Why does cubing hold our interest?

[holypasta]

Do you ever get people at school, work, whatever, asking you: "How is cubing fun for you? Doesn't it get boring? I mean, you just repeat the same steps for every solve, right?"

I must admit that they present a good point. I'm not saying I agree with them -- I love cubing -- but it is the same steps for every solve. This is what I usually say in defense of cubing:

a) sure, they are the same steps. however, the way that you accomplish each step -- what happens within each step -- changes.
b) competition is a big factor in the prolonged joy of cubing. there are several people at my school with whom i compete, especially those who are around the same level as me.
c) why don't you stop enjoying skateboarding? playing basketball? hanging out with your friends? You do basically the same thing every time, right?

Thoughts? Opinions? Anecdotes? All are welcome.

 

[Zarxrax]

You always wanna just try "one more time"

 

[ostracod]

I've had this question asked to me a lot as well. I always reply that there is always something new to learn, and something new to discover. People are constantly developing techniques and methods; this makes the cube exciting. I agree with C in the post above. XD

 

[teller]

Most people can't see or understand how deep the rabbit hole really goes with the cube.

But ya know...people play solitaire, and it's basically the same game every time. Do they have to apologize for playing?

 

[Deleted member 2864]

I get this asked a lot... "why do you keep solving that thing???" my reply is "why do you keep asking???" in the same whiny voice they say to me :b

 

[EmersonHerrmann]

I dunno...it's fun? Strangers are impressed if they see you doing it?

 

[vrumanuk]

I always reply that there is always something new to learn, and something new to discover. People are constantly developing techniques and methods; this makes the cube exciting.

Most people can't see or understand how deep the rabbit hole really goes with the cube.

QFT. There are so many angles that you can come from when creating a method; the possibilities are endless.

 

[siphuyoda]

Ya know I get the same question all the time. I let them figure it out on their own. I give em an unsolved cube and let them attempt to solve it. It holds their interest for quite a while and then they know why I continue to cube.

 

[not_kevin]

Ya know I get the same question all the time. I let them figure it out on their own. I give em an unsolved cube and let them attempt to solve it. It holds their interest for quite a while and then they know why I continue to cube.

I wish this approach worked with the people who ask me the question. Most of the time, they're all liek "Ooh, that 4 cube looks easy (referring to the 2x2x2)", and when I hand them that one, they only spend around 5 seconds before saying that "it's too hard". >.<

I guess it occupies them for 5 seconds...

 

[cmhardw]

This is slightly off topic, but does relate to why people ask the questions such as "why do you cube so much?". I have also gotten this question from people before, and I love answer option C from the OP. I'll have to try that next time I get this comment

I'm not sure if this is just my area, but I feel most adults have a generally negative attitude towards cubing where I am at. I teach kids how to solve the cube at the math tutoring center I work at. This is of course at appropriate times such as during scheduled puzzle seminars during our day camps, or after they are finished with their hour of actual math instruction. Almost always the kids think cubing is so cool, and want to learn more. Adults sometimes think cubing is interesting or neat, but mostly the parents think it's a "toy" or waste of time somehow. I've even heard indirectly from other tutors that some parents, seeing that I cube a lot and teach kids to cube, have asked "is that guy (referring to me) ever going to grow up?" My outward response to people like that is just to smile and not really say anything. Inwardly though I want to yell at them "f#ck you", but of course I never do. I mostly just don't pay any attention to people like this, but it does irk me that people can be so haughty and look down on cubing/other people like that.

I hope my experience is not the experience of everyone, but that is what I have seen at least.

Chris

 

[qqwref]

To me cubing holds my interest for the same reason things like track or minesweeper or swimming (or any other things you try to do as fast as you can) do - there's always the possibility for improvement in some way, whether it's being actually faster or just solving more efficiently or smoothly. It's doing the same thing every time in the same way running 100 meters is the same thing every time, but nobody criticizes sprinters because everyone already knows that sprinters are practicing to be fast.

Chris: I think it's just the perception that it's a toy. If they think that you're basically spending all day playing with a toy, they're not going to respect that. It might be the 1980s thing - adults were around then, and in the 80s the cube was pretty much just a thing to play with, and not really a puzzle (because back then almost nobody solved it). Maybe if you emphasize that it's not a toy (i.e. something for kids to play with) but a puzzle (i.e. something to exercise the mind) they'll be more able to understand why you find it interesting.

 

[teller]

This is slightly off topic, but does relate to why people ask the questions such as "why do you cube so much?". I have also gotten this question from people before, and I love answer option C from the OP. I'll have to try that next time I get this comment

I'm not sure if this is just my area, but I feel most adults have a generally negative attitude towards cubing where I am at. I teach kids how to solve the cube at the math tutoring center I work at. This is of course at appropriate times such as during scheduled puzzle seminars during our day camps, or after they are finished with their hour of actual math instruction. Almost always the kids think cubing is so cool, and want to learn more. Adults sometimes think cubing is interesting or neat, but mostly the parents think it's a "toy" or waste of time somehow. I've even heard indirectly from other tutors that some parents, seeing that I cube a lot and teach kids to cube, have asked "is that guy (referring to me) ever going to grow up?" My outward response to people like that is just to smile and not really say anything. Inwardly though I want to yell at them "f#ck you", but of course I never do. I mostly just don't pay any attention to people like this, but it does irk me that people can be so haughty and look down on cubing/other people like that.

I hope my experience is not the experience of everyone, but that is what I have seen at least.

Chris

Actually I think people fear the cube...they don't want to look stupid. It's not that they think it's a "toy," it's that they don't want to be challenged with it. It's too...um...scary/alien. Adults especially remember the 80's and that the cube is simply too hard, and it's all a blur after that. Relegating it to "toy" status is just a psychological defense mechanism; forgive them, for they know not what they do.

But I have found that if you can warm them up to it, tell them that there is a "trick" to it, that cubers are not mathematicians, then you will find they get excited by the puzzle of simply trying to build a cross...and from there, they are then addicted.

 

[Cloud_9ine]

So true there, I've gotten two of my friends hooked just by asking them to try to get the cross.

 

[panyan]

Most people can't see or understand how deep the rabbit hole really goes with the cube

i completely agree

 

[Nilxchaos]

I just say that it's fun... And I do it for the people that haven't seen people solve it before and go OH MY GOD!!! THAT'S IMPOSSIBEL!!!! (purposeful misspell)

Off-topic but what annoyed me today was that I was solving my cube and I heard someone behind me say, "Why does everybody have those cubes? It's so annoying."

I know of only two other people in my SCHOOL that have cubes, not just my grade, and one other that knows how to solve. What he said makes me feel like I am part of a majority and not special, because and they are only jealous of our "elite group's" skill.
Anyone had this happen to you?

 

[KubeKid73]

Our group is elite, but not a majority.
I would just be like, fu. I only hate the people think that they're also elite, when it takes them >3 min. to solve a cube, and they can only solve a 3x3.

 

[goldencuber]

with over a quintillion combinations, you get a different scramble, and hence solution, every time.

 

[qqwref]

Our group is elite, but not a majority.
I would just be like, fu. I only hate the people think that they're also elite, when it takes them >3 min. to solve a cube, and they can only solve a 3x3.

Same thing. I don't like when people think they're awesome at something when they're actually really bad at it.

 

[trying-to-speedcube...]

with over a quintillion combinations, you get a different scramble, and hence solution, every time.

Very true. But anytime we try to explain something like that to other people, we're nerds... Duh -.-

 

[Chuberchuckee]

Ya know I get the same question all the time. I let them figure it out on their own. I give em an unsolved cube and let them attempt to solve it. It holds their interest for quite a while and then they know why I continue to cube.

I wish this approach worked with the people who ask me the question. Most of the time, they're all liek "Ooh, that 4 cube looks easy (referring to the 2x2x2)", and when I hand them that one, they only spend around 5 seconds before saying that "it's too hard". >.<

I guess it occupies them for 5 seconds...

It's amazing how people dismiss the 2x2x2 as easy and the 3x3x3 as maddeningly impossible.