David J

I started my crossword journey 2 years ago and fell in love with the solving experience even though I didnt know much about the rules, rebuses, or the relevance of a question mark at the end of the clue. I had no idea that I'd hear a about Oreos or Brian Eno at least once a week. I'm proud to report that I breeze through Monday and most Tuesday puzzles. Wednesdays can be tough and I still need lots of help with Thursday and beyond. I'm still improving and feel confident that I can breeze through a Wednesday in the next year or so. I began reading comments last year when a clue made me laugh out loud and I wanted to see if it made any others chuckle. I was shocked to see that many solvers had very strong opinions about puzzles, their creators, and would get angry if something was too easy. I was seeking community and didn't find that. It was disappointing and I felt judged by strangers If you're reading this, know that I consider all of you solvers part of my community. I bow down to you wordsmiths with decades long solving experiences who can slay a Saturday puzzle and I extend a warm welcome to anyone who still has to search online for clues on a Monday. I hope we can continue to learn and grow together while being respectful of our diverse solving experiences. Go ahead, gripe if you want, but I'll be over here having the best time solving crossword puzzles.