Daryl
Berkeley
12
Comments
-0.497
Avg Sentiment
2
Positive
2
Neutral
8
Negative
Berkeley
Wonderful puzzle. Great fill, clever self-referential theme.
I’ve been solving Times crosswords for 40 years. The recent classless clues and violations of conventions that have governed these puzzles for generations have persuaded me it might be time to quit this hobby. It’s sad how easy it is for one person to destroy something built up for so long.
@Rodzu You have got to be kidding. It’s not even a valid puzzle because SANTA was reused in the clues and answers.
@Francis Yes I was about to clarify that. The theme itself was quite good, certainly, better than average and interesting in itself. But the use of offensive language violates Times crossword rules and traditions. Whether you would or would not like to read my comment is logically independent of the question of whether the Times should allow profanity in its crosswords. I’ve been solving Shortz puzzles since he stepped in. I don’t see why after all these decades he suddenly finds it necessary to strew his puzzles with offensive language. Many great constructors never use that stuff.
Not sure how bad these crosswords can get before it’s time to give up a 40-year hobby. It’s not enough to violate other longstanding conventions like not reusing clue words in answers; now open use of profanity is considered acceptable. Could Fagliano at least warn us solvers of crosswords that violate traditional conventions—whether of eschewing vulgarity, the breakfast rule, not reusing clue words in answers, etc.—so those of use who can’t stand this incompetency can skip it? Just an asterisk in the app, maybe? It could even be an optional app setting.
Pointless and offensive profanity in service of an unexceptional puzzle. There are good reasons for the long-standing rule against offensive language in puzzles, one being that solvers are forced to write and read this stuff without prior warning. I don’t know why Shortz is permitting this stuff and modifying guidelines that have been around literally since the advent of the the Times crossword,
Delightful theme, but I’ve had preferred the same grid but with much harder clues and the puzzle’s being released Thursday. Great themes merit more time spent, so they should be later in the week. It kind of wastes the theme to relegate it to Tuesday.
Disappointing. The blatant reuse of word in a clue in an answer (MAD in 33D clue and 34A answer). The language that gratuitously violates the breakfast rule and good taste norms in 34D. I hope this carelessness does not signal the end of respect for standards crosswords in the Times.
Yet another reuse of a clue word in an answer, this time FALL used in the clue for HAILSTORM and the answer TRUSTFALL. This editor really just doesn’t care about nearly a century of tradition on Times puzzles, it’s dispiriting.
Just in the last few weeks we’ve seen more vulgarity, sloppy clues, and clue word reuse than in a year of puzzles not too long ago. The reuse of SANTA in a clue and answer is pretty blatant even by the new Times standards.
@Barbara Imperiale I completely agree with you. The offensive language was a gratuitous violation of crossword norms and expectations. The Times appear to be substituting offensiveness for cleverness in its new standards. Likewise, the Times reused a clue word in an answer. Just a trashy, sloppy puzzle.
@David Steinberg 14D. Is this the David Steinberg, one of the great constructors?
All 12 comments loaded