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Originally Posted by obloquy
If cars were your enemy and you knew that they 1) could and 2) would smash you at their first opportunity you would be foolish not to fear them. Your example is not analogous at all.
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A nazgul could and would kill you at their first opportunity as well. You don't have to be greatly afraid of cars to be killed by one. A car lover (no fear at all) could get run over. The nazgul did not rely on fear alone.
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Originally Posted by obloquy
When Gandalf spoke of Glorfindel not fearing the Nine, he wasn't talking about the fear that they project as a offensive tool. He was referring to how Glorfindel "rode openly against them", and how they fled from him in his wrath. The Eldar did not fear the Nazgul because the Nazgul had no power over them; and, evidently, the roles of Scary and Scaredy-cat were reversed when an Elf-lord got involved. As I said above, Not fearing an enemy who has the power to kill you is foolish: the Eldar were not foolish.
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Please provide the said quote of them fleeing from his wrath. The only time I recall Glorfindel meeting all nine Nazgul was when they were chasing Frodo and were "power-limited" (so to speak) at the time. Also, the nazgul could still kill the Eldar. Glorfindel was not foolish, yet with any situation that could be fatal he was wary. Glorfindel was powerful, but I believe he'd be quite hindered if a sword was stuck in his stomach.
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Originally Posted by obloquy
What Eowyn did not fear was death. She did not confront the Witch-King because she fearlessly felt she could defeat him; she merely stood her ground and defended her king in the face of certain death. Since she was only human, I promise you she felt that fear that came with the Nazgul. But she stood up to it.
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Eowyn did not fear death, however the book shows no specific detail of a fear of the Witch-King. To defy him as she did and even threaten him if he harmed Theoden shows a very, very remote fear at best, one which would not grant "great power." Eowyn, in her bravery, still had her shield shattered and her arm broken in one blow.
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Originally Posted by obloquy
All of the qualifications you people require really get tiresome. Tolkien frequently spoke of the "greatest" of this or that group without restricting his definition to one or two "skills" ("bow-hunting skills, 'numchuck' skills, computer hacking skills..."). Tolkien doesn't say that when he referred to Galadriel as one of the greatest two Noldor it was because of her wisdom. That is an assumption that you made, likely because of some prejudice towards women. Somehow I doubt that you put some silly qualifications on Feanor's greatness (which is parallel to Galadriel's); surely he was not only wise but also mighty in battle.
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I have no prejudice towards women, and do not accuse me of having one. The great actions of Galadriel were those of governing and wisdom. While she may have been in the ranks of the athletes of Valinor, the elves of Middle-Earth diminished over time, so it is likely Galadriel wasn't as high as she used to be by the Third Age. Also, seeing as how Middle-Earth had part of the sexist roles of old England, Galadriel likely wasn't encouraged by those around her to be an expert at combat and to roam the land and climb mountains and whatnot. That could add to physical diminishing as well.
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Originally Posted by obloquy
Really? Can I see some textual support for that? Because it would sure be ironic if the mightiest being in Middle-earth was scared of going toe-to-toe with the laughably overconfident Witch-King. What I see in the book is a daddy telling a neighborhood bully to get lost--and he obeys.
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Originally Posted by J.R.R. Tolkien
"Then, Mithrandir, you had a foe to match you," said Denethor. "For myself, I have long known who is the chief captain of the hosts of the Dark Tower. Is this all that you have returned to say? Or can it be that you have withdrawn because you are overmatched?" Pippin trembled, fearing that Gandalf would be stung to sudden wrath, but his fear was needless. "It might be so," Gandalf answered softly.
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Gandalf's attitude against having to go up against the Witch-King was not one of "Don't worry, it's fine." His attitude was more along the lines of "I don't know if he's better than me or not, but I'm the only one who stands a chance." Gandalf stood up against the Witch-King at the gate because he was brave and he was the only person in the whole city who stood any chance of beating the Morgul Lord. The Witch-King showed no fear of Gandalf, and Gandalf seemed to not have any exploitable fear of the Witch-King. In all regards, the book portrayed them as equals, one good and one evil, at that moment. The reason the Witch-King left was not that he was afraid of Gandalf, he left because Rohan arrived and he had an army to save. Gandalf wanted to chase after the Witch-King because he thought he was the only one who stood a chance at beating the Witch-King. He wasn't certain, but he had to try regardless. (Gandalf's statement of returning to "guard the hurt men that can yet be healed" was in regards to Denethor asking if Gandalf only returned to bring bad news.
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Originally Posted by obloquy
WROOOONNNGGGGGGGGG again. Produce a quote that says that Sauron was the greatest of the Maiar (yeah, that's Maiar).
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The quote is everywhere and I'm surprised that you haven't heard of it. From the smallest sites to the Encyclopedia of Arda, it's quoted that Sauron is the greatest everywhere. If I wasn't about to go out to dinner, I would provide the quote myself. Also, don't rag on me for saying Maia instead of Maiar. Maia is a well-accepted abbreviation for Maiar, and if I'm not mistaken the word Maia was in the writings of Tolkien himself.
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Originally Posted by obloquy
At which point in Morgoth's existence it is no longer a surprising feat.
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All the more proof showing that Morgoth's rank did not grant him a large advantage. In a fight, ranks can quickly become no more than fancy names.