Do we realize how crazy we are?

[Lalwendë]

One person's freak is another person's friend. Ooh, that was clever at this time of day for me.

Anyway, I've thought about this idea of community before. Traditionally a community is a group of people living close to one another, e.g. a street or village. Alas that kind of community is less common these days, not because we don't live close to one another, but because so many people move house so often; not many people these days stay where they were brought up, and when they do move out of the area, they seem to move quite often, certainly working people with decent incomes in the UK.

So we form other types of community. We have work or school/college of course. That's a kind of enforced community. Our neighbours at home we can ignore most of the time if we want to, but we can't do that at work or school. We all share something in common, perhaps we share a lot more than neighbours do, but we are forced to be together and have to moderate our true selves in order to 'fit in' much of the time. I'm sure anyone else who works will know how the blood boils when colleagues are inconsiderate, but you have to bite your tongue!

But then we also have communities where we share interests. People into sports form teams, or they go to matches together. You get church groups who meet up every week. You even get shared understanding in small ways such as when out walking, other walkers will say "hello" as you pass one another on a footpath. This is just another community with a shared interest. We aren't neighbours or colleagues thrown together through circumstance, and just because we don't (usually ) physically meet, doesn't mean that what we do is necessarily strange in any way. We are still socialising in the same way as any other community, it's just a new way of doing it!

What's freaky about that?

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I'm sure anyone else who works will know how the blood boils when colleagues are inconsiderate, but you have to bite your tongue!

Oh! Am I embarrassed - my face is glowing a hot red! So you're supposed to bite your own tongue!?!

Well, that explains my coworkers' anti-social - bordering on hostile - attitudes towards me. Huh...All this time I thought that it was due to my interest in Tolkien.

It's amazing what you can learn here.

[Dimturiel]

Fortunately I come from a family that completely adores Tolkien, so I am considered normal there. But outside the family it is a bit hard and I sometimes feel out of place. Except for a friend of mine, I know no other Tolkien fan. And most of my classmates have not even seen the movie. They tend to look at me as if I was a nut and ask me questions such as: "Why are you reading that book again? Why have you watched the movies so many times? Why do you like Aragorn so much. He does not even exist." Like I did not know, but they have to rub it in . I used to mind but recently I have stopped caring. And also, my best friend says that she thinks that a person that can like something so much should be admired and not considered a weirdo. And this I say to you all: you are great and special because of your love for the works of an extremely special person.

[Encaitare]

I heard the term "freaks" used on this forum because of the proper grammar, puntuation and spelling here.

Oh, how I hate that. My sister thinks I'm insane because I speak like an intelligent human being and not a valley girl or something of the like. Let us be glad, for this is our refuge in which fair language is valued!

[Lush]

Do we realize how crazy we are?

Yep.

[Boromir88]

The way as I've always seen things is I just don't care what people think of me and I've always been this way. Even through highschool, my mom would be like...."Get this shirt, it's what all the kids wear." And I'd simply just say I'm getting something I'm comfortable in, doesn't matter what it is (no I did not get a skirt! )

Anyway, I simply act the way I want to act, and if someone doesn't like it that's fine by me.

I DO appreciate all those who are sort of in the same boat with me (and the one's who have appreciated what I've had to write) and I respect those who do not agree with me, as long as they have a reasonable explanation and support it.

Well, I'm done with my deep thoughtful self-analysis post for the day.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Our dedication to Tolkien's works and the amount of time we spend on this site as part of a virtual community may seem crazy to others who don't share our interest. (And let me tell those of you who feel misunderstood by their parents that it can also work the other way around! ) However, have you ever realized how much we're learning while we're having fun here?

How many books have you read to keep up with discussions, that you might not otherwise have read? (I know I've delved into the Sil, UT, HoME, to say nothing of the biography, Letters, Fonstad's atlas, and various literary evaluations because of recommendations given on threads here - and because I wanted to know what everyone was talking about!)

How often have you checked the dictionary to find out what a word means that was used in one of Tolkien's books, a discussion here - or even in the personal title of another member?!

How much effort have you put into correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and expression when writing posts? Aside from the fact that we have rather strict rules about appropriate posting here, if you've written any contributions that you wanted taken seriously, you've probably done your best to make them readable - and understandable. (Besides, any mistakes you make are liable to get caught and posted on the Typo or Homophone threads!)

How about argumentation skills? Have you looked up quotes to counter one of davem's arguments, or thought of reasons in order to give Saucepan a run for his money? You wouldn't have gotten far without backing up what you say - preferably, trying to prove it.

And deductive skills, if you've attempted to solve one of Squatter's Cryptic Clues...

If English is not your native language, have you noticed that posting and reading here has improved your knowledge and grasp of its usage? Those who have been around long enough to compare older and newer posts by long-standing members do notice! (I can see a marked improvement in my active English vocabulary, which is for the most part unused in my real daily life.)

How about creative writing skills? If you've taken part in an RPG regularly or even posted on one of the inns or party threads sporadically, you've used and likely improved yours. (I know I have - I never wrote fiction, except for school assignments many, many moons ago, and here I am, writing both serious and parody RPGs, to say nothing of a fan fiction.)

I'm the first to admit that the Downs has an addictive effect and that not all time I spend here is invested in the improvement of my skills and character - but the side effects are generally beneficial, aren't they?!

Besides that, laughing is healthy, so even the fun we have here is good for us!

[Glirdan]

Your entirely right Esty. Because of this site, we are not only have fun and talking about something we all like and have in common, but we are also being educated. We are learning more about Tolkien's world when we rad other of his works but we are also learning new words to enhance (man I haven't used that word in a written scentence for awhile) our vocabulary. I've had to use the dictionary (or my parents) to find a word I don't know. I wonder. Was it B-W's intention for us to learn as well as have fun? Only he can answer, I guess.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

Our dedication to Tolkien's works and the amount of time we spend on this site as part of a virtual community may seem crazy to others who don't share our interest. (And let me tell those of you who feel misunderstood by their parents that it can also work the other way around! )

I can vouch for that! My daughter when introducing me, often tacked on a 'she's addicted to Tolkien' to the end on her speech. But the whispering among the members of my immediate family have lulled. And it has helped that my daughter now a 'cool' friend who also shares her Mom's interest.

Mr. Bracegirdle has even stopped inquiring if I'll ever make an income from all the writing. He had been joking of course, but I hadn't realized how rusty my brain had become. It is strange how being 'dead' can bring one back to life again!