I took my friend (a non-reader) to see RotK last Saturday night and afterwards we decided to go to our favorite pub to discuss what she'd just seen.

She was very impressed with the story. I'd taken her to see FotR and TTT but I guess the magnitude of the story didn't really hit her until after she saw RotK. As a psychologist who spent a few years working with veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, she was very touched by the scene at the Green Dragon. Said it was exactly as the vets had described to her: coming back home and feeling different, people not comprehending what you've just gone through to ensure their safety.

But I digress, as we were sitting there waxing philosophical about the Grey Havens a guy at the bar, who had apparently been eavesdropping (I ain't been dropping no eaves!), butted in.

Guy: Are you talking about the Lord of the Rings?
My friend: Why yes we are. She's a huge fan and just converted me.
Guy: (to me) Oh really? Which of the changes from the story displeased you the most? (Not verbatim, I'd already had a few pints of Guinness by then, but it's the gist)
Me: I think that the portrayal of Denethor was most disappointing. I though there should've been an explanation for his madness. (This really doesn't bother me all that much, but it was what I paid most attention to in my 4th viewing. Also, I'm not very good at answering such questions without giving it more thought)
Me: What about you?
Guy: I hate that they left out the Scourging.
No, that's not a typo. He really said scourging. Firstly, let me say that I had completely forgotten about that being left out. I'd known about its omission for so long that it didn't bother me at all not to have it there.

But getting back to his comment, you can imagine that I was somewhat taken aback . Did he really just say scourging? I thought to myself. But I was happy to be discussing LotR with someone, so I overlooked it. But when he started going on an on about how he loved the elfin warriors a red flag went up. ELFIN?? warriors.

Now anybody who's read recent editions of the book (in its entirety) knows how much it peeved Tolkien that previous editors tried to "correct" the words elvish and dwarvish. Sadly, I realized he didn't really know what he was talking about. We talked for a while longer, but my interest quickly waned.
Could someone who claims to know the story make those kinds of errors? Was I too quick to deal out (death and) judgment? Am I a Tolkien snob?

I love discussing LotR with whoever will listen, but it seemed as if this guy was just trying to join a conversation without knowing the subject. In the past I've come across guys who try to hit on me by pretending they have similar interests, but I never thought I'd see the day that someone would fake being a Ringer!