Perhaps I am wrong, but I do not like these new policies of the Downs.
The Downs is a place where free thought and speech run rampid with Tolkien related ideas flourshing, from the ridiculously serious to the obserdidly silly. Yet, there has always been a balance between the two. There is nothing wrong with a fan asking as the opinion of the cutest member of the fellowship, for that is the interest of some. Yet this sort of thing is discouraged. The free thought that has procured itself seems to be a valve for us. We are all quite strange, why else would we proclaim ourselves dead? Yet, we are stuck in a society of sameness. The geek in the corner who reads all day cannot be appreciated for his intelligence, but only laughed at for being "not cool". This is a place that all can be appreciated for our thoughts no matter what the are.
And as to getting off topic, I find that it is generallly our premium members who are most guilty of this crime. For they are the ones most bored with the topic at hand. Is it wrong for us to want to learn a little bit more about our fellow tolkienites? I hope not.
Also, the ones that are generally make these not so professional comments are children, newcomers to the books who are not yet old or wise enough to ask a deep question.
A place that starts with everyone being able to be dead and say as they want, that evolves into one where speech, opinion, and free thought are taboo is one that is all to familiar.
[ August 23, 2002: Message edited by: Beren87 ]
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