# Two Towers Protest **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 19, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812 "2002-12-19T15:19:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![welby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@welby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/1 "2002-12-19T15:19:34Z")
Mods, I stuck this here because many LOTR fans are quite close to being rabid, in fact, many _are_ rabid, as it turns out. The language could get ugly. If you disagree, move to whatever forum you think is appropriate. [Two Towers Protest](http://www.twotowersprotest.org/) Call me crazy, but if you’re unable to deal with a fantasy movie that revolves around two buildings, you’ve got issues more serious than 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/2 "2002-12-19T15:26:28Z")
This has been beaten to death on this and other websites. It’s a joke. If it’s not a joke then enough people _think_ it’s a joke for it to be considered a joke. ---
**Author:** ![welby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@welby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/3 "2002-12-19T15:32:26Z")
Oh God. I hate to post in my own thread after I just created it, but further browsing of the site revealed this steaming turd: > [@](#): > > The creators of the movie have free speech, so what makes you think they should have to change the name of the movie? > > We believe that Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema’s actions are in fact hate speech. The movie is intentionally being named The Two Towers in order to capitalize on the tragedy of September 11. Clearly, you cannot deny the fact that this falls under hate speech. We believe that if they will not willingly change the name, the government should step in to stop the movie’s production or to force a name change. Umm. Hate speech? How can the name of a book that was written and published in 1955 possibly be hate speech? It might be a little different if Tolkien had, for example, written LOTR: The Twin Towers last year. People will protest anything they can get thier hands on. ---
**Author:** ![evilskippy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@evilskippy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilskippy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/4 "2002-12-19T15:34:54Z")
Some people have too much free time. It is sad that these people need to trivialize the events of 9/11 by attacking things that are totally unrelated. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/5 "2002-12-19T15:36:43Z")
…it is a **joke** … ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/6 "2002-12-19T15:38:27Z")
It never ceases to amaze me, though, that someone would spend 75$ to register a domain name just for one really dumb prank. When I spend that much money, I make sure it’s FUNNY. ---
**Author:** ![welby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@welby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/7 "2002-12-19T15:43:50Z")
Really? Hmm. I think I’ll just go home and feel like a dumbass now. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/8 "2002-12-19T15:44:03Z")
I have to agree with them. The movie is beyond insensitive in this regard, and Tolkien should have not only altered the title, but should have followed the example set by the produces of Spiderman adjusted the content of the movie as well. It’s unspeakable to have the towers of Orthanc and Cirith Ungol at the center of a bitter conflict. And what is more: a Nazgul, a harbinger of destruction, can be seen **flying** above the tower of Minus Morgul! There is no doubt in my mind that Tolkien chose this name, and included these themes, to capitalize on the tragedy of 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![Buliwyf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Buliwyf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buliwyf)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/9 "2002-12-19T15:44:08Z")
Cisco said: “…it is a joke…” what makes you so sure? I can’t see anything on their website that indicates this. And Welby, damn beat me to it. Buliwyf ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/10 "2002-12-19T15:48:17Z")
While we’re at it, how insensitive was Morgenstern ( :D) to name his book (and the subsequent movie) the Princess Bride in light of Princess Diana’s horrible death… Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Buliwyf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Buliwyf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buliwyf)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/11 "2002-12-19T15:50:50Z")
zev\_steinhardt said “While we’re at it, how insensitive was Morgenstern ( ) to name his book (and the subsequent movie) the Princess Bride in light of Princess Diana’s horrible death…” And to make it FUNNY no less…for shame Morgenstern, for shame. Buliwyf ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/12 "2002-12-19T16:01:12Z")
While it _does_ look like a lame joke to me, the whole premise seems more plausible than the [complaints against Starbucks for that “collapse into cool” poster](http://www.snopes.com/rumors/cool.htm). After all, there _are_ actually _towers_ in _The Two Towers_. If a depiction of two plastic cups standing next two each other actually provoked “righteous” indignation which was taken seriously by the company, what’s so far-fetched about this? “Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.” --H.L. Mencken (Applicable to the entire race-- stupidity knows no borders.) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/13 "2002-12-19T16:36:42Z")
Jackson is an insensitive prick. “Dwarves”? They prefer to be called “Little people of mountainous origins.” “Mannish races”? That is so sexist. “Dark Lord”? When will we be able to judge evil lieutenants of Morgoth not on the color of their skin, but on the content of their character? Oh, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/14 "2002-12-19T17:08:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > **While it _does_ look like a lame joke to me, the whole premise seems more plausible than the [complaints against Starbucks for that “collapse into cool” poster](http://www.snopes.com/rumors/cool.htm). After all, there _are_ actually _towers_ in _The Two Towers_. If a depiction of two plastic cups standing next two each other actually provoked “righteous” indignation which was taken seriously by the company, what’s so far-fetched about this?** Wow. That poster’s creepy (not Larry Mudd, the Starbucks poster). Not that I think people should be outraged about it, but I think the image is kind of eerie. I’m surprised at myself. I think that looks a lot more reminiscent of 9/11 than anything you’ll find in LOTR. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/15 "2002-12-19T18:17:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarmaComa \* > \*\*Wow. That poster’s creepy (not Larry Mudd, the Starbucks poster). Not that I think people should be outraged about it, but I think the image is kind of eerie. I’m surprised at myself. I think that looks a lot more reminiscent of 9/11 than anything you’ll find in LOTR. \*\* Hunh. I don’t see it. I mean, it isn’t reminiscent at all to me. But what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![Goober\_McFly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@Goober\_McFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goober_McFly)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/16 "2002-12-19T18:47:57Z")
And apparently my computer is broadcasting an IP address too! _runs screaming from the room_ ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/17 "2002-12-19T19:08:06Z")
Hm. To the people like that in general: FUCK YOU, YOU’RE A DUMBASS. (I started a subsequent rant, but decided not to post it as part of this reply) ---
**Author:** ![owlofcreamcheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@owlofcreamcheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlofcreamcheese)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/18 "2002-12-19T19:17:54Z")
the colapse into cool thing? first time I saw the poster I made some tasteless joke to my freinds abot 9/11 it does sorta kinda look like it. enough so to make me think enough to make a mean joke about it ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/19 "2002-12-19T19:54:29Z")
If the site in **welby’s** OP is real – then , with all due respect, the site’s designers seriously need to get a grip. If it _is_ fake, then I feel that they are trying to turn 9/11 into something ridiculous, which isn’t really on, either. Either way – it all looks like crap to me. ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812/20 "2002-12-19T20:04:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Apos \* > \*\*It never ceases to amaze me, though, that someone would spend 75$ to register a domain name just for one really dumb prank. When I spend that much money, I make sure it’s FUNNY. \*\* Why would you spend $75 to register a domain name? I get my three for $15/year, and I’ve found cheaper. As to the rant, it’s old ‘news’. Very old. Let it go. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-towers-protest/143812.md?page=2)