I need some reasons...

[alatar]

When I first picked up the books, many years ago, I read over everything and looked into the languages that Tolkien created. It held my interest for a while as I would interpret the names of people and places in the books, hoping to glean any additional information that I could. Now, there's barely time to read the books..

Anyway, in regards to your question, you might not want to bother wasting time trying to defend your choice as most people will see it as odd and as a complete waste of time - but so what? It's your time to 'waste' and as long as you are balancing it with other commitments (i.e. "I decided to quit my job in order study Elvish 24/7..." ), where's the issue?

I find it odd that on a beautiful day people (many in my own extended family) will sit on the couch for hours screaming at men playing with a ball on the television. But I guess there's some justifiably good noble important reason for this activity that I must be missing.

Good luck with your studies, as you never know where they will lead you.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

A waste of time and energy? Not useful?

What does your friend mean by 'waste'? As to utility, she is utterly wrong. The activity is a highly useful way to occupy yourself.

But 'waste', hmm.......that's a strange thing to say. In a way, all energy is wasted. But then again, it's there to waste. Moreover, it is there for you to waste.

And time cannot be wasted. You do not own it and you cannot do anything useful with it, let alone waste it.

I disagree with your friend. And I greatly admire you for learning some Elvish.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by alatar

I find it odd that on a beautiful day people (many in my own extended family) will sit on the couch for hours screaming at men playing with a ball on the television. But I guess there's some justifiably good noble important reason for this activity that I must be missing.

Indeed there is. As the late Bill Shankley (former manager of Liverpool FC) once said:

Some people think that football is a matter of life and death ... I can assure them that it is much more serious than that.

[Mithalwen]

well shadow lady .. I guess that is the definitive answer .... no matter how eccentric your friend thinks your choice ...... nothing could be a more bizarre and ludicrous waste of time than Football :P

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

And time cannot be wasted. You do not own it and you cannot do anything useful with it, let alone waste it.

I would have to disagree. Looking back over my life, I see many places where I wasted *much* time - not that you have to be productive constantly. These would be times where I sat around waiting for something to happen instead getting up and doing something/anything - even learning Elvish!

I would like to get that time back somehow as now that I have children, I'm running a deficit.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Time is not something you can 'have'. You cannot waste it. You just do things within time. You could do other things, of course.

But to consider time spent lazing about as wasted would be innacurate, not to mention insulting to my lifestyle choices.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I guess that is the definitive answer .... no matter how eccentric your friend thinks your choice ...... nothing could be a more bizarre and ludicrous waste of time than Football

Which goes to show that the value in pursuing activities such as learning Elvish and watching football lies in the mind of the pursuer (and those of like-minded disposition).

It brings you enjoyment and it harms neither yourself nor others. What more reason do you need?

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Which goes to show that the value in pursuing activities such as learning Elvish and watching football lies in the mind of the pursuer (and those of like-minded disposition).

It brings you enjoyment and it harms neither yourself nor others. What more reason do you need?

well I doubt that we will ever hear of a incident of hooliganism related to learning elvish or that it will bring your nation into disrepute........

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

Time is not something you can 'have'. You cannot waste it. You just do things within time. You could do other things, of course.

Time of course is 'elastic', thus the weekend goes past in the blink of an eye and any time whatsoever spent in the workplace crawls along like a lethargic snail dragging its heels.

Originally Posted by SpM

Which goes to show that the value in pursuing activities such as learning Elvish and watching football lies in the mind of the pursuer (and those of like-minded disposition).

Of course, the two could be combined. Though I'm not sure how reading a book on Elvish would go down while sitting on the terraces, unless it was cunningly hidden inside your programme of course. The meat pie at half time might help you replenish your brain cells though.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

well I doubt that we will ever hear of a incident of hooliganism related to learning elvish or that it will bring your nation into disrepute........

I presume then that you have not heard of the nasty incident in Luxembourg that led to Elvish linguists being banned from Europe for a lengthy period.

Football, like the study of Elvish linguistics, does not cause violence. People do.