What does it mean to be a true fan?

[Lady Gamgee]

Personally, I think that anyone who would be called a TRUE fan of LOTR has to truly enjoy the books & movies, perhaps even relate some of it to real life. It seems that the truer fans find out as much as they can about Tolkien, all of his works, the movies, the characters backgrounds, etc .... If there's one thing I can't stand is, what I like to call, a "bandwagoneer". For those who don't know what that is, it's someone who automatically decides they're gonna "like" something or someone just because it or they are popular ... when really they wouldn't give a second thought about it. Anyone who likes a movie, actor, etc... just because he's "cute" or "I like her", or any other countless things cannot call themselves true fans. There is much more to a movie, person, or music than what they're wearing or what color eyes they have.

Therefore, I think to be a True Fan, you must understand much about the people, places, and characters in these movies & books. True fans can also be collectors. For me, right now I'm collecting movie posters & books ... and plan on collecting the action figures too (gotta take one at a time ). True fans have gotta read the books, no doubt about it. If you don't, you're truly missing out. I am a fairly new fan to LOTR, but I am a TRUE FAN, and will remain loyal to my fellow Middle Earth inhabitants

[Arie]

A true fan? One who isn't infatuated with movie stars and is meaningful in all of their posts on the Downs.

[Lady Gamgee]

Originally Posted by Arie

A true fan? One who isn't infatuated with movie stars and is meaningful in all of their posts on the Downs.

I couldn't agree more. Very well said

[Encaitare]

I'm not saying that buying the best copy available makes you a lesser fan, but if you care enough about the material inside, it doesn't really matter what condition it's in.

Indeed! I have a really beautiful copy of the trilogy, the Alan Lee illustrated one, which I got because I wanted to have a nice copy to last a long time. But then I also have copies of FotR and TTT from the 60s or 70s, which according to the covers cost 95 cents.

In my humble opinion, I would definately side with Elianna; DON'T drool!

I think it's okay to drool because sometimes one just can't help oneself. There are so many beautiful people in the movies, ie: David Wenham, Viggo, Sean Bean, Billy Boyd... ::trails off with dreamy looks:: But, er ... ahem, you shouldn't watch the movies simply *for* the eye candy *coughrabidOrlandoBloomfangirlscough* These people cannot be considered true fans.

I would say a true fan is someone who gets the messages of the story: themes about good and evil, the dangers of too much power, the strength in friendship, etc. I don't think it's necessary to have read the books first, since I didn't but now love them. A true fan should read the books at some point, though, and should try out the Silm, UT, and all the rest of those books we just can't get enough of.

A true fan knows enough history, characters, background, and places to carry on an intelligent conversation about the story, but they should be able to recognize movie events from book events.

But more or less you just have to really, really love LotR.

[InklingElf]

Originally Posted by Arie

A true fan? One who isn't infatuated with movie stars and is meaningful in all of their posts on the Downs.

hah! true true