Do Balrogs Have Wings?

[The Saucepan Man]

Is anyone actually inclined to be persuaded one way or the other by the various arguments? As for me, whatever the arguments, I will only accept wingless Balrogs if presented with irrefutable proof that Tolkien intended them so. It's an emotional/intuitive thing, y'see.

Originally Posted by drigel

I think there would be more votes if there was a catagory for "had wings, but not used for flight"

I assume that, of those who have voted "Yes", a proportion are of the "winged but flightless" camp. On the basis that the vote has hovered around the Yes: 60% No: 40% mark more or less since inception, I would speculate that there would be a roughly equal three-way vote, although (on the basis of the comments made here) those of us who believe that Balrogs had wings and were fully capable of using them for flight unless constrained from doing so would might possibly fall into the minority.

As an aside, it is interesting that the ratio of "Yes" to "No" on this poll is remarkably similar to the result of the "Did Elves have pointed Ears?" poll. Are there any conclusions to draw from this? I suspect not, as the Elf ears poll is "confidential". Although we know that Fordim, at least, has voted "Yes" for Balrog's wings and "No" for pointed Elf ears. In contrast, I have voted "Yes" to both questions, and for broadly the same reasons.

[the phantom]

There have been a few people who have weighed in on the issue in the thread but who have failed officially to cast their vote. I wonder if they are pretending to achieve a resolution and then losing their nerve when it comes to actually nailing their colours to the masthead, as it were, in the form of a vote.

Any floating voters?

I'm not voting. It would end the debate.

(actually, I don't care too much, I just enjoy watching everyone go back and forth- great stuff from both sides)

[drigel]

As with the movies and with most subjects on this wonderfull website, I enjoy the forum for the various different views and learned exchanges. It's through here where I pick up bits and pieces of lore that i otherwise would surely miss myself. Otherwise, I remain entrenched in my own personal Idaho otherwise known as ME.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by me

Is anyone actually inclined to be persuaded one way or the other by the various arguments?

Just to be clear, I did not mean by this comment to suggest that the discussion is futile or pointless. It is, in fact, both entertaining and engrossing as far as I am concerned. However, this does seem to be one of those issues in which views are generally pretty firmly entrenched - most probably because it is a debate which has been raging for so long.

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by Saucie

Is anyone actually inclined to be persuaded one way or the other by the various arguments?

As may be observed above, I had been flippantly neutral and/or indifferent for the past thirty years (thirty years is a LONG time to not care about balrog wings) until the other day when I was soundly convinced by the logic of Mister Underhill-- by which I remain satisfied, and unrattled by other arguments I have read since.

So yes, it can happen.

[Lalwendë]

As someone who used to take a great interest in psephology, the study of voting patterns, this is starting to get really interesting. We have already had questions raised about whether the voting system is flawed, a former floating voter being persuaded by some pamphleteering, even questions raised as to what leads us into voting a certain way! And they wonder why real elections can get so fraught! Is the Barrow-Downs Select Committee going to examine the results?

And like Saucepan Man says, I'm finding it entertaining, by the way!

[Mithalwen]

But as yet no hanging chad....
and no scope for spoiling ballot papers.

I think balrogs probably used their wings rather as chickens use theirs..........

Maybe balrog wings is just another gimmick by KFC?

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

As someone who used to take a great interest in psephology, the study of voting patterns, this is starting to get really interesting. We have already had questions raised about whether the voting system is flawed, a former floating voter being persuaded by some pamphleteering, even questions raised as to what leads us into voting a certain way! And they wonder why real elections can get so fraught! Is the Barrow-Downs Select Committee going to examine the results?

And like Saucepan Man says, I'm finding it entertaining, by the way!

Pamphleteering? Nay, my duck, it was oratory of the highest ilk-- reported by our beloved Professor himself, and spoken by his sidekicks: Gimli, and Frodo of the Cold Shoulder. Mister Underhill had the good sense to quote it.