Does it ever annoy you?

EllethValatari · 04-20-2010, 10:36 PM

Wanting to affirm my sanity, I'm curious whether this annoys you all:

Does it ever make you mad (or at least want to give a lecture to the person) when someone refers to Tolkien as the author of Lord of the Rings, or discusses the movies rather than the books, etc?

I might just be crazy, but I find myself very defensive of Tolkien, and especially hate it when people consider the Lord of the Rings the only fundamental thing he wrote; just because that set of books is the most popular. Any thoughts? Does this plague anyone else?

GrayMouser · 04-21-2010, 01:05 AM

No.

(I've been informed that this message is too short to be posted, so here I am wasting some electrons- enough, already? OK? So, one more time)

No.

***Earniel*** · 04-21-2010, 07:01 AM

Not really.

Depending on how they say it, it may annoy me a little, but it doesn't make me mad. It's just the way things are, even I know of certain movies first and only afterwards learn they were based on a book. It happens, Tolkien should be no exception, just because I like his work and knew in this instance the book before the movie.

If people want to discuss the movies instead, or don't care for Tolkien's other work, that is their right.

Coffeehouse · 04-21-2010, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EllethValatari

Wanting to affirm my sanity, I'm curious whether this annoys you all:

Does it ever make you mad (or at least want to give a lecture to the person) when someone refers to Tolkien as the author of Lord of the Rings, or discusses the movies rather than the books, etc?

I might just be crazy, but I find myself very defensive of Tolkien, and especially hate it when people consider the Lord of the Rings the only fundamental thing he wrote; just because that set of books is the most popular. Any thoughts? Does this plague anyone else?

Life's too short

Rather I like to point out modern-day, 21st-century problems already present in Tolkiens works. F.ex. the destruction of forests by Sarumann and his increasing ignorance of the 'natural world' seems to me to be a really good metaphor for the 20th century (though, it be said, I know Tolkien haaaaates metaphors

)

Midge · 04-21-2010, 11:56 PM

Technically

, he IS the author of the Lord of the Rings and Peter Jackson did make those movies quite popular. When I was in junior high, there was no way I was telling you what J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, or even what the Lord of the Rings was. The movies certainly changed that.

I'm usually excited that people want to talk about Lord of the Rings at all, and really, the movies have been out for such a long time that no one wants to discuss the differences between the movies and the books, or what this event in the books means anymore (at least with me, anyway).

Now I'd definitely want to correct someone if I had the following conversation:

Me and Other Person are having a conversation about the Lord of the Rings.

Me: Hey, have you read The Silmarillion?
Other Person: What's that?
Me: It's another book Tolkien wrote.
Other Person: No, it's not. He ONLY wrote the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit!

Other Person would be in for some ED-YOU-CASHUN!

Butterbeer · 04-22-2010, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrayMouser

No.

(I've been informed that this message is too short to be posted, so here I am wasting some electrons- enough, already? OK? So, one more time)

No.

I get Errror messages about a mimimum of 3 characters being the absolute Height of De-rigeur Fashion .. all the damned time too...

so filibuster Dear Gray ..and the quote tool are always there for you...

though to be honest i usually just add dots ...

.............

For what its worth.. i rather enjoyed wasting those pesky electrons.... it'll damn well teach 'em to come flying around my Primal soup in future...

GrayMouser · 04-26-2010, 12:42 AM

OK, to be somewhat less snarky, what else did Tolkien actually write?

The Sil? An posthumous collection of notes and unpublished pieces, many still in a process of revision, with parts written and added by others.

Farmer Giles, Leaf By Niggle- nice, but minor.

His scholarly work?- sure, but he wrote much less than, for example, Lewis and though "The Monster and the Critics" is extremely influential it's hardly the stuff of popular acclaim.

It's like hearing Herman Melville being introduced as the author of "Moby Dick" and saying hey, what about "Billy Budd"?

Or Lewis Carroll being cited for "Alice" and not "The Hunting of the Snark".

Some writers are noted for producing a number of works- Dosteovski, Jane Austen- others for just one or two great books.

EllethValatari · 04-26-2010, 08:53 PM

Yes, I see your point. I'm definitely not trying to attack those who are ignorant of his other works, and I understand that many and most authors are known for one major work. Yes, LOTR was Tolkien's biggest work. I think that the word "mad" is a bad choice...I just can't think of another. I merely wish his world, language, and extensive writings could be more prominently enjoyed and discussed.

Butterbeer · 04-28-2010, 07:21 PM

I'm rather Fond of Farmer Giles of Ham ...

Is it truly Great literature? Likely not ... but then is LOTR?

It's all subjective.

(Which i know is rather a cop-out and a rather shady truism to boot .. but well - there you go!)

Peregrina_Took · 09-26-2010, 08:26 PM

Hmmm...I've never had a major problem with anything like this. I do get upset when someone starts talking about the movies like they're the final athority, however. Like "I know Legolas never shot a fell beast, because I don't remember seeing that in the movies." or whatever. That gets on my nerves a lot.

Lefty Scaevola · 09-27-2010, 12:11 PM

Why, yes, I go into a bezerker battle axe swinging rage whenever someone does not want to discuss 'Leaf by Niggle' or 'The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son' with me.

***Alcuin*** · 10-02-2010, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EllethValatari

Does it ever make you mad (or at least want to give a lecture to the person) when someone refers to Tolkien as the author of Lord of the Rings, or discusses the movies rather than the books, etc?

Only if the person is an adult rather than a child, and then only if he’s putting himself forward as “knowledgeable” when assuming that the books follow the movies (like they do in Star Wars, for instance); anything else is an opportunity to talk about Tolkien.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EllethValatari

...I find myself very defensive of Tolkien, and especially hate it when people consider the Lord of the Rings the only fundamental thing he wrote; just because that set of books is the most popular. Any thoughts? Does this plague anyone else?

No. I haven’t read Tolkien’s philological works, so I can’t hold anyone else accountable for them.

***Earniel*** · 10-02-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcuin

anything else is an opportunity to talk about Tolkien.

I like that sort of thinking.

04-20-2010, 10:36 PM	#1
EllethValatari Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United States Posts: 401	Does it ever annoy you? Wanting to affirm my sanity, I'm curious whether this annoys you all: Does it ever make you mad (or at least want to give a lecture to the person) when someone refers to Tolkien as the author of Lord of the Rings, or discusses the movies rather than the books, etc? I might just be crazy, but I find myself very defensive of Tolkien, and especially hate it when people consider the Lord of the Rings the only fundamental thing he wrote; just because that set of books is the most popular. Any thoughts? Does this plague anyone else? __________________ Elleth Valatari "We have come from God, and inevitably the myths woven by us, though they contain error, will also reflect a splintered fragment of the true light, the eternal truth that is with God. Our myths may be misguided, but they steer however shakily towards the true harbour, while materialistic 'progress' leads only to a yawning abyss and the Iron Crown of the power of evil." — J.R.R. Tolkien

04-21-2010, 01:05 AM	#2
GrayMouser Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ilha Formosa Posts: 2,068	No. (I've been informed that this message is too short to be posted, so here I am wasting some electrons- enough, already? OK? So, one more time) No. __________________ Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them? "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us, cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals."- Winston Churchill

04-21-2010, 07:01 AM	#3
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Not really. Depending on how they say it, it may annoy me a little, but it doesn't make me mad. It's just the way things are, even I know of certain movies first and only afterwards learn they were based on a book. It happens, Tolkien should be no exception, just because I like his work and knew in this instance the book before the movie. If people want to discuss the movies instead, or don't care for Tolkien's other work, that is their right. __________________ We are not things.

04-21-2010, 11:56 PM	#5
Midge Faithful Gardener Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: I walk here and there, they say... Posts: 3,603	Technically , he IS the author of the Lord of the Rings and Peter Jackson did make those movies quite popular. When I was in junior high, there was no way I was telling you what J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, or even what the Lord of the Rings was. The movies certainly changed that. I'm usually excited that people want to talk about Lord of the Rings at all, and really, the movies have been out for such a long time that no one wants to discuss the differences between the movies and the books, or what this event in the books means anymore (at least with me, anyway). Now I'd definitely want to correct someone if I had the following conversation: Me and Other Person are having a conversation about the Lord of the Rings. Me: Hey, have you read The Silmarillion? Other Person: What's that? Me: It's another book Tolkien wrote. Other Person: No, it's not. He ONLY wrote the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit! Other Person would be in for some ED-YOU-CASHUN! __________________ In God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11 "Starbuck, what do you hear?" "Nothin' but the rain, sir!" "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat." Make sure to check out the C.S. Lewis forum. Game threads, movie and book discussions and more!

04-26-2010, 12:42 AM	#7
GrayMouser Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ilha Formosa Posts: 2,068	OK, to be somewhat less snarky, what else did Tolkien actually write? The Sil? An posthumous collection of notes and unpublished pieces, many still in a process of revision, with parts written and added by others. Farmer Giles, Leaf By Niggle- nice, but minor. His scholarly work?- sure, but he wrote much less than, for example, Lewis and though "The Monster and the Critics" is extremely influential it's hardly the stuff of popular acclaim. It's like hearing Herman Melville being introduced as the author of "Moby Dick" and saying hey, what about "Billy Budd"? Or Lewis Carroll being cited for "Alice" and not "The Hunting of the Snark". Some writers are noted for producing a number of works- Dosteovski, Jane Austen- others for just one or two great books. __________________ Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them? "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us, cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals."- Winston Churchill

04-26-2010, 08:53 PM	#8
EllethValatari Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United States Posts: 401	Yes, I see your point. I'm definitely not trying to attack those who are ignorant of his other works, and I understand that many and most authors are known for one major work. Yes, LOTR was Tolkien's biggest work. I think that the word "mad" is a bad choice...I just can't think of another. I merely wish his world, language, and extensive writings could be more prominently enjoyed and discussed. __________________ Elleth Valatari "We have come from God, and inevitably the myths woven by us, though they contain error, will also reflect a splintered fragment of the true light, the eternal truth that is with God. Our myths may be misguided, but they steer however shakily towards the true harbour, while materialistic 'progress' leads only to a yawning abyss and the Iron Crown of the power of evil." — J.R.R. Tolkien

04-28-2010, 07:21 PM	#9
Butterbeer Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: here and there Posts: 3,514	I'm rather Fond of Farmer Giles of Ham ... Is it truly Great literature? Likely not ... but then is LOTR? It's all subjective. (Which i know is rather a cop-out and a rather shady truism to boot .. but well - there you go!)

09-26-2010, 08:26 PM	#10
Peregrina_Took Hobbit Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Somewhere on the edge of insanity! Posts: 20	Hmmm...I've never had a major problem with anything like this. I do get upset when someone starts talking about the movies like they're the final athority, however. Like "I know Legolas never shot a fell beast, because I don't remember seeing that in the movies." or whatever. That gets on my nerves a lot. __________________ The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm

09-27-2010, 12:11 PM	#11
Lefty Scaevola AngAdan Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boerne, Texas Posts: 856	Why, yes, I go into a bezerker battle axe swinging rage whenever someone does not want to discuss 'Leaf by Niggle' or 'The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son' with me. __________________ Gaius Mucius Scaevola Older, richer, and wiser than you "Mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor, but that he may know, and all the Ainur, that I am Iluvatar, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, ... And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me,"

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