Words With Friends (And Also Mr. Jenners)
by Jenners • 10/10/2012 • Confessions, Life, Mr. Jenners, Randomosity • 80 Comments
So I’ve resisted playing Words With Friends for a long time—despite many of you extolling its many virtues and fun factor. But I crumbled recently and started playing. Why did I crumble? Because Mr. Jenners started playing, and I realized it might be one of the few areas where I might be able to dominate over him. (And believe you when I tell you I spend most of my life trying to beat Mr. Jenners at something.) However, the following graphic says it all.
Despite my extensive reading and what I thought was a decent vocabulary, it turns out that I’m horrible at Words with Friends. Despite managing one victory over Mr. Jenners (by only two points), my vision of Words with Friends world domination has yet to materialize. I’m routinely being crushed by upwards of 100 points by all different people. Not that I’m bitter or anything.
I think my problem lies in my fixation on the first word I see when I look at my tiles. I’ll see a simple word like “eat” and completely miss out on the fact that I could have played “quarter.” My biggest achievement so far has been a score of 99 points for “JARS.” The fact that I absurdly proud of this and writing about it on my blog just tells you how desperate I am for recognition of this achievement. (Despite this, I’m still losing that game.)
The other thing that I’m finding hilarious is that Mr. Jenners (who has started playing strangers … I guess I’m not challenging enough despite us having 5 games going) has made a new teen “friend.” This teen keeps trying to chat with Mr. Jenners despite getting no encouragement whatsoever. A typical exchange:
Teen: Hi! What’s up?
Teen: How are you?
Teen: What are you doing?
Mr. Jenners: Nothing.
Teen: Do you watch TV?
Mr. Jenners: I don’t like to chat when I play.
Teen: How old are you?
The teen still attempts to start conversations (“My friend just told me she doesn’t like me” was a recent attempt) but keeps getting shot down by my grumpy husband. For some reason, this just cracks me up. Move on, Unknown Teen. You won’t get him to chat with you no matter how hard you try. But he will be happy to hand you an ass-whupping in Words with Friends.
So, if you’re into playing Words with Friends, look me up (My username is jenflig). Playing me is pretty much a guaranteed win for you. I’m thinking if I play enough, I’ll start to improve (or at least remember that “qi” and “qat” are real words and that I should attempt to use as many TL and TW spots as possible). Plus, it is something to do when I’m not otherwise occupied.
This game is responsible for me almost wanting to divorce Jason or throw him out the window.
When he suggested that we play “Words with Friends” together, I thought “Mmm, not sure if that’s a good idea since you know I’m a sore loser.” But he was all like “Come on, it’ll give us a game that we can play together.” So I begrudgingly started playing with him. It was fine the first few games until he pulled out all the 80+ point words on every game we played so I threw his kindle fire at him and that was the end of it.
I’m still boycotting playing that game with him because his vocabulary is just too good.
(Sorry for the so, so late reply to this post! Finally finding time to catch up on blogs
I truly don’t know if it is the vocabulary thing or the ability to see words that fit into TW and TL spaces!!!!!
I’m still smarting from my loss to Jason in Scrabble over the weekend. Used to be my domination, but now it’s pretty even. I don’t have time for Words with Friends anymore or I’d let you beat me…NOT!
I’m getting slightly better but I tend to lose more than I win.
When I first started to play WWF, I did it like a crazy person. I played like 8 games at once. I won some, I lost some. Now? I am bored with it. All it comes down to is who can use that damn Q and the words are always the same. Qis or Qat. Plus, people cheat and it just becomes old.
I like Scrabble better because there is a dictionary but it’s sort of the same thing.
I can see myself getting a bit burnt out on it in a month or so. I have something like 15 games going at once but I’ve seen qi almost every game!
This totally cracked me up!!! I love WWF, but I play only in the evening so games don’t go all that quickly with me. I’m … wait for it …. BethFishReads. If you’d like to start a game, I’d love to play.
I’ll have to look you up! I don’t mind a slow paced game. I play only a few times a day — usually when eating breakfast, lunch or snack!
Ugh- EVERYONE I KNOW CHEATS AT WORDS WITH FRIENDS!!!! And I agree with everyone else- I have a great vocabulary, and I lose EVERY TIME! I have tried to cheat too recently (plugging in random letter/words) but it doesn’t work for me and is SO time consuming that I just give up and let it expire. Thus making me lose.
GRRRR
Obviously you’ve hit on a hot button issue with me!
Why don’t you tell me how you REALLY feel?
Ahhhh me too! You’d think someone who loves to read would be great at that game, but it just doesn’t work for me.
This seems to be a common theme so don’t feel bad!
This is EXACTLY why I won’t play this game. I allow (need) my one or two private games of Sudoku to wake up my brain in the morning and then I can start my day.
Sudoku gives me a headache. I go along, thinking I’m doing great, and then find myself in a mess and can’t figure out how to get out of it.
All your posts are so funny and nice! Don’t you ever have a bad post day? How do you keep coming up with such great ideas?
This post made my day! I can completely relate to you. Well, that is until my brother taught me the cheat codes.
Words with Friends is especially confusing because it accepts all kinds of funny words that scrabble doesn’t. Also you don’t require a an impressive vocabulary if your word placing is sneaky..I’ve learnt this in my months of playing WWF!
I’m beginning to suspect some of what you’re telling me!! I’ve begun to randomly place tiles and see what works. It feels wrong though. And cheat codes???!! I KNEW IT!! I have a few suspects that I’m convinced are using them!
I love Words With Friends! Way to go on the 99 for jars! Funny story I ended up playing Scrabble recently with hubby, in real life, not on iTouch, and I used words like Eh and Qi and he had a fit! I think those are only real words on WWF…lol.
I’ll have to look you up. I’m Nai76.
I don’t initiate the messages, but some players do like to chat. It’s definitely a fun and addictive game.
It is a crazy fun game … and how would we survive if “qi” is not a word!! I don’t know how many times I’ve had to play that.
I like playing WWF but am not great at it. I can report, however, that you improve the more you play so keep playing!
I think you end up learning all those weird little words (like qi) that help you out. I’m starting to slowly get better.
I’ve never played words with friends, but I would probably suck at it. I hate playing games with my husband because we’re both so competitive.
I’m not really competitive but there is something about Mr. Jenners being uber-competitive that makes me want to beat him to a pulp … and I can’t always do it and drives me nuts!
Everyone kicks my ass, too! I think half my problem is my only word I can play ends up setting up the next play to be amazing, like a TW word. And they always have a Z.
Me too!! I get boxed in and have no moves except to play a little itty bitty word that gives the other person a huge play. Frustrating!!
I am gonna look you up and kick your ass!
That would be more impressive if it wasn’t so easy to do!
I have the same problem! I have a really big vocabulary, but the best I can manage sometimes is “bet” and “near”. It frustrates the hell out of me! One would not know that I could read if they played Words with Friends with me! And the teen that is trying to chat with Mr. Jenners is too funny. I know he will give in and talk back one day, I just know it!
Trust me, Mr. Jenners will not talk back to that teen. Though he did wonder aloud if the teen was OK since he/she hasn’t played a move in three days. Glad to hear I’m not alone in my WWF struggles!
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, it to get JILL ON WWF!!!! Today when you see her! I’m feeling good if she will even text me back. She has to get used to this crazy iPhone contraption. But I will play with you at some point. But now I will feel bad if I beat you.
Why feel bad if you beat me? Nobody else feels bad! : )
And I am SO EXCITED to see Jill tomorrow!!! I can’t wait. I’m sure I will write a blog post about it.
Ha! I had numerous conversations with OJ about WWF. She doesn’t get it! This Jill, however, loves it.
I met OJ today in person!!! Now you are on my list of Bloggers I Want To Meet. I hear you are tall. : )
I’m sure you’ll have kicking my butt in WWF.
I love all the graphics with this entry!! I don’t understand why anyone cheats at WWF. It doesn’t penalize you for trying out a word, so really anything goes…it’s just trial and error. I’m convinced it’s just having the right letters and finding the right opportunities to play.
Wonder how many new games you’ll be challenged to by giving out your player ID.
I’ll challenge you. I also play Scramble with Friends and Hanging with Friends. You might prefer the latter.
I’ve gotten at least four requests so it has been manageable so far! : )
I’m a bit sporadic — I try to play every day but I get busy and then go for hours without getting to make a move.
Look forward to playing our game!
Hilarious! I, too, thought I would win big at that game. But, alas, my non reader non correct speller sister and non reader husband beat me daily. I hate those words that go down beside another word forming all those 2 letter words. THOSE AREN’T WORDS!!! Anywhoo. I will look you up. We can play and score low together.
Oh goody. I’d like to play with someone who won’t crush me. I’ve been venturing into experimental land to be more competitive — trying to fit odd letters into strange spaces but not having much luck.
I am a recent convert as well. Somehow in my head, I don’t feel as shame-faced as I would if I chose to play Farmville or something. I started out winning my first few games….and got a big head…that is now being served to me on a platter quite regularly. Yes, look out for TL, TW and also when you can bump little words together with a longer word so instead of a nice stretched out word, you have sort of a clump or words….those can give you some nice, sneaky points. I find it sad…and sort of scary that there are teenagers out there trying to strike up conversations with strangers….don’t they have “after school special” movies anymore about that sort of thing?!?!?
At least they are playing a game that is more intellectually stimulating than others out there. And I’m starting to pick up some of the tricks … slowly but surely I’m getting (slightly) better.
Not a game I’m familiar with but as I love Scrabble and Dixit and the like I’ll be sure to look it up.
It is basically Scrabble but you can play via Facebook and you can play your Facebook friends or anyone else. You take your turn when you get a chance and play until someone wins. IF you like Scrabble, you’ll enjoy this.
There have been a number of very scientific studies done (in my head) that have clearly determined that truly creative geniuses will not excel at Words with Friends. You’re simply too brilliant for such a simple-minded activity. My sympathy to Mr. Jenners for your superior intelligence.
Oh I love how you think and the studies in your head!
HATE words with friends…HATE. I could’ve written this post bc I too thought playing this game would be a no-brainer for me. Think again. I knew I was in trouble when our Athletic Director (who doesn’t read) surfaced as the reigning champ over and over again in my little circle. I think we (readers) think too much about it…and like you described, the first word jumps out at us…and…well, that’s it. I. never. won. a. game when I was playing. Delete.
Oh that has got to be frustrating!!! It seems to be a bit of theme — lots of us readers aren’t good at this game!!! I wonder how long til I give up in frustration!
I play Wordfeud but haven’t heard of Words with Friends until now…
It is basically Scrabble. You should be able to access it via Facebook if you have a page. I’d like to see what Wordfeud is about.
I’ve never played the game, but it sounds fun. I hope you win.
It is basically Scrabble played online. Fun but challenging … and I’m not good at Scrabble either!
This post cracked me! I haven’t played WwF yet because I’m terrified of outing myself as a vocab failure. All my friends know I’m a reader and suppose I have this terrific vocabulary, but I’m no good at scrabble. I’m also super competitive with the Hubs at ALL THE THINGS. We play monopoly a lot because I always beat him!
Quite a few readers are confessing to having the same problem that I am having. And I do think that, as a reader, I expect (and others expect) me to be brilliant at word games and I’m not. I’m terrible. Why this horrible contradiction!!???? On a good note, I managed to eke out three more victories over Mr. Jenners. (OK … to be fair, I should also say he beat me four more times.)
I am not good at words either!! In fact, my mom kills me every game, and english isn’t even her first language, LOL. I’ll start a game with you in a minute! My family is obsessed with all those… we also play hanging with friends, scramble with friends, matching with friends, and gems with friends and my dad and I play chess with friends… that’s all on a daily basis, hahah!!
Oh and yeah I don’t play any strangers because it’s sort of scary and creepy to me, LOL
That is hilarious about your mom! And it just proves to me that you can just place random letters and you can luck out and win!! I can’t look at any of those other games. I’ve already got a time management problem due to Words with Friends — hence my late replies to everyone on this post!!
You are seriously the funniest Jenners. The teen conversation shut downs are the best, lol.
I play ruzzle, never tried words with friends. I think I would suck too though.
Your pictures are fun too.
Ruzzle? I’ll have to check it out. Maybe I’ll be better at it!!! HAHA!
I love Words With Friends! Jill from Fizzy Thoughts always beats me, but I like to play it, anyway. I’ll invite you
That poor teenager… how are you certain it’s a teen on the other side of that conversation?
Also, that second e-card sounds like someone trying to ask a Words with Friend random opponent out on a date!
Hmmm…I better practice up before I play Jill. I’ll look for a game with you … you’ll be sure to have your ego boosted.
And I guess we don’t really know if there is a teen on the other end of that conversation … that is just what they said. I find it terribly amusing though.
LOL…I don’t play “WWFs” but I am totally hooked on the Scrabble App and have played over 4,000 games since mid-2011. Yes, I lead a boring life, but wouldn’t want it any other way:)
I could see racking up that many games over a year’s time!! And I say it is best to get your pleasures from the simple things like this, right!?
I would not even consider playing..I am a terrible speller.
Trust me when I tell you that being a terrible speller would not be an impediment to winning at Words with Friends.
Lol! That last one has me busting a gut since well I may just be in the bathroom reading this post. I am horrible at that game too- which is why I stick with Dice with buddies
Is Dice with Buddies kind of like Yahtzee? I can only have one game I play at a time — already my bathroom breaks are getting too long! HA!
I LOVE this game, and this post! But, sometimes WWF gets in the way of other activities, such as reading. The more you play, the better you’ll get, as you learn the “tricks”. Your Scrabble game will also improve.
Glad to hear I’ll get better over time. And I do find it cutting into my reading time. I need to get a balance!
I’ve a feeling I should stay as far away from Words with Friends as I possibly can. I can sense months, maybe years of my life vanishing into an internet vortex.
Oh yes. Be wary … be very wary. It can be addictive and a time suck (but in the best possible way.)
I’ve never played either, but I love that Mr. Jenners gets teens to approach him, asking him how old he is. If he was honest they probably would stop bothering him. He’d be too old for them. I do love your post cards, especially the bathroom one.
The teen has stopped trying chat … I guess he/she got the message! : 0
Yeah, I always beat my husband at Scrabble, and he always beats me at Words with Friends. Dumb. But my new addictions are Matching with Friends and Gems with Friends. Especially Gems — I can’t stop playing!!
(P.S. I’m jessestblonde on all of the above)
NO no no … I can’t have any more games to play!! I’m already developing a WWF problem!!
I haven’t played in a while but I can hold my own with WwF. You’ve got me a little intimidated about Mr. Jenners. You never would have figured this out, but I’m bermudaonion on there.
You held your own!! I think you won by more than 150 points in our first game!! Glad you revealed your “secret” identity!
ahahahahaahaaa I love this! You are so funny. And right-on. Don’t quit Words with Friends, you’re one of the only people I can beat consistently
I especially enjoyed the “my grumpy husband” phrase and the title of this post. You rock!
I’d just like to point out that I might possibly have a chance at beating you in our current game. I’m doing everything I can to win!!!! (But not cheating.)
I haven’t played in months,but once I saw the nonsense they call words, I just started randomly plugging in letters thinking they’d turn out to be words and half the time they did!
I confess that I’m starting to do that as well!
That is so funny! I am too embarrassed to play words with friends since I know I won’t do well. Instead my 12 year old whips my butt in Scramble with friends, which is kind of like boggle so it should be easier, right? Not.
Oh I’m even worse at Boggle than I am with Scrabble!!! I get fixated on one area and don’t see anything else. Much worse!
I’ve never played Words with Friends myself, but I am competitive with my husband about things too. He plays scrabble online and even though I used to be able to crush him at the board game years ago, I know that he is far better than me now because of all of his practice. He actually spends time memorizing unusual high scoring words.
I’d say that I’ll never get into this game, but I said the same thing about Angry Birds, and I can waste hours on that game if I let myself. I hope you get super word skills soon so that you can take the hubby down a notch! 
My whole goal in life is taking my husband down a notch. It is very very very hard to do. And how like a man is it to memorize high-scoring words to win a word game! HA!