Thanks for your insight, Nick. So, you aren't the troll I thought you were last night? Not that the play you made was terrible; I set it up... it just wasn't the 8-letter word posted in chat. And that seems to be the crux of the game, we accept the people who do as we expect.
As a social experiment, I think this game has evolved just as society has -- whatever the "group think" is the norm, whether it is wrong or right.
I have been curious, too... is this experiment part of ongoing research in a psychological or sociological project?
I have been frustrated on these boards; frustrated by newbies, trolls and experts alike -- even by Tom, who blithely tells folks to play "any way you like".
I have had immense fun on these boards, too. I particularly like it when I am playing with OttO. I yelled at teddy in the beginning, but once I sent him an online wordfinder he became a respectable player -- indeed, being accepted on the "expert" boards before I was (but then, I had unknown strikes against me just being a webbie!).
I don't like playing the "expert" boards. I will pop in there when I realize someone appears to have no-one to play with, but it is not really my cuppa. I would ask the experts that, when they are slumming in the lower boards, please don't make a play that you wouldn't play on your own boards. We may not be shooting for 1800, but there are many folks playing cooperatively that care about the set-ups.
I don't understand why 15-letter words are 'illegal'. It seems to take a lot more strategy to set that up than to plop 10 letters into an anagramer. Anagramming takes no strategy -- unless you are a webbie who is trying to use one online and get back before you time out! I figured out how to do it, and I was deemed "acceptable". Well, that, and I am great at set-ups -- TLS's are my favorite squares! Experts: if you want that 1800, ya need to better utilize those TLS's (I heard that scoff!).
I seem to be rambling, but I've said my peace.
Thanks again, Nick.
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