CRUCIVERB.COM

Constructing => General Discussion => Topic started by: Green on April 25, 2011, 10:02:14 AM

Title: Breakfast test
Post by: Green on April 25, 2011, 10:02:14 AM
I’ve been following the discussion of the “breakfast test” on the Cruciverb mail site, and I am glad that the constructors are engaged in this important debate.  It is about time minorities are considered when certain words are selected for inclusion in puzzles that go out to society at large.

I for one, and there are many like me, am tired of having to be forced to write terms like bacon, pork chops, beefsteak and fish sticks, especially while I’m eating breakfast.  I am a vegan, and these terms literally nauseate me.

I also happen to be an atheist, and words like God, pope, Easter, Purim, and Koran are patently offensive.  Must believers foist their mythologies on all of us?  And yes, we can do without references to Santa and his elves.

But not only should the scatological and offensive be bowdlerized by editors, but so should the more subtle terms which no doubt contribute to the coarsening of our society.  Words like war and gun, including the over-used sten, are not needed --- we need no reminders of man’s inhumanity to man. 

Along this line, and while everyone might not agree, we should do away with references to sports.  The continual and relentless reference to baseball and its players is irksome considering that it validates needless competition, which ultimately leads to war.  And the violence associated with football is unquestionably influencing our young males to be as brutish.  I shudder to the think what effect repeated reference to Muhammad Ali has on them.

Lastly, being a staunch supporter of the One World movement, I believe all patriotic references should be excised.  Words like flag, America, Spain, China, etc. only serve to reinforce the separation among people.  Unity and oneness are the terms constructors need to concentrate on.

The “breakfast rule” is predicated upon the sensibilities of solvers, and it is time for constructors and their editors to recognize that words relating to body parts and fluids are not the only ones which are objectionable.  For too long the more sensitive among us, and therefore more human, have been held captive by troglodytes controlling what words we see and are forced to write.
Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: Brent00 on May 04, 2011, 08:10:55 PM
It is about time minorities are considered when certain words are selected for inclusion in puzzles that go out to society at large.

I for one, and there are many like me, am tired of having to be forced to write terms like bacon, pork chops, beefsteak and fish sticks, especially while I’m eating breakfast.  I am a vegan, and these terms literally nauseate me.
You've got to be kidding.

It's just a crossword puzzle.

Quit making it more of it than it is. Get over it.

Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: tomross on May 07, 2011, 04:40:50 PM
Wow, this has to be the most screwed up thing I ever read.. Really..  If they started thinking like this they would have to close down shop as every word you could find something "wrong" with it!
Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: Pprovazy1 on May 10, 2011, 12:22:11 AM
wow...!!!
Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: magus on May 18, 2011, 08:57:30 AM
Wow is right.  Yes, it is possible to find something wrong with just about every word in a puzzle.  But that isn't that the point.  ;)
Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: David Batchelor on May 21, 2011, 08:20:03 AM
Wow is right.  Yes, it is possible to find something wrong with just about every word in a puzzle.  But that isn't that the point.  ;)

I am sure you were meaning to say "isn't that the point".

We can try and be to politically correct and I hope crosswords don't succumb to that as well.
Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: magus on May 21, 2011, 09:02:12 AM
Yes, thanks for making sense out of what I wrote.
Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: esoltas on July 11, 2011, 12:05:31 PM
This is a joke, right? Am I being too optimistic to think that Green has a sense of humor and that everyone else is taking him/her a little too literally?

Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: interrobang on July 20, 2011, 06:27:58 PM
TOFU...WHEATGERM...AGARAGAR...XANTHAM

Sounds like some legit crossword answers there, to me.
Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: drewchapman on July 29, 2011, 05:24:17 PM
You had me for a second, Green. Now I'm all smiles. Point well made, and well appreciated.  :D
Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: jennifer.anuver on August 01, 2011, 01:17:19 AM
It got to be about breakfast food. I will be more than happy to solve it  ;D
Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: stevejohn on August 03, 2011, 01:30:17 AM
This is a joke, right? Am I being too optimistic to think that Green has a sense of humor and that everyone else is taking him/her a little too literally?



It's definitely a joke.  ;)

Green, I laughed. The great thing about the internet is that we can find well constructed crosswords that don't take this "breakfast test" into consideration. The "Jonesin'" crossword comes to mind. But yeah, point taken. It's hard to regulate what's offensive and what's not since we're all different people with different experiences and views on society.
Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: amihan23 on August 12, 2011, 06:56:51 AM
It is about time minorities are considered when certain words are selected for inclusion in puzzles that go out to society at large.

I for one, and there are many like me, am tired of having to be forced to write terms like bacon, pork chops, beefsteak and fish sticks, especially while I’m eating breakfast.  I am a vegan, and these terms literally nauseate me.
You've got to be kidding.

It's just a crossword puzzle.

Quit making it more of it than it is. Get over it.



You got a good point there brent!  ;D
Title: Re: Breakfast test
Post by: allenwalker on October 24, 2011, 08:19:28 PM
It got to be about breakfast food. I will be more than happy to solve it  ;D
Me, too. It would be a delicious crossword puzzle. ;D