Andy,

I am puzzled by you vehement response.

My comments were in no way directed at you, or your fine site! I would like to point out that Archie and I have had other discussions regarding my thoughts on the word "obsolete" and in my post I simply truncated most of those discussions into a couple statements.

I doubt that there will ever be consensus on a chipping definition for obsolete, although I wish there could be. Personally, I tend to lean towards Larry's definitions and examples. And I also lean towards your implied definition based on what is on your "Obsolete" page.

However, based on your "fairly simple" concept in your post, is have to ask, are the Four Queens Pai Gow quarters obsolete?

My question is only rhetorical, as I only wish to show that perhaps this really is a complex issue and not as simple as we would all like it to be.

Lastly, I have read and re-read your final question many times and I think that it supports my position.

Do you see that in your question you are saying that I can't figure out what obsolete means? I think you are chiding me for not figuring out what obsolete means to you , which assumes that your definition is the universal definition.

Go ahead, re-read the question, I interpret the second use of the word "it" to mean your definition of obsolete, which is the universal definition.

I contend that there are too many people with this same thought process, which is why there will likely never be a consensus on a common definition.

Which is why I suggest not using it at all.

Thank you for your attention.

Jim Follis