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.

[2Jedismom]

I never leave the Hole, anymore. I've never been to any other discussion thread, except for sending stuff to the troops last Christmas. I will occassionally peruse the Breaking News, but rarely post.

[2Jedismom]

Meet me in the chat with your voice on.

[SuziQ]

"It was the strangest thing. He had gotten out of his bed and was on the floor. But his head was in the chair..."

I had mentioned to y'all that my Mama wasn't doing well just before Isidore hit the Gulf Coast. My sisters put her in the hospital because she had developed pnuemonia. The doctor said that she probably could go back home, but we, and her caregiver, Mary, realized that it would be too much for her to handle. We knew it was time to make other arrangements.

God is so GOOD! My oldest brother e-mailed me today that they were able to put my Mama in a nursing home just South of my hometown; near her siblings and this brother. He mentioned that Mary told him that on the day they were getting ready to go to the hospital, Mama told her that she had just talked to God . When Mary asked what he said, Mama told her "I said "Hi God", and He said "Hi Rita Brown"
Makes me wonder how soon she'll be seeing Him face to face. Sounds like she's ready.

[2Jedismom]

I took care of a dying elderly woman...in her mid 90s. I walked into the room and found her lying in bed, smiling off to the side and I said "What a nice smile!" and she said "I'm smiling at my mother."

I cry to this day thinking of it. I'm crying right now.

[HairOfTheDog]

I haven't left the Hole much since Darth Sidious and 2Trievers were banned, whom I seldom agreed with but were good people, and John Farson, our Hobbit Hole founder. I put in my dues for the 'thon, and even cheerleaded a bit the first day, but a lot of the fun of political debate and political ideology has left for me.

And I applauded most of the other bannings, when only the mean-spirited and crude were banned. Now it is risky to disagree, which threatens even me, if I continued to challenge some of the issues where I think our party is messed up.

I still love it here, and love the mission of conservatism, but not this way. Maybe it will improve in time... I hope so. We have nowhere else to go that is equal... and I have looked.

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

I too loved The Secret of Roan Inish

Thanks for reminding me about it. I must re-rent it sometime soon....

Also, Suzi, I listen to Michael Medved pretty regularly, too, and I really like his program....You too?

[HairOfTheDog]

Since no one in their right mind will touch THAT post with a ten-foot pole, here is some other news from TORN!

Lord Of The Risk!!
10/04/02, 3:54 pm EST - Xoanon

Ringer Spy cracked whip sends along the good news that the LOTR Risk game will be shipping on October 31st! Get ready to roll the die and fight for Middle-earth! [More]

Premiere Mag Calls FOTR #1 Of 15 Years!
10/04/02, 3:47 pm EST - Xoanon

Tommy writes: My local news was saying that Premeier Magizine did a rating of the best movies from the past 15 years and the news said that Fellowship got best! [More]

[2Jedismom]

Premiere Mag Calls FOTR #1 Of 15 Years!

"You ain't seen nuthin' yet...buhbuhbuhbaby!"

[2Jedismom]

Sorry, sis! Gave up on ya! ;-D

Make me up a recording...

[HairOfTheDog]

You know what is interesting about Medved- (I rarely caught his show because it was midday when I never listen to the radio) Is that though he is local to Seattle here, and I think still broadcasts from the KVI studio here, he is not being carried locally anymore. KVI put someone else locally in his time-slot.

Hows that for treatment? - I remember when he was only a local host before he syndicated nationally!

[HairOfTheDog]

In fact I remember when he was a restaurant and movie reviewer or something....

[Overtaxed]

No problem. I think the chat doesn't like Feadogs...or at least doesn't like me playing one. :) I rebooted and cold booted and it kept doing the same thing!

[2Jedismom]

How did that font come out that I sent that email to you?

K

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

I checked out the Eucharist one. I just don't have the time or energy.

Lets just say that I concur with 2JM's earlier statement: "Lets see....the black plague.....or the religious threads.....hmmmmmm"

I think I have to concur with that assessment 2J ;^)

[HairOfTheDog]

The "Finding Peace" one turned out to be about Daniele Vann Damm... and I understood why that got put there... folk got nasty and contentious during that trial. And still are, I gather.

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

Oh. Then I know I have no interest at all in that one either.... *shiver*

I think I'll be mainly hanging out here and just lurking and throwing in occasional pot-shots on a few other threads. But I did donate this time for the first time. I still think it's a good site that deserves support....

[JenB]

Hi, had dinner, checking in before I go off. I have a practice GRE tomorrow, and lots of homework, so we may not see much of me for the next few days. I'm just busy, that's all.

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

See you later....Take care, Hair. I liked your painting, BTW. Reminded me of my youth. I loved rainy days. Still do for that matter....

Busy weekend, may not be able to check in until Monday.....

[HairOfTheDog]

Well! - Have a good weekend, busy people of the Hole!

I will just sit here at chat by myself if I have to! - It will be too rainy to do much else!

[HairOfTheDog]

What's this in the road?.....