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09-07-2005, 11:21 AM | #41 | |
Raffish Rapscallion
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Far from the 'Downs, it seems :-(
Posts: 2,835
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I suppose my 'craziness' probably grew a bit during the WW games I was able to play in. It's so wierd to have to turn down going to a movie because, "I still haven't voted yet", or not go out to eat because, "I have to see if I've been killed or not." But being on the forum is worth any grief you might get over it, & I personally don't get much. Estelyn brought up a great point about how educational the forums are & Gurthang & others have made great points about how it's helped their writing/social skills. It has helped my writing (to a degree ), but it's helped me to think about the other person's point of view also. You may not agree with what they're saying, but that doesn't mean you can't try to understand it. I realize how 'crazy' I might seem to others but, on the whole, I think my 'crazy' is probably better than their 'normal'. |
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09-07-2005, 01:50 PM | #42 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: |Away
Posts: 614
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We (and by we I mean Barrow-Wight) have definately made a grand little culture for ourselves on this forum, what with our common love for the written word and fantastic realm building. It seems that we've (again I mean Barrow-Wight) a place where we are (this time I don't mean Barrow-Wight, but do not exclude him, as that is not wise.) free to explore the imagination of one man... or at least how we preceive it.
Like all cultures when viewed from the outside we downers (again not excluding BW.) are absolute and complete lunatics who greet people into a group by mocking them with well choosen, and somehow eloquient words... if thats possible. We delight in the trivial and the theoretical where others would buy the cliff-notes... this, as I see it (and by I, I mean me; not Barrow-Wight. *wink*), does not make us freaks, but-- now this might scare some of the younger or more sensitive wights-- normal... Which just might make everything in this world of ours (And by ours I do NOT mean Barrow-Wight, and exclude him COMPLETELY. Hmpft.) just a bit more scary. Either that or I'm doing something wrong in Anthropology class, which is more likely, weirdos ; )
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"Loo, what sholde a man in thyse dayes now wryte, 'egges' or 'eyren'?" - Caxton, Eneydos
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09-09-2005, 09:16 PM | #43 |
Energetic Essence
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We are not lunatics!! How could you say such a thing!?!? As we have clearly staed before, they are the crazy ones for not joining this awsome site! I do however agree with the fact that if all of us were pushed into our little group (I mean those that post on here frequently[ie. myslef, you Valesse, Wilwa, Gil, phantom, Enca, B-W, Eomer, Fordim, Perky, TGWBS, Saucy, morm, Kitanna, and a whole bunch of others]) and they started insulting us and making fun of us, we could probably come back with some pretty witty comebacks, that they wouldn't even understand!! GO US!!!!
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I'm going to buy you a kitty, I'm going to let you fall in love with the kitty, and one cold, winter night, I'm going to steal into your house and punch you in the face! Fenris Wolf
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09-10-2005, 04:47 AM | #44 | |
Shadowed Prince
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Thulcandra
Posts: 2,343
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Now that I'm at 6th Form, I have enough free time to visit the Downs during (restricted) daylight hours. People observing this generally claim I'm weird, can you imagine? I reply that they should develop a scary obsession with something quaint and odd - it does one a lot of good. Screw conformity. |
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09-10-2005, 10:30 AM | #45 | |
Bittersweet Symphony
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise
Posts: 1,814
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Enca: For I also am a steward! Did you not know? Tolkien Fans: Oooooh, snap! Non-Tolkien Fan: I never said anything about stewards, loser. [Or, more likely, "Uhhh... what's a steward?"] Last edited by Encaitare; 09-10-2005 at 10:32 AM. Reason: typo |
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09-10-2005, 10:36 AM | #46 | |
Energetic Essence
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I'm going to buy you a kitty, I'm going to let you fall in love with the kitty, and one cold, winter night, I'm going to steal into your house and punch you in the face! Fenris Wolf
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09-10-2005, 10:39 AM | #47 | |
Bittersweet Symphony
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise
Posts: 1,814
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09-10-2005, 06:41 PM | #48 | |
Sword of Spirit
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Oh, I'm around.
Posts: 1,401
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When I see people doing the 'in' thing, I can only laugh. I'm usually not doing the 'in thing', and not just to be not doing the 'in thing'. All those people who do the 'in thing' have so much to worry about and often don't even really know what the 'in thing' is. I do my own thing, say screw whatever the 'in thing' is, and have way more fun being me and laughing at them. On a side note, I was eating a formal dinner the other night, and my date commented on how it was fun to be 'proper'(not sure if that's the exact word, but it's about the same). That's one reason that I like this site. I can try to use more complicated sentence structure, better descriptive words, and come up with off the wall analogies, and you all don't (usually ) make fun of me. It's really a lot of fun to be 'proper'.
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I'm on a Mission from God. |
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09-10-2005, 08:15 PM | #49 |
Energetic Essence
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Ahhhh, the "in thing". I know it well. Not that me and him personally met at all during my life time. I don't even know why people try to be, what's that word I'm looking for? Oh riggghhht!!! "Cool". What's the point of being "cool" if you can't be yourself? I like the way I am and I'm not going to change it any time soon. So, as I nomally say, if you don't like me the way I am, live with it.
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I'm going to buy you a kitty, I'm going to let you fall in love with the kitty, and one cold, winter night, I'm going to steal into your house and punch you in the face! Fenris Wolf
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09-11-2005, 07:02 AM | #50 |
Shadowed Prince
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Thulcandra
Posts: 2,343
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Conformity...
This is all really interesting to me because I just started studying Psychology this week and the first topic we did was... conformity.
We discussed how, in a sense, everybody conforms. We may not conform to the norms' point of view, but we conform on the Downs. For example, to try to fit in more, a newer member could decide to read HoME so they can quote it. So... I'm not sure why I brought this up actually. I just think the whole conformity issue is interesting, and the way we think we're independant when we're actually conforming to the rest of the Downs. Bottom line, none of us are as crazy as we think or hope to be. |
09-11-2005, 08:36 AM | #51 |
La Belle Dame sans Merci
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Conforming to Non-Conformity!
The "in" crowd scares me. They always get caught when they're up to mischief, rarely think for themselves, and never are remembered in history books. Or even fictional ones.
Frodo of the Nine-Fingers: Mad Baggins's heir. He dreamt of adventures... most unhobbitly. He learned high Elvish. Most uncommon. He was friends with a wizard... most terrifying. He went on a quest to save the world. Most impressive. Ended his life in Middle Earth by sailing into the Uttermost West with the most divine beings around to live with them in the most perfect place around until he healed enough to die happily and go off to greener shires. Saruman of Many Colours: Headed the White Council. Tried to be someone he was not (equal to Sauron, creator, that sort of thing), and ended up with the "most popular" one (Sauron) doing all of his thinking for him. Fell so far that all he could manage was spiteful mischief in the Shire where he got caught, got pitied, and in the end, died anyhow, hated by everyone. Now isn't that just proof enough that you should do your own thing? I don't necessarily want to be a hero (too much publicity... I'd never get a moment's rest, what with distant relations hanging on the bell all day, and all that), but I certainly don't feel like being the pathetic little twerp in the history books that couldn't even find one decent adventure to be remembered for. And if being a "Lord of the Rings nerd", or a "you're on that website AGAIN" nerd, or a "Tolkienite", or on occasion, a "Tolkienist" makes me happy, then according to my short and mediocre proof up there, it means that I'm more likely to go to Valinor than the in-crowd. How's that for encouragement?
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peace
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09-11-2005, 08:58 AM | #52 |
Energetic Essence
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Very encouraging Fea, very encouraging indeed. I'd rather be in a history book for being me than falling in with the "in" crowd. Besides, as you said, all that happens when you're with the "in" crowd is that you get into trouble. And if excessviely liking something makes me a nerd, than I'll die with that tittle, nerd. I'd rather be a Tolkienite than someone who smokes anyday.
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I'm going to buy you a kitty, I'm going to let you fall in love with the kitty, and one cold, winter night, I'm going to steal into your house and punch you in the face! Fenris Wolf
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09-11-2005, 09:06 AM | #53 | |
Cryptic Aura
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,996
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Nor does this site encourage picture or image additions to posts; it relies mainly on text and text of a certain style; there's a slightly tongue-in-cheek atttitude here that requires a particular light hand and those who can't get a handle on it tend not to stay very long--or tend to stay only on certain threads. And everyone here understands the hierarchy of threads, whether seriously or winkingly. Witness all the newbie and not so newbie comments about being intimidated and not wanting to post on Books or Chapter by Chapter. In fact, there's very much a sort of a testosterone-driven competitive wiff along with that sweet smell of the dead. Every community creates its own identity. In short, by coming here, we respond to all those nay-sayers "out there" and happily it seems create a style which many of them possibly cannot aspire to. (And note please what my placing of 'possibly' means. ) It's a society/culture/community which provides its own rewards.
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I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. |
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09-11-2005, 09:07 AM | #54 |
Byronic Brand
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The 1590s
Posts: 2,778
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Well, Fea, thinking about it, and picking a few non-conformists:
Nienna, Ulmo, Feanor, Galadriel, Maglor, Daeron, Maeglin, Turin, Elendil, Arvedui, Frodo... they don't always seem to get happiness. Still, at least they get lovely FAME!
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Among the friendly dead, being bad at games did not seem to matter -Il Lupo Fenriso |
09-11-2005, 09:23 AM | #55 | |
La Belle Dame sans Merci
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Feanor created the Silmarilli. What truer art can you find than that which can never be forgotten? He captured light... that is simply amazing. Flashlights just don't hold up to many-faceted jewels. (note to self: think more about he Arkenstone and it's connexions). Galadriel preserved art... she was more of the museum care-taker than the artist herself, and she kept at least part of the world a safe and beautiful place. She may not have been truly happy, but she was good, and she was kind. She understood things, and though that tends to be a sure way to breed cynicism, pessimism, and a whole lot of depression, Galadriel never lost hope. Daeron created song. Must I say more? Turin... well... fate dealt him one heck of a hand, I must say. But he made the world a safer place, yes? It is not the fame that I think about, but the cause of it. As I have said before... I do not want to be remembered... I want my deeds to be. Oh, and here's another thing. Perhaps all of your examples are conforming to Eru's will. Hm? What say you to that. Maybe the reason they aren't happy is because they know that they have no free will. They're too busy serving a higher purpose. How d'ya like them apples?
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peace
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09-11-2005, 09:36 AM | #56 |
Byronic Brand
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The 1590s
Posts: 2,778
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Oh, I agree, I agree. Most of those names happen to be among my favourites. Just saying that getting to Valinor through eccentricity isn't always a solid bet. But getting into song and story pretty much is.
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Among the friendly dead, being bad at games did not seem to matter -Il Lupo Fenriso |
09-11-2005, 09:42 AM | #57 | ||||
Shadowed Prince
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Thulcandra
Posts: 2,343
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09-11-2005, 09:55 AM | #58 | |
Energetic Essence
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Yes, it does make us different, uniquely differnet at that. But tell me, who here doesn't like being differnet? If we weren't all different and everybody acted and look the same, this world would be a boring place! I perfer being differnet then being the same as everybody else. I love expressing my individuality and telling people how much I like LotR. I like dressing differently because that also expresses what kind of person you are inside. So for me, when I'm on this site, I act pretty much the same way I do when I'm around my friends. CRAZY!!! The only thing that's different is that I'm writing to you guys and I'm not using abreviated words like I would when I'm on MSN.
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I'm going to buy you a kitty, I'm going to let you fall in love with the kitty, and one cold, winter night, I'm going to steal into your house and punch you in the face! Fenris Wolf
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09-11-2005, 09:58 AM | #59 |
Princess of Skwerlz
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles)
Posts: 7,500
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There might be those who think that the study of Tolkien's works could encourage smoking...
Thanks, tgwbs, for the reminder that different does not necessarily mean better or worse, just different!
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' |
09-11-2005, 12:09 PM | #60 | |||
A Mere Boggart
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: under the bed
Posts: 4,737
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Now, about actually trying to be 'different' - it doesn't work in my opinion. You could decide you will follow a particular 'alternative' way of life or fashion but inevitably someone else will be following it too. And you could to all outward appearances be entirely 'ordinary' but have extraordinary interests. The best thing to do, in my opinion, is just to be yourself, as we only get one shot at life (unless you believe in reincarnation of course) so we may as well be happy. Quote:
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Gordon's alive!
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09-11-2005, 01:38 PM | #61 | |
Sword of Spirit
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Oh, I'm around.
Posts: 1,401
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So I guess conformity is not wholly a bad thing. Conforming to the Downs is a very fun thing, because I truly enjoy posting here. So it's really about motive rather than action.
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I'm on a Mission from God. |
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09-13-2005, 09:13 AM | #62 | |
Doubting Dwimmerlaik
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Heaven's basement
Posts: 2,466
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I'm not really a psychologist; I just play one on TV...
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Not that that's all bad, yet you don't want to be so different as to always be alone. Sure, you can do it, but life's more fun with someone (is somemany a word?) with whom to share it. One of the cool things about this time is that you can find others easily who are different like you. Imagine wanting to 'talk Tolkien' without access to the internet! That could be one of the reasons that there're voices in my head... Anyway, be yourself, be with others with whom you can be yourself, and don't be afraid to show people your differences as they might be Tolkien nuts too, but they just might not know it yet.
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There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.
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