I’ve had the idea for this particular column for a number of weeks now, but every time an attempt is made to write it I receive a request in Words With Friends. Before I know it, hours have passed as I get drawn in by the other features on Facebook and I no longer feel like composing an article. However, this time I’m going to stay focused and complete my mission.
For those who don’t know, (where have you been?) Words With Friends is an online word game, basically Scrabble. You’re given a selection of letters to spell words with on a game board. It’s relatively simple but dangerously addictive.
I’ve missed meals, alright I’ve only been late to them (nothing keeps me from eating), by playing Words With Friends. You have to keep up on it or else you’ll get buried by the number of moves needed to be made. There’s no limit to the amount of games you can be playing at once, and when its your turn on half a dozen or more, time seems to escape. Then as soon as you finally get all caught up a notification is received that its your turn again. It’s an endless cycle.
Never will I claim to be a linguistics expert or even have a vast vocabulary, but I wish I knew more Q words. Quick, name a Q word that doesn’t also have a U….I’m waiting. It’s so frustrating to have a Q, which is worth extra points, but unable to use it, because there’s no U. I have discovered the word Qi, I have no idea what it means, but I spell it almost every time I have a Q.
Even worse, is when in addition to Q your selection of letters also includes a Z, V, or X. It’s like having bullets but no gun to fire them with. I get excited when I see a Z and think of how much I’m going to boost my score, but then turn after turn I’m unable to spell ZOO, and its wasted. The same is true for X. X-ray isn’t accepted, and how many other x words do you know. I feel guilty of dirtying the game if I use ‘sex.’
My biggest complaint of Words With Friends though is the posts it makes. No offense people, but I really don’t care that you just spelled ‘ball’ in your game. Is that supposed to be impressive?
Plus I don’t want everyone knowing my Qi secret.
I really don’t know how much longer ‘Friends’ should be part of the title before being changed to a more derogatory term. What type of friend is it who digs words out of the Encyclopedia Britannica, which they have never used in a sentence? And with friends who always use the Triple Word squares that you had all set up, who needs enemies? Then, of course, they post for all to see that they scored 620 points against me.
I better wrap this up, and get back to Words With Friends, and if you think of any good Q words, let me know.
