The New Hobbit Hole

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The New Hobbit Hole
Concerning Hobbits
The New Hobbit Chronicles

This is a continuation of the infamous thread New Zealander Builds Hobbit Hole originally posted on January 26, 2001 by John Farson, who at the time undoubtedly thought he had found a rather obscure article that would elicit a few replies and die out. Without knowing it, he became the founder of the Hobbit Hole. For reasons incomprehensible to some, the thread grew to over 4100 replies. It became the place for hobbits and friends of hobbits to chit chat and share LoTR news and views, hang out, and talk amongst ourselves in the comfort of familiar surroundings.

In keeping with the new posting guidelines, the thread idea is continuing here, as will the Green Dragon Inn, our more structured spin-off thread, as soon as we figure out how to move all the good discussion that has been had there. As for the Hobbit Hole, we will just start fresh, bringing only a few mathoms such as the picture above with us to make it feel like home, and perhaps a walk down memory lane:

Our discussion has been light:

It very well may be that a thread named "New Zealander builds Hobbit hole" will end up being the longest Tolkien thread of them all, with some of the best heartfelt content... Sorry John, but I would have rather it had been one with a more distinguished title!… post 252 - HairOfTheDog

However, I can still celebrate, with quiet dignity, the fact that what started as a laugh about some wacko in New Zealand has mutated and grown into a multifaceted discussion of the art, literature, and philosophy that is Tolkien. And now that I've managed to write the most pompous sentence of my entire life, I agree, Rosie… post 506 - JenB

Hah! I was number 1000!! (Elvish victory dance... wait, no; that would be too flitty) … post 1001 - BibChr

Real men don't have to be afraid of being flitty! Go for it. – post 1011 – HairOfTheDog

Seventeen years to research one mystical object seems a bit excessive… post 1007 - JenB

Okay...who's the wise guy who didn't renew Gandalf's research grant?… post 1024 – Overtaxed

To the very philosophical:

…Judas Iscariot obviously was a good man, or he wouldn't have been chosen to be one of the Apostles. He loved Jesus, like all of the Apostles, but he betrayed him. Yet without his betrayal, the Passion and Crucifixion would never have occurred, and mankind would not have been redeemed. So without his self-destruction infinite good would not have been accomplished. I certainly do not mean this to be irreverant but it seems to me that this describes the character of Gollum, in the scenes so movingly portrayed above… Lucius Cornelius Sulla

To fun but heartfelt debates about the integrity and worth of some of the characters…

…Anyone else notice how Boromir treats the hobbits? He's very fond of them but he seems to think of them as children - ruffling Frodo's hair, calls them all 'little ones'. He likes them, but I don't think he really respects them… post 1536 - JenB

Yes... Tolkien told us not to trust Boromir right off the bat when he began to laugh at Bilbo, until he realized that the Council obviously held this hobbit in high esteem. What a pompous dolt… post 1538 - HairOfTheDog

…I think almost every fault of his can be traced directly back to his blindness to anything spiritual or unseen. He considers the halflings as children, because that is what they look like. He considers the only hope of the ring to be in taking it and using it for a victory in the physical realm. He cannot see what the hobbits are truly made of, he cannot see the unseen hope of what the destruction of the ring might mean--the destruction of Sauron himself, and he cannot see the unseen danger that lies in the use of the ring itself… I just feel sorry for Boromir--he is like a blind but honorable man, trying to take the right path on the road but missing the right path entirely because he simply cannot see it… post 1548 - Penny1

Boromir isn't a jerk, he's a jock… post 2401 – Overtaxed

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Oh, I think by the time Frodo reaches the Cracks, he's not even himself anymore! I think he's not only on the brink of a dangerous place physically, he's on the brink of losing himself completely during the exchange with Gollum. But for some reason, the take-over isn't complete till he actually has to throw the Ring in. The person speaking to Gollum is not Frodo, but the "Wheel of Fire" that Sam sees. After the Ring is destroyed, Frodo not only comes back to himself, but comes back with the unbearable (to him) knowledge of what it's like to be completely without compassion. I think that's why it's so important to him to be compassionate in the Shire… post 2506 - 2Jedismom

…Regarding Frodo's compassion... it's a little too much at the end. Even Merry tells him that he's going to have to quit being so darn nice. But you're right. He's learned a lesson about evil that very few ever learn since it wasn't an external lesson but an internal one. (Those kinds of lessons have the greatest impact) Not only did he totally succumb to it, but he was rather ruthless to my little Smeagol… post 2516 - carton253

Well that Frodo was a big mean bully! (to Smeagol)… post 2519 – Overtaxed

So as you can see, everything JRR Tolkien (and Peter Jackson) is welcome here in our New Row, our soon-to-be familiar New Hobbit Hole…; philosophy, opinion, good talk and frequent silliness.

[Overtaxed]

And besides....my unprofessional opinion is that they're too eager to drug problems instead of fixing them.

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh Dear! You sure know how to stick you foot in it!

I know that it is hard when a place like your church becomes uncomfortable because of conflicts with people... It is supposed to be your sanctuary.

Consider this, you may have made him mad, but he spent the last couple weeks considering what you said and formulating a response to it... so they were not wasted words... He heard them, and they were worth considering. For weeks!

Deacons last I checked don't have the power to strike you down (though I would recommend not ticking anyone off who is any higher on the ladder *joke*). I hope you can become comfortable in the church again soon... Perhaps now that you have both said your piece you can have some sort of quiet reconciliation next time you see him and eventually this will fade.

[2Jedismom]

they're too eager to drug problems instead of fixing them. Well, that was my whole point. That was it! If they fix them, they can't get anymore money off them. They keep people in a cycle of treatment so that they never get out...until they run out of money. These people run around thinking they are sick and they feed into it too. But like I say, I fully realize that there are some really mentally ill people out there and they do need long term help. But this guy should have known what I was refering to...you did! I suspect it's as you say...the truth hurts. Or in this case, infuriates.

[2Jedismom]

I hope so. But Steve told me the next time he even speaks to me, he's going to have a word with him. I'm sure Steve will just tell him not to come around me.

[Overtaxed]

So is this the first time you've seen the guy since you -ahem- gave your opinion on the subject? I kinda agree with Hair (Quick! Get my medicine LOL!). If he's been thinking about it for a few weeks hopefully he's on the way to changeing the way he....ah...does business.

[2Jedismom]

You know what I oughta do?? LOL I oughta find a book that supports my claims...a Christian book...there's bound to be one out there and put it in our church library in that guys honor.

ROFLOL!

I'm not crying anymore, obviously.

[2Jedismom]

Maybe so, but he was pretty mad. And arrogant. Very condescending.

[Overtaxed]

Changing...doh!

[Overtaxed]

Maybe so, but he was pretty mad. And arrogant. Very condescending.

Well....sometimes change takes time. :)

[2Jedismom]

Well, I do feel better. I am going to start clearing the bathroom up now... we lay the vinyl today!

[Overtaxed]

You want to do my house next? How are you at ceramic tile?

[Penny1]

Hi there! I'm so bummed you're having to work today. :(

I think the consensus has been that cable is a teense faster than DSL. I'm very happy with my DSL, but I don't think there's any special advantage to my having it instead of cable--it's exactly the same price. So I would say go for the cable.

[2Jedismom]

Well, after re-doing our shop and now this bathroom, I'm beginning to think I can do almost anything! I did most of the work on the bathroom...Steve just pulled up the concrete nails and such.

I'll post a photo when it's all done.

[Overtaxed]

Guess this means I should start on the bedroom. :)

[2Jedismom]

Hi Penny!

Good to see you back. Everyone has been working me through a minor crisis which seems to have blown over now...

[irishtenor]

How come you aren't at church? HAHA

[Overtaxed]

Sneak!

[Overtaxed]

Sneak!

[Overtaxed]

Sneak!

[Overtaxed]

Sneak!