I need some reasons...

[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.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

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.

Well I very rarely feel ashamed of my nationality or intimidated on trains because of groups of drunken elvish scholars or feel I shouldn't drive into a certain part of town because there is a language convention... and somehow I don't think that spending hours talking about elvish would be regarded as an acceptable way to pass the working day.....

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Not regarded as acceptable by people who don't really know what they're talking about.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

... and somehow I don't think that spending hours talking about elvish would be regarded as an acceptable way to pass the working day.....

Exactly! Talking about football or the latest prime-time slop is okay, yet to talk about Balrog's wings is considered to be nuts...er, well...okay, so maybe they have us on that one.

Luckily I work with another Tolkien nut who understands what I'm talking about. Note that we do not converse in Elvish, however.

[Snorri Swifthammer]

Bah! One man's hobby is another man's complete waste of time. If you have fun doing it and you aren't hurting anyone, I say why should anyone object?

I mean look at the typical person's hobby of sitting in front of the TV watching American Idol. At least at the completion of your hobby you'll be able to speak Elvish. What do they have? A headache and a irrational anger triggered by British accents because they liked the last guy Simon Cowell made cry.

Really one of my hobbies involves gluing and painting small plastic and pewter dwarves for the express purpose of setting them up on minature terrian and simulating battles with them (that is Warhammer Fantasy for those who don't know.) I know many a person who think that is a waste of time. However, I have fun so why should someone else's opinon bother me?