Random Word Stimulation

April 1, 2009 1:48 AM

Random word stimulation is a technique for generating ideas by associations with random words. You'll find more about it at this site and the relevant Wikipedia article. (Previously)
posted by twoleftfeet (13 comments total)

bibliomancy in action.

but on a quantum scale.
posted by artof.mulata at 2:24 AM on April 1, 2009

Same guy who gave us thinking hats.
posted by 5imian at 3:16 AM on April 1, 2009

Why, oh why, did that wikipedia link lead me to the Zoobilee Zoo page? It's almost like the random universe knew of my fear of Ben Vereen.

I like the idea of this post, and its timeliness, but it needs more cool links, please. Let me start you off:

Here's a random word pairing generator. Users can leave comments on pairings they found particularly cool.
posted by not_on_display at 5:10 AM on April 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

Woops -- actually users cannot leave comments on their favorite pairings. I'll STFU now.
posted by not_on_display at 5:22 AM on April 1, 2009

pssst! Any website whose name is "Creativity for You" is not actually offering creativity.
posted by bicyclefish at 6:57 AM on April 1, 2009

As described in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance the problem is not generating ideas. It's implementing them.
posted by DU at 7:58 AM on April 1, 2009

bicyclefish: pssst! Any website whose name is "Creativity for You" is not actually offering creativity.

Quiet, you... you... ummm... [clik] ... you legislative pillow!
posted by not_on_display at 8:57 AM on April 1, 2009 [2 favorites]

random - statistics - statistical mechanics - heat - flame - arson - burning down public buildings to make a statement - statement - grammar - noun - teacher - mathematics - probability - random

I'm not very good at this.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 8:59 AM on April 1, 2009

It's consistently random. Almost as if...
posted by grubi at 9:14 AM on April 1, 2009

The most random word in the world is hippopotamus.

Feel free to use it as often as you wish.
posted by JHarris at 10:08 AM on April 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

MetaTalk.
posted by Pronoiac at 11:11 AM on April 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

The thinking hats are weird. The linky, though, is now on my bookmark bar.
posted by Michael Roberts at 8:36 PM on April 1, 2009

JHarris, if we abuse the word hippopotamus it will become less random. Just having reused it now, I've subtracted some amount from its randomness. Hippopotamus, hippopotamus, hippopotamus! (Mom, make him stop. OK, I'll go away now)
posted by Michael Roberts at 8:39 PM on April 1, 2009 [1 favorite]