Listener 3959

[gribble]

I just cannot get started on this one, can anyone please give me just one or two answers to hopefully get me started
PS I understand if I don't get any replies
thank you

[Quizmonster]

Here's 16 across...
The 'age of great charm' would normally be 'sweet sixteen', but - as per the preamble - 'all numerical values must be doubled'. Accordingly, what goes into the grid is 'sweet thirtytwo' which is an anagram of the rest of the clue: 'the twisty tower'.
That's the approach, Gribble.

PS If anyone whines about the above reply, I shall provide several more. I'm tired now of presenting my arguments as to why The Listener is not a 'special case'.

[gribble]

thank you very, very much, I should be able to make a start now ( have only completed two grids in the six months or so since I started, am usually able to make a start but the clue type completely confused me this time) thanks again

[jabone]

Well done Quizmonster, I agree that it should not be a special case, and help such as you have given to gribble is entirely positive.

[bunstance]

I don't think Quizmonster's post can pass without comment, not because of the spoiler (which is unlikely to do significant harm) but because of the threat contained in the PS.

QM, of course no-one can stop you posting more answers, or even a full solution, but if you do so now, it will be quite clear that your motive is spite against people who dare to voice opposition to your views. I think it is contemptible to attempt to stifle disagreement in this way, and I hope no-one is put off contributing their views by such means.

[Quizmonster]

Shoemakers! You have no right at all to decide what my motive is. I've told you and your ilk what my motive is a dozen times...namely, to put you Listenerites who happily divulge answers to other prize crosswords in your place by treating your supposedly 'sacrosanct' puzzle in an identical fashion.
If that is 'contemptible' and 'spiteful' on my part, then so is your behaviour. You think what you like! I act on the basis of what I think. You know what that is and I shan't explain it ever again.

So, Gribble, you did ask for (quote) "one or two answers". In accordance with AnswerBank's stated policy of providing answers to questions, here's the second. 26 D is soffourod instead of "softwood".

Thanks for your supportive comment, by the way, Jabone.

[gribble]

quizmonster, thanks to you Ive been able to complete about ten answers now and enjoying it, don't think I will complete though.
sorry if my post has caused you aggravation, I just wish people would ignore posts they object to

[Quizmonster]

No problem, G...I can cope with the whingeing. I'm just glad you're enjoying the challenge, so stick with it!

[bunstance]

QM: Your own description of your motive as being "to put [people] in their place" says all that needs saying.

Gribble: I don't think it is necessarily a good idea to ignore messages that warn people off dissenting, especially when the warning is backed with threats.

[Quizmonster]

Aren't you trying to put me in my place then...namely, the Listener's 'naughty step' where I'm supposed to sit in silence whatever I think?
If a socialist says, "All property is theft", is a property-owner entitled to accuse him of spiteful viciousness? Or could it be that the former genuinely believes in public ownership?

Now, run along...do!

(My apologies, Gribble, for this whole nutty intrusion into your thread. Cheers)

[THECORBYLOON]

bunstance do you not think folk will be put off asking for hints or answers because folk such as you think it wrong?

[bunstance]

THECORBYLOON: Your question is to some extent founded on a misapprehension. I don't think it is "wrong" to ask for help, nor do I have any particular problem with the kind of spoilers given in this thread or typically seen on this site. If you want to know what I *do* think, you could do a search for Listener 3952 on this site.

I suspect you have been misled by QM's habit of lumping together all Listener fans as "Listenerites" and then attributing to us, en bloc, a set of views and values that don't seem to fit any individual that I've come across. "We" are actually a fairly a diverse group; see
http://crosswordcentre.barcombe.net/archive/li st.php?page=2
to get an idea of the range of opinions of the Listener crowd.

But to come back to your question, I think my answer would tend to be "no". For a start (though it may not be a major point) I can't remember any requests to stop *asking* questions, merely to stop *answering* them.

More to the point, simply telling people to stop doing things very rarely works; it is far more likely to put people's backs up.

Even worse is to try to stop people voicing their views by threatening them. But that is where we came in, and where I think I shall bow out.

[cluelessJoe]

Bunstance, thanks for your measured response. I agree, and am sickened at the unnecessarily aggressive and belligerent attitude adopted by Quizmonster - not just in this post but in a succession of earlier ones.
Sadly B (as you note), to ask this individual to start behaving reasonably is futile. He has a personal agenda which in his eyes clearly overrides any appeal to observe the spirit of the Listener.
Of course there is no problem in seeking and offering subtle guidance - we all have to start somewhere, and even the seasoned performer might seek the odd nudge.
However, there is no need to adopt this belligerent attitude against "Listnerites" - Quizmonster your opening PS is contemptively aggressive, as are your later childish responses. Presumably it gives you some kind of thrill to act thus ... well maybe you should just go ahead and get your kicks in revealing a load of answers to this puzzle as you threaten. In so doing, you will fortunately inflict minimal damage on what you term "the precious statistics" on one of the least challenging offerings of the year.
However, you will still receive from some quarters the admiration you clearly seek, and rejoice in the fact that you have once again done your utmost to spoil the enjoyment of many 'clean' Listener solvers.
As Bunstance clearly expresses, there's no such thing as a pigeonholed "Listnerite" - we are a diverse group who just enjoy the challenge. Your agenda, judging from your many aggressive posts, is to undermine and spoil the enjoyment of the majority of those who enjoy the challenges offered by this particular puzzle.
Please, do refrain from such confrontational posts - if you wish to help, then do so, but within the spirit of the Listener. Nobody admires your frequently expressed desire to undermine the special nature of this particular puzzle - and however you choose to argue your case, YES the Listener is special to many, so please make an effort to

[Quizmonster]

Life really is too short to bother responding to either of you in detail. Been there, done that. So, repeat after me...

"The Listener is not special and if its fans feel free to provide answers to other prize crosswords, they have no right to object if someone provides answers to theirs!

Make that a morning and night mantra and you may eventually grasp what my attitude really is.

[gribble]

sorry, but I really think people should not click on questions that they don't like, people should either answer the question or not , its as simple as that, it really isn't that important to me either way, it is only a crossword albeit a very difficult one ( for me that is )

[Quizmonster]

Just don't be put off, G, from asking such questions in future. I shall simply answer them - if I can - and will certainly not get you involved again in the above sort of nonsense. Cheers

[Rollo]

Of course there is nothing special about the Listener Crossword, except, perhaps, for the clique of Listener Crossword solvers who regard any discussion of it, prior to the official solution being released by Mr Green, as blasphemy.

[ichkeria]

I have less problem with someone asking for a gentle hint on how to start a tough puzzle such as the Listener, than I do with the folk on this site who ask for up to 3/4 of the answers to a normal puzzle in separate instalments then blithely send their entry off, hoping to win a prize.