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

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

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.

[Sam Cree]

I'd say there is quite a wide range of political views here, at least within the "conservative" (if that's the right word for it) side of the spectrum; that is there are not too many leftists that post here, at least not with good intentions. I personally am about as anti left as you can get.

Anyway, it's nice to have you aboard, if I'm allowed to say that as a fairly new Freeper.

[Sam Cree]

"And speaking of food, time for second breakfast!"

We're having venison and steak fondue tonight with a little red wine and maybe some champagne. Today is actually our 28th wedding anniversary, so we're celebrating.

[2Jedismom]

I wanted to repond to you over here in our friendly hole, instead of in that other, unfamiliar thread!

After 9/11, I was incredibly careful around my children, I made sure the six year old knew what had happened, but focused mainly on the positive. For example, instead of dwelling on the fire fighters that died, we went and thanked our local fire fighters. I wanted him to remember what happened, because it's something he needs to remember...but I made sure he was never afraid or saw me upset. He drew a picture of it...you can see it here. Note that the fire fighter is smiling as he is spraying water on the WTC? They are heros in my son's eyes...and that's what I focused on.

All this to say, when I saw the bridge collapsed in our neighboring county, my heart just broke for the families of the people who were lost. My son saw me cry, but he also saw me get up and fix lunch afterward, then fill up his outdoor pool with water! Life is already full of sadness and sorrow...but there is also so much to be happy about. I want my children to experience and know how to deal with both situations.

[Sam Cree]

I am admiring how you're handling this.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Life is already full of sadness and sorrow...but there is also so much to be happy about. I want my children to experience and know how to deal with both situations.

That is what I hoped you were doing. It is not right for you or your children to harden your hearts to tragedy, but despite it we have to keep on living for them, for ourselves, and because it is right.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Haven't said hello yet, welcome to our Hobbit Hole. I am one of the more political types here, get involved in electoral politics, political philosophy, and especially foreign and national security policy. Don't usually get into it much here, except when licking wounds and defeating Orcs.

Don't run into many Beornings around these parts, I tend to think of him as a lot like Tom Bombadil, and since I can't figure them out, I don't involve myself too much. Maybe we will now get an Ent or two, wouldn't want to rile them up.

[2Jedismom]

Like I always say to my kids when they question something I do..."Now, how long have we been friends?" ;-)

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Actually, I sort of regret that I've never learned any of the basic dances, such as the waltz. But things tend to get knocked over and/or broken when I move too fast, so I'm rather inhibited, physically.

"I'd say there is quite a wide range of political views here"

My own politicial views don't quite match up with any party out there. In general, I'm too libertarian for the conservatives, and too conservative for the libertarians.

"Anyway, it's nice to have you aboard, if I'm allowed to say that as a fairly new Freeper."

Thanks! :-)

Today is actually our 28th wedding anniversary

Congratulations, and Happy Anniversary!

[Corin Stormhands]

Where were you?

Having a very bad experience at Chili's. Our waiter was incredibly slow - he told us it was because his other customers were bossing him around. It took forever to get our drinks. I ordered an adult beverage and I bet I waited more than 10 minutes. My wife had fajitas and the "pot holder" on the skillet caught on fire. She took it back to the serving staff and when she sat down burned her arm on the iron skillet.

We did manage to get a free dessert, but quite frankly that wasn't quite enough.

[Corin Stormhands]

Happy Anniversary!

[Corin Stormhands]

I'm glad you're okay. I thought of you as soon as I heard about the incident. I think you're a great mom and your boys will be just fine.

[Overtaxed]

Having a very bad experience at Chili's.

See! You should have come over for steaks. Nothing fancy...steak, potatoes, and salad...but you didn't have to wait forever for it and we had pie and coffee afterwards.

Barbecued chicken this afternoon. I'm ready to kick back with some adult beverage for the race this evening.

[Overtaxed]

I thought about you when I heard but I didn't think it was very likely that you would be on that bridge...glad I was right about that! Those poor people, though....

[Corin Stormhands]

See! You should have come over for steaks.

Yes, we definitely made the wrong choice.

[Overtaxed]

I think I'm all grilled out now. I'll be taking it easy tomorrow.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Haven't said hello yet, welcome to our Hobbit Hole.

Hello! And thank you!

Don't run into many Beornings around these parts, I tend to think of him as a lot like Tom Bombadil

I actually haven't read The Hobbit in 15 years or more. The only copy I had was softcover, and my softcover books stayed behind when I moved to Texas 12+ years ago. Luckily, I had hardcover copies of LOTR and The Silmarillion, and I brought my hardcovers with me. Anyway, I think Tolkien wrote The Hobbit at a time when he conceived of Middle Earth as a much more "magical" place than it became later. At least, to me, the idea of a man who can shape-change into a bear seems out of place in LOTR.

As for Bombadil, well... he's a Maiar, isn't he?

[Corin Stormhands]

I'll be taking it easy tomorrow.

I'm sitting here just back from the pool trying to convince myself to go cut the grass and I just don't want to...

[Sam Cree]

"Actually, I sort of regret that I've never learned any of the basic dances, such as the waltz. But things tend to get knocked over and/or broken when I move too fast, so I'm rather inhibited, physically."

I've spent a good deal of my life on the water, up to now, if I had to dance, since I didn't know how, I just pretended to be on deck in really rough seas.

[Sam Cree]

It sounds like your political views may be somewhat similar to mine.

I look for threads that discuss such things as what consevatism really is, I enjoy arguing about the definitions.

[JenB]

Anyway, I think Tolkien wrote The Hobbit at a time when he conceived of Middle Earth as a much more "magical" place than it became later. At least, to me, the idea of a man who can shape-change into a bear seems out of place in LOTR.

Wow... interesting perspective. I look at it differently, I see Hobbit as a fairy-tale and the other stories as more mythic. There are shape-changers in Silmarillion, or at least Elves and heroes who can take on other shapes - like when Beren and Luthien snuck into Angband. Or Elwing, who becomes a bird sometimes to fly to Earendil...

I will say that those days are more distant at LotR - we're more often among "civilized" men rather than wild ones. Rohirrim or Gondorians would probably see Beorn as something out of a child's tale, but he fits into his surroundings. He lives way out in the middle of nowhere, which is where you'd expect to find a relic of the older days.

The one thing I do agree with about your comment is that the magic in Middle-Earth fades. Look at the stories of the First Age; there's magic galore. By the end of the Third Age, it's mostly leftover magics by people like Gandalf or the Elves, and they're leaving. As Men come to the fore, the world becomes more mechanical and less wondrous. Now all we have are the stories...