I joined because I had just seen the first movie and was reading the books. There were a lot of things in the books that I wanted to learn more about, so I went searching on the web. I don't remember how I stumbled across the Downs, but I did, and I came to check out the boards. Everyone here was so knowledgeable and gave such thorough answers to questions that I just had to stay because there was so much to learn. I've since quieted down because I've participated in many of the discussions a couple years ago (as well as a few riddles threads that were going strong for a while), and since the books are not fresh in my mind anymore I don't really have much to add to the discussions at the moment. I hope to pick them up again, though, and join in once more. For now I just kind of haunt. There are still many familiar "faces" around here who I enjoy talking to, so my spirit remains floating around
It's funny, too, because when I joined these forums, Hobbits were my favorite, and Sam was my favorite character (can ya tell?)... and since then, Eowyn has become my favorite character. But, I couldn't just give up the online alias I'd had for so long, nor the cute little beer carrying hobbitlass that represents me here at the boards