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The New Hobbit Hole

Posted on 03/14/2002 5:07:26 AM PST by 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

-----------------------------------------

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.


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Chit/Chat; Poetry; TV/Movies; The Hobbit Hole
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To: HairOfTheDog
Yeesh... this is not that hard a concept, if I could type.... It complicates honest communication with child's teacher if he/she is also her boss.
35,341 posted on 10/18/2002 10:15:24 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: ksen; HairOfTheDog; RosieCotton; RMDupree
That’s really not a fair characterization.

Kevin, I'm not attacking you. I've tried to make it clear that I think there are exceptions. You're one of them. You have had other experiences (most notably the military) that have expanded your world view.

But I will adamantly stand my ground in saying that not all Christian parents should homeschool. AND, I agree with Hair, not all public schools are evil. In my county, arguably the most Republican county in the state, the five members of our (elected) school board are Evangelical Christians. Sure our schools have problems. Some more than others. But they are NOT indoctrination centers.

I've talked about our issues with getting Jr. to do his homework, so we're pretty on top of what he's studying in schools. If I thought they were really a threat to him, I'd yank him out today.

Like I said to Rosie, I'm sure many of you that homeschool do identify the resources and can very effectively teach your kids.

But I also know some idiots that homeschool their kids...present company excluded...;-)

35,342 posted on 10/18/2002 10:18:54 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands
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To: Corin Stormhands
If you decide to homeschool your kids, I know from our conversations here, that you'll prepare yourself first and not just assume you can do it because you went to school. Am I making any sense with that?

I suppose so...but I still think people put far too much emphasis on "degrees". Someone from a GOOD highschool (or homeschool) may have a far better education (and thus be far better prepared to homeschool) than someone who went to a poor highschool and a poor college (and who has an advanced degree). Same goes for GPAs - they're meaningless, as different schools have different standards. Hence I'm somewhat bothered by your statement that "no one with just a highschool diploma has any business homeschooling", in addition to your comments to ksen about GPAs.

I'm shutting up now, though...this is outside our scope here.

(Frodo was homeschooled, right?)

35,343 posted on 10/18/2002 10:20:01 AM PDT by RosieCotton
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To: HairOfTheDog
I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on this issue.

Let's talk about something less disagreeable.

Don't you think Sean Bean's Boromir wiped the floor with Viggo's Strider? ;^)
35,344 posted on 10/18/2002 10:21:23 AM PDT by ksen
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To: Corin Stormhands
I've talked about our issues with getting Jr. to do his homework....

So how's your sign coming?

35,345 posted on 10/18/2002 10:23:12 AM PDT by ksen
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To: ksen
I think we all know who wiped the floor with whom! Who stood there and let a guy shoot arrows in him, and who ran in an relieved the bad guy of his head?

I have to go to meeting now.... see you all later!
35,346 posted on 10/18/2002 10:24:02 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: Corin Stormhands; ksen; HairOfTheDog; RosieCotton; RMDupree; All
Is this going to start a new tradition, on Friday the Hobbit Hole talks about serious stuff?

Gosh, I hope not....

Good afternoon all!
35,347 posted on 10/18/2002 10:24:36 AM PDT by Bear_in_RoseBear
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To: ksen; RosieCotton; HairOfTheDog
I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on this issue.

Agreed. I'm not trying to be offensive, but I'm also not stating my "case" very well...

And yes, Bean may have wiped the floor with Viggo...but they both need a shower...

35,348 posted on 10/18/2002 10:24:44 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands
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To: ksen
So how's your sign coming?

Funny you bring that up (I saw that thread). In our parent-teacher conference the other night at his public school, we discussed the fact that he doesn't like to be singled out. It came up in the context of the fact that he has difficulty getting his thoughts on paper so his English teacher is open to letting him use the PC in her classroom. But he would feel uncomfortable being "different" in that manner...

My guess is though that since he missed another day of school this week we'll be making up some work over the weekend...

35,349 posted on 10/18/2002 10:27:55 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands
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To: All
I think one thing everyone can agree on is that the most important thing that parents concern themselves about in school is QUALITY EDUCATION.

Some public schools provide a better quality education than private schools and vice versa. Likewise, some homeschoolers provide a better quality eduation than the local public schools do. Therein lies the crux.

The solution: We pool our resources and create THE HOBBIT REPUBLIC EDUCATION CENTER. We teach the core materials: reading, writing, math, science, history, social studies and the arts. Optional classes available on bible study. All conservative teachers, all classes below 15 students. And most of all, no agendas or mushy liberal feel-good nonsense that has no business in school. Right and wrong should be taught by the parents, not by the village. :)

OK, seriously though - speaking for myself. I want my kids to have the best education they can have minus the liberals politics inserted into every topic. Whether it be public, private or homeschool.

35,350 posted on 10/18/2002 10:28:56 AM PDT by RMDupree
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To: Bear_in_RoseBear; RMDupree
Is this going to start a new tradition, on Friday the Hobbit Hole talks about serious stuff?

Us? Serious? What's the world coming to? (oh wait, don't answer that, that's what started all of this...)

I think it's because RMDupree hasn't given us breakfast or lunch today and we're cranky...

35,351 posted on 10/18/2002 10:29:26 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands
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To: HairOfTheDog
Who stood there and let a guy shoot arrows in him....

Those arrows had Merry & Pippin's names on them. So Boromir stood there and took three for the "little ones."

...and who ran in an relieved the bad guy of his head?

Yeah, a day late and a dollar short. Heckuva lotta good it did Boromir.

35,352 posted on 10/18/2002 10:29:28 AM PDT by ksen
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To: RMDupree
Now, who in here would teach what? :)
35,353 posted on 10/18/2002 10:31:15 AM PDT by RMDupree
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To: Corin Stormhands; RMDupree
Did you know that in some Texas public school history books they taught the kids that Eisenhower stormed Normandy with United Nation's troops.

I'm not reviving the discussion. I am just throwing that little bit of trivia into the mix. ;^)

35,354 posted on 10/18/2002 10:33:47 AM PDT by ksen
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To: RMDupree; JenB; HairOfTheDog; rightwingreligiousfanatic; All
Jen would teach History of Middle Earth, Hair would teach animal husbandry, Vim would instruct youngsters in the fine art of spamming, you could teach cooking, g'nad could teach...ummm...maybe we don't want to go there...
35,355 posted on 10/18/2002 10:33:47 AM PDT by RosieCotton
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To: Corin Stormhands
You are correct!

Here's a meal, call it whatever you like depending on your time zone.

Friday's buffet consists of 2 roast turkeys, 6 pounds of baby back ribs, and several lemon and garlic fillets of mahi-mahi. Fresh hot buttered rolls and tossed salad to go with it, if you like.

I've rolled out 2 barrels of Butterbur's beer, but there's plenty of fresh juices and soft drinks too!

ENJOY!

35,356 posted on 10/18/2002 10:34:55 AM PDT by RMDupree
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To: RosieCotton
...g'nad could teach phys. ed. Corin could teach english. OT could teach science, Bear could teach networking, Rosie could teach fiddle, 2J could teach whistle, and I could be RM's taste-tester. ;^)
35,357 posted on 10/18/2002 10:36:13 AM PDT by ksen
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To: RosieCotton
g'nad could teach weapon manufacturing and Corin would teach self defense with clubs, axes and daggers. ksen would teach self defense with swords and spears. 2JM could teach math and reading. You could probably teach cooking better than I could, Rosie. I could teach arts or maybe science (I'm stronger in biology than chemistry though).

The elves could teach fashion and home design. :)

35,358 posted on 10/18/2002 10:37:41 AM PDT by RMDupree
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To: ksen
I feel sorry for anyone who has to learn fiddle from me!

Just had my six month anniversary of playing...sometimes I play a note or two in tune now!

35,359 posted on 10/18/2002 10:38:17 AM PDT by RosieCotton
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To: RosieCotton
Rosie - that reminds me of a funny story.

My 5 year old was in the car with me listening to country music when Charlie Daniel's Devil Went Down To Georgia came on. My little chatterbox was silent throughout the whole song and when it ended she said "Mommy, that was the best sounding guitar I ever heard!"

I laughed and when I told her it was not a guitar, but a fiddle, she replied, "I wanna play the fiddle and beat the devil for Jesus too!"

I told her that she could have fiddle lessons when she gets to 1st grade, but she can beat the devil for Jesus every day when she "obeys the Lord and her parents and turns off her naughty thoughts." Let's see if it sticks! ;)

35,360 posted on 10/18/2002 10:42:58 AM PDT by RMDupree
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