Taters to Taters - II - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Boromir88 · 10-08-2012, 06:09 PM

And now for Round 1 judging. Galadriel55 pick the most "absurd" of these...

Merry
Attercop
Rhun
Maeglin
Miriel
Bombadil
"There and Back Again"
Osgiliath
Isengard
Denethor
Legolas
Shelob

----

At this time, everyone is encouraged (but not required) to post any arguments, or case, for any of the above choices. Your case may very well have an influence on the judge's decision, so don't be shy.

*The only thing not allowed is for a player to directly reveal which one is his/hers. For example, anything that is "My card is ____" BEFORE the judge's decision will result in the player's red tater being disqualified for that round. If someone only wants to make an argument for 1 of the options, and that happens to be the person's tater, that's perfectly fine, just no direct revealing.

AFTER the judge's decision, a player may reveal his/her card if he/she wishes. The only one I will reveal is the player who won and thus gets awarded the "point."

*Towards the end of the first game, some of the winners the judges selected gave no explanation for their choice. The judge may be as detailed as he/she wishes, but in the very least, please provide your reasoning for choosing the winner. Thanks.

24 hours to deliberate.

Galadriel55 · 10-08-2012, 06:55 PM

Good ones, good ones. The ones that particularly stood out to me are Merry, Attercop, Bombadil, and There and Back Again. I'm willing to be swayed between those four, so do start arguing.

Meneltarmacil · 10-08-2012, 07:27 PM

Merry: I think the most absurd thing Merry ever did was forgetting about his pack in the Houses of Healing, and honestly he's nowhere near Pippin in terms of absurdity.

Attercop: An insulting term used against giant talking spiders? Maybe, but doesn't really stand out.

Bombadil: This is the most obvious choice by far. Everything from the ridiculous outfit to the nonsensical rhymes to the fact that he really doesn't seem to belong in the story at all just screams "absurd".

There and Back Again: Whil Bilbo may have taken some creative liberties with the narrative and some points along the line (namely the unexpected party and the bickering Cockney trolls) certainly count as absurd, it's still nowhere near Bombadil.

EDIT: In fact, the whole episode involving the hobbits and Bombadil seems to fit the criteria of a Big Lipped Alligator Moment quite closely.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 10-08-2012, 10:19 PM

I think that Bombadil should definitely win this one. He is, by far, the most absurd character in Middle-earth. I dare you to find a more absurd one.

the phantom · 10-08-2012, 11:31 PM

ABSURD

Attercop & Bombadil are definitely my favorites here. My first time through the book I remember thinking how ridiculous it was that Bilbo would call the spiders "attercop" and how silly it was that it actually made them angry. And of course with all the "derry dols" and such Tom is an obvious candidate...

Rune Son of Bjarne · 10-09-2012, 06:59 AM

Tolkien's use of old words has always had great appeal to me, as it makes the linguistic ties between Scandinavia and Britain much more clear.

It wasn't something I paid much attention to until I read the Hobbit, and noticed the word "attercop", which is remarkable in its resemblance to the Danish word for spider: Edderkop.

Therefore I would hate to see "attercop" labeled absurd.

My choice would definitely be good ol' Bombadil, as he is the one most fitting of the description. I don't normally go for the obvious choices, but in this case there are no really amusing contenders for the title.

Nogrod · 10-09-2012, 09:43 AM

Well, of the four G55 mentioned in her opening post I'd pretty much think Bombadill and "There and Back Again" to be the best contestants.

Okay. Let's try some competition as it seems Bombadill is surfing away.

Now Bombadill, obviously could be seen as an absurd character both in the story but also as to why he is in the story in the first place. But on the other side he seems to be a most competent, decent and powerful character... If Gandalf spends time with him to learn things, if he saves the hobbits two times, if someone as wise and delightful as Goldberry wants to live with him... so can he really be that absurd?

Then again, any decent hobbit knows taking on a journey of "There and Back again" - let alone any journey off the Hobbitton - is an absurd idea. Why would anyone in their right minds want to do that? From a hobbit perspective it would be a most absurd thing to do.

I liked the argument that Attercop is absurd as it and other spiders went mad of being called names, but I'm not sure that is enough to challenge the other two.

With Merry I agree with Menel, that he's nowhere close to Pip in absurdity... if you can call a hobbitt-sillyness or thoughtlesness, or childishness, or inexperience etc. "absurd" in the first place.

Of others I think a case could be made for Isengard and Legolas (in case we interpreted it as the movie-Legolas aka. Orlando Bloom doing his skateboarding stunts etc. - that was absurd indeed!), maybe Denethor as well...

I try to come back a bit later with some added ideas on especially the latter ones.

10-08-2012, 06:09 PM	#1
Boromir88 Laconic Loreman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 7,521	And now for Round 1 judging. Galadriel55 pick the most "absurd" of these... Merry Attercop Rhun Maeglin Miriel Bombadil "There and Back Again" Osgiliath Isengard Denethor Legolas Shelob ---- At this time, everyone is encouraged (but not required) to post any arguments, or case, for any of the above choices. Your case may very well have an influence on the judge's decision, so don't be shy. The only thing not allowed is for a player to directly reveal which one is his/hers. For example, anything that is "My card is ____" BEFORE the judge's decision will result in the player's red tater being disqualified for that round. If someone only wants to make an argument for 1 of the options, and that happens to be the person's tater, that's perfectly fine, just no direct revealing. AFTER the judge's decision, a player may reveal his/her card if he/she wishes. The only one I will reveal is the player who won and thus gets awarded the "point." Towards the end of the first game, some of the winners the judges selected gave no explanation for their choice. The judge may be as detailed as he/she wishes, but in the very least, please provide your reasoning for choosing the winner. Thanks. 24 hours to deliberate. __________________ Fenris Penguin Last edited by Boromir88; 10-08-2012 at 06:19 PM.

10-08-2012, 06:55 PM	#2
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,493	Good ones, good ones. The ones that particularly stood out to me are Merry, Attercop, Bombadil, and There and Back Again. I'm willing to be swayed between those four, so do start arguing. __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera

10-08-2012, 07:27 PM	#3
Meneltarmacil Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The bottom of the ocean, discussing philosophy with a giant squid Posts: 2,254	Merry: I think the most absurd thing Merry ever did was forgetting about his pack in the Houses of Healing, and honestly he's nowhere near Pippin in terms of absurdity. Attercop: An insulting term used against giant talking spiders? Maybe, but doesn't really stand out. Bombadil: This is the most obvious choice by far. Everything from the ridiculous outfit to the nonsensical rhymes to the fact that he really doesn't seem to belong in the story at all just screams "absurd". There and Back Again: Whil Bilbo may have taken some creative liberties with the narrative and some points along the line (namely the unexpected party and the bickering Cockney trolls) certainly count as absurd, it's still nowhere near Bombadil. EDIT: In fact, the whole episode involving the hobbits and Bombadil seems to fit the criteria of a Big Lipped Alligator Moment quite closely. __________________ I ♣ baby seals.

10-08-2012, 10:19 PM	#4
TheGreatElvenWarrior Mighty Quill Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walking off to look for America Posts: 2,230	I think that Bombadil should definitely win this one. He is, by far, the most absurd character in Middle-earth. I dare you to find a more absurd one. __________________ The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.

10-08-2012, 11:31 PM	#5
the phantom Beloved Shadow Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Stadium Posts: 5,971	ABSURD Attercop & Bombadil are definitely my favorites here. My first time through the book I remember thinking how ridiculous it was that Bilbo would call the spiders "attercop" and how silly it was that it actually made them angry. And of course with all the "derry dols" and such Tom is an obvious candidate... __________________ the phantom has posted. This thread is now important.

10-09-2012, 09:43 AM	#7
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	Well, of the four G55 mentioned in her opening post I'd pretty much think Bombadill and "There and Back Again" to be the best contestants. Okay. Let's try some competition as it seems Bombadill is surfing away. Now Bombadill, obviously could be seen as an absurd character both in the story but also as to why he is in the story in the first place. But on the other side he seems to be a most competent, decent and powerful character... If Gandalf spends time with him to learn things, if he saves the hobbits two times, if someone as wise and delightful as Goldberry wants to live with him... so can he really be that absurd? Then again, any decent hobbit knows taking on a journey of "There and Back again" - let alone any journey off the Hobbitton - is an absurd idea. Why would anyone in their right minds want to do that? From a hobbit perspective it would be a most absurd thing to do. I liked the argument that Attercop is absurd as it and other spiders went mad of being called names, but I'm not sure that is enough to challenge the other two. With Merry I agree with Menel, that he's nowhere close to Pip in absurdity... if you can call a hobbitt-sillyness or thoughtlesness, or childishness, or inexperience etc. "absurd" in the first place. Of others I think a case could be made for Isengard and Legolas (in case we interpreted it as the movie-Legolas aka. Orlando Bloom doing his skateboarding stunts etc. - that was absurd indeed!), maybe Denethor as well... I try to come back a bit later with some added ideas on especially the latter ones. __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...