[The Saucepan Man]

I cannot fault much of your reasoning, phantom. It is a fair and accurate description of Elrond, based upon the material handed down to us. But it must be bore in mind that such material was produced by those with a vested interest in painting him in a good light: Bilbo, who was provided with free board and lodging at Rivendell in return for a favourable review, and Frodo, who bought his passage to the Undying Lands from Elrond's daughter in return for the same.

And, in any event, fair and accurate, like Elrond, is dull, particularly in a contest such as this. Much more interesting and satisfying to be - ah - inventive with the given facts.

So, down with Elrond, the lazy, cowardly, cissy, hippy, neglectful parent.

And there is one point on which I must take issue with you:

Originally Posted by the phantom

Also, remember how accepting Elrond was. Gimli had trouble getting into Lothlorien- dwarves didn't ever go there. In Elrond's house, however, Elves and Men and Dwarves and Hobbits were all welcome. A vote against Elrond is a vote for racism.

Quite apart from the ridiculous last sentence, which does your case no favours, it should be remembered that the location of Imladris was a well-kept secret. Which means that the only people welcome at Elrond's Last Hippy House were those who he and his "wise" friends chose to invite (unless, like Boromir, they spent an unfeasibly long time looking for it). In other words, it was an exclusive place, open only to the rich and famous. Playboy princes, such as Legolas and miserly but wealthy old Dwarves and their kin. Notice how those who were not quite so high on the social scale, namely Thorin and company, were mercilessly teased by the Tra-la-la-lally'ers lining the driveway. And I suspect that they were only admitted, on sufferance, because, subject to the elimination of a certain Dragon, their financial prospects were favourable.

Rivendell, the Country Club of Middle-earth.

Originally Posted by Anguirel

There could very well have been single Ent-wives.

Ah, but why are Fimbrethil and her ilk not the Ents and Fangorn and co the Ent-husbands?