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.
2 1/2 years ago, we had our house all "together." Downstairs was a country kitchen/den, a formal living room, formal dining room and a half bath. Upstairs was 4 bedrooms(one for the Mrs. and me and one for Corin, Jr.), one office and one guest room.
Now that Corin III is here, we lost the upstairs office to his room. So downstairs is now a country kitchen, office and living room/playroom. We gave up on having the magazine look. We'll get that back when he's a teenager and won't come out of his room...
Later.
Kitty doesn't like that sound! Okay I've got the potato chips and am watching Welcome to Middle Earth.
I'll know in about 2 hours!! :-)
Actually, they're 3 boys! Don't worry, we get that a lot!! He wants to have long dreadlocks like his Mom, and we've decided to let him go for it. Been a good lesson in sticking up for yourself, and taking compliments - he either gets teased for his hair, or gets gushing compliments. Not much in between! Should be better once he can pull it all back in a ponytail. I'm biased but...he's 10, homeschooled, an incredible artist, polite, respectful, intelligent, and named Lysander. Probably be more of a girl magnet than his Dad ever was! LOL!!
sob!
HI HOTdog...Thank you for posting the account about the breakfast with Dom. Have been wrapped up in family life for the last two days. Went out and got my DVD from Toys R Us...question: did anyone else here get theres from that store...and did they get ALL four posters for one DVD? I have a reason for asking this, but I wanted to find out the truth before mouthing off...(as I am wont to do...)
I am a bit curious as to why you included the Directors/producers/promoters as endorsing this view of LoTR through a hippy's eyes in your post over at the Green Dragon... I haven't heard anyone else endorse this view, and I have a feeling a couple of Dom's other comments would cause them to make a frowning face! In other words, I think Dom was talking a little loose here, and only talking for himself.
As per article... you see, the thing about the internet is...it's text...and the thing about expressing emotion is...through text...and the thing about not quite getting the right emotion expressed is a bit of a challenge, especially when one is simply throwing out a comment in order to join in on the general conversation. So please understand, I am not RILED about it, but as I expressed in the other thread, some of the statements that I have heard the various people associated with the film, (not just some of the actors) and yes, even among fans themselves, about the use of drugs in reference to writing the books, hit a nerve. And its a nerve that has become all too sensitive to the cultural influences of the past 30 years. Sorry, but I am in my mid-thirties. I remember the 70s the first time around...and all the silliness that came with it.
and no, I do not have 'actual' documentation of each and every one of the above mentioned people (writers/directors/etc)...they have ALL been EXTREMELY true to the spirit of Tolkien's work. You are correct in gently pointing out that I should not make blanket statements like that. My apologies.
However, when director/actors/etc proudly proclaim their undying love for John Lennon, the little alarm bells go off. How could they POSSIBLY favor *HIM* over Paul McCartney, the TRUE musician of the group???? GAH. The correlations that spring up in my mind are unavoidable...
John Lennon=drugs=so-called 'creativity'=unkempt hair and beard=hippie.
Sorry, but I remember all of that too. I was SO GLAD when Duran Duran came out with their beautiful faces and beautiful hair cuts. The slap in the face the 70s needed.
Just my humble opinion!
HI HOTdog...Thank you for posting the account about the breakfast with Dom. Have been wrapped up in family life for the last two days. Went out and got my DVD from Toys R Us...question: did anyone else here get theres from that store...and did they get ALL four posters for one DVD? I have a reason for asking this, but I wanted to find out the truth before mouthing off...(as I am wont to do...)
I am a bit curious as to why you included the Directors/producers/promoters as endorsing this view of LoTR through a hippy's eyes in your post over at the Green Dragon... I haven't heard anyone else endorse this view, and I have a feeling a couple of Dom's other comments would cause them to make a frowning face! In other words, I think Dom was talking a little loose here, and only talking for himself.
As per article... you see, the thing about the internet is...it's text...and the thing about expressing emotion is...through text...and the thing about not quite getting the right emotion expressed is a bit of a challenge, especially when one is simply throwing out a comment in order to join in on the general conversation. So please understand, I am not RILED about it, but as I expressed in the other thread, some of the statements that I have heard the various people associated with the film, (not just some of the actors) and yes, even among fans themselves, about the use of drugs in reference to writing the books, hit a nerve. And its a nerve that has become all too sensitive to the cultural influences of the past 30 years. Sorry, but I am in my mid-thirties. I remember the 70s the first time around...and all the silliness that came with it.
and no, I do not have 'actual' documentation of each and every one of the above mentioned people (writers/directors/etc)...they have ALL been EXTREMELY true to the spirit of Tolkien's work. You are correct in gently pointing out that I should not make blanket statements like that. My apologies.
However, when director/actors/etc proudly proclaim their undying love for John Lennon, the little alarm bells go off. How could they POSSIBLY favor *HIM* over Paul McCartney, the TRUE musician of the group???? GAH. The correlations that spring up in my mind are unavoidable...
John Lennon=drugs=so-called 'creativity'=unkempt hair and beard=hippie.
Sorry, but I remember all of that too. I was SO GLAD when Duran Duran came out with their beautiful faces and beautiful hair cuts. The slap in the face the 70s needed.
Just my humble opinion!
sorry!!!!
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