Crosswords

[lankeela]

Where is the pleasure or satisfaction in asking for answers to a crossword? Ok maybe after a couple of weeks of struggling to get it but it's like asking someone to complete a jigsaw for you then saying you have finished it, or a painting that someone else adds the finishing touches to. I just don't get it.

[bookbinder]

You're not a crossword fan, then, lankeela?

[Neveracrossword]

Lankeela, I've had AB help with crosswords - and I've also helped others. It can be very frustrating if you're stuck in, say, one corner of a crossword. Being helped with even just one answer can be enough to help a solver move on and do the rest. On the other hand, there are many ABers who use the site to actually do a crossword, most of a crossword for them -and I do find that a little repugnant.

[rayzorless]

I'm in agreement with Nev

[rockyracoon]

I’ll look for answers once I’ve exhausted my brain capacity. It’s an education as you learn new words, or a new way to decipher cryptic clues.

[bookbinder]

Of course, if the crossword solver gets a prize, well then, there's bound to be a bit of satisfaction in asking for answers, yes?

[rayzorless]

yes

[lankeela]

Bookbinder as it happens I do like crosswords and gain great satisfaction in solving them although I prefer Codewords. However I am honest enough to move on if I can't solve them and learn by waiting for the answers to be published. In other words I don't cheat!

[roslyn251254]

lankeela ...even when the answers are published ...there is no parsing for the clues....this site often gives a parse and helps the asker to understand the clue

[rockyracoon]

I rarely do prize crosswords so there’s no difference in googling or waiting for the answers

[FreyaBee]

I have asked for a hint or two on the Spectator crossword and was appreciative as it helped when I was really stuck. I have also given a few hints to others. I was astonished recently when one particular person asked for "batches" (a shopping list !) of answers totalling 50 for the Christmas special. It makes me both annoyed and sad.

[Neveracrossword]

Freya, I am glad your experience has been the same as mine - a helpee and a helper!

PS The Spectator batches have been going on for... over 10 years! The Ab Editor has reminded us occasionally that there's no limit.

[FreyaBee]

NACW I did not know there was no limit. I joined AB in 2017 so an still getting used to how the system works.

[Neveracrossword]

Freyabee, the 'batches' poster has said he greatly appreciates the help given on AB(over the last decade).
Lankeela, sorry for the slight diversion.

[FreyaBee]

I have to accept the rules of AB and will cease moaning now :) I am pleased that the poster was appreciative.

[Tilly2]

Aw! Leave him alone. At least he tries, even though he does make a mess of it sometimes...as do I. :-)

[Buenchico]

I simply can't stand not knowing something.

For example, I might hear two people on a train trying to remember the name of a hotel that they stayed in twenty years ago and mentioning things like the town it was in, that it was rather posh (with a commissionaire on the door) and that it had a French restaurant. When I get home I just have to spend time researching an answer to their question, even though I'm never going to see them again in order to be able to give it to them.

I can sometimes research dozens of such answers in a single day. If I remember such a conversation at 4am, I have to get out of bed to attempt find to find an answer to it, as I won't be able to sleep until I do. There have even been times when I've suddenly recalled such a query many years afterwards; I still have to attempt to find an answer to it.

So if I get stuck on a crossword clue, it's very important to me that I find out what the answer should have been, otherwise I won't get any sleep that night (and possibly for many nights after that, perhaps even stretching into several years too)!

I never submit entries to prize crosswords and I never google for answers to clues that I'm personally stuck on until I've simply given up hope of ever getting the answer right. (I do, however, frequently google for help in answering crossword questions posted by others here on AB).

So I can well understand others who 'just need to know the answer'!

[Canary42]

[fripfrip]

Oh to be as smart as lankeela.