Posted on 03/14/2002 5:07:26 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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.
The Prodigy Chat (September 12, 1997)Question: What are your religious beliefs?
Elijah: Well, I'm a Christian. I was raised a Christian. I'm not highly religious in some people's eyes because I don't go to church. It's not that I've made a choice saying that I do not want to go to church... It's more circumstantial than that. But since our family has not been to church in so long, it's not really something we've considered doing.
I don't feel that in order to be a "good Christian," that you have to go to church. You can be religious without going to church by just praying and living your life for God. And living your life by God's teachings, or the bible. It interesting...every bible for every religion says basically the same thing.
Special Note from the Webmaster: Teachings may be similar but there is only one true way to get to God (John 14:6-7)
I hope Mr. Wood comes to realize that Christianity isn't about "religion" it's about "relationship".
(please excuse my twisted sense of humor)
Well, you're right that the Bible doesn't specifically condemn using the words "f--k-ng" and "pr--k", but it does speak to the attitude.
He is a young kid.
Mm-hmm.
It may have been too long since ksen spent any time in a college dorm.
Kevin has spent 3 years in the Army, 4 years in the National Guard and 4 years at college. Kevin knows what goes on and what is said.
He'll be fine.
I'm sure he will be.
He has manners when he needs them, Dad.
I would think that he would need some of his manners when he is being filmed for something that will be distributed to millions of households.
oops, elvish
I am here today, finally.
We finally got the DVDs, and watched all of it (the movie at least). I know everyone else has said this but WOW!!!!!!!!!!! I loved it so much more than the original one. Only now, I almost want to see the original to see exactly where all the new stuff is. It's been so long since I've watched it. I think I like the intro the most (so far, only seen it once). I think it is so much better than the one in the theater. I have watched some of the extra stuff, but haven't had the time to watch all of it. Don't know when I'll be able to. I do have the weekend off, but my hubby and I are going to George H.W. Bush's prez library to meet other freepers on Saturday. We are going to make a weekend away out of it.
I think what he said indicates he understands that quite well... For him the religion gets in the way of the relationship. I read a lot of my own view into what he says, because I feel the same way right now. I don't go to church... If people press me on the issue, I say I guess I am Lutheran, because my heritage is Lutheran. But I couldn't tell you what Lutheran means, or how it differs from any other *ist, *ic, *ian, or any other denomination. I find the doctrines, and the doctrinal infighting distracting, to be quite beneath the actual wonder of God. I would feel much more connection and inspiration in a conversation with Elijah than I would someone from the Religion forum sector, who would in all seriousness, debate that their little sect of belief has THE answer. I think God is much more wonderous, and much less definable, than what people have done to religion. At least that is how I am leaning at the moment... I have had several ebbs and flows in my life so far.
Right on, bro! You've seen the light of that smile now too, haven't you.... ;^)
But we can still bash the other elves, can't we.... heh heh
I pinged some of you back to that Celeborn thread for a question raised by someone about what happened to Gandalf's staff.
So what did happen, did he make a new one? Or did he get his original one back from Saruman? And if so, when? How?
Discuss....
Um excuse me? I am still here, even if I'm not in the foreground. I will not allow elf bashing.
The book isn't very detailed on that, when I read it I always figured Saruman just imprisoned him without taking his staff. Then in the movie it gets taken away. I watched the scene where he jumps on Gwahir's back pretty closely--figuring he grabbed it or something--and I didn't see a staff. It's a good question. Maybe Elrond made him a new one, who knows...
I never thought about it. Interesting questions. Anyone?
I'm crushed Hair. Absolutely crushed.
Actually, I am somewhat in agreement with you. But I think I fall somewhere in between your viewpoint and the viewpoints on the Religion forum. I think among Christians we are too inclined to argue our own little views, and many of us are too stubborn to admit we might be wrong.
Just about the first thing I do is to admit that my interpretation of Christianity might be wrong. I do believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father and that the other "isms" have missed the boat. But within the framework of recognizing Christ as Lord and Savior I believe there are many valid interpretations, none of which are exclusively right or exclusively wrong.
Over in the Religion forum, I finally gave up trying to get some to admit their view was man's interpretation of God, and that all men are fallible. When they would not acknowledge that my different viewpoint was just as valid as theirs and that many better scholars than any on FR have argued the differences for centuries, I realized there was no real point in those "discussions."
Maybe he bought one here on his way to Rivendell.
Afternoon everybody. Smeagol is busy... so back to work I go.
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