Waste of Time?
Puzzles have always been something that I’ve loved to solve. Word searches, fill-ins, Sudoku, crossword, word problems, Jumble; and the list could go on. There’s something weird, though, that goes on in my brain when I’m solving a “for fun” puzzle. There is a distinct disconnect between wanting to get all the answers and thus completing the puzzle and knowing it’s totally solvable and I’m just wasting my time.
One of the clearest examples of this brain oddity I have rocking in my head are Sudokus. Each and every Sudoku has an answer and only one answer. It’s as plain as that. No mystery, no wonder, just a straight answer. There is only one way for those sets of numbers, or letters and numbers for those who opt for the more difficult forms. There is no art or finesse to filling in the squares. There is a logic pattern that can be relied upon to help out, but truly, no art.
Which logical steps one uses varies from person to person. Fill in each smaller square with as many numbers as can be surmised; start with rows, not squares; go with what a square can be; go with what a square can’t be; etc,. Ultimately, there still remains only one conclusion, no matter which road you take to get there, we all get to the same ending.
It happens, then, that each time sit down to do a puzzle invariably at some point between starting and finishing I have an internal argument with myself as to whether or not I’m simply wasting my time. I’ve never won that argument, and truth be told, I’m a little afraid to find out which side would exit the puzzledome victorious. Puzzles are fun, they keep the mind limber and sometimes they can offer a lame tidbit of trivia which can later be used to impress, errr, bore your friends with.
One of the clearest examples of this brain oddity I have rocking in my head are Sudokus. Each and every Sudoku has an answer and only one answer. It’s as plain as that. No mystery, no wonder, just a straight answer. There is only one way for those sets of numbers, or letters and numbers for those who opt for the more difficult forms. There is no art or finesse to filling in the squares. There is a logic pattern that can be relied upon to help out, but truly, no art.
Which logical steps one uses varies from person to person. Fill in each smaller square with as many numbers as can be surmised; start with rows, not squares; go with what a square can be; go with what a square can’t be; etc,. Ultimately, there still remains only one conclusion, no matter which road you take to get there, we all get to the same ending.
It happens, then, that each time sit down to do a puzzle invariably at some point between starting and finishing I have an internal argument with myself as to whether or not I’m simply wasting my time. I’ve never won that argument, and truth be told, I’m a little afraid to find out which side would exit the puzzledome victorious. Puzzles are fun, they keep the mind limber and sometimes they can offer a lame tidbit of trivia which can later be used to impress, errr, bore your friends with.