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.

[Corin Stormhands]

Well, you'd better not go for it while I'm putting the little one to bed. Which is coming right up since he didn't nap today (except when he fell asleep in his high chair at dinner).

[Corin Stormhands]

Remember those post Vietnam War t-shirts the veterans wore? (maybe they still do)

When I did I'll go to Heaven, 'cause I've spent my time in Hell.

I could probably sell them over there.

[Overtaxed]

I had filet mignon hickory-smoked on the grill today but I could still go for some wings. Didn't do much...watched the race,let cats in and out....the usual.

[JenB]

Take some time off... relax, read a good book, watch some Gilbert and Sullivan!

[JenB]

By the way Corin, I looked in on one of the threads in the Crusades where you are most active. Would it really surprise you to know that to the side you are not on, some of those who fight "besides you" seem as despiccable as you see some of the opposition? There are some real bad eggs on both sides. I'd wager that there are three times as many nice, pleasant Calvinists just lurking out here as there are throwing mud at you. Same for the Arminianists, I'm sure.

Good for you for getting involved, even if it is on the wrong side - ;-) - but you're one of the few nice guys who dares, I'm sure.

[Corin Stormhands]

Actually Jen, that doesn't surprise me at all. There's a lot of freepmail flying back and forth. I've met some Calvinists I can respect and with whom I can have a civil discussion, even in our disagreements.

And yes, to paraphrase Hagrid, there are many times and Arminian will say something an I'll say "He shouldn'ta said that..."

[JenB]

Yeah, and I know a few good Arminians. However, I have this slight Arminian-aversion since the pastor at our old church had, er, doctrinal errors and I had to have super-sensitive Calvinist shields on all the time... I'll get over it soon with the help of nice people like you!

[Corin Stormhands]

In reality, we're closer than we'll admit. There are some major differences. But the major similarities outweigh them, or at least they should.

[JenB]

Yah - "Jesus Christ, and Him crucified", as Paul would say. After all, it matters not if we are "of Paul or Apollos", for all those who really teach Christianity are "God's fellow-laborers".

[Corin Stormhands]

Of course is that Paul the Calvinist or Paul the Arminian? ;-)

[JenB]

Definitely Paul preached a Calvinist position, my misguided Arminian friend!

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Definitely Paul preached a Calvinist position, my misguided Arminian friend!

Your discussions kind of remind me of some I have had with some Orthodox types. Pretty civil, unless we get into Papal infalibility!! Of course us papists, and the Orthodox are in firm agreement about both Arminianism and Calvinism.

[JenB]

Yes, and we are sure that you and the Orthodox are suffering from the same delusions! (Funny how we say the same Apostles' Creed, but us Protestant types use a lower case 'c' for "catholic church", to make it ok)....

Hey, Corin, we can agree that neither of our sides is papist, right?

Oh, again this is totally tongue in cheek. No need to start a sub-Crusade in here!

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

No need to start a sub-Crusade in here!

Except against Sauron, of course!

[Corin Stormhands]

Hey, Corin, we can agree that neither of our sides is papist, right?

Well, I'm pretty sure we can agree with that here. But over "there" all weekend they've been telling me how Arminianism is closed to Roman Catholicism. And, actually, much of the doctrine is similar. But Wesley was pretty anti-Rome.

But as I see it, we're all in force together against the same Dark Lord.

Just like in Middle-Earth...

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

But over "there" all weekend they've been telling me how Arminianism is closed to Roman Catholicism.

I am just guessing, but I suppose they think that would be a 'bad thing'. Too bad, this being a political site, that they can't concentrate on the common enemy. It is worse than the Bushies and the Bush-bashers (and I have been called both, on the same thread too!)

[Corin Stormhands]

Too bad, this being a political site, that they can't concentrate on the common enemy.

Well, I didn't quote you, cause I wouldn't want to drag you into it. But I did reference your comment from the other day about the fact that we have enough evil to be fighting without fighting with those who share our value system.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Well, I didn't quote you, cause I wouldn't want to drag you into it.

Thank you for that, as you remember I can get into plenty of hot water on my own. Anybody see the sense in it? Maybe I should come over with some holy water and bless everyone, or do you think that might not be taken the right way?

[HairOfTheDog]

Hullo!

I was a busy person the last couple of days - went carousing with some friends last night... stayed out till the wee hours and finished it off with breakfast!

Today I went to a horse show and watched a friend of mine compete in Dressage. She did well... She competes on a small spotted pony in the high-brow sport of dressage, competing against the tall handsome thoroughbreds and warmbloods. And she won the first test today with the best score. Good for her! Here are some pictures of her in action:

For those of you not familiar with dressage, the sport is equivalent to figure skating. The horse and rider must perform a precise pattern of movements and are judged on teamwork, suppleness, correctness and form.

I wanted to learn dressage with Bay when I got him back, but gave it up quick because he hates the work. His heart is out in the hills on trail, and he is such a good guy, he can choose the work he likes as far as I am concerned.

So I came home and took him for a nice ride around the property which we both enjoyed. Now as an extra treat, he is mowing my lawn.

Hope all of you had a good day...

Corin, beware the religion forum... there be dragons there!

2J - thanks for the ping to Dubya with the sword... I do love a man with a sword!

CAV - Pinging you here for the general news flash - hope you had a good day haying!

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Good night, everyone... doing nothing all day sure can tire a person out.

Here's a friendly sort of nightlight...