Sunday Discussion: I Still Hate Doing Crossword Puzzles

By Nathan Young on December 22, 2013

Saturday was the 100th anniversary of the crossword puzzle. On December 21st, 1913, British-born newspaper editor Arthur Wynne published the world’s first crossword puzzle in the New York World. It contained 32 words, and his simple instruction read: “Fill in the small squares with words which agree with the following definitions.” Today, many people will do the daily crossword puzzle in their local newspaper or online now. But I still don’t get it. Even Google came out with an interactive doodle where you could play an online crossword puzzle from their front page. If you want to play that, go to: http://www.google.com/doodles/100th-anniversary-of-the-crossword-puzzle

Merl Reagle is one of the best and most well-known crossword constructors working today. Merl worked with Google engineer/crossword enthusiast, Tom Tabanao, to craft their puzzle grid and write all the clues. Crossword puzzles are indeed supposed to be fun, brainy fun, but I don’t get them. I know some experts out there say doing activities such as crossword puzzles or Sudoku are good for your brain. The experts say doing activities like puzzles helps your brain stay sharp and lessens the risk of Alzheimer’s. But if someone puts a crossword puzzle in front of me, I simply will not do it.

Those types of puzzles like the one above is something I do not get. The clues they give you to help fill out the crossword are pointless. I mean, why do I need to know some character on a TV show or some clue like you would see on Jeopardy! Whenever I watch that show; I can not see how those contestants can answer all of those questions. That is amazing to me. And whenever I try to play along; I get about 95% of the answers wrong or just don’t know the answer. In fact, I really love when someone does something crazy on Jeopardy! like this video below!

Another reason I hate crossword puzzles has to do with school. Whenever a teacher decided to give us a crossword puzzle filled with words that are forward, diagonal, and backwards, I looked puzzled. I would rather draw a road than do a crossword puzzle that was just pointless to me. And whenever a teacher decided to give us a crossword puzzle for homework. I faked doing it or just never did it at all. In fact, I would lean over to another student to see where the words were at because I thought crossword puzzles were crazy. I would rather go into my own zone and draw roads than doing a pointless crossword puzzle. The only puzzles I like to solve is from Wheel of Fortune! I like that game show!

And every once in a while; a teacher would give us a puzzle to do as a pop quiz or a test. Well, on those times I just flunked. Like I say; if a teacher was just giving us busy work let me just draw my roads. I feel like doing artwork was a better use of my time than doing a crossword puzzle. And did you know that doing artwork is good for your brain too? Doing artwork helps your memory and cognitive ability, it reduces stress and depression, it brings us into the present, it stimulates the imagination, it boosts self-esteem, and it enhances problem solving. I think doing artwork does a better job stimulating and enhancing your brain than doing a crossword puzzle. Everyone can do artwork, no matter how good or bad you are. Not everyone can do a crossword puzzle.

Being forced to do crossword puzzles while in school has taken the fun right out of it for me. I would rather draw my roads and be happy! Just keep crossword puzzles away from me; okay. Yes, I do draw roads. Want to see how I do it, then click the link! http://geekalabama.com/road-drawings/