new sub-forum?

[Bêthberry]

I really don't see creating a new sub-forum for the use of non-canon stuff. This is supposed to be a forum about Tolkien and legitimate adaptations, not about treating non-canonical stuff as equivalent to Tolkien's own work.

Yes, I'm grumpy about this idea.

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

I really don't see creating a new sub-forum for the use of non-canon stuff. This is supposed to be a forum about Tolkien and legitimate adaptations, not about treating non-canonical stuff as equivalent to Tolkien's own work.

Yes, I'm grumpy about this idea.

I have never played a video game worth calling "having played a video game" (the only exception I can think of is that I recall being made to do Wii things once), but despite having no interest or ability to participate in a game-discussions subforum, I am not so sure we don't already have precedent for such a forum.

After all, isn't the Movies for a "subforum for the use of non-canon stuff"? Granted, you leave yourself plenty of wiggle-room with "new sub-forum" and "legitimate adaptations," but I wonder where we make the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate adaptations? There's always been willingness to discuss the Bakshi and Rankin-Bass movies and those are... to be charitable, not exactly in the mainstream of adaptation these days.

That said, I don't know from the standpoint of the forum community that there is any benefit to opening up another arena of discussion. The amount of natural overlap with the canonical knowledge base is far slimmer than with the movies. I know we *DO* have gamers amongst us, but I don't know whether it's a majority or minority.

In any case, unless there's a clear bulk of Downers itching to discuss video-game adaptations, a whole subforum seems like overkill. It would be better, in my opinion, to have a ruling on which current forum such discussions would fit (I assume either Novices & Newcomers or Movies). But that would require the Admins rousing from slumber.

[Tar-Jêx]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Despite having no interest or ability to participate in a game-discussions subforum

Forum games are boring. I take no interest in them and would prefer legitimate discussion, like we have here. That said, an off topic forum would still be appreciated, just for easing people into the Downs. There are a lot of topics which would only really belong in an 'Off Topic' sub-forum, rather than 'Novices and Newcomers' and 'Movies'.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Tar-Jêx

Forum games are boring. I take no interest in them and would prefer legitimate discussion, like we have here. That said, an off topic forum would still be appreciated, just for easing people into the Downs. There are a lot of topics which would only really belong in an 'Off Topic' sub-forum, rather than 'Novices and Newcomers' and 'Movies'.

I don't know... my experience of OT subforums on other sites is that they tend to devolve into conspiracy-theory battlegrounds.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

I don't know... my experience of OT subforums on other sites is that they tend to devolve into conspiracy-theory battlegrounds.

The refreshing thing about the Downs has always been its decided omission of off-topic claptrap and bilge. No need for extraneous political arguments, religious wars, stupid pet tricks and reality TV indiscretions. Just Tolkien-centric talk without the filler.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

After all, isn't the Movies for a "subforum for the use of non-canon stuff"? Granted, you leave yourself plenty of wiggle-room with "new sub-forum" and "legitimate adaptations," but I wonder where we make the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate adaptations? There's always been willingness to discuss the Bakshi and Rankin-Bass movies and those are... to be charitable, not exactly in the mainstream of adaptation these days.

I suspect you are too recent a member to remember the major overhauls made to the RPG forum. The precise reason was to ensure that rpgs remained within reasonable grounds of Middle-earth canonicity and demonstrated some creativity and uniqueness. piosenniel and Child of the 7th Age worked tirelessly to help new gamers develop game ideas and characters that were consistent with Middle-earth. This included keeping the tone and action of the games consistent with Tolkien's work--eschewing graphic violence, gore, exploitation of sex--and avoiding Mary and Gary Sues and writing good quality English and not chatese. Conan the Barbarian characters were disallowed. I'm not sure that video games reflect these values. I don't think it can successfully be argued that Tolkien represented revenge and hatred as just.


The distinction between the "Books" and "Novices and Newcomers" forums was to accommodate the new members who were not as versed in Tolkien's work as other members. Both are supposed to refer to Tolkien's literary works and not off topic matters. The 'movies' forum was designed to allow members to discuss the very popular movies without swamping the literary discussion. It became a bit of a game and part of the fun to see how we could relate topics to Tolkien in the Barrow Downs forum and "Mirth" of course speaks for itself.

Like that of Nerwen and Morth, my experience of other Tolkien forums that allowed OT discussion is mixed if not negative. Almost all of them left off Tolkien discussion and were overwhelmed with massive arguments over the other topics.

Why ruin the uniqueness of the Barrow Downs now?

[Inziladun]

I've been a video gamer for a large part of my life, though as is the case with my reading tastes, my game preferences are somewhat eccentric.

I have never played any game having anything to do with Tolkien's works, and can't see myself ever doing so. It seems that gaming in this day is in itself a notable subculture, and I would have to wonder if 'gamers' as a group have the same appreciation for the works of Tolkien that has been a hallmark of the members of this excellent forum for so many years. That is not to say that lovers of the books cannot be game players as well, but I think that allowing a sub-forum devoted exclusively to games could invite some members who would not exhibit the established decorum and civility that has been a trademark of the Downs. I would not be in favor of it.

[Kuruharan]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

despite having no interest or ability to participate in a game-discussions subforum, I am not so sure we don't already have precedent for such a forum.

If I've had a video game based topic to post, I've tried to use the Middle-earth Mirth section.

Originally Posted by Nerwen

I don't know... my experience of OT subforums on other sites is that they tend to devolve into conspiracy-theory battlegrounds.

Originally Posted by Morthoron

The refreshing thing about the Downs has always been its decided omission of off-topic claptrap and bilge. No need for extraneous political arguments, religious wars, stupid pet tricks and reality TV indiscretions. Just Tolkien-centric talk without the filler.

I agree, the Downs does not need an Off Topic sub-forum. We are a breath of fresh air on the Internet in not having one.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Kuru

I agree, the Downs does not need an Off Topic sub-forum. We are a breath of fresh air on the Internet in not having one.

We all sound so bitter and jaded about this, though, don’t we?

[Mithalwen]

We were refused a sub forum to discuss the BBC Radio adaptation so don't think likely.

[Kuruharan]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

We all sound so bitter and jaded about this, though, don’t we?

I think we have all been through the wars at this point.