Second-guessing and Misunderstanding Tolkien

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Fair enough -- though I have a sneaking suspicion you don't follow the Quora/Reddit Tolkien threads. To some of the questions-- and "answers" -- on there, my immediate gut response would be

 

[Radaghast]

Does this qualify?

https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienfans/comments/rzp70k

(Trying to make amends for derailing here)

Yeah, these questions drive me nuts.

No, it would just speed up and slow down, making it useless. Must be due to my magnetic personality. 😄

Sure.
Answered in the text when Gollum is chatting with himself.
--------------
"we'll see. It may well be, O yes, it may well be that when She throws away the bones and the empty garments, we shall find it, we shall get it, the Precious, a reward for poor Sméagol who brings nice food. And we’ll save the Precious, as we promised. O yes. And when we’ve got it safe, then She’ll know it, O yes, then we’ll pay Her back, my precious. Then we’ll pay everyone back!’ Tolkien, J.R.R.. The Lord of the Rings: Vol II: The Two Towers: Book 4: Chapt. 9 - Shelob's Lair.
-------------
Would she find the ring? Maybe. Is Gollum taking a decent risk? Probably.
Would she care? I doubt it. Like her parentage, she's only concerned for her own gluttony and has no more use for Sauron or rings than he has for her (other than as a 'gate guard').

Gollum, like Sauron, misses some finer points in his lust for possession of the Ring, and now the power it may give him as well... which he was totally unfamiliar with when he had it all those years before, by the way. He cared less for its power - only for its ability to let him wrench the necks of some 'squeakeres'. Now, he knows if he has it he can "pay Shelob back" and "pay everyone back" (including Sauron no doubt, for the horrors visited on him when he was captive.) Of course, he could NOT actually pay them all back, but the power and deception of the ring wants him to believe so, for its own sake.

(Nice recovery, S-eS. 😁)

Yeah, many of the answers are found in the book. It's possible the questioner is going by the movies. Of course, nobody would normally think a spider-monster would have any use for a ring.

I was just asking if the question qualifies for this thread. 😄

I guess Radaghast will have to decide.

Am I being granted some sort of power? 😄

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

It's possible the questioner is going by the movies.

Those are the worst. I saw one that asked something like "Was Theoden right in ignoring Gandalf's advice to attack the Isengarders in the open, and going to Helm's Deep instead?"

Am I being granted some sort of power? 😄

It's your thread -- so yes. 😄

 

[Radaghast]

Those are the worst. I saw one that asked something like "Was Theoden right in ignoring Gandalf's advice to attack the Isengarders in the open, and going to Helm's Deep instead?"


It's your thread -- so yes. 😄

 

[Olorgando]

Fair enough -- though I have a sneaking suspicion you don't follow the Quora/Reddit Tolkien threads. To some of the questions-- and "answers" -- on there, my immediate gut response would be
View attachment 15952

Scarecrow was the one needing a brain ... 🤔

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Then there must be a lot of "Scarecrows" populating those sites. 😄

 

[Olorgando]

Then there must be a lot of "Scarecrows" populating those sites. 😄

Why am I suddenly having fantasies about matches ... 🤔

 

[Ent]

Then there must be a lot of "Scarecrows" populating those sites.

Indeed. Scarecrow responded quite correctly to Dorothy's question.


How can you talk without a brain? (Dorothy)
- Well I don't know, but some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they? (Scarecrow).... 1939 Wizard of Oz

 

[Olorgando]

Indeed. Scarecrow responded quite correctly to Dorothy's question.
How can you talk without a brain? (Dorothy)
- Well I don't know, but some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they? (Scarecrow).... 1939 Wizard of Oz

Did JRRT ever see this film? The origin of Orcs, Trolls (and their real-life counterparts)?

 

[Ent]

Can't answer that one sir...
I highly suspect he may have read the books... more along his line. But he would have found the statement in the books to be quite different, though it was the inspiration for the movie script.

I am happy for you, as I see you're wearing your Grump Badge today at last..! 😁

 

[Olorgando]

I am happy for you, as I see you're wearing your Grump Badge today at last..! 😁

Ah, no. I was awarded it late last Saturday, German aka CEDST (subtract 6 hours for US east coast etc:.) time.
So I inserted it into my avatar "subtitles" last Sunday at the latest - as I did Halasían's award of "Resident Curmudgeon". 😁

 

[Ent]

Ah, no. I was awarded it late last Saturday

However it arrived, you wear it.
And dare I say it is well de..... umnhhh.... never mind. 🙂

(j/k you know..!)

 

[Olorgando]

However it arrived, you wear it.
And dare I say it is well de..... umnhhh.... never mind. 🙂

...served. I did not mellow with age, quite the contrary ... 🤬

 

[Erestor Arcamen]

...served. I did not mellow with age, quite the contrary ... 🤬

Hence that new badge of yours

 

[Olorgando]

Actually went to YouTube without any prompting from anyone on TTF; found one of the best Rock (double) albums of all times, "The Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks 1964-1971"; got it on vinyl, volume 2 double vinyl, too. Problem is, I'm stuck in a "Groundhog Day" loop with "Satisfaction"!

🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🤸‍♀️🤾‍♀️🤸‍♀️🤾‍♀️🤸‍♀️

The next riff monster: "Jumpin' Jack Flash"...

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

I think it is a badge that no one else would merit more than you, that is certain.

(j/k) Really not trying to be insulting, Gando, don't take it as such!)

 

[Ugluk]

Grump badge???? We wants one Precious!

 

[Ent]

Grump badge???? We wants one Precious!

One cannot nominate ones self for a Grump Badge, but must be nominated by another member (or more). It is then reviewed by the Mods to be sure one has proven ones self worthy of such a (questionable) accolade.

(In other words, one must act in such a way as to 'prove ones self worthy' of acknowledged grumpiness.)

In Olorgando's case, he has worked VERY hard to get it. (By simply being himself.)

And trust me, it has been noticed..! I believe when nominated, the mods who reviewed were unanimous in their decision to award it. (Quickly..!!!)

His reputation surrounds him. 😁

It is not a badge I would personally aspire to... but well... we are not all alike.

(in truth, Olorgando is a very nice, knowledgeable and respected member of the Forum here - during the 30 minutes of the day between lunch and nap time, when his grump is at its lowest point. but he is careful to conceal that 30 minutes from everyone by sending in his grump-double.)

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

So true!

 

[Radaghast]