I think I recall a 'What if' thread buried somewhere in the forums, in regards to the mission to destroy the Ring. 'What if Boromir had claimed the Ring?' etc...
Filli, I love the "what if's" old friend. There is a new story, maybe even a new book, in every twist of the plot and turn of the page. Some what if's for me... ... suppose Sam wasn't faithful? ... Elrond left before the Ring was found? ... Smaug had won? ... Beorn ate the dwarves, wizard, and hobbit? ... Fingolfin destroyed Melkor? ... Luthien didn't like humans? The list goes on and on. This is a very interesting and thought provoking topic. Nice job my friend!
__________________
Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit Called or uncalled, God is present
This is one subject that I find myself on opposite sides than you, Bear. I hate the what ifs. I think it's like kicking a dead horse. You're just wearing yourself out. I like the story for what it is. I don't see anyone doing a better job with it than Tolkien did and the what ifs, honestly, aggravate me. Tolkien's writings were always a work in progress for him and more fluid than not but asking what if is changing the story that I fell in love with and I feel like it's saying what if someone did a better job. Even unfaithful, maybe. Is that some sort of psychosis? lol
I found that "what ifs" are good for writers block. But in real life I have to agree with Lomoduin. They are not good for my peace of mind. "What if I had not put my cell phone inside my bra and then forgot about and lost it when picking up a pretty rock while I was hiking " because that's what happened to me, and there is just no "what if" about.
"What if I had noticed that my freezer had broken and defrosted all my food inside and not lost $750 worth of Frozen foods to spoilage"?
So you see, there are 2 side to every coin.
__________________
Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! hop along! fal lal the willow! Tom Bom, Jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!
Ladies, I can appreciate your loyalty to Tolkien's works as they stand. If that is where your heart is I commend you both.
Maybe Filli's direction of "what ifs" might be examined through a different lens than one that jeopardizes your passion for Tolkien's authorized printed works. As we see from "Unfinished Tales", "Book of Lost Tales I &II", "The Children of Hurin", and the letters and unpublished words of the Tolkien estates, Tolkien did more with the "what if's" to create those masterpieces you so jealously guard.
It is the "what ifs" that feed the human condition and trigger the human assets of imagination, innovation, exploration, and transformation. We have to have them ... "what if" we didn't? ... The human race would not survive and the masterpieces of Tolkien's work would not exist.
Please understand this is not meant as a criticism of your position. I think your points valid for I like Tolkien just the way he is too.
But Filli's topic generates a whole new and exciting vision that rockets the imagination and nurtures a spirit of creativity from which the qualities of imagination, innovation, exploration, and transformation spring ...
So to make your nights sleepless, to rock your secure redoubt of literature, and to just plain piss you off... "what if" Aule was forced to destroy the Dwarves he made? "what if" the Teleri had willingly loaned Feanor their ships? "what if" Fingolfin said "to hell with crossing this ice"? "what if" Eru were tone deaf?
You know I love you both! Bear
-- Edited by Bear on Friday 4th of June 2010 03:58:04 AM
__________________
Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit Called or uncalled, God is present
Dear Bear, that is why I wrote"what ifs" are good for writers block, and they really are. What if Arwen liked blondes and not brunettes? (like Aragorn) what if Isildur had given the ring to Sauron instead of chopping of his hand?" What if Celebrian had been a maia instead of an Elf? what if Elrond had taken the ring by force from Isildur and thrown it into the lava"? WHat if Eru was oversenitive to music and all the mistakes that Morgoth implanted drove him mad?"
__________________
Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! hop along! fal lal the willow! Tom Bom, Jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!
I find myself at an impasse. I agree with all the pro's and con's of this and my thoughts on the topic were cancelled out by both sides of the debate. I was at once intrigued and then exhausted by it! Although I will have to say my mind will be toiling away on this topic and I wish to place down my views as soon as they congeal. I think this is very worthy of discussion. Very interesting stuff! Cheers! All of you!
i think it would be interesting if some1 took a single what if, what if Fingolifin had killed Melkor, for example and everyone gave an opinion on what would have happend. does anyone have an opinion on the outcome of middle earth had Fingolifin won his battle against Melkor?
__________________
But no wizardry nor spell, neither fang nor venom,nor devil's art nor beast-strength, could overthrow Huan of Valinor;
