Dave's Fiction Warehouse

In which I bloviate about books, TV, movies, politics and other stuff.

  • Books
  • Movies
  • TV
  • politics
  • Other Stuff
  • thatfuckingtrump

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Twitter

Powered by Genesis

Is it wrong to cheat on “Words With Friends”?

January 8, 2012 by Dave Knadler

words with friends game

Is "JOTA" a word? I guess so.

The short answer is yes. Of course it’s wrong. Unless you happen to be stuck with all vowels and a Z and you’re in a really tight game.

Just kidding on that last part. It’s never OK to cheat in this stupid game, especially since it has a built-in cheat that lets you try all sorts of preposterous combinations with no penalty whatsoever. Try that in real Scrabble sometime. Is “zypotix” a word? Well, let’s just run it up the flagpole and see who cheers. … Hmm. No. How about “coxae”? Yes!

The reason I’m pondering the question is because I suspect others are availing themselves of the various Scrabble word finders on the Internet whenever they find themselves in a jam. Never mind the ethics of this; the logic is even harder to fathom. It’s like a pickup basketball game where LeBron James stands in for you while you shout encouragement from the bench. You are no longer a player, but a spectator.

I’m playing just one game of “Words With Friends” now, and I am not implying in any way that my opponent would even dream of getting a few hints from the Internet now and then. Of course not. But I watch other people, including loved ones, and I believe some of these contests become quickly reduced to luck alone. Here are these seven random letters; now let’s sit back and use the limitless memory of the Web to maximize their potential. Talk about fun!

OK, that’s enough about ethics. Let’s turn to questions of etiquette. My question is this: Should people playing “Words With Friends” repeatedly ignore those present in the same freaking room, while said players try out impossible words like “mongoz” and “xoast”? That’s been happening a lot around here. Discuss among yourselves.

More along these lines:

  • diaries of a young manA little history lesson
  • The tough get going
  • Farm fresh food for the lazy
  • former sen. chris dodd, champion of SOPADon’t pick up the SOPA
  • A cold night in JanuaryA cold night in January

Filed Under: games, Other Stuff, social media

About Dave Knadler

Obscure writer. Lazy photographer. Bashful guitarist. Perhaps too fond of wine. Tireless nemesis of New York Times crosswords.

Comments

  1. Joan says

    January 8, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    You’re losing, right?

    • Dave Knadler says

      January 9, 2012 at 5:53 pm

      I am now. Is it that transparent?

  2. Dave's bride says

    January 8, 2012 at 7:29 pm

    It’s not cheating to see what works– the rules allow it and the playing field is equal for everyone. Unoitstru. On the etiquette question, well ugotme.

    • Dave Knadler says

      January 9, 2012 at 5:53 pm

      I have no problem with trying out nonsensical words. I do it all the time. As I mentioned, it’s built into the game.

Recent posts

  • Still life with dicks
  • Not throwing away
    my shot
  • February fugue
  • None the wiser
  • The shit keeps coming

Recent comments

  • Melanie on Still life with dicks
  • Michael L Stockhill on Not throwing away
    my shot
  • John H. on Still life with dicks
  • Dave Knadler on Not throwing away
    my shot
  • John H. on Not throwing away
    my shot

FInd something

send dave cash

The obligatory PayPal donation button. Go ahead: Make my day.