Trying to find other tolkienists...

[Morsul the Dark]

Hello I am Andrew and I like LOTR...

of course you all know that but most people dont...Have you ever tried to weed out a fan in public? for example have you ever sung the road goes ever on and on in an attempt to get someone to say "hey that's from lotr I love that book/movie"?

I certainly have and have failed...
I have however been drawn into friendship with a fellow tolkienist who I overheard speaking of the exhibit at the museum a bit ago

any such encounters or stories?

[mark12_30]

Wearing a cloak with a fellowship brooch in public works. Especially the week a new movie is released.

Otherwise... I guess you could try a tee shirt that says "Frodo lives" or "Which way to Valinor" or something....

[Lyta_Underhill]

Wearing a cloak with a fellowship brooch in public works. Especially the week a new movie is released. Actually, the Leaves of Lorien draw attention, even from people who have no idea what Lord of the Rings is. They notice it and say, "What a lovely brooch!" ---And then I tell them what it is. That's when their eyes glaze over, they notice I'm also wearing a sword, hobbit breeches, a cloak and have a ring around a chain on my neck. Then they hide their children and that's that! ;)

Cheers!
Lyta

P.S. They never stick around long enough to notice I've got big hairy feet! :D

[Child of the 7th Age]

Well, this is isn't very exciting but if you're short on costumes or jewelry at the moment, try hanging around the Tolkien books in a local bookshop. I have started more than one conversation that way. There is one clerk in the neighborhood Borders who is a definite "fan". He and I have talked on any number of occasions, especially if my purchase involves something from Tolkien.

This kind of introduction works best if you're buying or looking at something fairly "obscure" or collectible rather than just a routine paperback edition of LotR. The minute I see someone pouring over Morgoth's Ring, I'll figure out a way to start a conversation. And I have had the same thing happen to me.

Once or twice, I've had someone start a conversation when I was pouring over one of the books. This works well on airplanes where the person is a captive in the seat and can't help but notice what you are reading.

My favorite t-shirt is one with the White Tree. There are no words or labels on it--just the picture. For a person to recognize what you are wearing they have to be a fairly knowledgable reader. I think I have had one person stop me and ask where I'd gotten it.

[Kath]

My favorite t-shirt is one with the White Tree. There are no words or labels on it--just the picture. For a person to recognize what you are wearing they have to be a fairly knowledgable reader. I think I have had one person stop me and ask where I'd gotten it.

Here is another person to ask you, as I have never seen one around and would love to have one.

[Nimrodel_9]

Once in a while I write "Frodo Lives" or "Do the wave for Boromir the Disco King" on the dividers we use in science when taking tests. I put Frodo Lives on a ring I made in shop class, too. Some people have noticed it on the dividers and have guessed it was me, but none of them are Tolkienists. Writing in Dwarven runes on your hand draws attention. I had one Tolkienist notice and was very happy. ;)

[Lalwendë]

I wear a silver one ring (I often wonder how many 'one' rings there are out there... :rolleyes: ) so that's my subtle way of making sure my affiliations are known; if someone notices it then they will know what it signifies.

The less subtle signifiers might include the state of my desk at work. I have these vile baffle things around it which I cover in pictures; one side is entirely covered in a variety of LotR postcards. I also have Tolkien's painting of Rivendell as wallpaper, a screensaver of Saruman and a copy of the Sil on there. And I have an immensely heavy LotR keyring - far too heavy for car keys because they would pull the ignition gear out!

People ask me daft questions like "Do you like Lord of the Rings?" so maybe I could intensify the 'Tolkien-ness' of it? ;)

My reputation has gone before me though, and I frequently have strangers asking me obscure questions, and the best way to wake me from my quiet slumber behind my workstation or the frequent daydreams of pixies is to mention Tolkien and then I'm all ears.

[Encaitare]

I often wonder how many 'one' rings there are out there...

Mine's the real one. *clutches ring protectively* ;)

If you wanted to attract other Tolkienites you could run a personal ad... mine would sound something like:

"SWF, blonde/green, Cancer, seeking SM, 15-18, for 'Downsing, movies, discussions of LotR. Full collection of HoME a must."

Or, you could do what Lalwende did and hit on prestigious BDers. ;) :p

[Beanamir of Gondor]

I have five LOTR t-shirts, and I wear one every other day or so. The best comment I get is on my Faramir t-shirt, when at least four people every day ask, "Is that Jesus?" Yes, Jesus stitched a white tree onto his robes.

A great way to see if someone is a geeky LOTR fan (like me) is to recite "Gil-Galad". Not even the movie fans know that one. Otherwise, I agree with Morsul--the best way to get LOTR fans to crowd 'round you is to memorize the Dom&Billy dance from Edoras and sing "the only brew for the brave and truuuuuuue... Comes from the Green Dragon!"

[Thinlómien]

Usually you get a reputation of a freak if you tell you're a LotR fan - or so happens nearly always in my case. (I've stopped telling it, if the discussion isn't about LotR, fantasy or books.)
My way is carrying two pins/brooches at my backpack. Another says "Mae govannen!" and another is a picture of Gandalf. Sometimes I also carry LotR in the school corridors, but that's only when I read it.
Third way: if you have tolkienist friends, talk about LotR with them in public places. That might help.

[Lalwendë]

Or, you could do what Lalwende did and hit on prestigious BDers.

Ah, but who 'hit' on who? I am saying nothing... ;)

Usually you get a reputation of a freak if you tell you're a LotR fan - or so happens nearly always in my case.

Where I work, it sometimes helps to get yourself an odd reputation otherwise you just end up another face in the crowd. And there seems to be some kind of competition going on about who can be the biggest 'geek'. My points are alas never very high due to a lack of knowledge about comics and cartoons. I don't care if anyone thinks I'm a freak, though, and I never have. :eek: But imagine being a young Tolkienist in the 80's when it was deeply unfashionable; I struggled to find fellow fans, so you youngsters have it lucky. :) *grasps walking stick and shuffles away*

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Keep your eyes open and pounce on opportunities when they arrive. Usually expect to be left disappointed. A good friend of mine told me that one of his friends was a big LotR fan, so I made a point of seeking the guy out. The conversation started a little like this:

Me: "So, another LotR fan, eh? Tell me, did Balrogs have wings?

Other person: "What's a Balrog?"

Apparently, the phrase 'big LotR fan' is more subjective than I'd like it to be. :rolleyes:

By the way, I really like a lot of your ideas. :) How about designing a headband with Dor-nu-Fauglith printed on it? That would catch the eye.

[Aredhel Fingolfinion]

Wow, this brings back memories...a while ago, I wore pointy Elf ears (even thought Tolkien never mentioned "pointy") everywhere I went...EVERYWHERE. Sadly, I stopped wearing them because they scared my friends lol. Aparrently, I'm TOO obsessed...

I always wore the One Ring...that still scares my friends, though, not as much ^^. Last year, I went to this Art Camp...I brought my LotR and Silmarillion books along...my ring attracted some curius people who like me, love LotR.

I'm planning on wearing my Elf ears again...but shhhhh...my friends don't know lol :D

[Glirdan]

Oooo! Several times!! Just mentioning movies or books gets me started on it and I swear, a few times, I thought I found another Tolkienite!! But I never pluck up the courage to go and ask them... :(

[Eonwe]

Lets see.

I draw a g rune on every desk I sit in a school. hasn't works so far...

One fan I did meet was a clerk at Johann's Fabrics, when I was there looking at material for my costume. Interestingly, the lady that checked me out was also a LoTR fan.

There is a van i just noticed the other day that has teh writing from teh one ring on its back window. It gave me a happy fealing as I drove by.

When ever I meet someone who likes LoTR, I ask "have you seen teh movies", "have you read teh books?" "have you read the hobbit", "have you read teh silmarillion?", "HoME?" If they answer yes to teh last one, I give them a deep bow, for they are farther ahead than I.

Oh, the one other person that I met by chance was in Indonesia. Weird, huh?

[Azaelia of Willowbottom]

I have a shirt that says "Not all who wander are lost" on it, and it has drawn comments from about three people, total, and I've had it for at least that many years. Granted, the quote also isn't exact, but it's a great way of at least telling if a fan is literate by if they see the shirt and say "Oh! Sweet! Lord of the Rings!"

Going somewhere in costume, especially wearing the leaf brooch is a great way of meeting people who love LOTR.

If you're really trying to meet people who like LOTR, the one place I can think of to go to that has more LOTR fans than anywhere else (short of a LOTR exhibit) is a renaissance faire. I go to one every summer, and ever since I added the leaf of lorien to my costume, I get lots of comments on it. Everyone's already geeky at a renaissance faire, and everyone's obsessed with the midieval/renaissance. So there you have it: a perfect meeting ground.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I usually keep a copy of The Lord of the Rings handy. Or at least one of the parts. It paid off when I had The Fellowship o' Ring in my pocketses and someone noticed it and said "Wow! Lordy Lord!" :D
But, like Eomer, I was foolish enough to jump straight in there and say, "Those Balrogs and their wings, eh?" which was met with a :confused: expression.

I do happen to have a Lord of the Rings t-Shirt that I occasionally wear, as well as a stylish Ring on a chain necklace. At my ol' High School I got the nickname 'Frodo'. Hmm.

I draw a g rune on every desk I sit in a school. hasn't works so far...

I usually scrawl the Tolkien symbol http://forum.barrowdowns.com/ubb/icons/icon7.gif on every book and folder I own.

[Lalwendë]

Wow, this brings back memories...a while ago, I wore pointy Elf ears (even thought Tolkien never mentioned "pointy") everywhere I went...EVERYWHERE. Sadly, I stopped wearing them because they scared my friends lol. Aparrently, I'm TOO obsessed...

I always wore the One Ring...that still scares my friends, though, not as much ^^. Last year, I went to this Art Camp...I brought my LotR and Silmarillion books along...my ring attracted some curius people who like me, love LotR.

I'm planning on wearing my Elf ears again...but shhhhh...my friends don't know lol :D

I've often fancied the idea of getting some of those pointy ears and wearing them one morning under my hair (but on my ears of course, not on my neck or something). Then I could nonchalantly pull my hair back without cracking even a hint of a smile and see if people noticed. I once got hold of a Nun's wimple and wore it while driving the car, to see what kind of reaction it would get; the only person who noticed was an old lady. Another day I wore a bright pink wig and heard a small child on the pavement say 'Mummy! look at that Lady's horrible hair!' :D

[Aredhel Fingolfinion]

Another way to meet another LotR fan is to start a forum on meeting them ^^ lol look at how many people responded ^^

...wow...i got issues... :D

http://www.freewebs.com/elfcostuming/

it's my site on costuming and stuff ^^ i don't have alot of thins there, but I hope it's useful ^^. Ever heard of "Let the Hobbit Happen"? If the movie DOES come out, I plan to wear my costume to the theaters and scare everyone lol...i need a life :) hey, maybe I'll meet some more LotR fans there...

~Aredhel