Best Thread of the Month - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bêthberry · 02-20-2005, 08:56 AM

Here at the Barrow Downs we are very proud of the quality of our discussions, for their witty mirth and clever humour, their erudition, their unique perspective, their perceptive reading, their personable points of view. And we are also quick to acknowledge each other's merit. HerenIstarion has started a "Quote of the Day" thread and there is my own "Best Post of the Week" thread, which I must shortly bring up to date. (Thank you, Eru or Bill Gates, for my new monitor and computer which means I can now read the forum again at long last.)

Here, now, is a thread to recognise something broader and longer lasting, a thread to celebrate a discussion idea which makes a substantial contribution to our time here and to our knowledge of Tolkien. The idea was inspired by the first candidate I offer.

littlemanpoet's thread The Trickster in LotR offers one of the most substantial and original contributions I've seen here to discussion of a very old chestnut, Tom Bombadil, and it does so with a gentle respect for the reading of others. Not one to beat his own drum insistently, lmp offered up an idea and asked us to respond to it without first giving his own interpretation. Admirable courtesy and understatement! Applying the trickster motif to Tom not only takes up Tolkien's own interest in mythology, it helps give credence to a character who is often dismissed or ridiculed for being so out of synch with the rest of the story. lmp's thread also demonstrates the significance and fecundity of outside reading and how other writers and ideas can fruitfully be brought to bear on Tolkien. The movies may be passé, but for keen minds, there is no end to intelligent discussion.

I would like to offer this thread as a place where we can commend such insightful ideas and their successful direction over the duration of a discussion. It takes skill, diplomacy, and persistence to manage a good discussion, and that, too, is displayed in lmp thread.

I invite others to discuss the nomination and bring other deserving threads to the table if they wish. Please just remember to add reasons to support your nomination and try to keep tabs of which month we are in! A month is eternity in Net time. And be courteous in any disagreements. We do not always have to agree all the time (indeed, I would mistrust that), but we can always respect each other's ideas and reasoning.

HerenIstarion · 02-25-2005, 07:26 AM

Excellent idea, Beth, as always

I haven't got much say about lmp's thread, as, I, unfortunately, haven't read it (or haven't yet). So, my nomination would be:

Dumbing it Down by
Beleg Cuthalion

Also, we may have sub-nominations by sub-fora, par example, Best Thread of the Month, The Movies.

Than lmp's will be nominated for Best Thread of the Month, The Books

cheers

Bêthberry · 03-21-2005, 08:00 AM

One thread has caught my eye because of the very interesting points of view presented on the thread. It is Aragorn's Political Skills , started by Boromir88.

There has been a good turnout of thoughtful comments from a variety of Downers with surprisingly little of our usual riding of favourite hobby horses.

And I like the careful discrimination among heroic ideal, political skills, good judgment, and humane considerations.

Tolkien clearly had a vision of ideal monarchy which few people today share, so I think such a discussion is valuable. (Unless one follows the Diana vs Camilla intrigues.

) I also am very intrigued by Saurreg's analysis of Aragorn's battle decisions and how they relate to the narrative or fantasy elements. All in all, I think, a useful discussion! Kudos to Boro for starting it!

Bêthberry · 04-12-2005, 07:33 AM

There have been several very interesting new threads in the past month, but I wish particularly to commend this one: Tolkien, the Artist , started by Arts and Craft enthusiast Estelyn Telcontar.

Imagine, after all these years, a completely new topic on an aspect of Tolkien's creativity we have not explored! It shows that there are always new ideas, new ways of examining Tolkien. Kudos to Estelyn for her foresight and originality!

Feanor of the Peredhil · 04-24-2005, 12:36 AM

I'd like to nominate Eomer of the Rohirrim's Giggles. Not only is it a neat topic, but it has sparked on-topic debate, led to consitantly interesting discussion, and has nothing to do with Balrogs.

Bêthberry · 04-24-2005, 12:55 PM

And nothing to do with Wargs either, Fea!

Thanks for nominating it, as it is good to see activity on this thread.

"Giggles" certainly did spark some interesting comments. it is interesting how revisited or redefined topics can lead to other directions.

02-20-2005, 08:56 AM	#1
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,989	Best Thread of the Month Here at the Barrow Downs we are very proud of the quality of our discussions, for their witty mirth and clever humour, their erudition, their unique perspective, their perceptive reading, their personable points of view. And we are also quick to acknowledge each other's merit. HerenIstarion has started a "Quote of the Day" thread and there is my own "Best Post of the Week" thread, which I must shortly bring up to date. (Thank you, Eru or Bill Gates, for my new monitor and computer which means I can now read the forum again at long last.) Here, now, is a thread to recognise something broader and longer lasting, a thread to celebrate a discussion idea which makes a substantial contribution to our time here and to our knowledge of Tolkien. The idea was inspired by the first candidate I offer. littlemanpoet's thread The Trickster in LotR offers one of the most substantial and original contributions I've seen here to discussion of a very old chestnut, Tom Bombadil, and it does so with a gentle respect for the reading of others. Not one to beat his own drum insistently, lmp offered up an idea and asked us to respond to it without first giving his own interpretation. Admirable courtesy and understatement! Applying the trickster motif to Tom not only takes up Tolkien's own interest in mythology, it helps give credence to a character who is often dismissed or ridiculed for being so out of synch with the rest of the story. lmp's thread also demonstrates the significance and fecundity of outside reading and how other writers and ideas can fruitfully be brought to bear on Tolkien. The movies may be passé, but for keen minds, there is no end to intelligent discussion. I would like to offer this thread as a place where we can commend such insightful ideas and their successful direction over the duration of a discussion. It takes skill, diplomacy, and persistence to manage a good discussion, and that, too, is displayed in lmp thread. I invite others to discuss the nomination and bring other deserving threads to the table if they wish. Please just remember to add reasons to support your nomination and try to keep tabs of which month we are in! A month is eternity in Net time. And be courteous in any disagreements. We do not always have to agree all the time (indeed, I would mistrust that), but we can always respect each other's ideas and reasoning. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

02-25-2005, 07:26 AM	#2
HerenIstarion Deadnight Chanter Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,244	Excellent idea, Beth, as always I haven't got much say about lmp's thread, as, I, unfortunately, haven't read it (or haven't yet). So, my nomination would be: Dumbing it Down by Beleg Cuthalion Also, we may have sub-nominations by sub-fora, par example, Best Thread of the Month, The Movies. Than lmp's will be nominated for Best Thread of the Month, The Books cheers __________________ Egroeg Ihkhsal - Would you believe in the love at first sight? - Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time!

03-21-2005, 08:00 AM	#3
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,989	A sword in a stone or what? One thread has caught my eye because of the very interesting points of view presented on the thread. It is Aragorn's Political Skills , started by Boromir88. There has been a good turnout of thoughtful comments from a variety of Downers with surprisingly little of our usual riding of favourite hobby horses. And I like the careful discrimination among heroic ideal, political skills, good judgment, and humane considerations. Tolkien clearly had a vision of ideal monarchy which few people today share, so I think such a discussion is valuable. (Unless one follows the Diana vs Camilla intrigues. ) I also am very intrigued by Saurreg's analysis of Aragorn's battle decisions and how they relate to the narrative or fantasy elements. All in all, I think, a useful discussion! Kudos to Boro for starting it! __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. Last edited by Bêthberry; 03-21-2005 at 08:04 AM.

04-12-2005, 07:33 AM	#4
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,989	A new month, a new idea There have been several very interesting new threads in the past month, but I wish particularly to commend this one: Tolkien, the Artist , started by Arts and Craft enthusiast Estelyn Telcontar. Imagine, after all these years, a completely new topic on an aspect of Tolkien's creativity we have not explored! It shows that there are always new ideas, new ways of examining Tolkien. Kudos to Estelyn for her foresight and originality! __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

04-24-2005, 12:36 AM	#5
Feanor of the Peredhil La Belle Dame sans Merci Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: perpetual uncertainty Posts: 5,517	I'd like to nominate Eomer of the Rohirrim's Giggles. Not only is it a neat topic, but it has sparked on-topic debate, led to consitantly interesting discussion, and has nothing to do with Balrogs. __________________ peace

04-24-2005, 12:55 PM	#6
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,989	And nothing to do with Wargs either, Fea! Thanks for nominating it, as it is good to see activity on this thread. "Giggles" certainly did spark some interesting comments. it is interesting how revisited or redefined topics can lead to other directions. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.