

4. I have already gotten myself a few RL friends because of this site... and I do consider - unlike many other adults I know in RL - also those I feel good and well with if I had only discussed with them via this forum (or the LJ because of this site) as my friends as well. And that means quite a many people. So this site has extremely enriched my life - even if it's mostly virtual (not counting Brinn, Legate, Rune, & Spawn whom I have also met, some of them for a considerable period) that is.

But then again, what is mind if not a virtual thing?

[Morthoron]

Okay, okay...I'll be serious. And as we Yanks are heading towards our Thanksgiving Holiday, I thought I'd express my thankfulness:

WHY I AM THANKFUL FOR THE BARROW DOWNS
By Morthoron

1) I am thankful that the signature space is limited to 3 lines. I swear to Eru there's a poster over on the TORn site whose signature is 10 stanzas long.

2) There is none of the overt Legolust here that is evident on other sites.

3) Peter Jackson's films can be discussed here with a critical eye, rather than jostling with a herd of cattle seeking canonization for the entire population of New Zealand.

4) Posters are rarely monosyllabic and actually use proper punctuation; in fact, I will go as far as saying the English-as-second-language users here are more erudite than most native-born posters on other sites.

5) The moderation is fair, and I don't get into trouble...much.

6) Gandalf eats Hobbits, or at least, that's what Alatar has surmised. I found the revelation stunning, to say the least. One doesn't find scholarly work of such magnitude elsewhere.

7) There is a creative flair and a skewed sense of humor here that accords with my left-handedness.

8) I took a survey and found out I was Saruman incarnate. Now, if I could only grow a decent beard.

9) People here are funny. They'll ressurrect a thread from four years ago and post like the conversation was from this morning.

10) I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

I agree with a lot of what's already been said (even though I don't participate in the RPGs, I find them very entertaining to observe, when I have a chance). Finding a LotR forum in which both intelligent discussion and intelligent humor were common and Peter Jackson is not worshiped as God was, I thought, impossible. I have dearly loved LotR for most of my life, and while it had a profound influence on me, I also enjoy poking fun at it (having a firm belief that a certain amount of irreverent humor is necessary for one's sanity; God invented humor, after all ). I love the fact that in a serious discussion here, people can suddenly find humor in it, discuss that for a bit, and then go back to the main discussion without being chided for haring "off-topic" (which, on other forums, usually results in a long off-topic argument about what constitutes OT). I never get a sense of "class structure" here, the feeling that people who have been around longer or have a bazillion posts somehow feel themselves superior to those who don't post as much or haven't been members as long. There's no hazing of the newbies, and no cliques that I can perceive. The cliques are a major part of what drove me away from sites like tORn (and Morth, as a former tORn admin, I couldn't agree more about the signature limits ). There is a sense of easy acceptance here, that all are equal as fans of what we all love, in our own ways -- a diversity that is accepted, not broken into little splinter groups. Something to be thankful for, to me.

[Lalwendë]

Well, people do make a site and one thing that is great is that most of us are decent to newbies, whereas on most other forums they get made mincemeat out of.

There might not be Legolust, but:
1. There is plenty of lust for LEGO amongst several members.
and
2. There are many crushes, just not on the obvious characters

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Well, people do make a site and one thing that is great is that most of us are decent to newbies, whereas on most other forums they get made mincemeat out of.

That I second... I'll never forget how encouraging Dave, Heren and Fordim were back in the day when it took ages for me to venture into Books (Canonicity was raging). How different to another forum I used to frequent where there are a couple of posters who remind me of Statler and Waldorf on the muppets and who if you say something they agree with you are repeating them and if you disagree you are a wrong and being inherently disrespectful to the memory of the great man, his family, possibly his non-existant cat, garden gnome etc. Blah di blah.

What do you mean it isn't obvious to have a crush on Elrond?

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

2. There are many crushes, just not on the obvious characters

And not just on the characters, but also on fellow members, eh?

Btw, this thread reminds me of an earlier thread of TM's: Thanks Downers!.

[Lalwendë]

Given that this is not some monster sized forum, it's got to be one of the best dating agencies in the world?

[The Might]

Yes, I do seem to like threads like that. I actually started a similar one on another forum as well, not a LotR- or Tolkien-related one though.
And yeah, the part about the dating agency is true, I wonder what new pairs will be created in time. I have a feeling, but I won't say it out loud, lest I be attacked with pitchforks and axes.

[Rumil]

In a hole in t'internet there lived a Barrow-wight. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms, an oozy smell, flamers and trolls, nor yet a dry, bare sandy Leggie-fangurl-infested hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was the Barrow-Downs hole, and that means comfort.

[Groin Redbeard]

Prior to my knowledge of the Downs it was difficult for me to find anyone, other than my little brother who I annoy with Tolkien, who shared a passion for Tolkien's writings. I stumbled upon this site purely by accident, but when I found out that it was a site devoted to the Lord of the Rings I thought that I'd join.

The knowledge of some of the members scared me a bunch, but I soon got the gist of things and have learned many things from the memebers. *couchlegatecough* Everyone one is accepting of the other members purely on the grounds of if you love Tolkien you are welcomed here.

We got Finns, Swedes, British, Czechs, Russians, Americans, Texans, even people from the Phillipines. The Downs is something extremely special to me, an outlet were you can vent your passion for Tolkien, or just be silly with fellow Tolkien fans.

[Inziladun]

We got Finns, Swedes, British, Czechs, Russians, Americans, Texans, even people from the Phillipines.

As everyone knows, Texans are a breed apart, even from fellow Americans.

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

As everyone knows, Texans are a breed apart, even from fellow Americans.

Texas appreciates your compliment!

[Lush]

There is none of the overt Legolust here that is evident on other sites.

Just because you said it, I will have to crank it up again. It's all about the voice, you see. Many people think it's about the wig, or the tights, or the really bad dialogue, but for me, it's always been the voice. There's just something about it. It's angelic. I like to think that it's the sort of voice I'll hear when I die (don't tell the man in my life that I said that). If I had more time on my hands, I'd write a Swift-esque epic in honour of the voice.

As it stands, I'll have to make do with annoying you.

Except for Lush's. I don't think she's ever played in a Werewolf game.

I did do Entish Bow for a while! And it was a happy-happy-joy-joy type of experience, for which I am still grateful, and always will be.

Anyway, another thing I like about this site is how diverse it is. Really. The people on here are all different, and if they do share one quality it is that they are eternally full of surprises. Much like Hobbits.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Groin Redbeard

Prior to my knowledge of the Downs it was difficult for me to find anyone, other than my little brother who I annoy with Tolkien, who shared a passion for Tolkien's writings.

I had the same problem, I stumbled on the Downs serching for a track list for the Return of the King soundtrack, which my Papa gave me a copy. I had no one that had any knowledge of Tolkien at all to talk to before 2nd, August, 2007!

We got Finns, Swedes, British, Czechs, Russians, Americans, Texans, even people from the Phillipines.

Don't forget your Alaskans!


I love the Barrow-Downs first and foremost because it is a Tolkien site, and I can discuss my favourite books here in humour and seriousness! I love that we can make jokes here about books that can be almost treated as sacrosanct!

I love the fact that I can talk to real people from all over the world, I've learned a lot from my stay here, not just about Arda, but about other cutures (mainly the British one) and new spellings (which I use outside of the BD as well) and have gotten myself hobbies *coughDoctorWhocough* which I wouldn't have if not for certain members *coughHookbillcough* who were constantly talking about them. I've also made new friends that I'd much rather talk to than my real life friends (excepting Laurinque)!

I don't hang around the Books forum much, but when I do get there I find useful things to know, and comment when I can. Although I am not learned in lore like some members, who can probably ramble on for hours about Tolkien, I might be able to chime in with some useful information sometimes.

I also love the fact that the Barrow-Downs is black and green, and much more pleasing to come to than some other web sites that have bright colours that make my eyes hurt.

Last, but not least, I love the way that your fellow BDers welcome you with open arms, and you can make your home here, with little to no problems! I've been here for a little more than a year, and it still feels like it was yesterday that I joined! I remember my earlier days where I was a bit snobby, and thought I knew a lot, just because I had read the Lord of the Rings, but figured out that I didn't!

[Galadriel55]

Well, actually, I have things in common with almost any post above mine

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

I had the same problem, I stumbled on the Downs serching for a track list for the Return of the King soundtrack, which my Papa gave me a copy.

I stumbled on the Downs when googling "boromir and faramir's dream". It came up with the thread about that dream - and of course I couldn't resist to post my opinion there too!

I love the Barrow-Downs first and foremost because it is a Tolkien site, and I can discuss my favourite books here in humour and seriousness!

Same here. First of all, because this is the only place where I can discuss Tolkien. I don't have a lot of friends in RL who are even remotely interested, and those who are familiar with Tolkien are bored to death about my discussions.
Also, most of my friends are too serious, in the sense that they take jokes literally. Here I can make fun of almost anything, and others understand that I don't really mean it.
(Yeah, guys, you're almost the only ones who are actually listening to me!)

I love the way that your fellow BDers welcome you with open arms, and you can make your home here, with little to no problems! I've been here for a little more than a year, and it still feels like it was yesterday that I joined!

Too true! For me the feeling is the opposite, though - I've only been here for 4 months, but I became so attached to the BD it feels like I've been here for ages!

So thank you all fellow Downers for just being here, and for letting me be with you!

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Originally I loved the 'Downs because I was a shy and brainy high school student with no peers I could talk to about literature. My first foray onto this site offered me a thoughtful and welcoming discussion about Tolkien's application of scientific/environmental realism in his narrative. For a kid that was simultaneously immersed in a book debunking the made up science used in Jurassic Park, that kind of open acceptance of literary (and generally academic) questioning was amazing.

Then I loved the 'Downs because I was learning how to write. On the threads I was learning how to express intellectual thought clearly and with complexity. In the RPs, I had a safe place to experiment with elements of narrative craft. With the world of the stories already existent, I was offered the opportunity to practice dialog, construction of primary and secondary characters, action sequences, and everything else, under the watchful eye of accomplished writers who were always encouraging and helpful.

Then I enjoyed the werewolf games. They gave me a faultless/harmless opportunity to see to how I'd fare as a detective or a criminal.

Then I was beginning to teach how to write. At some point when I hadn't noticed, I'd graduated from hesitant novice to confident young artist, and my credibility as a resource was solid. The opportunity presented to me to hone my ability not just to write well, but to help others refine their own craft was priceless.

Then my interaction with many Barrowdowners migrated to other venues. The locale of our second date was Livejournal, where I came to know the less edited thoughts of many of my compatriots. Personal and intellectual lives blended more freely and more complex interpersonal relationships formed. Then we as a group shifted to that seedy venue, Facebook, where the line between virtual and reality smudges even more. Though my participation as an active member here has waned, my interaction with other Barrowdowners outside the site has skyrocketed, and I've met many Barrowdowners in person (not to mention created a few!). Nienna, Mirandir, Lariren Shadow, Alona. Brinniel, Rikae, Skype-Mac. Later, Real-Mac. Formendacil, Boromir88, Kath, the phantom, Shasta, Diamond18, Encaitare, Glirdan, Wilwa, Rune, Celuien. Nog, Lommy, Greenie, Agan. Bethberry.

I originally loved the site because it offered me a safe intellectual environment (that was also fun and funny!). I now love the site because it is the gravitational center of my sprawling network of Family.

[Galadriel55]

Happy Valentine's Day, Downs and Downers! I love y'all!