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]

Yes...and when that dark shadow rears up and then disappears on the wind at the end, well...that's just how you feel about the story...

[HairOfTheDog]

Do you think they are going to the place at the falls? - I remember seeing early pictures of the falls, but the trailer and the descriptions on the screencaps at the official site indicates they are going to Osgiliath.

[Corin Stormhands]

There is something very wrong with both of you, you know....

Yes, but that's why you love us so...

[Corin Stormhands]

MY FIRST ONE!

RWRF talks about his first time...

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh be easy on Elrond, he is just acting as the concerned father! A raffish man is going to take his daughter away, and that love will bring her death, when she could have life.

Why does she have to give up her immortality? - Why couldn't she share one lifetime with him, and then go on to the other ages of the world alone?

[JenB]

"Hers was the choice of Luthien"

She could not wed Aragorn if she was not willing to forsake her own people and cleave to him. She had to choose which people she would be part of - it a choice given to Elrond, Elros, and Elrond's children.

[2Jedismom]

All this talk reminds me of the early days in the old Hole.

[JenB]

Yes! It's good to be back!

Also about the Luthien-choice - Men and Elves have different afterlives. Arwen was choosing to stay with Aragorn in this life, and always.

[HairOfTheDog]

But is that a functional limitation on her life or a philosophical one? What if she didn't choose, or chose not to obey this principle, I wonder? - Aw heck Hair... it's fiction!

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

WOW! I saw it several times. Awesome is such an overused word nowadays, but it certainly fits. I predict TTT will win the Best Picture Oscar. It looks like it has something for everyone and will be relevant to current events, what with talk of wimping out changing into talk of war (Theoden). Lots more for the ladies to be interested in, too, with the love triangle, etc...

I CAN'T WAIT!

[HairOfTheDog]

We need this new material eh? The next few months will be fun...

It is interesting though... last year, there were a bazillion threads, new discussions every day, and this time around we seem to only pour our hearts out here!

Is there any duty to talk on the other threads that will inevitably be posted so outsiders can share our interest? It seems unfair for me to go on other threads and just say "yeah this is cool, but we already covered it at length in the Hobbit Hole!"

[JenB]

Heh... well, we're cutting down on the bandwidth! Just invite any likely parties over here for seedcakes and conversation.

[ksen]

Oh......my........word!!!!!

Somebody......fetch my medicine!!!!!!

*pant* *pant* The new trailer is AWESOME!

How could PJ DO this to us!?!?!?!?!?!? How in the world can we possibly last 78 more days?

BTW, do we know who Frodo is trying to stab? Hope it's not poor Sam.

[Overtaxed]

Oh be easy on Elrond, he is just acting as the concerned father!

I wasn't talking about the father part. It looks like he's given up hope on the mission and on the future of Middle Earth.

[2Jedismom]

Pretty good, huh? See why I was having a cow?

[HairOfTheDog]

You think? - I think it will most certainly be nominated! - But this one has neither a beginning or an end! I predict they award the third film, in recognition of the complete work... but what do I know?

Interesting observation about the link to current attitudes!

"I will not risk open war"
"Whether you risk it or not, war is upon you"

The wimmen will be pleased again this film, yes, for the same reasons they were pleased last time, and it will have nothing to do with the chicks in the film! ;~D

[osagebowman]

JenB, well written, wise beyond your years.

[ksen]

What was that Elrond was saying about there being no more alliance between men and elves? Well all I've got to say about that is "fah foo!" ;^)

[JenB]

Yah... multiple handsome, noble, heroic Men, Elves, Hobbits - Dwarves if you're a little kinky, I guess - that's a chick flick, all right!

[HairOfTheDog]

Hullo Mr. bowman! - What do you think of this new footage? Are you getting excited too?