Comments on: Guardian 25,834 – Philistine

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 05:53:28 +0000

“I wonder if this started as a pangram and the editor changed the answer containing Q.” I thought it was headed that way and spent a lot of time trying to fit that Q into the NW! There is no V either, by the way.

As far as SWIMMINGLY being offensive, I found it sweet. What I found offensive was “unpleasant images of the stereotypically lesbian feminist with her ugly, cropped hairstyle”. That took some nastiness to type.

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 05:40:42 +0000

“My experience of this was similar to others’, including the sensation of wanting more.” I agree. 75% of this puzzle was too easy, and the other 25% didn’t match. Got all hung up in the NW. Was not impressed with the answers I found here. Oh well, we can’t always be happy! I did tick off 22a and 23d as being rather “special”.

Thanks for the bog Andrew et al, and for the puzzle, Philistine!

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:04:47 +0000

Rowland @45
“I see people like RCW getting away with general comments”
I see what you mean but my comments are rarely ‘general’ but specific to that particular crossword.
Where I seem to differ from some other posters is that to me individual clues are of much less significance than the overall effect of the puzzle.
Comments which leave me quite bemused are such as “this delightful puzzle was an easy solve full of lovely surfaces”.

By: Rowland

Rowland — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 08:59:12 +0000

Well, I tought it was pretty offensive, but the Guardian has a history of allowing such horrid things as I recall. Thanks for pointing out that I should be more careful in critting the ACTUAL clues I don’t like though, I see people like RCW getting away with general comments, and I just follow suit. Yes, like a lemming!!

Cheers
Rowly.

By: vinyl1

vinyl1 — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 23:42:55 +0000

Dave @37 – generally speaking, bloggers just correct simple typos. If you made a mistake and gave the wrong answer or misunderstood the clue, then the usual practice it to strike through your error and give the correct answer in italics.

At least that’s what we usually do over at that other blog.

By: Brendan (not that one)

Brendan (not that one) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 23:40:20 +0000

Bizarrely I raced into this one completing all the top half across cues minus ROMPS on the first pass!!

All went relatively well after this but I was held up by CREATININE (guessable) and couldn’t parse BIKINI.

NW corner last in but I did manage to complete this without raised eyebrows or offense! ( What a sterile world some people inhabit?!!)

Thanks to Andrew & Philistine for another fine crossword.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:41:47 +0000

No,I like definitions which are allusive.
This one ‘not hard going’ = ‘swimmingly’ is just about satisfactory.
The rest is cryptic and only the surface-fanatics take it seriously.

By: stiofain

stiofain — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:34:28 +0000

I thought 13d was pretty funny and not offensive at all. (aaagh the shame, the shame I have agreed with RCW!!!)
I wonder if this started as a pangram and the editor changed the answer containg Q.

By: wolfie

wolfie — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:03:35 +0000

Hello again old friend. As you often point in your comments here, solvers need to be alert to the allusive features of crossword clues. Here 13d conjures up unpleasant images of the stereotypically lesbian feminist with her ugly, cropped hairstyle. I’m surprised that I should need to spell this out and I’m sorry that nobody else seems to think that this is deserving of comment.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:07:31 +0000

Perhaps nobody has commented because nobody else finds 13d either misogynist or offensive.
You would need to explain more precisely, wolfie, to convince me.