May I suggest?
 

To the admins- have you ever seen lotrplaza.com? Would you consider adding some forum groups they have there onto here? They have a heap of interesting topics.

I've popped over there a few times, even stuck a few quick comments on there occasionally when I felt inclined. Not a big fan of their approach to Tolkien. There are some very informed fans who post there but they tend not to be as open minded as we are over here. They tend not to be very 'speculative' in their approach either, or sufficiently objective. Plus, their tendency to refer to Tolkien as 'The Master' is something I find a bit creepy to be honest. But all that is just my opinion.

However, to each their own & I'm not into criticising other Tolkien fans (unless they don't agree with everything I say - which really just reveals their ignorance & lack of insight, of course). If they're happy over there good for them.

If you find a subject they introduce over there (or anywhere else) interesting you're free to suggest it for discussion here. I'm sure things have been suggested to me by things I've seen on other boards as I've skimmed them. My recent thread on Boorman's proposed version of LotR was inspired by mentions I'd seen on about three or four other Tolkien boards.

I second what davem said - bring the interesting topics here! It's actually good that each Tolkien board has its own specific flair and flavour; wouldn't it be boring if they were all the same?! For those who enjoy two different kinds of boards, it's always possible to take part in both.

I know some other boards allow off-topic, i.e. non-Tolkien discussions; The Barrow-Wight has decided not to permit those here, and as he is the site owner, he has the last word.

If you ever notice a Boromir88 on the plaza, I swear it's not me, it's an outer body experience I have. :p

Honestly though I have to respectfully disagree with davem's assertions. I've learned a lot from the plaza, and seen even the most respected and greatest Tolkien minds over there have their minds changed and altered...afterall I went toe-to-toe with one of them :D ,

But the downs is my first and always adored Tolkien forum. I mean where else can you chat with characters like davem, Fea, phantom, Eomer, Mith, Lal, gil...etc :rolleyes:

I crop up occasionally as Captain Bingo. I went over recently to mention the Anniversary of the start of the Somme, as I wanted to make other fans aware of the event.

However, I don't think anyone wants this thread to be a critique of that Forum, so if anything I posted earlier seemed negative I apologise. I still feel the fans over there seem to be unwilling to question or analyse Tolkien's motives or attitudes. Its very much 'Tolkien is The Master, which title, as I said, strikes me as a bit creepy & beyond even hero-worship. However, I suppose its just respect, but I'm not sure Tolkien would have liked it at all.

Anyway, each to their own as I said. The atmosphere here is more to my liking & I'm leaving it there....

Quite so. Let's refrain from criticism and comparison; if some members here wish to tell us what they like about other sites and boards, no objection. And you're welcome to mention what it is that particularly attracts you to this forum. But let's avoid any "better/worse than..." posts. After all, friendliness and openness are characteristics of the Downs that are frequently mentioned!


edit: This thread is board-related rather than a Tolkien discussion; therefore I'm moving it to the Barrow-Downs forum. Please continue reading and posting there.

I must agree. I won't lie, I had some damaging conversations there once. I know we are staying away from critiquing that board, but I agree with your opinion. They just aren't that open minded, and the older scholars there tend to be a walking textbook with no room for opinion or creative thinking on Tolkien and his characters.