h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Moan away...

Greebs..xx

Well, to be honest, it just seems like the points aren't really won on merit at all. Using a web-based or other anagram solver, renders actually finding 'the' or 'a' word fairly straightforward in a way that is not open to, say, contestants on Countdown. And the fact that basically it's down to 'luck' since you have to arrange to be (a) near a computer (b) online and (c) awake and constantly checking your 'recent entries' list for a range of time that I've read elsewhere is 'between 11pm and 2am'. I know you've recently introduced lower case letters to avoid disenfranchising the dyslexic community - couldn't there be some way of not disenfranchising those who don't or can't get to the page at that time.

I have read the discussions others have had before with you on this point, and on your defence of Shazz taking part - usually with competitions any 'employees or their relatives or friends' are barred from taking part, so that they are above even suspicion... And with reference to my earlier point about when people are online - obviously the Post team are generally going to be online around the time that Word Play and the Post comes out.

I hope you see my points. I'm not trying to attack what you do either with Word Play or in your wider work with the Post and h2g2, in fact I think you do a fantastic job. But I just don't think there's really a level playing field here.

That's my , if I've got the smiley right. And of course I'll keep competing - perhaps I can last the course this round and stay in the top 10 or so... seems to be the best I can aim for.

Later,

rt

Me hopes you feel better getting that off your chest... ~hugs~ and as it is obvious you have read most of my replies to the various conversations that have appeared in the Word Play threads... me shall try very hard not to repeat myself... and thank you for allowing me to bring this conversation to you lovely home... rather than litter the Word Play conversation with it... you are most considerate...

Please bear with me as me works through your conversation...

Firstly the way Word Play is run... The way the internet/h2g2/the post works it would be virtually impossible to run the game any differently than it is... no matter what time of day me posted nine letters there would always be someone with an advantage over others... it would be the same no matter where this type of game was run from on the internet... it is unfair me can't deny it... But to be honest there is no way around it... and as to using various spelling sites on the internet... they are open to everyone... and if you need or want to use them... that is up to the individual...

As to Shazz taking part... For the past couple of weeks or so she has not been the first to Post at all... she is as busy as me is on Post nights... and me NEVER tells her when me is going to post Word Play... She does not have any fore knowledge as to what the word might be, she does not even get a copy of the coding for the week. The first time she see's the 9 letters is when she realises that me has posted them... or when she see's the Word Play conversation racing to the top of the list... Me has many friends on h2g2... and me would never bar any of them from a quiz or game that me is running... Me has always believed in honesty... and why bother taking the time to run contests and such if you are going to cheat... Me can only repeat what me has said before... Shazz nor me would never condone cheating... in ourselves or others... but you can only take our word for it... that Shazz has an advantage over others is obviously not the case or she would get the first answer each time... the only advantage she has is that she is an extremily intelligent woman... who enjoys wordgames and is good at unscrambling letters into words...

Me does understand your points... and me must apologise for the time it took me to respond... me is a little tired and me had to think my way through this one... All me can finally say... if you want to play Word Play or any similar game you have to understand its limitations... Me is sorry that no matter how me puts it my answers are always the same on this problem... there is no fairer way of running Word Play, unless you can suggest different... Me is always happy to listen to suggestions...

Greebs..xx

well you got me. i obviously did need to get something off my chest and to be honest it probably wasn't that, word play just ended up getting my frustration.

once again i've been completely unfair to you and also to Shazz.

thank you for your kind words about my home. the roof needs some more work, to be honest - i haven't added anything to it for quite a bit.

i can see that there is not really any other way to run it and of course you must fit in with the publishing deadlines of The Post. i actually think that you do a wonderful job of keeping all us avid players under control and it must be hard both to find a suitable set of 9 letters each week and to then get someone like me shooting off his mouth without thinking.

i did not mean to cast any aspersions (is that like fishing?) on you or Shazz, although I'm interested to hear you say that she sees the conversation at the top of the list - does that mean the conversation is available before the letters are published so that people can subscribe to it beforehand? anyway, if i did suggest that either of you were cheating i take it back as it is obviously untrue, and unworthy of me to suggest it.

don't *you* apologise for the time you took over your response, you are a kind and generous respondent who has taken the trouble to give me an answer i shouldn't really have required.

once again i am sorry, and with your permission i'll post a short retraction in the word play thread about my 'remind me...' comment

thanks again - i really do enjoy word play, will continue to take part knowing both its and my limitations and what's more i'll be satisfied with that. please don't take my moan as representative of my usual self...?

rt

Hi again rooftiler... ~hug~... don't worry... you had a concern and you expressed it... there is nothing to apologise about... better out than in they say... ~Greebo thinks about this~... hmm but maybe folks are talking about something else when they say this... ~wink~

When me said about the conversation going to the top of the list me was referring to the Post Office Conversation List... we always click the [Click here to be notified of new Conversations about this Guide Entry ] button each time we write an article for The Post... makes it easier to keep an eye on the conversations for all the articles posted... or any problems that someone might be wanting to point out about a particular piece... The shell page (the ones with the strange duck graphic that we use for all pre posted post pages' for Word Play is often posted on the Tuesday each week... and the coding is added late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning.. No doubt other researchers find the page as well and subscribe as we do... or more likely for those REALLY eager to post first... find the shell page... and keep refreshing around Posting Time until it appears... (That's dedication for you!!!)

As me said before you have nothing to apologise nor worry over... a retraction is not needed... but if it makes you feel better then post away... ~grin~... and if you ever feel in need of venting further frustration... then please nip over to my home page and vent to your hearts content... about whatever.... talking to strangers often helps... and you don't get much stranger than me... ~happy grin~ In the meantime... be assured me thinks no less of you for moaning... and indeed would never feel that it is representative of your usual self... not that there would be anything wrong with you if it were... you seem perfectly fine to me... and me is always a good judge of people... ~bigger huggle~

Greebs..xx