Following  idle PM chat with Temps, we thought this an interesting path to explore. 
I propose - for starters 'The Impact of Metaphysical Poetry.'

The history of Jesuit missionary activity among the Kafe people living in the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea, from around 1672 until 1740.

Two Years Beneath the Horn - or Painting the Ice Red. To what extent did British imperial aspirations in Antarctica contribute to the European crisis of 1914?

Oh, is this a joke thread.  Well, nothing wrong with a joke especially as the news is so miserable.  I suppose we could go back over the board and look at the threads where people have not "bitten" to see where lack of interest occurs.  MM's declining or redundant skills one seems to be flourishing though.

I'll provide one though it is half serious.

Why do some people believe "knowledge" that they acquire via social media over and above the mainstream news outlets?

Surely a simple visit to the "unanswered" would give a good idea of the kind of post that will not garner a response.

Well quite ... no one has ever responded to my reins of power thread.

Not that I'm bothered.      

I am mortified to think that my suggestions have been taken as some kind of joke.

Both topics have been the subject of serious historical research, I'll have you all know. I have, however, deleted my silliness about the penguins, although my ornithological query could have led - in younger, happier days - to a lively and robust exchange of views.

But here is my next suggestion for a red-hot topic that no one could resist.

Was Erasmus really the midwife of the Reformation or was he just a poultry enthusiast?

I agree, this is a very serious thread.... mock ye not ye mockers

A further nominations..... they should be numbered then we could have a poll - or rather someone else could sort it into one.

Some more threads that may not succeed......... but Gil, not all unresponded to need a response such as ferv's most interesting one on Neanderthal Art apart from our thanks; we are a bit short suited on thanks. Here rae further suggestions of threads that may not garner response.

7. Threads with very long titles

8. The Wit and Humour of Pol Pot

9.Personal reasons for rarely adding much to anything 

10. Just how good a ballet dancer was King Louise X1V

Are we on number 11 now?

11. "Sirrah, ye are God's silly vassal." Just how silly was James I? Was his son even sillier?

12. Athanasius Contra Mundum

Did Athanasius's Trinitarian faction really gain the upper hand in the early days of the Imperial Church; or was Constantine quite well aware that there was no substance to the man's arguments? Was the encomium of Gregory of Nazianzus justified or was he, in his praise of Athanasius, just sucking up to Theodosius I (whom he knew to be a steadfast upholder of Nicene orthodoxy)?

How about one last suggestion?


14.  Historical Topics for Res Hist Least Likely to get a Response

Well done for trying, Priscilla - I've always loved your sense of humour - also MM, who is indefatigable in his efforts here; but is it really worth it anymore? I really am beginning to think not, but that's probably just me being Mardy of Tunbridge Wells (or thereabouts).

Temperance wrote:

Are we on number 11 now?

11. "Sirrah, ye are God's silly vassal." Just how silly was James I? Was his son even sillier?

I suppose the even sillier son would be Charles I - as the other sons who lived beyond birth died at 18 years and at 4 months respectively?  Charles II seems to have been the only Stuart (at least the only one who became a monarch of England) who demonstrated an ability to be astute (albeit he was called the Merry Monarch).  Maybe James I and Charles I were even stevens in terms of silliness - just how silly they were I know not.

Thanks for the morale boost, Temps. Aye this is becoming a Sad Sack site, I fear. The point is if members cannot find a thread that might fail - assuming they made an effort then they must have rejected topics that might well garner interest. So why not air some diversity?Or are most here mentally constipated, wearied with age or just out of ideas?

15.  When the astronauts went to the moon why didn't they interview Aiken Drum?

(as in "and he played upon a ladle")

Topic misunderstanding...... unless of course you have proof of Mr Drum's permanent abode. This site is big on proof.

For my part and re entries above, King Louis enjoyed ballet and often took  part in them - a grand part, you understand. Possibly not erlot er people know that.

Actually I think I have misunderstood a bit too. I have therefore deleted my question about the true voice of the British Empire, which was just a not-very-good joke.

Are we meant to come up with genuine historical quotes for discussion, and/or topics which sound so obscure, or so mind-bogglingly dull, or just so utterly ridiculous, that no one could - or would want to - respond? I seem to be in my element with this (rather an unfortunate admission), so I'll have another go.



15. In 1953 Ludwig Wittgenstein stated that "if a lion could talk, we could not understand him". Was this the beginning of the post-modern analysis of how formal values count for little in the race against the disintegration of language? Was Wittgenstein suggesting that in any other structure outside of art, obsession with formalism and formality is regarded as a chronic lack of anything worth talking about?

Or was he just obsessed with Lenny the Lion?








PS James VI/I really was called "God's silly vassal" - by Andrew Melville, Rector of St. Andrew's University. He said it to the King's face, too, adding: "There are two kings and two kingdoms in Scotland: there is the King James, the head of the commonwealth; and there is Christ Jesus, the King of the Church, whose subject James VI is and of whose kingdom he is not the king, not a lord, not a head, but a mere member."

Let's face it, when you are the boss and someone calls you a "silly vassal", you remember it, especially when it's said at a department meeting: I bet James filed it away in his "payback" file. I'd quite like to discuss this, but I'm sure no one else would.

Quote not essential - we rarely use topics from quotes here - just any dull bit of History will do. I endured 5 years worth until A level but can't use it as it was easily forgotten. I guess I could come up with something really awful about the Unification of Italy - the A level question setters managed several  - to which my replies were so turgid I got a high mark their being unread I assume.

My husband taught the Unification of Italy and really enjoyed it, as did the kids, according to him.  I loved the year I did of history at school, concentrating mostly on the Tudors and Stuarts and Georgians; I think what we were doing was a once-over-lightly study of the growth of Parliament.  But it has stood me in good stead and I can manage more historical knowledge by knowing the rough dates of the monarchs of England.  I just wish it had extended into Scottish and NZ history.  I don't seem to remember the year of History I did at university so well; maybe the teaching wasn't quite as memorable.  Huns and Visigoths.  Early England.  

Don't think this has much to do with the thread title.  But I remember asking something about the history of China on the BBC board and no-one responded.  History outside Europe and the Commonwealth and the USA doesn't seem of much interest to people here.

And, Caro, to our shame. I knew M. enjoyed the Italian thing and hoped you would not read it. Don't tell him! History of the USA - mmm - now after years of American TV as a child I reckon I know almost every aspect of it from all sides, I also know many fables about goodies and badies, the cavalry - well the ones where the captain was pigeon toed, always wore his scarf like me and had but one standing position. The History of Europe is jam packed with interacting recorded detail, much of which i have seen on recent TV but apparently most of that actually happened in or around bedrooms. This I did not learn at school. Their other Acts and Action was more important in my day- or was to the examining Boards, anyway. Exam answers about the Treaty of Versailles from today's child might be revealing with misreading it as Treats. And so on. No, Fings ain't what they used ter be.'
There was a time when I was very informed about 5000 years of subcontinental history but alas less so now. I think we get picky later on in life - the delights of Ottoman architecture  once filled my waking hours. On that I can still be endlessly boring.