Some knee-jerk reactions that don't really refute what we're saying, a few ad hominems, some interesting input from people who aren't dismissing us out of hand...the same as when I posted my "In Defense of Other Fiction" but with far less outcry since it's a repeat discussion on a topic we've commented on multiple times.
That plus some aren't Tolkienistas here, which might have diluted the outcry. Sad part is whether we be nice or blunt about urging others to read more than just more of the same, there's little chance of that happening here on a large scale.
I actually think that both of you have more impact than you think. I think that people DO pick up some of what you suggest, and that they do often try to broaden themselves. I know I have, and I have heard the same from others (not just the people you expect) over my time here. The problem is that people don't necessarily feel up to discussing these things when they feel like they might be treated like idiots.
I may be flavoring this a little too much with my own feelings on the matter, but I don't think I'm far wrong.
Aren't the Tolkien comparisons getting a little...old?
- 09/12/2011 09:51:39 PM
3285 Views
The comparison bothers me, but not because Tolkien isn't relevant.
- 09/12/2011 10:05:22 PM
2121 Views
Only when shit works are being compared to him
- 09/12/2011 10:22:26 PM
2068 Views
Larry,
- 10/12/2011 01:13:18 AM
2074 Views
Snide dismissal that will be passed off as for his own entertainment.
- 10/12/2011 04:55:43 AM
1942 Views
Well-deserved condescension.
- 11/12/2011 03:54:27 AM
2105 Views
You're sure about that?
- 11/12/2011 04:20:26 AM
2352 Views
Re: You're sure about that?
- 11/12/2011 05:25:08 AM
2015 Views
Re: You're sure about that?
- 11/12/2011 06:03:02 AM
1951 Views
i think you shouldn't judge a whole world's school programs on your school
- 11/12/2011 06:42:30 AM
1956 Views
- 11/12/2011 06:42:30 AM
1956 Views
If you're arguing that children should be able to read genre fiction, fine.
- 11/12/2011 08:52:27 PM
1818 Views
Well, I suppose it depends on the type of genre being read
- 11/12/2011 09:36:16 PM
2069 Views
How often do you hear the challenging writers mentioned at this site?
- 12/12/2011 02:03:05 PM
1828 Views
Only when you, me, and a couple others write reviews
- 12/12/2011 04:21:14 PM
2220 Views
Oh, it was the same as it always is
- 12/12/2011 05:23:56 PM
1880 Views
Much of the actual "Classics", that is, Greek and Latin originals, kids would eat up.
- 12/12/2011 03:13:03 AM
1839 Views
You're upfront and honest about it; he isn't. The difference matters to me. *NM*
- 11/12/2011 05:18:42 AM
1052 Views
this is a bit off topic, but out of curiousity...
- 11/12/2011 06:28:35 AM
2047 Views
I've discussed this dozens of times at this site. Perhaps you've missed all of the posts.
- 11/12/2011 08:57:44 PM
2050 Views
mk I'll go look. I probably did miss it (or at least don't remember it!)
- 11/12/2011 09:08:02 PM
1939 Views
I have a successful career that was inspired by the video games I played as a child. *NM*
- 11/12/2011 05:52:21 PM
1082 Views
Now let's get all the people who just pissed their lives away with video games and see the %.
- 11/12/2011 08:58:42 PM
2072 Views
The majority of players neither waste their lives nor make a career out of it.
- 11/12/2011 11:29:29 PM
1974 Views
Yeah, sorry, I don't think you could say that with a straight face in real life. *NM*
- 12/12/2011 04:13:52 AM
1047 Views
Then you have a closed mind on the subject. Ironic, considering your stance on edification. *NM*
- 12/12/2011 05:47:50 AM
967 Views
No, just with respect to you. *NM*
- 12/12/2011 02:00:15 PM
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Tom, you pulled the "Say that to my face!" line. You lost the right to talk about respect. *NM*
- 12/12/2011 03:20:15 PM
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Once again, I really don't care what you think. *NM*
- 12/12/2011 03:37:40 PM
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Did I imply that you did? My apologies. I'd hate to insinuate that you'd stoop that low. *NM*
- 12/12/2011 04:13:25 PM
966 Views
As well read as you seem to be, you think you'd be smart enough...
- 11/12/2011 06:20:06 PM
1913 Views
I thought I have made it clear that I don't care if people don't like me here.
- 11/12/2011 08:44:58 PM
1818 Views
Re: I thought I have made it clear that I don't care if people don't like me here.
- 12/12/2011 04:04:37 PM
1878 Views
That statement has just confused me.
- 12/12/2011 04:06:53 PM
1831 Views
Re: That statement has just confused me.
- 12/12/2011 04:14:27 PM
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I never learned Hittite. I had a book on pre-order for a long time but never ended up getting it.
- 12/12/2011 05:41:03 PM
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What you have made clear, I think, is the fact that you deal in generalizations and stereotypes.
- 12/12/2011 10:12:12 PM
2006 Views
There's an unintentional irony in what you say, alas
- 13/12/2011 12:44:26 AM
1907 Views
Tom, Dick, or Larry...you may use your true first name, but you're still an anonymous entity to most
- 13/12/2011 04:49:35 AM
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With such comeback skills, you must have ruled the playgrounds as a kid, no?
- 13/12/2011 05:21:42 AM
2078 Views
There are no special snowflakes, are there?
- 11/12/2011 09:39:21 PM
1848 Views
- 11/12/2011 09:39:21 PM
1848 Views
There are many way of widening one's horizons and broadening one's mind.
- 11/12/2011 10:08:24 PM
1595 Views
What I don't like-
- 12/12/2011 04:28:55 AM
1973 Views
Why don't you name something, then?
- 12/12/2011 04:40:29 AM
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Sure.
- 13/12/2011 07:30:56 AM
1741 Views
Mentioning Ender's Game pretty much shot your argument in the foot.
- 13/12/2011 02:02:59 PM
1844 Views
You dismiss the entire video game medium because many games lack value.
- 13/12/2011 03:59:11 PM
1988 Views
You're like the McDonald's paid advocate trying to say Big Macs are actually healthy.
- 13/12/2011 05:46:37 PM
1748 Views
I'll leave it up to others to define as they wish against their self-conceptions of me 
- 10/12/2011 10:52:54 AM
1988 Views
- 10/12/2011 10:52:54 AM
1988 Views
that's alright. I really have no desire to stroke your twit-ego. *NM*
- 10/12/2011 04:36:56 PM
851 Views
Considering the firestorm I appear to have touched off, that may be best.
- 12/12/2011 12:57:49 PM
1908 Views
I know, John
- 12/12/2011 04:27:04 PM
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Re: I know, John
- 12/12/2011 05:06:26 PM
1941 Views
As I've said in the past, I'd be scared if anyone agreed with me anywhere approaching 100%
- 12/12/2011 06:33:52 PM
1814 Views
- 12/12/2011 06:33:52 PM
1814 Views
Re: As I've said in the past, I'd be scared if anyone agreed with me anywhere approaching 100%
- 12/12/2011 07:13:37 PM
1889 Views
- 12/12/2011 07:13:37 PM
1889 Views
Blurbs are not generally very original in their comparisons - would kind of defeat their purpose.
- 09/12/2011 10:42:17 PM
1934 Views
Maybe if so much of the genre weren't crap derivative works it wouldn't be so common. *NM*
- 11/12/2011 03:44:24 AM
998 Views
To be fair, a lot of it isn't.
- 11/12/2011 04:06:07 AM
1896 Views
I suspect that if it really isn't derivative it's not being compared to Tolkien in the first place.
- 11/12/2011 04:18:57 AM
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That's true.
- 11/12/2011 11:08:01 AM
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But see, that's where things start to get referred back to Tolkien.
- 12/12/2011 04:30:12 AM
1973 Views
The Tolkien fanaticism gets old. And yes, for me it is unreadable.
- 11/12/2011 11:37:53 PM
1842 Views
No, because the movies are very contemporary and relevant, thus he will remain so for quite a while.
- 12/12/2011 03:14:53 AM
1936 Views
Disagree all you want, but LotR is still the touchstone when it comes to works of fantasy.
- 12/12/2011 03:48:20 AM
1823 Views