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.

[2Jedismom]

Now everyone is coming to chat and I'm going to have to get off because Steve will be back from wolf cubs any minute!!

Argh!

[HairOfTheDog]

How was it with the footage? - I have heard the new stuff and it is good, but Requiem was a great piece of music! - That is gonna be hard to beat!

[HairOfTheDog]

What a sad state of affairs that is!

[2Jedismom]

I'll try to come back in later, but I doubt it. See you!

[Lil'freeper]

The trailer footage is not all that different. They're recut and actually seem shorter.

[Lil'freeper]

Duh, didn't pay attention to the question. The music is epic- I've been waiting to see it with the scenery. It fits nicely.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

*Vanity Post*

Just wanted to let you all know the excitement of my evening.

After nearly two years of charts, thermometers, graphs, temperatures, frustrations, and attempts;

My Wife and I are now finally expecting our second child in August!!

So, pints all around to my dear friends of the Hobbit Hole!

"Hey! come derry dol! Hop along, my hearties!
Hobbits! Ponies all! We are fond of parties.
Now let the fun begin! Let us sing together!"

[Lil'freeper]

Oh, that is so wonderful! Congratulations!

[JenB]

Oh, congratulations! What's your first child, boy or girl? Your wife may be sorry, though, by the end of the summer. My mother always hated being more than six months pregnant during the summer.

Congrats again!

[2Jedismom]

Congratulations!! How wonderful! Matthew's birthday is August 6th!

[HairOfTheDog]

Congratulations!

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, at least she won't be due when RoTK comes out... you know... having to get up to pee all the time watching the movie! ;~D

[JenB]

True, true. Can we have a "name the baby" contest?

[SuziQ]

I looked at the video; it took so long to load! It was fine, but I think it would have been much more effective if it had shown only pics of Gollum, Sam and Frodo. It seems to me the song is about regret for the way his life has turned out, and envy of the deep friendship between Sam and Frodo.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Congratulations and best wishes!

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Our first child is a girl, Autumn Raelia (2 and a half now).

I think a "name the baby contest" would be neat!

We've had a girl's name picked since Autumn was born, we said that if we have another girl, we'll name her Emily. Middle name is up for grabs, as is a boy's name.

Thank you all for your kind words! Prayers for a healthy pregnancy for the 2nd time Mommy, my wife Jessilyn!

[HairOfTheDog]

Emily Evenstar? ;~D

I will think of good boy names....

[JenB]

If you want a nice made-up Elvish name, I'm your girl...

Just kidding. Emily's a lovely name, and so is Autumn. Giving your kid a good name is the best thing a parent can do, I think. There's a kid at my brother's school whose name is - and I am not making this up - "Metro Roman Orange".

[SuziQ]

Mazel Tov to you and the missus! So we're going to have two new little ones in the Hobbit Hole next year with y'all and the g'nads expecting! I'll be keeping you in my prayers!

[Sam Cree]

Hey! Good Job! Congratulations! That's very happy news.