# If them Brits can play Mornington Crescent on here, then we can play MacArthur Park! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 13, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331 "2005-03-13T15:20:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/1 "2005-03-13T15:20:21Z")
_You_ _know_, the game that was _so_ popular in the seventies and eitghties in which you would call out names of places mentioned in famous songs, and/or their titles, depending on what set of the rules you use. When it first came out, it was discribed as “Verbal Calvinball” A typicall game would start like this: Player one: Folsume Prison! Player Two: Neo-Tokyo! You can find a copy of your rule book in your local library, assuming it hasn’t been closed due to insufficent funding. The book can be found in the same section as “tricks you can do with a pocket calculator”, The Book of Nod, and the Necrotelecomnicon. Since this is for the poor, underrepresented -in-this-forum Americans, they can use song’s by non-American singers, and use place names more than once, if it is from a diffrent song. When things get boring, this spiner will randomly pick another set of rules to go by. It will operate when it notices things are slowing down. I will just put it on this platform here, and I trust no one will try to spin it, just to change the rules. 😉 Ready? Wichita “Wichita Lineman” ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/2 "2005-03-13T15:33:26Z")
Whoops, just read the thread on game threads. Tellya what mods, if there are no post to this thread by the end of the day, how about you erase it? Do the mods around here do that? ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/3 "2005-03-13T15:47:41Z")
MacArthur’s Park! I win. ---
**Author:** ![Priam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/4 "2005-03-13T15:57:20Z")
> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > MacArthur’s Park! > > I win. Guess where you’re stuck? Oh yeah. Lodi. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/5 "2005-03-13T16:15:53Z")
Scarborough Town Centre! [sub]Now there’s an obscure one…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/6 "2005-03-13T16:27:21Z")
Interesting move **Sunspace**. I’m going to try and cut you off at Fairview Mall. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/7 "2005-03-13T16:43:19Z")
I’ll see your Fairview and raise you a Square One. And I don’t even like cake. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/8 "2005-03-13T16:47:41Z")
:: raised eyebrow :: There’s a song based on Fairview Mall? I thought citing Scarborough Town Centre based on Crash Vegas’ _Scarborough_ was enough of a stretch… I’ll continue eastward and add Whitby. I’m sure you can find the derivation. [sub]Me? Arrogant? I’d be a worm to say so…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/9 "2005-03-13T18:36:47Z")
Nice answers! But you know, I don’t recognize the set of rules the spinner is now pointing at. 😛 Let me give it a try, anyway. I find myself at Electric Avenue. ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/10 "2005-03-13T18:47:05Z")
If that’s in San Francisco, would you see if my heart is there? ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/11 "2005-03-13T18:52:54Z")
No can do. Sorry, but Electric Avenue is in Washington, D.C. Maybe another doper can met you in that general area. Make sure they wear a flower in their hair, so you can recognize them. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/12 "2005-03-13T19:33:17Z")
Looking at my last post, it looks like I am saying you can do that by the rules. Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound like that. I meant that **I** can’t do it, since I am stuck in Washington, D.C. But maybe someone could give me detailed instructions on how to get to: San Jose P.S. Can I take another turn, like just now, in the case that I sounded rude or am I violating the rules? My rulebook seems to have the page on that section torn out. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/13 "2005-03-13T19:51:56Z")
Which rulebook are you using? I have Harrington, third edition, but I’ve heard that it sin’t definitive in some cases. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/14 "2005-03-13T21:15:01Z")
_Harrington?_ That names sounds awfully British to me. Are you sure you aren’t John Bull, here to tease the poor little Americans with practically no word games to call their own? ::gives Sunspace a fishy look:: I have Dave’s Rules, 1st edition. [The Rock Bottom Remainders](http://www.rockbottomremainders.com/home.htm) ---
**Author:** ![InvidiousCourgette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@InvidiousCourgette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InvidiousCourgette)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/15 "2005-03-13T21:25:58Z")
Is this game going to be as shit as MC? Do we need to pretend to be crap Radio 4 presenters? If so, I am in! Using the Reykjavik amendment of 1217, ummm, ::ramble on a bit::, say something very British, err, ::reject your previous move::, Bolshevik Junction! ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/16 "2005-03-15T23:48:27Z")
Radio four? Never heard of it, for I am an American. I think you are looking for the Mornington Crecent thread. This isn’t it. I seem to have found myself in a Town Without Pity. Can anyone take pity on me and tell me how to get out? ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/17 "2005-03-16T02:29:56Z")
Well, according to Article IV Amendments to the…uhhhh…Americaburg…version that I’m using, the easiest way out of Town Without Pity is to take the last train to **Clarksville**. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/18 "2005-03-16T03:30:21Z")
Thanks, but I am now in a Town without mercy. ---
**Author:** ![Priam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/19 "2005-03-16T04:02:06Z")
> [@Scott\_plaid](#): > > Thanks, but I am now in a Town without mercy. Also known as Wicked Little Town ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331/20 "2005-03-16T05:03:04Z")
Go Downtown. The lights are much brighter there. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-them-brits-can-play-mornington-crescent-on-here-then-we-can-play-macarthur-park/294331.md?page=2)