Private Eye 'Dear Bill'

[factfinder01]

How was the House of Commons referred to in the Dear Bill letters in Private Eye?

[lilsecret]

sprinter – it may be a good idea to be less dictatorial and sarcastic to users asking questions on here. Probably would be more useful to refer them to the AnswerBank Editor's official comments regarding this issue.

http://www.theanswerb...g/Question859067.html

[Kakuro1]

Here we go again. The Answerbank Editor's official comments have nothing to do with this - the quiz setter has asked that questions for their quiz are not asked on this site. It is not dictatorial or sarcastic to point this out. This quiz will likely not continue if questions continue to be asked here.

[lilsecret]

Kakuro - indeed, here we go again. And once again asking the same question:

Can you kindly show a link where Bill Maclagan, compiler of the quiz in question, has specifically requested that a competitor shall not use AnswerBank or any other Internet forum to obtain answers to Great Fun Quiz or Great Brain Quiz?

In the absence of such evidence, it is perfectly reasonable for anyone to use this site in search of answers.

[lilsecret]

sprinter: That is exactly what this site is for - reminder: It Is AnswerBank.

Kakuro: Equally, this site (AnswerBank) will likely not continue if questions cannot be asked here.

[Daily-Editor]

sprinter53, I think like many others on here, that this subject was fully covered in the link by lilsecret.

The answers in those two great quizzes often require much research and not readily in one's memopry - and the compiler certainly knows that. So entrants should feel free to search wherever - i.e. websites, forums, libraries, archives, databases, ask others, etc.

Or are you suggesting that if one doesn't know the answer then don't bother with the quiz? If the number of entrants decreased there would be many losers. The compiler, the entrants but more importantly the charities which benefit from those quizzes.

In all walks of life, if one seeks an answer, then they ask. And AnswerBank is designed for just that. Asking!

If, as suggested, Bill Maclagan (the compiler) has made that request in his newsletters, then perhaps a direct request to the AnswerBank editor might be the next move.

It is also sad to see that Kakuro is inferring that people who seek help from AnswerBank are less honest than others.

[Kakuro1]

Those who completely disregard the wishes of quiz setters are undoubtedly dishonest.

Lilsecret - I am sorry but you are joking? " Equally, this site (AnswerBank) will likely not continue if questions cannot be asked here"? There are dozens of other quizzes that do not (yet) make the stipulation that there should not be answers asked for on this site. Then there are all the crosswords! And that is just on Q&P!

All the setter of GFQ and GBQ is asking for is for his quizzes to not appear here - perfectly fair on all those who take part.

[Daily-Editor]

Kakuro - and the following is taken from the online entry form for Great Fun Quiz:

A "Three in One" monthly postal (I'm afraid that means snail mail, as the organiser is not on the net), trivia quiz. Around three weeks to complete, use as many reference books, search engines, friends etc. as you can find.
Total Prize Money £1200.


So there is a direct invitation to seek the answers ANYWHERE!

[pulse876]

No Daily Editor you are wrong. All it says on the website (www.greatbrainquiz.co.uk) where the current GBQs and GFQs can be downloaded is:

‘Don't worry if some of the questions appear rather hard. You do have three weeks or so every month to find the answers, and of course you're allowed to 'Google' as much as you like’

The operative word is ‘find’, ie discover the answer yourself by using books or google. Then any answers obtained are not published for the world to see. Googling as much as you like does not mean asking on AB.

[bibblebub]

" Firstly, these 2 quizzes are NOT for charity."

So no different to the many newspaper prize crosswords that asked about in AB. Have I missed postings complaining about them?

[bibblebub]

So you are chastising people for using AB rather than using anagram solvers, dictionary sites etc for themselves?

That's your reason? How pathetic.

[lilsecret]

bibblebub - - yes indeed, you have found the correct word: pathetic. It describes the Internet 'police' perfectly.

Here is a recent thread on the exact same issue; judge for yourself

http://www.theanswerb...s/Question855686.html

and here is the AnswerBank Editor’s comment

http://www.theanswerb...g/Question859067.html

[Kakuro1]

I say it again - if a setter asks that their questions are not asked on this site, that is what should happen. It is interesting that in all of these debates, those who ask the questions here never come back and deny that the setter has said any such thing.