#1: Adam Nielson (monkeyboy) on Feb 9, 2010

There has been a sudden massive influx of new users on here, creating pointless gibberish. Why do you think that is?
I wonder how many of them are adults just trying to rile things up. And if in fact they are kids, why are there suddenly so many new kid users on here? There were basically no new good puzzles over the weekend, and then suddenly like 50 puzzles of 1 star quality appear. Kind of strange...

I agree and in fact commented on that in a puzzle by one of them. Ugh!

Computer lab project? One teacher could initiate 50 young inexperienced users. It is a cool site, a fun way to teach logic. However, I think the best way to do that is the way Jan does it, one-on-one with the child, sitting at the child's side, coaching her/him through the process.

I wish there was a children's section here. This is so discouraging. The kids have the same freedom as the adults to "play" around with the puzzle creation program, but they lack the wisdom and good judgment to use the free "toys" properly.

I would be so happy to see a few more good puzzles from the skilled adult creators here. How about it? Make my day. :-)

Or maybe it is adults who lack the spontaneity, "joi de vivre" and ability to "enjoy the ride" of life that makes them so "discouraged" at seeing young children thoroughly enjoying themselves

Maybe we need a "skilled adult creators" section so that those who seem to have such specific ideas about what should or should not go on at this site can be off by themselves and not have to worry about the rest of humanity who they seem so unable to "properly" control.

LOL, doreren. Tsk tsk tsk.

I actually like that idea!

I think there should be a tool here that compares a new puzzle against all puzzles currently in the database, so that we do not repeated puzzles, i.e. the same flags, the 1 pixel puzzle, the 5x5 black box puzzle, etc.

While I'd rather not solve 40 billion American flags (or any other nation - equal opportunity), I'd also rather not stiffle creative expression or limit the number of puzzles that can be created. There are, for example, several different puzzles depicting frogs. Some of them are quite basic, others very artistic. But if I were to say, "I've already solved a frog puzzle and therefore no more frog puzzles." I'd be limiting myself from seeing that one frog puzzle that really might be outstanding.

It begs the question: are we solving puzzles here only to see what the final result is, only for the brain exercise of figuring the solution regardless of the outcome, or some combination of the two? For myself, and I'd guess the majority, it's the combination. I love a puzzle with an artistic image as the reward. I also like the challenge of a (moderately) difficult solve.

The quandry is that sometimes we have to weed through the chaff to get to the kernal. Not every oyster bears a pearl yet, if you don't open that oyster, you'll never find out.

So, while I understand and even sympathize with Rich's comment/idea, I'm not sure I agree. I think you have to afford the opportunity to potential creators who might need to pass through the flag puzzle stage in order to eventually rise to the level of puzzle design that qualifies as artwork. For me as a struggling puzzle solver, each opportunity also serves as one to sharpen my skills, even if I'm bored by the result.

That being said, I'm probably not going to resist the urge to say that I've been bored by the result. <smile>

well said Byrdie!

perhaps, its an developmental thing, like learning to crawl before one can win races.

Goto next topic

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