Scrabble, anyone?

[kayla]

Hey there: I am looking for a Scrabble players, to get some games going, either on occasion or a regular meet-up. Any leads welcome. Blessings, Kayla

[jewelbridge]

Hey there: I am looking for a Scrabble players, to get some games going, either on occasion or a regular meet-up. Any leads welcome. Blessings, Kayla

Hello Kayla:
What a great idea! I would love to play scrabble. I live in San Francisco but drive to Sebastopol every week. From past experience I do think that a 'regular' meet-up group would work best because having a regular date and location encourages more people to show up.
In any case I praise you for your efforts. Hope to see you very soon.
Jewelbridge

[Ice Queen]

Hey there: I am looking for a Scrabble players, to get some games going, either on occasion or a regular meet-up. Any leads welcome. Blessings, Kayla

If you are over 50, people meet once a week to play /scrabble at the Bennett Valley Senior Center in /Santa Rosa.

[authenticeye]

I recently discovered there are activities at the Sebastopol Senior Center - next to the Library. On Fridays they hold a Scrabble meet-up at 1:30. Something to consider rather than having to start from scratch!

[silkworm]

That depends - do you know the 2 and 3 letter words?

If so, you'll blow me off the board before I can put my Q-U-I-Z-Z-E-D down on a triple word and triple Q and/or Z.

You can also play with a CD - it is put out by the Scrabble Hasb . . . ? company (?) and you can play with the maven/internal Scrabble computer choosing 1 of 6 levels. Not connected with internet; the disc has to be in the computer. Is lots of fun. Keeps score for you. Silkworm.

[Sara S]

I have lists of all the two- and three- letter words........not fair, I guess, though, to consult them while playing.....

That depends - do you know the 2 and 3 letter words?

If so, you'll blow me off the board before I can put my Q-U-I-Z-Z-E-D down on a triple word and triple Q and/or Z.

You can also play with a CD - it is put out by the Scrabble Hasb . . . ? company (?) and you can play with the maven/internal Scrabble computer choosing 1 of 6 levels. Not connected with internet; the disc has to be in the computer. Is lots of fun. Keeps score for you. Silkworm.

[The Owl]

I have lists of all the two- and three- letter words........not fair, I guess, though, to consult them while playing.....

I don't enjoy the game when the object of the other person is simply to use all the 2 and 3 letter words they can find just to win fast... I'm not very competitive. I'd rather play with someone who is interested in words and who takes hours if need be. I like to express my vocabulary, take several turns, maybe , try to assemble really LONG words, if possible...

[Dixon]

I'm up for an occasional Scrabble game. I'd describe myself as a decent but not good player. I haven't memorized all the 2- and 3-letter words, but I've learned a few of the unusual "Scrabble words", like "za" and "xu", through experience. I get a bingo, on average, every 2 or 3 games. I'm a good sport whether I win or lose, as long as everyone plays fair and has fun. Give me a call if you're interested. (707) 527-6163.

["Mad" Miles]

Games Suck!

That's why I don't play them. Except for the necessary, unavoidable and immediate ones: Politics, Conversation, Debate, Life, Romance (although I prefer to not play the latter, even though it seems inescapable.)

I mostly find games boring, that's why I've avoided them since the age of twelve, or so.

But there are certain ones that appeal: Scrabble is one, checkers, chess, also fencing, sailing, rock climbing, knife throwing, kendo, (very little experience, if any, especially recently, with the latter five) conversation, internet badinage and debate, yadda, yadda, yadda...

Play on!

That whole two and three letter word strategy is a definite turn off. Jeeze, there's always a rub. Games SUCK!

Maybe it's because when I get going I'm so competitive, and I hate to lose!!!

I mean really, does it matter? And who really cares?

Divertissement, passing time with others, I suppose that will take on renewed importance once the grid goes down...........

[Dixon]

Games SUCK!
Maybe it's because when I get going I'm so competitive, and I hate to lose!!!

Yup, that's why you don't like them. You've gotta be willing to lose gracefully in order to fully enjoy playing--and in order to be fun to play with!

For me games work best when everyone involved plays fair without wanting to fudge things (for instance, not wanting to take their turn over again if they screwed it up), shows respect for their opponents by trying their best to slaughter them, and either wins or loses gracefully, remembering that it's just a game. It's good to get our aggressions out on the gameboard so we can be kinder and gentler in real life. You must try your best to win in order to best enjoy the game, but you CAN'T be attached to winning.

[podfish]

.... It's good to get our aggressions out on the gameboard so we can be kinder and gentler in real life. You must try your best to win in order to best enjoy the game, but you CAN'T be attached to winning.

that's a part of it, but there's the whole dimension of exercise in the broadest possible sense of the word (though it's just as true of competitive sports). Games abstract the kind of skills and thought patterns you encounter as you live your life, but they isolate and highlight them, removing the complications that arise when you have real consequences. Thus the dislike for playing with people who -do- get too caught up in winning and losing. People are wired to take pleasure in learning and problem-solving, and enjoy being able to measure their achievements. It's nice to do it in a sandbox sometimes.

[jaybeetee]

Learning and using the 2 and 3 letter words is part of the game. I do not understand the need to denigrate people who have studied to improve their game and word knowledge. I agree it would not be fun to play against someone who knows them if you do not. So just find someone of your similar skill level.

There is a great place to play Scrabble online, for people of all skill levels: beginners to the world champs play there. For free (membership optional). Internet Scrabble Club https://www.isc.ro/

If people do get together in Sonoma County, I would be interested in joining in. But, FYI, I know all the 2 letter words and about half the 3 letter words. If anyone is interested in the word lists to improve their game, I can email them to you.

- JBT

[The Owl]

It's not a lack of skill but a preference arising out of a noncompetitive mind set that would rather luxuriate than just "get off"... I know all the 2 and 3 letter words, I just find games based purely on winning as quickly as you can dull and uninteresting... I love words and as a lover I take my time... ..

[Imagery]

I simply play Yahoo Literati - and don't care if I win or lose. It's simply to enjoy the game. The agreement I have with my regular opponent is that there are no two and three letter words until the last 10 tiles - 4 letter minimum until then.

[Dixon]

I know all the 2 and 3 letter words...

All of them? I seriously doubt it, Paul!

It's not a lack of skill but a preference arising out of a noncompetitive mind set that would rather luxuriate than just "get off"... I just find games based purely on winning as quickly as you can dull and uninteresting...

It sounds like games based on competition, i.e. most games, just aren't your cup of tea. I certainly wouldn't want to play, for instance, Scrabble with you if you were playing "noncompetitively" instead of showing me the respect of trying your best to slaughter me. Fortunately, there are some really cool games that are non-competitive. Lately I've been into a board game called Pandemic, in which the 2-4 players cooperate to "defeat" 4 different plagues before they overtake the world. There IS an element of competition, but it's the players against the diseases, not against each other. It's great fun. You might enjoy it.

I love words and as a lover I take my time...

Getting in a little advertising, eh? LOL! But seriously, as you know, I too love words, and as you may not know, I too take my time as a lover. I see no contradiction between that and going all out to defeat one's opponent in a game.

[The Owl]

All of them? I seriously doubt it, Paul!

I just never felt the people who designed the game had that in mind... you can play that way all you want, I'd imagine you'd have no shortage of takers.



It sounds like games based on competition, i.e. most games, just aren't your cup of tea. I certainly wouldn't want to play, for instance, Scrabble with you if you were playing "noncompetitively" instead of showing me the respect of trying your best to slaughter me. Fortunately, there are some really cool games that are non-competitive. Lately I've been into a board game called Pandemic, in which the 2-4 players cooperate to "defeat" 4 different plagues before they overtake the world. There IS an element of competition, but it's the players against the diseases, not against each other. It's great fun. You might enjoy it.

Don't play... that's fine, I have friends who enjoy the word crafting aspect of the game as much as I do... you can go prove how clever you are at knowing all the 2 and 3 letter word shortcuts. It's just not for me.


Getting in a little advertising, eh? LOL! But seriously, as you know, I too love words, and as you may not know, I too take my time as a lover. I see no contradiction between that and going all out to defeat one's opponent in a game.

Generalize if you must... I'm referring specifically to Scrabble... other games are another issue altogether.