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So... Who's watching the first 2 episodes of The Rings of Power tonight?

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  • klash2defklash2def Member EpicPosts: 1,949
    klash2def said:
    wow nice hate speech




    LOL I knew it would happen.. It never fails around here...You couldn't help yourself. 

    Now it's Hate Speech for calling out Bigotry. LMAO. OKAY, SURE! 

    How are you enjoying the Amazon LOTR show? It's amazing, isn't it!?  

    HUGE J. R. R. Tolkien Fan HERE Especially his new stuff!! So happy a new generation of people get to enjoy his work! 


    I love the Wagadu Chronicles, we are friends.

    COOL STORY MAN! Good for you learning something new about African culture! Outside of you know.. Europeans stole African relics from dead people and put them in expensive museums in Europe!  I'm SURE you ALREADY know that one though! :D

    LEARNING IS FUN! FRIENDS! 
    Sensai
    "Beliefs don't change facts. Facts, if you're reasonable, should change your beliefs."


    "The Society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools."



     
    Currently: Games Audio Engineer, you didn't hear what I heard, you heard what I wanted you to hear. 


  • klash2defklash2def Member EpicPosts: 1,949
    This was FUN! But Sadly I have millennial bills to pay and sitting here debating black/POC existence in Fantasy settings with boomers doesn't pay me. I wish it did! OH how I wish it DID!

    But fortunately, I have to work on some new stuff that just came in for the game im working on that im sure in 10 months all of you will have something to say about as well because you know.. you're sadly you...

    Everything not centered around people that look like you angers you. It's hilarious to me really. I do admit I love to see it.

    Okay, Now here's a Gif of David Chappelle.

     

    "Beliefs don't change facts. Facts, if you're reasonable, should change your beliefs."


    "The Society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools."



     
    Currently: Games Audio Engineer, you didn't hear what I heard, you heard what I wanted you to hear. 


  • NeblessNebless Member RarePosts: 1,877

    It is nowhere near as "woke" as I was expecting. In fact, it wasn't really woke at all. Yes, there are people of colour playing elves, dwarves and hobbits, but they don't make an issue of it. They are simply there. In my opinion, thats the right way to do it: treat it as normal, don't point it out, don't grandstand, don't adopt a holier-than-thou attitude. 
    Troy: Fall of a City (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5103758/) was like that.  Zeus, one of the female Goddesses and a bunch of other actors were Black.  First time seeing Zeus was a 'huh?' moment, but after that he was just Zeus, big deal.

    SWG (pre-cu) - AoC (pre-f2p) - PotBS (pre-boarder) - DDO - LotRO (pre-f2p) - STO (pre-f2p) - GnH (beta tester) - SWTOR - Neverwinter

  • eoloeeoloe Member RarePosts: 864
    Historically, when Tolkien wrote his stories, most of European people were more or less racist, more or less antisemitic. The contempt of dark skinned people was rooted deep in the culture. And before trying to contest historical facts, please just look at history. Please just look at the antisemitic aspect of the second world war. Please just look at the post colonial world.

    In Europe, racism started to be actively fought not before the 80s. I know, I was there.

    In USA, slavery and segregation left a deep imprint, a scar I should say, that despite some real efforts and many successes is still bleeding and carving the mind of people. I

    It sounds just normal that this author, a regular white person of his time would have normally followed the usual trends, and that is showing to some extent in his books.

    And don't get me wrong, I don't think that Tolkien had any ill intent by describing the superior elves as blond and white, and the evil pirates with a darker skin.
    He was just a person of his time, like many others. The same way, in medieval times people thought in all honesty that the Earth was flat, the same way it was obvious for white people that they were better.

    Now what should we do with that? Follow the books to the letter or adapt them to a more modern and accurate perspective?

    Yes, that was a rhetorical question.

  • Slapshot1188Slapshot1188 Member LegendaryPosts: 17,651
    klash2def said:
    Stizzled said:
    I'm a Tolkien fanatic. I can tell you that the amount of this story that's actually in the Silmarillion is absolutely zero. I dislike the time compression, the black elves and dwarfs that never existed, and the black humans who likely wouldn't be in this part of the world. 

    Translation: "I love my fantasy world about fighting evil, and therefore it's important that I engage in an extended campaign of racist harassment  under the cover of a very thin veneer of politeness."

    Oh man, I haven't been here all year but somehow I knew this place would still be a right-wing echo chamber where older bigots like to hide. Some of you haven't touched grass in decades.  I knew it would be the same 15 or so people that still visit the site as well.  Yall scream "WOKENESS" but what you really want to say is Blackness. You hate that blackness is being added to everything you love. 

    "IM a Tolkien Fanatic" but you have never heard of the Haradrim? Big fan here watch out!

    Racist Person that happens to be a Tolkien Fan: "THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE BASED ON MEDIEVAL EUROPE WHY ARE THERE BLACK PEOPLE???"

     Me: WHY ARE THERE POTATOES??????



    What im about to say is not just aimed at the quoted person, it's for all of you that have such an issue with black people being in Fantasy in general. Ive seen this stupid rhetoric so much around here over the years. 

    Fantasy is great for racist white people because you can use elves and dwarves as a metaphor for racism, but everyone is still white so you don't have to feel uncomfortable! WIN/WIN!



    Get over it. Black people have always been in middle earth. It's your fault you ignored it. Even if they weren't, there's nothing wrong with it. Also black elves and black hobbits, dwarves whatever they want is fine. Do you know why? Uh because those are fantasy races based on HUMANs not based SOLEY on White People. ALSO, T's work can be and should be interpreted as all great works are. I know this burns your evil little white soul but it's the truth.  Almost all the great works have been interpreted into versions featuring black and POC. Why should Tolkein be any different?

    The bigger question is why do you CARE so much? 

    You believe that black people shouldn't be in Middle Earth because you subscribe to the notion that black people do not belong in fantasy. It's racist. You are racist for believing so. Straight up.  I don't care who thinks what. There is nothing you can say, this goes for everyone else in the thread agreeing with the notion that black people somehow ruin middle earth. All of you are insolent idiots. 


    It's not just LOTR... as a black person Ive seen this rhetoric my entire life about all things in nerd culture. Black people always have to explain why they belong in a setting as if we are somehow lesser.

    Guess what your options are right now? Really just one! SHUT THE HELL UP! LOL, that's all you can do because your words are not going to change anything at all whatsoever about the show. It is now Canon that races in Middle Earth are not all white. It's really wild to me that a world like Middle Earth full of magic and wonder should exclude black people.. why? Who are you to make such a call? Again sit down and shut the hell up.

    The show is great (moving a little fast for my taste) and it's amazing seeing finally something different on middle earth. Again POC/Black people were always there, they were just never centered in the story before. White people roam Middle Earth but the black ones just stay in one little place....Make it make sense because it doesn't.

    It made no sense that there is an entire WORLD and it's only filled with white people because in your mind.. black people in the setting just aren't believable. 

    But Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, magic, dragons, magic rings, and wizards.

    BELIEVABLE! 

    if you’re having a harder time believing Black people exist in Middle Earth than you are believing in elves existing, you're a racist. There is nothing else to call it. Call it what it is, stop lying, and live your truth! 


    The sweetest part of this for me is knowing that people like you are squirming in your seat every time you see a black person on this show because you LOVE LoTR but HATE black people so bad that you really thought LOTR was some holy grail for white people only to enjoy... hahaha! NO im really laughing at all of you! YALL ARE SUPER BOTHERED! 


    ABOUT A FAKE WORLD!! 



    Racist sci-fi/fantasy fans are the worst kinds of people.  A fish can be a Jedi, but not a Black woman. Hobbits riding in talking trees are believable, but not Black people in Middle Earth. A Witcher is okay but not a black wizard or witch. Absolutely absurd. White supremacy is one hell of a drug.

    Now per usual watch, the thread gets closed now that I have responded to ONE of the several bigots in this thread. Pages of stuff wouldn't close it, but now that Ive spoke it will close. 100% guarantee. Also, the same people that spam the report button on my posts to get me banned for 24 hours will do so! Have fun with that! LOL!



    Hope yall have another EXCELLENT 9 months! 

    e-QUALITY!! :D :D

    wow nice hate speech
    He just pops in every so often to start fights and then leaves.  Don't be drawn in.
    Tuor7

    All time classic  MY NEW FAVORITE POST!  (Keep laying those bricks)

    "I should point out that no other company has shipped out a beta on a disc before this." - Official Mortal Online Lead Community Moderator

    Proudly wearing the Harbinger badge since Dec 23, 2017. 

    Coined the phrase "Role-Playing a Development Team" January 2018

    "Oddly Slap is the main reason I stay in these forums." - Mystichaze April 9th 2018

  • fineflufffinefluff Member RarePosts: 561
    klash2def said:
    Stizzled said:
    I'm a Tolkien fanatic. I can tell you that the amount of this story that's actually in the Silmarillion is absolutely zero. I dislike the time compression, the black elves and dwarfs that never existed, and the black humans who likely wouldn't be in this part of the world. 

    ...your evil little white soul...
    You're a massive racist and have paranoid schizophrenia.
    Tuor7The_Korrigan
  • Slapshot1188Slapshot1188 Member LegendaryPosts: 17,651
    eoloe said:


    Now what should we do with that? Follow the books to the letter or adapt them to a more modern and accurate perspective?

    Yes, that was a rhetorical question.

    I think Tolkien is a bit different in that he spent an enormous amount of time creating his world.  He wrote thousands of years of histories, wars, heroes, song, languages.  He really was the creator of a world.  I think you have to be very careful about trying to change a work of art.  Especially a masterpiece.

    As I said above, some changes must happen simply due to format.  A book is not a movie is not a TV Show.

    If a story or any work of art, no longer holds up today, then it rightfully will fade away.  But thinking that by changing it you are making an improvement is a very arrogant position IMHO (not You, but a director/show runner).  

    To me, as I said in a similar thread a while back,  West Side Story demonstrates the "right" way to approach/refresh a classic.  It is an updated version of Romeo and Juliette and yet stands on its own as a distinct work.


    [Deleted User]

    All time classic  MY NEW FAVORITE POST!  (Keep laying those bricks)

    "I should point out that no other company has shipped out a beta on a disc before this." - Official Mortal Online Lead Community Moderator

    Proudly wearing the Harbinger badge since Dec 23, 2017. 

    Coined the phrase "Role-Playing a Development Team" January 2018

    "Oddly Slap is the main reason I stay in these forums." - Mystichaze April 9th 2018

  • klash2defklash2def Member EpicPosts: 1,949
    edited September 2022
    LOOK AT THEM! LMAO.... 

    finefluff said:
    You're a massive racist and have paranoid schizophrenia.
    I never said a racist thing. I said evil little white soul because that's what it is. Racism is evil. Your evil little white soul is an adjective to describe the evil nature of a racist white person to say black people dont belong in LOTR or ANYWHERE else in that manner. Who do you think you fooling bro please send someone else.


    Please continue to call me racist because I called all of you out. *SIGH* I really dont care because everything I wrote is true. All you have to do is read it, but I know you all you dont read shit you skim the first sentence looking for triggers.

    What I wrote is true. You are mad because it's true. If you dont want me to speak on this, then stop having the conversation in a public space. Go to a private place and discuss all the racist ideologies you want to!  Im always going to call you out when and IF I see it! Simple. Zero tolerance for racist BS. And it's NEVER me starting the shit it's always yall but for some reason, when I call it out, I get boomer aggro.

     "Let's ignore the racist shit you responded to, you are calling us out, therefore, it makes you racist!" 

    LOL



    Slapshot1188 said:
    He just pops in every so often to start fights and then leaves.  Don't be drawn in.
    Amazing. So I started this conversation? Not the OP or not the post I responded to.. but me? You're still lying I see...

    LOL OKAY BUD. Look just stop saying racist shit and yall won't have to worry about what I have to say because I won't say anything! Very simple concept. 

    I responded to somebody saying black people dont belong in ME/LOTR.. why you do you feel the need to lie about the nature of the conversation? 

    Typical..yall lie so much. It's not new.. Honorless people. 


    To me, as I said in a similar thread a while back,  West Side Story demonstrates the "right" way to approach/refresh a classic.  It is an updated version of Romeo and Juliette and yet stands on its own as a distinct work.
    LMAO, the "Right" way....?

    who do you people think you are? WTF? You can't tell somebody else how to interpret art or how to make their art..... what? LOL endless laughter at this place smh..

    Stizzled said:
    Oh look, the eternal victim is back. Grow a personality and identity beyond "black" and get back to me. Then we can get past your fake outrage and maybe discuss what I actually wrote as apposed to whatever bullshit your racist ass thinks I meant, if you want.

    Can't wait for my ban for saying the above, but he'll get away with the straight up racist shit he says over and over.
    Victim is the only word racist know how to use when they are called out for their bullshit.

    Fake outrage..you mean like being fake mad at a fake world for adding fake black people to their fake story? 

    LOL.. oh this is rich.. identity "BEYOND black"..

    WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE man? LOL telling me how to identify. wtf does that even mean? You look stupid.

    YOU need to identify beyond RACIST. because every single time something happens in culture that relates to black people being in these spaces people like you get up in arms and start protesting about these fake worlds. Ive seen you do it multiple times here. GROW up, you're way too old for this shit. The only comeback you ever have is "victim mentality" ...more racist bs.

    Nah the only victim I see here is you because you found out what type of porn your wife and daughters like. Not my fault. 

    I just KNOW you say the hard R when you say it dont you? You probably just said it right now huh... I know you did because I know your type. It's not new. 

    Sure. Im "Victimizing" myself by coming to a nerd culture website and reading your racist bullshit about how black people dont belong in LOTR. Im pretty sure im a young Iraq War Vet that makes over 6 figs a year.. notice I didn't say black. How can I be a victim? Victim of what? I didn't claim anything against me.. I said YOU (people like you) are racist.

    It's true.

    The only VICTIM I see is you and old people like you in your race that think every black or poc in a fantasy world is a personal attack on them..thinking BLACK people owe you some type of explanation for our existence... all I see is weakness. That's what it is. Weak. 

    Call it what you want, but you are still a racist. That part won't change.

    You're the type that believes in that racial replacement theory BS and that's the reason why you are so against black people in middle earth. You feel replaced IRL so you cant allow it to happen in your fantasy... because in your wildest fantasy you get to fight against the evil of the world be the hero, save the girl, tame the dragon and that world is free of any black people or women that dont submit to you...is that deep enough or should I go another layer? I warn you, you might have to subscribe to my Patreon to get to the next level of this conversation. 
    Post edited by klash2def on
    Sensai
    "Beliefs don't change facts. Facts, if you're reasonable, should change your beliefs."


    "The Society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools."



     
    Currently: Games Audio Engineer, you didn't hear what I heard, you heard what I wanted you to hear. 


  • fineflufffinefluff Member RarePosts: 561
    klash2def said:
    LOOK AT THEM! LMAO.... 

    finefluff said:
    You're a massive racist and have paranoid schizophrenia.
    I never said a racist thing. I said evil little white soul because that's what it is. Racism is evil. Your evil little white soul is an adjective to describe the evil nature of a racist white person to say black people dont belong in LOTR or ANYWHERE else in that manner. Who do you think you fooling bro please send someone else.


    Please continue to call me racist because I called all of you out. *SIGH* I really dont care because everything I wrote is true. All you have to do is read it, but I know you all you dont read shit you skim the first sentence looking for triggers.

    What I wrote is true. You are mad because it's true. If you dont want me to speak on this, then stop having the conversation in a public space. Go to a private place and discuss all the racist ideologies you want to!  Im always going to call you out!



    Slapshot1188 said:
    He just pops in every so often to start fights and then leaves.  Don't be drawn in.
    Amazing. So I started this conversation? Not the OP or not the post I responded to.. but me? You're still lying I see...

    LOL OKAY BUD. Look just stop saying racist shit and yall won't have to worry about what I have to say because I won't say anything! Very simple concept. 

    I responded to somebody saying black people dont belong in ME/LOTR.. why you do you feel the need to lie about the nature of the conversation? 

    Typical..yall lie so much. It's not new.. Honorless people. 
    Pure mental illness.
    SetzerBrainy
  • klash2defklash2def Member EpicPosts: 1,949
    edited September 2022


    "THEY" MAD! About a FAKE world..because it added black people.. now they say im racist because I broke their little echo chamber by calling them out about the ACTUAL racist shit they were saying...

    It's not my fault yall put your entire self-worth into being the guardians of the "Historical Accuracy" of a made-up world! 


    LOLL!
    Post edited by klash2def on
    Sensai
    "Beliefs don't change facts. Facts, if you're reasonable, should change your beliefs."


    "The Society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools."



     
    Currently: Games Audio Engineer, you didn't hear what I heard, you heard what I wanted you to hear. 


  • fineflufffinefluff Member RarePosts: 561
    klash2def said:


    "THEY" MAD! 
    Naw you mad lol. Like literally mad. In the sense that you have a mental illness.
    Setzer
  • The user and all related content has been deleted.

    거북이는 목을 내밀 때 안 움직입니다












  • klash2defklash2def Member EpicPosts: 1,949
    edited September 2022
    Stizzled said:
    I say victim because that's how you act on these boards. It seems that from your perspective everyone is always attacking you personally. In this instance I suppose I am, but then, you came at me first and fair is fair.

    Would you like to discuss the actual show? About why I don't like the inclusion of black skinned Elves and Dwarves? Would you like to talk about Haradrim being intermingled with middle-men and Numenorians and how much of a stretch that is based on the lore?

    What about other things I dislike just as much as those but I didn't mention because they aren't the hot topics? Like hiring an older actor for Celebrimbor, the lack of long elven hair and the lack of dwarven female beards. Though, on the last bit they did CGI a bit of fluff onto Disa, and I was okay with that, at least it was something. Want to talk about meteor man and whatever the hell he is supposed to be? 

    There's far more to the show than the color of each character's skin. I have plenty of gripes, and plenty of praises, if you care to hear them.

    Or, are you just here to act outraged and post memes? Do you even give a shit about LOTR or the show? I'm willing to cut all the name calling and bullshit to have a civilized conversation with another Tolkien fan, are you?
    You can never make me a victim. Let's be clear. What tends to happen around here though, is people TRY to make me a victim because im the only one who calls out racist bullshit around here.

    Stop using 'Outraged' language at me.  The only outraged person(s) I saw was the people like yourself big mad at black people being added to a fake fantasy setting that you do not own or control.

    Everything I say comes from a logical and truth-based point of view. I haven't told a lie on this website the entire time I've been here. I observe and then respond. I respond to racism the same way it comes to me. The memes are my way of letting you know How much of a joke I think you are, but it's always wrapped in truth. Like a Dave Chappelle act. A bit of satire is just my style. 

    Literally, EVERY time I respond to somebody saying racist shit as YOU did, I get an entire thread worth of pages of people attacking me PERSONALLY because I called them out.. much as you did. Im used to it though, it's not new. A lot of people who frequent this site want to turn it into a right-wing gamer news site. Ive seen that talk here. That hate that im here. They think im some left-wing BLM person (because Im black) when really I dont subscribe to the right or the left. I simply will not tolerate racist bs in my face. Im like this in real life. 100% of you would never talk like this in my face, you just wouldn't.

    All of that makes me the perfect person to attack. Again it's not about the victim, idgaf about who the victim is, I point at the truth. It's just the truth. That's what happens. I RESPOND to racist BS never start it. 

    Calling you racist is not a personal attack it's the truth. If you feel it's personal then stop doing it, but what you said is not subjectively racist. It's racist. 

    Let's stay focused though. You are not about to back peddle. I dont give a shit about your gripes with the show. I have things I dont like about the show also. But I like most of it. WHAT I REALLY dont like is PEOPLE like you saying BLACK people dont belong as if adding us somehow ruins these IPs.. I saw the same shit about GOT. Black People shouldn't be Targaryen. WHY? Why is it so hard for yall to imagine black nobility or black people being magical or whatever the hell? 

    That's a rhetorical question, I know the answer already. Racism. That's what it is Period. 

    I dont care about your opinion of wardrobe or story beats.. I care about you saying Black People dont belong in LOTR. Why not? 

    Explain to me WHY black people dont belong in LOTR. Please make it good. I dont need you to explain the Haradrim to me, Im a Tolkien fan. I know exactly what they are, I brought them up in the conversation, not you.

    Explain to me why black humans as you say wouldn't be in that part of the "world" (what world because ME is Fake.) 


    Remember I RESPONDED to you saying this:





    But Im the one who starts all this shit right.. right. Nah.

    I never start anything here, Im just painfully like the only black dude still here, and Im not even here like that but for some reason EVERY fucking time I pop my head in here, it's racist conversations going on like it's cool. My last visit/post here was in Feb of this year when I tried to celebrate BHM and got met with racist bs. I didn't even entertain a real response. I just left without saying a word. 

    I am keeping receipts. Do what you want with that information. 

    So tell me again why Black People dont belong in ME? 

    I know It's just easier for you to whitesplain Tolkien to me than to apologize for saying racist shit. 
    Post edited by klash2def on
    Sensai
    "Beliefs don't change facts. Facts, if you're reasonable, should change your beliefs."


    "The Society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools."



     
    Currently: Games Audio Engineer, you didn't hear what I heard, you heard what I wanted you to hear. 


  • fineflufffinefluff Member RarePosts: 561
    Go to sleep man lol
  • klash2defklash2def Member EpicPosts: 1,949
    edited September 2022
    finefluff said:
    Go to sleep man lol
    All your replies to me have been insults, clearly, you just want attention. this is the only/last response you get from me.
    "Beliefs don't change facts. Facts, if you're reasonable, should change your beliefs."


    "The Society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools."



     
    Currently: Games Audio Engineer, you didn't hear what I heard, you heard what I wanted you to hear. 


  • PurplePepePurplePepe Member UncommonPosts: 122
    I'm in the math club...
  • klash2defklash2def Member EpicPosts: 1,949
    "Beliefs don't change facts. Facts, if you're reasonable, should change your beliefs."


    "The Society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools."



     
    Currently: Games Audio Engineer, you didn't hear what I heard, you heard what I wanted you to hear. 


  • klash2defklash2def Member EpicPosts: 1,949
    edited September 2022
    Stizzled said:
    You quoted me, you engaged me, so yes you started this conversation between you and I. Trying to turn it around as if I somehow started this is again playing the victim.

    Black Elves and Dwarves are easy, they simply didn't exist. Tolkien explained these races in pretty great detail. They were not dark skinned. If the showrunners cared about being accurate to the lore they wouldn't have cast black actors. I don't dislike the actors, I think the whole cast has done a decent job for the parts they were given based on what little we've seen so far.

    Black Humans are a different story. I said "in this part of the world" because black Humans absolutely do exist and belong in Middle Earth, as you've so heatedly pointed out. However, during the reign of the Numenorians the Haradrim were pretty well treated like beasts, orcs or trolls, were segregated and even sold as slaves. 

    Could there be Haradrim around in Numenor and ancient Gondor, possibly or maybe even probably, but I have a feeling you wouldn't like the lore appropriate depiction. In any case, there is no lore backing for a black skinned rulers or upper elite in Numenor, which is something the show seems set to depict.

    Amazon is free to do whatever they like with the material and cast whoever they like to portray it. I'm also free to criticize and dislike any portion of it that I see fit to, including the incorrect depictions of the character's skin colors.

    I had the same complaint about the casting for that silly Gods of Egypt movie. To me, sticking white people in ancient Egypt is just as stupid, jarring and immersion breaking as sticking black Elves into Middle Earth. But, again, studios can do what they like.

    Personally, I would rather have seen a show set in Harad and/or Rhun. Almost no issues with lore, existing characters or people's expectations. They could have told almost any story they wanted.

    It's an incredibly interesting part of the world. What does a world ruled by Sauron look like, how does that society function? Is everyone complicit, are there rebellions? What exactly did those Blue Wizards get up to, did they complete their mission like Gandalf or give in to greed like Saruman? Could be cool as shit.

    I'm actually quite the opposite of how you have me pegged. I'd love to see more about the diverse cultures Tolkien included in his world. I don't want to see already written stories with some race swapping to check diversity boxes. Fuck trying to include black people into the stories of Dwarves and Elves, tell me the stories of the actual black people of Middle Earth.
    Again with this victim bullshit.

    I quoted you because you said some racist shit how dont you see that's what started the conversation? I didn't post on a public forum about gaming that black people shouldn't be in LOTR. YOU did. That is what started our conversation and my response to your action. If you never posted that we would not be speaking. How do you not get this? 

    Thanks for the whitesplain (You couldn't resist) about ME but let me remind you that just as black elves, hobbits, and dwarves dont exist, neither did WHITE elves and hobbits, you know why?

    Because Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits aren't real sir.

    They can be portrayed by ANY person of ANY race and it still makes sense. What should matter is the performance of the actor not what they look like. 

    Also, who are you to say where Black people would and can be in the world? You dont get to decide that. The same way white people in ME move around the world should be the same way the other races move around the world. Who cares that there is no backing for Black Rulers in Upper Numenor? So what? There should be because black people have been rulers. Tolkien didn't have to write that for me to believe it's possible Gondor could have a black ruler. Why does that seem so impossible for you?

    That's my point. Stop acting like black people are impossible in a world where impossible is normal. Black people are just as normal as any other race, we dont need a grand thing or some deep lore-specific reason to explain our existence in the world. We are here now. That's it. It's nice to see a deep lore thing around it dont get me wrong, like Elder Scrolls Redguards but it doesn't have to be because they dont give a big grand reason for why WHITE people exist in the world. They just are allowed to be. Black characters should be treated the same way. Tolkien wrote black characters as evil or lesser. We all know why. We dont have to accept just that story because he told it first, new people are going to tell new stories based on his works and that's fine. That's how humans have done it for our entire existence. Every story is a retelling. LOTR is no different. 

    If the show.. It's not for you.. then dont watch it's simple. or you can shut the hell up and watch. Funny when the LOTR trilogy came out in the early 2ks none of my friends complained about not seeing black people, we just accepted it for what it was, saw the movies read the books, etc became fans. It's amazing that now 20+ years later white people are complaining because they see US in these roles now.

    But tell me again it's not about race.

    I too would like to see Harad-centered stories but that does not absolve you of what you said being racist as hell. I dont have to peg you as anything, you did it yourself with your words.

    The fact that you can say that ive pegged you as something you do are NOT, lets me know that you are hyper-aware of what you said but you like most racists are too proud to actually apologize for the offense. Because you dont really care, and THAT's because again you are what you are. It never surprises me that when a racist person is called out for saying or doing something racist the first thing they say is "im not racist" right after we literally heard them or saw them. It's like catching a thief red-handed and the thief says "I dont steal". 

    Again not every story you love is going to be centered around people that look like you or your culture. Yall gotta stop ruining everything with this "this is woke garbage!" bullshit. It's really lame and it is just a fact it's coming from majority of white JRRT fans. white Men to be specific. People who think they can gatekeep LOTR from the rest of the world.

    You said to tell you the actual stories of the black people of middle earth.. that's literally what they are doing. They told you there are black humans black elves, black hobbits, black dwarves just as they are white versions of all of those things. Here are their stories. They did exactly that.

    You just dont like the story they are telling. That's a personal problem. 
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  • BrotherMaynardBrotherMaynard Member RarePosts: 647
    I guess I look at it differently.
    I think they are just books. Not literary masterpieces.
    Just decent fantasy books with an engaging world and characters but still just books.  
    Not that they didnt have influence sure they did yet they are not some fantasy bible that everything has to stick to a strict line for fear of some religious blasphemy.
    The world he created was opened up for interpretation when he decided to sell the rights to the trilogy and the hobbit and again with the Tolkien estate selling the rights to make this, no one can honestly say anything about it. 
    This is not blasphemy nor sacrilege.
    It is a tv show loosely based on some made up fantasy writings from a bunch of decades prior, most of the audience watching it was not even born yet.
    I feel that if the Tolkien and his family wanted to preserve the supposed sanctity of the creations that much they would not have sold the rights to the IP. Twice. 

    I don't think any of us knows the details of his contract with United Artists back in 70's and how they were or were not allowed to interpret the books. I have my doubts he would have sold them to make a musical or a sitcom set in his universe.

    The problem here (and in too many venues these days) is the way these works are interpreted. Sure, Amazon and Hollywood studios are free to interpret them any way they like and the license allows them. In the same way Visigoths and Vandals were free to "adapt" Rome to their own style and habits, so to speak.

    There is a difference between adaptation or interpretation and cultural barbarism. You may not think that Tolkien's work is especially noteworthy; however, the general consensus is that it is - not just considering its widespread appeal, number of translations or books sold, but also due to its cultural significance, impact, and literary and linguistic quality.

    Like it or not, they have become part of the cultural heritage. Now obviously, nobody is stopping me from interpreting Beethoven in the most ludicrous way I am capable of. But the only thing it would achieve is showing the rest of the world my ignorance or arrogance or both.

    Big tech companies and Hollywood these past few decades have become filled with complete Philistines. What we see now with Dark Lord Bezos' invasion of the Middle-Earth was already very visible some 10 years ago, when Google set out to digitise the French National Library. They did so exactly in a way barbarians might have entered Rome and very soon Google's cultural ignorance and corporate arrogance resulted not only in their ban from anything related to the digitisation of the French literary and cultural heritage, but also in a huge outrage in France and pretty much in the entire art world, and in a lawsuit against Google. In the end, Google's involvement merely kick-started serious efforts by the Library and by the French government into their own digitisation campaign, but it did not achieve much else - and was stopped very soon after starting it.

    Again, whether you personally consider it praiseworthy or not, Tolkien's work has become part of the cultural heritage. We see countless examples from history pointing to the necessity to protect significant works of art against all the Philistines and barbarians out there. How this Amazon's endeavour will pan out is yet to be seen, maybe in the long run it will end in obscurity, who knows?

    (There is also the risk that to millions of people out there, this new abomination made by Amazon will become "Tolkien". Ignorant of the books themselves and Tolkien's universe, they will accept this show as something Tolkien created.)

    Beware of Hollywood and Bezos bearing gifts!


    [Deleted User]IselinTuor7
  • IselinIselin Member LegendaryPosts: 18,719


    If you're going to bring white-washed Jesus into this at least do it properly:



    And sorry Bezos didn't do this but millennia of racist Christians did.

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  • BrotherMaynardBrotherMaynard Member RarePosts: 647
    Iselin said:


    If you're going to bring white-washed Jesus into this at least do it properly:



    And sorry Bezos didn't do this but millennia of racist Christians did.


    Man, you do not even know what that was referring to and yet make this kind of clueless comments. If there ever was a reason to have a facepalm reaction on this board, it's this comment of yours.

  • IselinIselin Member LegendaryPosts: 18,719
    edited September 2022
    Iselin said:


    If you're going to bring white-washed Jesus into this at least do it properly:



    And sorry Bezos didn't do this but millennia of racist Christians did.


    Man, you do not even know what that was referring to and yet make this kind of clueless comments. If there ever was a reason to have a facepalm reaction on this board, it's this comment of yours.

    What? You're not talking about cultural barbarism? You brought up a botched restoration of a very white-washed Jesus. I brought up a much more widespread and systematic defacement of the most likely original countenance.

    What form of cultural barbarism is more egregious than whitewashing the central figure of the dominant Western religion?

    Yeah, let's give that one a pass but get bent out of shape when it's done to some mid-20th century stuffy academic books written by a conservative Catholic from the pre-eminent culturally imperial kingdom up to that time.
    "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”

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  • Slapshot1188Slapshot1188 Member LegendaryPosts: 17,651
    edited September 2022

    These are just fantasy books.
    Before Peter Jackson, most of the free world didn't even know anything about them anymore. 
     

    Just some context here.  These are NOT just fantasy books. These are the inspiration for so much of what came after.
    There would be no Dungeons and Dragons without LoTR.  No Ultima, No WoW. No Harry Potter (Or at least a drastically different one).
    Star Wars?  Lucas took from many sources but drafts literally had some word for word conversations between ObiWan (Gandalf) and Luke (Frodo). Certainly no Martin and a song of ice and fire.  

    Others:  Ursula LeGuin, Brooks, Donaldson, Jordan, Pratchett... all draw roots from Tolkien.

    They also form the blueprint for “world building” due to the incredible background that Tolkien developed for his world.  With thousands of years of history, languages, races (that change and evolve!) heroes, villains… a whole Mythology.

    I agree "most of the free world didn't know anything about" Tolkien's work before Peter Jackson.  That's still true after Jackson I suspect.  But I'd wager that the vast majority of those have in fact experienced works influenced by Tolkien.

    Lets be honest... related to our hobby here... As I said above, without Tolkien there is never a Dungeons and Dragons. never an ultima series, never an ultima online, never a WoW (Never a Blizzard at all!).  Might there be online games?  Maybe... probably.. but one of the driving forces in computing were nerdy fantasy geeks who drove improvement to play better and better games. For other worlds to live in.  It's indisputable that western culture would be different if not for Tolkien's work and the inspiration he gave to those who came after.


    As for the rights... it's also indisputable that Amazon bought the rights and is spending a billion dollars to produce the show.  They can do anything they want to it.  They can add spaceships and aliens.  Because someone can do something, doesn't mean they should and it doesn't mean other people have to like it.

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  • MaurgrimMaurgrim Member RarePosts: 1,331
    I watched them I canceled my Prime account.
    eoloeSetzer
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