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.

[HairOfTheDog]

Have you seen the punk_kittens one?

I don't think so!

[ksen]

Yeah, I didn't spam either. 18 posts out from a quadruple Precious that was CLEARLY under attack is clearly not a spam.

It's a smart defense. ;^)

[ksen]

Did you ever read any of the Thieves' World books? Your speaking about writing in order to leave the next author a cliffhanger made me think of them.

I thought they were pretty good.

[JenB]

What? No, that's tomorrow! Wait til you see... Actually I may be here two more days, but I think not. Must move on, keep moving. I've hit four worlds this week, probably I will slow down next week, but who knows! This is fun!

Ok, Mr. Spider is jumping across roofs now. That looks like fun!

[Sam Cree]

Good night, All, see you on Monday, probably.

Have a great weekend.

[Sam Cree]

"Sam, have you read "The Haj" by Leon Uris?"

I did read it, yeah, a very interesting book, lets you know alot about the Arab,Palestinian and Muslim attitudes. Very chilling, I thought. Good reading too.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

http://www.rathergood.com/punk_kittens

[HairOfTheDog]

Good morning! - That woke me up!

[2Jedismom]

Good morning! Just had blueberry pancakes and coffee. Steve went to school to work on a paper that's due this next Wednesday. We still on for the Viewing next Wed?

Hey OT! I'm getting another free whistle! LOL! This guy on C&F asked if anyone wanted his Gen Bb for free, to let him know and he'd give it to the first person to email him. I got it! Well, I haven't got it yet. That will bring me up to:

1 G Generation
1 F Generation
1 Eb Generation
3 D Feadógs
1 D Dixon Tuneable (yuck)
1 D Susato Kildare
1 D Hoover (my fav)
1 D Meg
1 C Meg
1 Bb Generation
1 B cane whistle

You know, I play them ALL! I love the way each one sounds (except for the Dixon, which has been tweeked badly and the D Meg, I just can't get it to sound good.)

[HairOfTheDog]

Good Morning! - Finally someone is up and about!

I had toaster waffles and sausages. Sipping one more cup of coffee listening to Requiem before I start cleaning and chores. There is laundry in my future!

[JenB]

Morning! We had omelets. Now I am wating Sense and Sensibility and getting started on today's quota.

[2Jedismom]

Good morning! It's gorgeous outside so as a soon as the chill wears off, I'm going to go outside and spiff up the yard and house a bit (spiderwebs need to come down...)

[HairOfTheDog]

OK - so we in the Hobbit Hole are at least fed!

Wednesday is the day for the chat-view of the extended?

I will be watching mine on Tuesday morning about 20 min after the store opens.

Maybe I will check out the 24-hour stores to see which of them might have it at midnight!

[JenB]

Sounds nice! I have hopes for a nice quiet day...

[2Jedismom]

Oh yes...the viewing on Wednesday will be my second viewing AT LEAST! LOL

Can you believe it? It's only a little over a month before we get to go see the movie. You are planning on going to the midnight showing, aren't you?

[2Jedismom]

I got to sleep till 9:20am!!! I am a 3-11 nurse, used to staying up late and working and then sleeping late. Even though I've not done it that much for years, it is still my personality. I would rather sit up late and sleep late than anything and I rarely get to! But Steve let me sleep in and fed the boys pancakes and everthing and I got to sleep HARD!

I'm on my 9th reading of the Trilogy...right now Frodo is listening to Gandalf and Aragorn debating which way would be the best way to take...Caradhras or Moria.

[JenB]

How nice! I am trying to get started on my writing but am less than inspired this morning. Ah well! Time to slog.

[HairOfTheDog]

You are planning on going to the midnight showing, aren't you?

How long have we been friends?

[2Jedismom]

How long have we been friends?

[HairOfTheDog]

So there's your answer! - Yes, I will be going to the midnight show. I am having the cloak made, remember? My friend who will make it might come down today to visit and go shopping for the fabric... maybe. She didn't feel well yesterday.

And my leaf clasp might arrive today!

Waiting...