I have been very much disappointed that there have been so few post about interesting words.
I have made several (perhaps too many) posts using tsuwm's wwftd, to which I added information which I hoped would stimulate further discussion, and prompt other members to do likewise, in which I have been further disappointed. My posting four words yesterday was not an ego trip, it was just to show how easily others could make even more interesting posts. Instead, my favorite sparring partner gave me the Bronx cheer.

bill, I considered answering this via PM, but it's prolly worth discussing in the clear. I've found from putting together that word list you've been plundering ;) that most folks don't particularly enjoy perusing a word list, but (when words interest them at all) would rather have them come up in some sort of context. (Anu tries to add context by having weekly themes and adding plentiful citations -- and there are gratuitous quotes.) if one of us comes across a new word, or an unusual context, or a usage that seems to have a high level of bogosity, then she might think about bringing it to the board to see if it sparks mutual interest. I think (and I'm sure I'll be castigated if I'm wrong) that Faldage was reflecting the attitude that merely dredging up a bunch of words from one of the many wordlists to be found online doesn't provide much (otherwise hopefully interesting) contextual background.

does this make any sense atall?

Instead, my favorite sparring partner gave me the Bronx cheer.

Wahoo, has Anu added audio capabilities to the Board? Or maybe you were just hearing some static, Bill!

Dear tsuwm: It seems to me that you have missed an important point. Your list of unusual words gives only a very brief definition and discussion of them There are many that ought be worth discussing at more length, which your site does not provide for. It seems that only about one percent of posts are what Anu hoped to see.

Dear CK: just for me, Faldage commissioned a special full color Activision Emoticon, with an extra long vibrating tongue and Flatosound.

has Anu added audio capabilities to the Board?

If so -- dear lord, please don't pass that news to the folks doing the "bagpipes" thread.

More seriously: tsuwm, in many cases your point is well taken -- but I believe you are overmodest: could not some of your words, judiciously selected, trigger interesting discussions? (cf. -pyg-)

Bill, don't take it to heart if your efforts to get something going don't succeed. I have proposed subjects which I thought would provoke a lively interest only to see them go over like a lead balloon. On the other hand, there have been offhand or tentative remarks which have taken off and run into pages and pages. If you've ever given a party you are probably familiar with the feeling of wanting it to go well and feeling that it isn't or being surprised to find that it's going like a house afire. And you can't force such things -- trying too hard makes it worse. I don't know of many people who are fond of the types like the social directors on cruises who keep prodding people to get involved. Que sera, sera.

Dear Bob: I just wish it were clear how much actual distaste there is for my trying to get more word posts. How many wish I would quit trying.

Bill sweetie, there are a tremendous quantity of word posts. I find that people tend to respond more to things they can put into personal context. It is like jumping into a crowd and saying “tire irons” then “discuss” and leaving the room – this inevitably falls flat. There is no context there.

Now if you say ‘dag nabbit, the tire irons that came with my Toyota are really shoddy’ people will invariable jump in.

Look at most of the posts on Board and you will see that this holds true. I’ve seen you do it in this way many times in the past and it went quite well. Unfortunately the word posts you put in looked a bit like dictionary entries. “Achates”- “discuss”

Dear belMarduk: There are a great many words that just the dictionary cannot do justice to. For each of those four words I found new information, and hoped that others would know still more interesting things about them For instance, I found a site that indicated that Achates was a healer. Not clear if he was a physician, or a military surgeon and was needed for his skills in the fighting at Troy. I hoped somebody like CK would know. I did not mention that, as I was leaving room for someone else to make a post.

I found a site that indicated that Achates was a healer...I hoped somebody like CK would know.

Sorry, Father William, but Greek mythology/history ain't my thing. Unless Stella Artois was a Greek ....? No, perhaps not.

Why do I think that NicholasW might be able to enlighten you?