The Gold Plated Ambulance

[DinoDoc]

And for the record
Despite his constant denials about "LOTR is an allegory for WWII" thing, anyone that doesn't notice it and asks about it, is an idiot. (or just doesn't know anything about WWII)

FTR are they an idiot or just paying attention to what the author says about his own work: "It is neither allegorical nor topical.... I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence." - J. R. R. Tolkien

[DaShi]

In general, it's better to be nice. That sort of language reflects more poorly on Sava than on Ben.

In general, perhaps. However, being nice to Ben is morally wrong.

[kentonio]

Most would consider the engraving of 'Luthien' under Edith's name on their tombstone sufficient proof thereof.

Please explain how an engraving on a tome provides any kind of evidence of your original claim, that WW1 was a specific inspiration for his story? Given how keen he was to disclaim any connection, I have no idea why you think this.

How is the story of Beren and Luthien one of love, unrequited?

I wasn't saying it was, you misunderstood my post.

Edith and Tolkein were married for what? 55 years? You don't have the simplest clue about what you are talking about.

Please ask anyone who has been married for 50 years just how similar their married life has been to a LOTR story. Love is a hugely powerful thing, and it's certainly a wonderful thing, but you'll struggle to find anyone whose been married for decades who hasn't had substantial periods of feeling little more than annoyed, aggravated and thoroughly pissed off with the other person. What bugs me is you seem to have this image of marriage as an endless love fest, when in reality its more about arguments over how long people take in the bathroom, and over whose turn it is to wash up.

[Ben Kenobi]

Please explain how an engraving on a tome provides any kind of evidence of your original claim

It's evidence of my claim that Beren and Luthien isn't just a fictional story of unrequited love. You also compared it to Twilight. I suggest you read the book sometime.

Given how keen he was to disclaim any connection

Declaim what? A connection to the second world war or the first? He explicitly says that the experience for him - as a first world war vet, was horrifying. Read the books. It's all right there.

Please ask anyone who has been married for 50 years just how similar their married life has been to a LOTR story.

Go read the story first before comparing it to Twilight. There's no merit in discussing the merits of a story that someone hasn't read.

[Jaguar]

In general, perhaps. However, being nice to Ben is morally wrong.

It's great to be able to get all your meanness out on someone nobody likes. Then it's consequence-free, because nobody will call you out on it. Awesome.

[MRT144]

It's great to be able to get all your meanness out on someone nobody likes. Then it's consequence-free, because nobody will call you out on it. Awesome.

Listen, you can take your empathy for the worst people and cram it in your peace pipe and smoke it.

[Jaguar]

I don't think Ben is particularly in need of coddling, but some of y'all are in need of a minor attitude makeover.

[MRT144]

I don't think Ben is particularly in need of coddling, but some of y'all are in need of a minor attitude makeover.

Only if its a reality series starring you and white wine spritzers.

[Jaguar]

[MRT144]

today on minor attitude makeover, jag tackles his toughest case to date: Sava, a typical Chicago everyman who takes no guff and always gives a piece of his mind.

[kentonio]

It's evidence of my claim that Beren and Luthien isn't just a fictional story of unrequited love.

That was not your original claim.

You also compared it to Twilight. I suggest you read the book sometime.

I started reading Tolkien when I was five years old. You have no idea how little I need a lecture in Tolkien from you.

Declaim what? A connection to the second world war or the first? He explicitly says that the experience for him - as a first world war vet, was horrifying. Read the books. It's all right there.

Him finding something horrifying is not the same thing as him basing the books on it. As I said to Zevico, personally I think the parallels are obvious anyway, but if you're going to claim he actually specifically said it then I'd like to see some proof of that.

Go read the story first before comparing it to Twilight. There's no merit in discussing the merits of a story that someone hasn't read.

Given that I was probably reading Tolkien before you were born, it might be wise to try a new tack.

[The Mad Monk]

I don't think Ben is particularly in need of coddling, but some of y'all are in need of a minor attitude makeover.

Very much agreed.

[rah]

I actually took a "fantasy in literature" class in college that spent the whole semester on LOTR. Easiest A in all my years. I took the "Science Fiction in Literature" class the next semester. And people make fun of the Liberal Arts and Science degrees.

But since I took a class on it, I proclaim myself the expert here. And yeah I also probably had read it a half dozen times before Ben was Born. But that just means I've had longer time to forget it.

But I've watched the movie many times since.

And having been married for probably longer than ben had been alive, I'll concur that real marriage isn't what Ben thinks it is. I will actually claim expertise on that subject.

[Sava]

That's not nice.

Agree.

In general, it's better to be nice. That sort of language reflects more poorly on Sava than on Ben.

I'm not going to sugar coat anything for anybody. If people don't want to be called retards, they should stop being retarded.

[Sava]

I don't think Ben is particularly in need of coddling, but some of y'all are in need of a minor attitude makeover.

YEAH I GOT YOUR ATTIDUE MAKEOVER RIGH THERE

/grabs crotch