Thanks Downers!

[Cailín]

The Downs especially taught me many ways to express suspicion, and how to eloquently accuse people of the most heinous crimes.

But yes, I wholeheartedly agree with all statements above. Of course, I mostly thank the Downs for something else entirely.

[Thinlómien]

Like The Might and Aganzir, I should thank 'Downs for my English skills that are - I'm afraid - quite a lot better than those of an average Finn of my age. Of course things like that I did about half of my lower secondary studies in English and I read a lot in English have improved my English as well (and being naturally talented in languages doesn't hurt either ), but a great part of my gratitude belongs to the 'Downs. I mean, without 'Downs I would hardly use English daily or learn half as much new words or phrases as I now do.

Which brings me to another issue for which I'm even more grateful than for my improved English skills. For, without the 'Downs, I wouldn't have met a lot of lovely people nor have so many friends of different ages and from different countries. That is a thing I truly value. So thank you, 'Downs!

[Morai]

Though I've moved on to other fandoms for the most part, I must thank the Downs for getting me started on role playing and thus improving my written English skills (I'm still fluent in spoken Bad English as well as spoken English.)

Not to mention that the Downs helped turn me away from chatty abbreviations.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

I just finished (or well, I am finishing, just a few words remain) a paper for the school where we are to interpretate some article in other language (English, some people chose also German ones), refer about it, and add some own opinions on it. And I remembered that I should say here that I owe the Downs for the training to quick read information in English, of course, but first and foremost I realised I should thank all you people for the Books discussions, because I have the possibility here to practice work with text, critical thinking and dialogue on such basis. And when I re-read what I wrote, I was greatly amused by the fact that the last part where I am offering my own opinion looks almost as if I responded to some Downer's post in the Books. Well, I tried to keep a more formal style, of course But as I said, I owe all of you and the most probably all the people who were around in most discussions at the time I came here: I recall names like Boro, Farael, to a lesser extent Lalwendë and to a larger extent later davem. And that's just those I remember as the ones who contributed the most.

(And by the way, though this should belong rather to the addiction thread, when I started to write the paper, I had the itching to write: Quote: "..." - So you say, professor, that...? )

[Hookbill the Goomba]

When I first began on the 'Downs I was very poor in my spelling* and my grammer was real bad not good yes. I wholeheartedly thank the people of the Downs for offering such insight into Tolkien and encouraging me to write so much.

Without this here Barrow, I don't think I'd be at university right now (Obviously not, RIGHT now, I'm actually at home RIGHT NOW, but you know what I mean). If not for Assigned to Mordor 2, I don't think I would have kept up such a constant stream of writing for a prolonged period when I would otherwise have been too lazy to write.

This is such a special place and we should all get together and go into space.

*I actually still am, but thanks to Google Toolbar, it is often hidden.

[THE Ka]

I'll have to agree with Hookbill in this thanks, or a part of it, my spelling was absolutely horrible, and I did not do my english any justice by trying to learn two languages on my own at once during that time... I actually found out it is possible to loose the means for words, even if it is your mother tongue.
I imagine I probably came off rather horrible myself during that early period.
Also, so many conversations here have indeed helped with critical thinking and writing skills, that I am very indebt to.

Another thanks o'course, to those lovely Downers who parle francais aussi. Oro, tgwbs, and many others, if it wasn't for you I don't think I would have kept up with my french study and probably would have embarassed my mother even more than I already have.
Merci mes ami!
As for czech or polish, that is my own battle to try and reclaim. Plus all the other languages I try to study at once, I just can't decide half the time.

Yet another thanks to all of the Downers who have taken the time and sanity to become my friends, without which I probably would not be intelligent and kind enough without.

Originally Posted by Hookbill

I actually still am, but thanks to Google Toolbar, it is often hidden.

Heh, guilty here too, at times.

Though, you have to admire at how stuctured, yet strange the english language is. You can take a word from another language or even make it up, tinker with it a bit, make a few more people use it, give it some experience in the writing field and somehow it finds its way into the OED along with its 5,000 other meanings.


~ Ka

[satansaloser2005]

Originally Posted by Morai

Not to mention that the Downs helped turn me away from chatty abbreviations.

I second that. I'd gotten used to using so much text/chatspeak that my brain doesn't like to process actual words anymore. It's refreshing to see people post (gasp!) actual words! (ungasp) whilst playing mafia/WW, as opposed to other sites I play on where an acceptable accusation is "your the mafia i no u r."

And to those of you that aren't native English speakers, kudos! To be honest, you speak (or at least type) a lot better English than some of the people I know in college. I congratulate you!

[Gwathagor]

Thanks Downers for making me feel stupid because you all speak five languages and I only one. Thanks for every day reminding of the fact that I am an inferior life-form and a dullard. It means so much to me.


EDIT: Wow. Someone must have hacked my account, because this doesn't sound like something I would say at ALL.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Gwathagor, if the above post was not written by you, you have the option of deleting it to avoid perpretrating a misunderstanding. If it remains, then it is by your choice and must be considered as having your approval.

[Gwathagor]

I jest, I jest. It was extended sarcasm.

[Kitanna]

Originally Posted by Cailín

The Downs especially taught me many ways to express suspicion, and how to eloquently accuse people of the most heinous crimes.

Ha, seconded. My critical thinking skills greatly improved through WW games. I learned to read between the lines and interpret various things differently. And that has helped me write a fair amount of English term papers over the years.

The Downs has also provided a great place to discuss the books I love and not be called a "super nerd" for it. And it's where I can work on my writing skills through RPGs and even WW to a lesser extent.

Thanks Downs!