Annoying experts - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Aredhel · 07-06-2004, 09:40 PM

Yes, yes, I've continually had run-ins with... ir....shall we say: a published writer.
He's doing tours, and regularly posts everywhere, I'm sure even here, too. I like his work very much, but when he grabs onto a thread and maims it unmercilessly with facts that he has been looking up for years (professionally!), I tend to get a bit flustered. Sometimes he's amazing; other times, he's just plain boring.
Oh, well. I'm sure jealousy enters into this.

It's just a shame I didn't do what he's doing, years ago. I could have been famous. BAH!

Meela · 07-10-2004, 03:09 PM

I admit I do get annoyed with experts, but then that would be hypocritical, considering I have a jolly fun time correcting everyone else.
I have a friend who isn't the greatest fan of Lotr, but does know the basics. Or at least she tries to understand. We had a lot of fun one afternoon, me correcting her and her laughing at herself in a good way.

I don't mind experts, since I can learn a lot from them. I like being corrected if I make a wrong point, and I don't mind swapping facts, but some people act as though they are looking down at you for not being as clever. That's just tedious.

Boromir88 · 07-10-2004, 04:51 PM

Quote:

I don't mind experts, since I can learn a lot from them. I like being corrected if I make a wrong point

Meela, true, if I make a wrong point I don't mind being corrected. The "annoying experts" for me are ones who think all of their views are right, no one else can be right, or basically the ones whos pompous ignorance gets in the way.

Lalwendë · 07-13-2004, 01:27 PM

I think one of the many wonderful things about Tolkien is that you can never know everything - there's always something new to learn. So there are no total experts! But I know what you mean about people who do think they know everything. Some people think I know a lot, e.g. I'm always the one called upon to settle arguments, but I know I'm no expert! Half the time I have to say "I'll have to look that up when I get home, because I don't know".

I pronounce a few of the names incorrectly, but that's because when I first read the book as a kid, I had my own idea of how the names would sound, and even though since then I know better, those original impressions stay in my mind.

As for being annoying, one day there had been a four way conversation (shouted across the office) that had lasted all morning at work, close on the heels of several weeks' worth of assorted other Tolkien conversations. At the end of this one morning a colleague in the corner stood up and shouted "No! I've had enough of this!" and stomped out.

Laitoste · 07-14-2004, 08:18 PM

I'm so jealous of anyone who has known an annoying expert! I don't even know a regular expert! (aside from around the Downs, and none of those are annoying!) I most certainly am not an expert (in anything), although I know more about The Lord of the Rings than anyone else in my town. (or I don't know that they know more than me)

The Only Real Estel · 07-14-2004, 09:02 PM

I agree with Meela that experts are usually perfectly fine, & even when they're not I can still learn something from them. The only thing that annoys me a bit is when someone goes into a short summary of the life of a character just to answer a question that would've taken one sentence to say. Or, worse yet, all they ever wanted to do was agree but decided to expound upon every tidbit of the character's character. It comes across as: I'm throwing a bunch of facts out here (99% of them everyone already knew) to show that I know quite a bit about this character; though I'm sure they don't mean to come across that way. It mostly happens with newbies, they think that most of the people here know little about Tolkien so they decide to start of with a good post full of education for those that know far less than them

( I'll admit my first few posts on this site followed that line

).

Cheers,
Estel

Lalwendë · 07-15-2004, 12:48 PM

Heh, I'm sure I've done exactly that kind of thing many a time!

I was once asked why Elrond was sometimes referred to as 'half-elven' and I was still there half an hour later while this poor guy was sitting nodding and going 'um, yeah'. If he'd had some matchsticks I'm sure he'd have used them to prop his eyelids open. I put it down to enthusiasm, that's all!

Morsul the Dark · 07-31-2004, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laitoste

I'm so jealous of anyone who has known an annoying expert! I don't even know a regular expert! (aside from around the Downs, and none of those are annoying!) I most certainly am not an expert (in anything), although I know more about The Lord of the Rings than anyone else in my town. (or I don't know that they know more than me)

I feel the same way However Sometimes the experts on this site do annoy me not intentionally of course and I understand they are trying to be nice correcting me when I'm wrong it just bugs me to be corrected

Laitoste · 08-01-2004, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morsul the Dark

... it just bugs me to be corrected

I know the feeling. My little brother does this just to show off. Although I don't feel so put out here when I'm corrected as on other sites. Don't know why, but that's why I stick around!

Isowen · 08-02-2004, 04:39 AM

I've run into this a few times and some "experts" make some of it up.
For example if I said something about lotr (which I often do) they would contradict me, thinking that I don't have a clue about lotr and when I ask them to prove it, they can't!
I think if you are an "expert" think about how you can prove it before you open your mouth! and I mean that in the happiest way possible

07-06-2004, 09:40 PM	#1
Aredhel Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15	Oh, yeah. Yes, yes, I've continually had run-ins with... ir....shall we say: a published writer. He's doing tours, and regularly posts everywhere, I'm sure even here, too. I like his work very much, but when he grabs onto a thread and maims it unmercilessly with facts that he has been looking up for years (professionally!), I tend to get a bit flustered. Sometimes he's amazing; other times, he's just plain boring. Oh, well. I'm sure jealousy enters into this. It's just a shame I didn't do what he's doing, years ago. I could have been famous. BAH!

07-10-2004, 03:09 PM	#2
Meela Denethor's True Love Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mirkwood. With Thranduil... swoon Posts: 2,049	I admit I do get annoyed with experts, but then that would be hypocritical, considering I have a jolly fun time correcting everyone else. I have a friend who isn't the greatest fan of Lotr, but does know the basics. Or at least she tries to understand. We had a lot of fun one afternoon, me correcting her and her laughing at herself in a good way. I don't mind experts, since I can learn a lot from them. I like being corrected if I make a wrong point, and I don't mind swapping facts, but some people act as though they are looking down at you for not being as clever. That's just tedious. __________________ 'The Hobbit' 1st impressions: 1. Thorin is hot... Oh god, I fancy a dwarf. 2. Thranduil is hotter. 3. Is that... Figwit! 4. Does Elijah Wood never age? 2nd: It's all about Fili & Kili, really. 3rd: BARD! OMG, Bard.

07-14-2004, 08:18 PM	#5
Laitoste Wight Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Behind the hills Posts: 164	I'm so jealous of anyone who has known an annoying expert! I don't even know a regular expert! (aside from around the Downs, and none of those are annoying!) I most certainly am not an expert (in anything), although I know more about The Lord of the Rings than anyone else in my town. (or I don't know that they know more than me) __________________ "If we're still alive in the morning, we'll know that we're not dead."~South Park

08-02-2004, 04:39 AM	#10
Isowen Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The blackened depths Posts: 86	I've run into this a few times and some "experts" make some of it up. For example if I said something about lotr (which I often do) they would contradict me, thinking that I don't have a clue about lotr and when I ask them to prove it, they can't! I think if you are an "expert" think about how you can prove it before you open your mouth! and I mean that in the happiest way possible __________________ I hope Butterbur sends this promptly. A worthy man, but his memory is like a lumber -room: Thing wanted always burried, If he forgets, I shall roast him.

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07-13-2004, 01:27 PM	#4
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I think one of the many wonderful things about Tolkien is that you can never know everything - there's always something new to learn. So there are no total experts! But I know what you mean about people who do think they know everything. Some people think I know a lot, e.g. I'm always the one called upon to settle arguments, but I know I'm no expert! Half the time I have to say "I'll have to look that up when I get home, because I don't know". I pronounce a few of the names incorrectly, but that's because when I first read the book as a kid, I had my own idea of how the names would sound, and even though since then I know better, those original impressions stay in my mind. As for being annoying, one day there had been a four way conversation (shouted across the office) that had lasted all morning at work, close on the heels of several weeks' worth of assorted other Tolkien conversations. At the end of this one morning a colleague in the corner stood up and shouted "No! I've had enough of this!" and stomped out.

07-14-2004, 09:02 PM	#6
The Only Real Estel Raffish Rapscallion Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Far from the 'Downs, it seems :-( Posts: 2,835	I agree with Meela that experts are usually perfectly fine, & even when they're not I can still learn something from them. The only thing that annoys me a bit is when someone goes into a short summary of the life of a character just to answer a question that would've taken one sentence to say. Or, worse yet, all they ever wanted to do was agree but decided to expound upon every tidbit of the character's character. It comes across as: I'm throwing a bunch of facts out here (99% of them everyone already knew) to show that I know quite a bit about this character; though I'm sure they don't mean to come across that way. It mostly happens with newbies, they think that most of the people here know little about Tolkien so they decide to start of with a good post full of education for those that know far less than them ( I'll admit my first few posts on this site followed that line ). Cheers, Estel

07-15-2004, 12:48 PM	#7
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Heh, I'm sure I've done exactly that kind of thing many a time! I was once asked why Elrond was sometimes referred to as 'half-elven' and I was still there half an hour later while this poor guy was sitting nodding and going 'um, yeah'. If he'd had some matchsticks I'm sure he'd have used them to prop his eyelids open. I put it down to enthusiasm, that's all!