Long time puzzle solver. I'm not happy with the three names in a row going down in this puzzle. It's impossible to puzzle out a name if you just don't know it. For instance I have never heard of Dana Scully so any kind of clue is hopeless.
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I've been enjoying this series, but I'm glad that the next installment will be written by two people who are not 20-something males. Five of the first six contributors fit this demographic. Nothing against 20-something males, but looking forward to the diversity.
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Correction: Five of the first six contributors were under-30 males (Paolo Pasco's under 20, right?).
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for your question about diversity. As a woman in a business that is heavily populated by men (of all ages), that topic is obviously of interest to me.
When I put the call out among my constructor colleagues to ask for writers for this series, there was a lot of interest, but only eight constructors were able -- for whatever reason -- to make the commitment. All but one of those who stepped up were men, and the sole woman who committed to the series will be a co-author in Part 4, because that is where she felt comfortable.
So why were those who committed to the series mostly young(er) men? That's a good question, and I'm afraid I don't have an answer, because I don't know what is going on in the lives of those who were not able to commit.
The one thing I do know is that every one of the people I contacted is excellent at puzzle making, and I would work with any of them on future features in a heartbeat.
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Oh absolutely, Deb! My critique wasn't meant as a knock on any of the contributors so far - I'm a big fan of all of them. I've enjoyed all of their past puzzles.
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Deb,
Paolo Pasco quotes Will Shortz: “If a word or term is used in the columns of The Times, or in cultured society in general, I think it’s probably O.K. for a crossword, even if it’s touchy or slightly unpleasant. I strive to have crosswords reflect real life as much as possible. … I don’t believe in banning words, except for the very worst. And I’d be happy to abolish the term ‘breakfast test’ completely.”
Mr. Paolo continues by saying that he draws the line at vulgarities. He adds, “…offensive terms should on no occasion appear anywhere in a crossword."
President Trump, never one to mince words, recently referred to Haiti and some African nations as “sh*thole countries,” using the full word. The Times quoted the president’s phrase without censorship, so according to Mr. Shortz’s first bit of advice, it might be allowed. Many would argue, however, that the term is more than "slightly unpleasant." Even though it is a historic comment made by a world leader, do you think Mr. Shortz would reject it for being what he later referred to as “the very worst,” since it’s based on a four-letter expletive that would never appear in a Times crossword puzzle?
I ask because I am a neophyte puzzle maker. If I had to guess, I think the phrase would be rejected, even if it does reflect real life.
Hi Jam,
That's a very good question. I can't speak for Will, but I can tell you that there are two reasons that I can think of why you will most likely never see a term like that used in The New York Times Crossword. So your instinct is correct.
The first reason is simply about New York Times style. There are generally no profanities allowed in the paper or in the Crossword.
I know; you've seen them in the paper, so how could that be? The truth is, when something like that comes up, it is discussed and discussed and debated among the editors and reporters and at the top tiers of the newsroom before any reader will see something like that. It is done on a case-by-case basis and is not a permanent relaxation of the style readers have come to expect from The New York Times. I can't envision a term like that being used in the Crossword simply because it was allowed in another section of the paper that was merely reporting on what someone said.
The second reason is that traditionally -- and even this rule has been broken, so take this with a grain of salt -- the crossword has been respite from the news or the goings-on in the world. Will likes to have real-life events in the puzzle, but of course, there are always going to be limits. Those, too, are judged on a case-by-case basis.
I hope that helped!
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I apologize for replying to my own post, but I need to clarify something:
My last sentence was incomplete, making it sound as if the president's statement reflected my view. It does not. I submitted a revised version of my entire comment, but this one got accepted.
My final sentence should have been written: "If I had to guess, I think the phrase would be rejected, even if it reflects real life as the president sees it. (Not that I agree.)"
Sorry, I was sleep-deprived. Just to be clear, I do not think that Haiti and the African countries deserve the phrase president used for them.
Now, back to the crossword construction!
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Thanks, Deb, your reply certainly does help. After the president made his nasty comment, I was curious to see how first-class publications would handle it. I could easily imagine lengthy discussions about it.
Thanks, too, for mentioning that The Times views the crossword as a respite. That's a great point.
I also hope you will read the reply I made to my own post that states in no uncertain terms that by writing "does reflect real life" I did not mean my view of it.
Why is the Mikado featured here without comment? Its characters, whose names could not be mistaken for anything other than offensive racial caricatures of East Asian names, occasionally appear in the crossword, while remaining a deeply offensive, far from reclaimed or redeemed (if not un-redeemable) piece of operatic history. I am a little disappointed that this was not a moment to comment on its appearance in the puzzle, or other clues or answers that call on problematic histories and artworks, given this is a "behind the scenes" piece on crossword composition.
Thank you very much for a peek behind the curtains. I have been toying with crossword creations on-and-off for years with mixed success. Some of the tips gleaned here have been eye-opening and should make my future attempts that much easier (and more enjoyable).
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You may want to join the Facebook Page: Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory, "A resource for people (especially people of color, women, etc.) interested in making crossword puzzles to connect and collaborate with people who make crossword puzzles. "
Thank you, DaytonaRacer! I'm happy to hear that the series is helpful. And please do join the Crossword Puzzle Directory on Facebook, as AV suggested. It's a great resource, that I will mention again in our wrap-up.
Thanks, AV & Deb! Next time I'm on FB I'll look up the group.