The two types of LotR fans - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

mark12_30 · 02-22-2005, 08:14 PM

So okay, now I want to know how we determine this. How do we 'profile' a downer to determine whether they favor world over story, or story over world? Is there a way? Is there one of those quizzes that would work?

1. When asked where you most want to live, you answer:
--any one of ten places in Middle-Earth
--Nowhere, I would be tracking the Fellowship
--my reading-chair at home is fine, thanks

2. Your favorite culture is:
--Elves. No, Dwarves. No, Numenoreans. Nah- Hobbits!
--I'll live in Rivendell where they all live together anyway.
--Yogurt.

3. Your favorite age is:
--Third age, with the Hobbits.
--Age of the Trees-- elves, baby, give me elves.
--Twenty-one.

4. You wish Tolkien had written more about:
--Languages.
--Food and clothing.
--Whether Frodo got healed.

5. If you could have anyone visit you:
--Bombadil, for the World History lesson.
--Elrond, for the prose version.
--The pizza delivery guy.

Evisse the Blue · 03-01-2005, 06:13 AM

World-lovers and story-lovers...hmmm, interesting.
This sounds a little like the distinction I used to make between people who get completely immersed in a book and those that can enjoy the book in a more detached manner. Am I right in saying that those who value the story more are the more detached readers, those who can step back and analyse characters and situations? And the world-lovers are completely swept away and all they want is to learn more and more about this world? Based on this, you can say you'are likely to find the story-lovers lurking more in the Books and Novices sections of the forum and the world-lovers more in the Quiz Room and Quotes section, not to mention of course the RPG section, like Thinlómien already suggested.
But of course, since most of us are mixtures of both, this theory can't really be tested.

Nice quiz, mark12_30! Maybe you could post it on quizilla! Then we'll see which each of us is.

Thinlómien · 03-02-2005, 07:01 AM

Well, making a distinction always creates opposition and critic

People cannot be so roughly into two categories, but sometimes the distinction is easy to see. And sometimes not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evisse the Blue

Based on this, you can say you'are likely to find the story-lovers lurking more in the Books and Novices sections of the forum and the world-lovers more in the Quiz Room and Quotes section, not to mention of course the RPG section, like Thinlómien already suggested.

That doesn't work, really.

I'm a-world-oriented-both-story-and-world-fan (a lovely new wordmonster, what may describe many fans), but I still "lurk" more in here novices&newcomers and books -sections. Never even visited the RPG-sections...
And really, this is not so serious... Capable probably to the Middle-Earth Mirth -section...

P.S. mark 12_30 - the quiz was great!

Halbarad · 03-02-2005, 08:04 AM

I think the best way to identify a world fan would be to ask in what world they would rather have been born in: the real one or the "real" one. Myself? Edain in the First Age.

Story fans are ones that love the characters, and the ones that don't wonder how long Bilbo lived for on Tol Eressea.

Bêthberry · 03-02-2005, 08:06 AM

Had I but World enough and time, this Story, Thinlómien, would then be mine.

Cute quizz, Helen.

Rimbaud · 03-02-2005, 08:26 AM

We would write down and script which way
To tell, and pass our long day's tale;

Hilde Bracegirdle · 03-02-2005, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Quoting mark12_30’s quiz

--my reading-chair at home is fine, thanks

I suppose that I am a proper puddle…a mix of both, really. As it been mentioned already, it seems that if you love the world, it is hard not to love the story/stories as well. All that being said, I am a hobbit and do prefer to sit in my reading chair mulling over ME than going out in the rain and battling Morgoth’s creatures du jour (as much as I love the First Age).

After many years, I too have found that the value placed nobility and virtue as well as the stunning examples of true “civilized” behavior are what appeal to me and keep me hooked. I’m not sure where this fits in here, but I suggest that Tolkien has a bit of a philosophical draw as well! Whether that is a subcatagory of story vs story/world vs world I will leave up to those with more subtle brains than I.

Ooh...and as for RPG’s…I vividly recall the days when I was mainly in Books or on the Walk to Rivendell…it lasted for about a year. After that I broke down and heeded the call of Bird and disappeared to the RPGs hardly ever to show myself outside that forum!

So I suppose that though I love a good inspiring tale by the fireside, I have had a furry foot on the path outside my front door for some time!

Bêthberry · 03-03-2005, 08:58 AM

Some by the roaring Anduin's tide
Should simarils find; others by the side
of Brandywine devise Hobbit plaints.

02-22-2005, 08:14 PM	#1
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	fan profiling So okay, now I want to know how we determine this. How do we 'profile' a downer to determine whether they favor world over story, or story over world? Is there a way? Is there one of those quizzes that would work? 1. When asked where you most want to live, you answer: --any one of ten places in Middle-Earth --Nowhere, I would be tracking the Fellowship --my reading-chair at home is fine, thanks 2. Your favorite culture is: --Elves. No, Dwarves. No, Numenoreans. Nah- Hobbits! --I'll live in Rivendell where they all live together anyway. --Yogurt. 3. Your favorite age is: --Third age, with the Hobbits. --Age of the Trees-- elves, baby, give me elves. --Twenty-one. 4. You wish Tolkien had written more about: --Languages. --Food and clothing. --Whether Frodo got healed. 5. If you could have anyone visit you: --Bombadil, for the World History lesson. --Elrond, for the prose version. --The pizza delivery guy. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

03-01-2005, 06:13 AM	#2
Evisse the Blue Brightness of a Blade Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: wherever I may roam Posts: 2,685	World-lovers and story-lovers...hmmm, interesting. This sounds a little like the distinction I used to make between people who get completely immersed in a book and those that can enjoy the book in a more detached manner. Am I right in saying that those who value the story more are the more detached readers, those who can step back and analyse characters and situations? And the world-lovers are completely swept away and all they want is to learn more and more about this world? Based on this, you can say you'are likely to find the story-lovers lurking more in the Books and Novices sections of the forum and the world-lovers more in the Quiz Room and Quotes section, not to mention of course the RPG section, like Thinlómien already suggested. But of course, since most of us are mixtures of both, this theory can't really be tested. Nice quiz, mark12_30! Maybe you could post it on quizilla! Then we'll see which each of us is. __________________ And no one was ill, and everyone was pleased, except those who had to mow the grass.

03-02-2005, 08:04 AM	#4
Halbarad Wight Join Date: May 2001 Location: Cheongju, Korea Posts: 147	I think the best way to identify a world fan would be to ask in what world they would rather have been born in: the real one or the "real" one. Myself? Edain in the First Age. Story fans are ones that love the characters, and the ones that don't wonder how long Bilbo lived for on Tol Eressea. __________________ -Halbarad to Aragorn, 'The Passing of the Grey Company' Book V, Return of the King."A little people, but of great worth are the Shire-folk. Little do they know of our long labour for the safekeeping of their borders, and yet I grudge it not"

03-02-2005, 08:06 AM	#5
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	a marvel Had I but World enough and time, this Story, Thinlómien, would then be mine. Cute quizz, Helen. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

03-02-2005, 08:26 AM	#6
Rimbaud The Perilous Poet Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Heart of the matter Posts: 1,062	Marvellous We would write down and script which way To tell, and pass our long day's tale; __________________ And all the rest is literature

03-03-2005, 08:58 AM	#8
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	coy interpretations Some by the roaring Anduin's tide Should simarils find; others by the side of Brandywine devise Hobbit plaints. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.