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.
I have a copy of that book. I bought it 25+ years ago, when I first discovered Tolkien. I remember I never finished reading it, I was too disappointed that it wasn't set in Middle Earth. I'd probably appreciate it more now, but my copy is still in my parent's house in Michigan.
Darn, I hate being late to a party.
That's okay. Donut time is over. It's time for pints....you buy the first round.
No, those were the Hugo awards. They'll get voted on in August, I believe. The Hugos are - basically, they're voted for by science fiction fans at the Worldcon each year. The Saturns are to recognize movies and tv shows, the Hugos are primarily for stories but have categories for movies, too.
Hey, the Saturn people gave Memento an award! Good for them.
(sigh) That's what I get for being late...
Innkeeper! A round of pints for my fine companions here!
Oh, and a tall glass of clear spring water for myself, thanks.
When you get to talk about everyday things, it means that nothing terrible is happenning in the world. I think we should enjoy the opportunity while it lasts. Grump, grump, grump!!
Uh oh, I forgot I was buying for Hobbits!
No it's not! I just got home! After standing in line for about an hour and a half, we got our doughnuts...3 chocolate glazed, 3 chocolate glazed custard filled, 3 chocolate glazed with sprinkles and 3 blueberry filled powdered. Oh, and a dozen regular glazed, fresh and hot. I ate three of them on the way home!
I also got a cup of coffee which I am drinking while eating chocolate glazed right now. It's very likely I'm going to make myself sick, but you only live once!
So, what you're saying is - we wuz right? Glad you enjoyed 'em. Don't forget tomorrow's breakfast.
Then we got inside and the place where they are made was right there where the boys could watch. The workers were smiling and waving at the boys and they were thrilled. Each person that came through the door had their own "donut getter" and that person stuck with you till you checked out. They just rotated about 15-20 young people through, each helping one person. The line was just as long as it was when we joined it, when we left.
One of the main justifications for socialism is the "good of the community," so it usually makes me worry to hear about such things. But a community has to be made up of individuals.
They are good donuts, but my main reason for wanting to be there is because the whole town is excited about it. I wanted to be a part of the excitement. The boys were excited, the people around us were jovial and friendly and things like this don't happen every day.
It's a kind of social event and it gives us a chance to get out and interact with our local community. No one had to pay property taxes for us to do it, either. ;-)
I know I started it... but I am beginning to hate the word community!
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