Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

There has been an ongoing argument in Listener 4378 because one user chose to reveal answers when all that had been asked for were clues. This quite naturally annoyed other users and the argument degenerated into the revealing thread being called poisonous by another user. I think that’s a fair summary of the game.

The result was that I had complaints from both sides, users who were very cross about the unsportsmanlike behaviour of the original poster and the user who revealed the answers objected to his threads being called poisonous.

Could I remind all users that Ash and myself strive to keep the Forum a social place where friendly discussions can take place without all this aggro. I am not prepared to tolerate my weekends being spoilt by this childish behaviour. . Can you please show respect to other users at all times and remember I hold the ultimate weapon, the ban button’

I understand the Listener is a difficult puzzle and, as such, a very amicable discussion was taking place with requests for assistance. At no point did anyone ask for answers so please do not spoil other user’s enjoyment of the Forum, DO NOT REVEAL ANSWERS when they have not been asked for, this is totally unnecessary behaviour.

Equally, could I ask that users refrain from using words like poisonous when referring to another thread. I can quite understand you being annoyed but please tone down the language.

I’ll end by wishing everyone a Happy New Year. I hope you all continue to use the Forum and let’s keep it peaceful, please

Bouncing to top, I want to keep it on tne first page for a day or two to give everyone chance to read it.

Thanks, Norah. Your comments should - I hope - see the Forum get off to a good start in 2016. I don't like discord or rancour or seething resentment and I'm sure the majority of solvers and forum users feel the same.

^^Bump^^

I have copied this from a new thread I started instead of replying here.

I dip into and out of this forum depending on the level of 'help' on offer. A hint is what I call help. Providing answers is not help. Just as only a foolish schoolteacher would set a test and immediately tell the class all the answers so I do not expect solvers to do the same.

I gave up coming as I was flamed for suggesting that too readily given solutions were not 'help'.

Even though many people do not enter their solutions into the prize draw the satisfaction is getting the answers, preferably on one's own, but coming to this site for some helpful nudges.

There is another site - Answerbank - where answers are freely given and accepted.

I have received an email asking if "do not give answers" applies only to the Listener puzzle. As I see it, each thread should be judged on its own merits.

If a user specifically asks for an answer and gives the clue, say, Chancellor's statement with the letters ??dg?? Then by all means answer 'budget'.

However, as in the Listener thread, when it is made quite plain that only hints are wanted as the user wished to work out the answer for him/herself, then DO NOT give answers, just gives the hints requested.

I am not particularly bothered about how the other site operates or what goes on there, I am only concerned about monitoring the Crossword Forum to the mutual satisfaction of all users. As such, I expect users on our Forum to please respect everyone else and only give the amount of help requested in the particular thread.

That way I will have a peaceful life!

Norah

They way to deal with what you ask seems to be for the starter of a thread should make it clear in the subject line that he/she does not want solution(s) provided. Conversely a request for solution(s) should be explicit in the subject line. It may seem clumsy to have parallel threads but people would know what to expect rather than stumble across something they would rather not see.