• @shneancy
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      685 hours ago

      Bilbo was 111, and Frodo was 33 during the birthday party when Bilbo left the Shire.

      Only 17 years later, when he’s 50, does Frodo go off on the Quest to destroy the ring.

      I’m making my way through the books right now and I haven’t seen the films in ages, but if I recall correctly it’s much less clear in those that there was a time skip. Which yea if I were adapting a book I’d also skip the bit where JRRT says “and then nothing of importance happened for 17 years, apart from the fact Gandalf was travelling to do research about the ring and kinda went missing recently”.

      • @[email protected]
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        62 hours ago

        People getting all out of shape about the age of the hobbits whereas Gandalf was created at the beginning of time, which is much older than 2019 years old. That’s likely the age of his current physical manifestation, but his spirit is truly ancient.

        The Universe in Middle earth is about 55,000 years old, but that’s stated to be created after creation, so Gandalf was created before that.

        • @[email protected]
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          18 minutes ago

          Gandalf arrived in Middle Earth at the beginning of the Third Age so he’s been around in that form for about 3000 years since Bilbo’s farewell party took place in the 3001st year of the Third Age. The Fellowship was founded in 3018 so Gandalf is about that old if we’re only counting his time in Middle Earth like you say

      • Diplomjodler
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        114 hours ago

        It’s kind of hinted at when Gandalf comes back and asks “Is it secret? Is it safe?” Frodo has to go looking for the ring and clearly hasn’t thought about it in a while.

        • @shneancy
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          113 hours ago

          trueeee but 17 years would certainly not have been my first guess if I was asked “after how long do you kinda stop caring about a small trinket your uncle gave you & don’t actively remember where you put it”

          • Diplomjodler
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            12 hours ago

            Once you get to a certain age, coming across some object in your household that you recognise but haven’t looked at for decades becomes pretty normal.

            • @shneancy
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              12 hours ago

              as someone with adhd - that age is now, I’m 24

              • @AA5B
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                12 hours ago

                But what if it has this neat trick where you can avoid unwanted visitors without actually having to be rude

                • @shneancy
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                  21 hour ago

                  ye but i wouldn’t have known about it since i never put it on with an intention to disappear. Only after being told the ring is “special and powerful and stuff” i’d try to use it to do something i can’t normally, otherwise it’s just a trinket. Well, a trinket i’d be oddly attached to, but it’s a gift from my uncle so that attachment wouldn’t be that weird, right?

      • @fox2263
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        12 hours ago

        And it’s that scene from Fellowship that we will get probably another trilogy squeezed out

      • Dharma Curious (he/him)
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        295 hours ago

        That’s all very fascinating, and thank you for clarifying that for everything.

        But I need you to shut your lying mouth with that 17 years nonsense. I am 33. I am in way 17 years from 50 years old. Shut up. Shut up and stop talking your heinous lies.

        • southsamurai
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          63 hours ago

          Man, I’m 17 years older than you. It ain’t that different.

          You know, other than the aching joints, the gray hairs sprouting, having a strange urge to yell at anyone that steps on your grass (even if you don’t have grass), and a growing certainty that the newest generation are inherently crazy.

          But other than that, it’s exactly the same as 33.

          • Dharma Curious (he/him)
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            133 minutes ago

            I’ve got all of that already. I’m mainly concerned that I’m not even close to a relationship and kids D:

        • @shneancy
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          145 hours ago

          i apologise, would this gift make up for my transgression?

          🫴💍

        • @SpaceNoodle
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          33 hours ago

          You’re 2/3 of the way there! Might as well start rounding up now.

        • CelloMike
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          4 hours ago

          Random thought that I, a fellow 33’er, had yesterday - Sputnik was launched in 1957, 34 years before I was, I’m almost as old as the space age was when I was born

          Enjoy!

          • @SpaceNoodle
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            23 hours ago

            You were launched into space?

            • CelloMike
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              22 hours ago

              First baby in space yeah, it was a post-Soviet prestige thing

        • Diplomjodler
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          24 hours ago

          And you know what? You’ll suddenly wake up and wonder where the years went.