Grumpy?
 

Some people say Gandalf was grumpy, but was he? Maybe he had a reason for his outbursts?
What do you lot think?

Grumpy, grumpy Gandy
 

I actually do think he was grumpy (and taking it out on Pippin! :( Bad Gandalf, no donut!), but I also know that there is a good reason for this...

He really did have a lot of responisbility on his shoulders (you know, the saving of mankind and all that) and that caused a lot of stress (I don't care that he's a Maia; they stress out too). And, as people probably know, stressed people are generally...tetchy. So it's understandable how minor annoyances could make Gandalf "fly off the handle", so to speak. At the Doors of Moria is a prime example.

This understanding only slightly appeases my subtle dislike for Gandalf though. He is a brilliant character, and certainly admirable, but I still am a bit less than fond of him. *points at the parenthesed (yeah, that's not a word) statement in the first paragraph* Is it just me, or is Pippin more often than not the target of the stress-induced crankiness?

Abedithon le,

~ Saphy ~

Pippin abuse! Call the APAA!

For all you "Sealab 2021" fans:

I have a simple solution for dealing with his alleged grumpiness; take Stimutax. :D
(For those of you who don't know what that is, think of it as a stronger form of Prozac.)

Am I the only one who thinks Gandalf's 'outbursts' are funny? or do I have a twisted sense of humour? ;) And they are indeed mostly directed at Pippin, the Tom fool of the fellowship. :D Like 'knock on the doors with your head, Peregrin Took!' "if you ever feel an itch (...) tell me, such things can be cured. But please don't ever put a stone under my ribs" and quotes such as these (I know they're inexact, but - "I don't have the books with me". :p

Gandalf was grumpy because he had to ration his weed and could only smoke maybe twice a day. He was a total leaf fiend, so his 'holding back' really got on his nerves.

*ring ring!*

Saphy: <picks up phone> Hello, APAA headquarters, Sapphire speaking. Mm-hm. Mm-hm. Alright, we'll get someone on that immediately. <hangs up> <yells into the hall> Alright people, we've got a situation here!

<A handful of individuals hurry into Saphy's office>

APAA Agent #1: What's the word, Saph?

Saphy: Pippin Abuse in the second degree: Code 72 1/2.

Assorted Agents: *GASP!*

Saphy: <nods grimly> That's right. This'll be a tough one; I want two agents on this, and a backup team.

Agents: *whisper, rustle*

Saphy: Adam, Nikki, you'll be the main team...

<a dark-haired boy and a red-haired girl look at each other and nod>

Saphy: ...Sean and Cole, you're backup. Keep a close eye on things; jump in if it gets messy.

<the two boys nod>

Saphy: Witchking and I will keep tabs on things from the Control Room. <she scribbles something on a piece of paper and hands it to Adam> Here is your target and location. Bring some extra restraints for this one; this requires extreme caution.

Nikki: You can count on us, Saph.

Saphy: <smiles> I know I can. Now get out there and, remember, stay frosty.

<the four Agents salute and stride out of the room>

Saphy: <tosses a slab of bacon to Witchking> Okay, let's get down to the Control Room. <stands, then looks at the remaining Agents> Alexandera and Elizabeth, run down and set up communications, we'll be needing immediate and secure contact. Jeff, be standing by in the Medical Wing; I have a feeling things could get messy. Enny, get SAM on the line; they might want to keep an eye on this as well. <exits the office, followed by the remaining agents and a mini-balrog>

:D :D

Abedithon le,

~ Saphy ~

And I don't suppose those elves had bothered to invent nicotine gum, either. ;) Poor Gandalf! I bet he always had a bag of sweets on him though, to make up for it...

While we're on the topic, I've often wondered if Arwen, once she became Queen of Gondor, would harangue her husband about his 'filthy habit' and make him go and stand outside if he wanted a smoke.

Is this title random enough?
 

Yes, you do have a twisted sense of humor................and so do I.
That's quite possible.
<Exits office, dragging the mini barlog on a leash, hoping it doesn't decide to BBQ her.>

Anyway, *puts on professor/smart looking glasses. Folds her hands with a serious look on her face*. I think this problem originated back when Gandalf was just a little Maia. After centuries of neglect and improper raising, he developed a annoyance for hobbits who's names just happened to start with the letter "P".

I can really imagine Gandalf with a bag of sweets, just like the classic 'old man'. Penny chews, etc...

Werther's Originals? ;)

Candy!?
 

That's why all those little hobbit children kept following Gandalf around Hobbiton. ;)

Maybe his hat was on too tight... :confused:

What about this?
 

His name kept on changing and got confused so then got angry?






It's a thought.

well lets see....tired old man has to babysit
corrupt spoiled son(Boromir)
Excessive Pretty boy(Legalos)
man who doesnt bathe(Aragorn)
over confident dwarf(Gimli)
A hobbit who eats everyone's food(Pippin)
a hobbit with a nasty appetite for blood and overall whininess(Merry)
A hobbit carrying something that can destroy the world(Frodo)
and one hobbit who only cares about seeing elves and ignores the quest(Sam)


By the way before everyone goes OJ* on me remember we're in Mirth ;) These descriptions of these charactors are of course exaggerations, But Gandalf had to put up wth these people, would you be grumpy?

*OJ-OJ Simpson my way of say "Stab" ex: I OJed the table- I stabbed the table ;)

King Me!
 

I think Gandalf obviously missed playing checkers with Bilbo in the Shire. Since Borormir only liked chess, and Aragorn nature games, they just didn't fill in the hole that was created when Bilbo departed for Rivendell. Frodo was a big fan of hide and seek, which kept things interesting.

Sorry Eomer, didn't mean for that post to turn out that way.

He's a divine being stuck in mortal form, and he has to go around fixing all the problems in this world that he doesn't belong in.

Not that he's complaining.

Well I think Gandy's grumpy because Saruman always upstages him. I mean, only Galadriel wanted Gandy to be head of the White Council, and Saruman gets to be the head, as well as getting Isengard and the favor of Théoden and Denethor.

He just hangs around hobbits because it makes him feel big. (Bad pun intended.)

I enjoyed the pun. Bad puns rule. :)

And Morai, were you insinuating that Boromir had the intelligence to play chess but not checkers?

Maybe Gandalf just needed to hear a rendition of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life;" it seemed to work for Brian, and he was being crucified. :p

An Umpteenth Random Subject
 

It is possible that Gandalf was in physical pain throughout LOTR and the Hobbit. Since the closet things to a pain killers back then were herbs and Pipeweed, the pain probably made Gandalf cranky on more than one occasion. (especially after the incident with Saruman.) Of course, its entirely debatable on whether or not this pain was the real reason he used his staff to walk around with. ;)