To assume nice, normal reasonable people look at the box when doing a jigsaw puzzle?

[SkippyDies]

Following a post on FB yesterday when I revealed my new and most excellent jigsaw puzzle assembly command station, a friend, possibly an ex-friend now commented with surprise and alarm about the presence of the jigsaw puzzle box in my photos.

To my own surprise and alarm apparently looking at the box is cheating.

She and her family look at the box briefly before starting and then put it away. They jigsaw blind.

I’m very surprised that this is considered to be normal behaviour.

She did a poll on FB but it’s not really valid is it, what with her friends list containing a cohort of weird non-boxers. It’s a family thing apparently.

Maybe mn can help clarify that she is a giant freak.

YANBU = I look at the box
YABU = I do my jigsaws blind

Your friend is a freak.

I stand the box up next to my puzzle making station. Anything else is unacceptable.

I always look at the box.

I’m almost finished a 1000 piece one. Have looked at the box. But I will try to do the rest without and see how I get on. Might end up losing the plot.

I can’t imagine doing one without looking at the box. But the double sided baked bean one might be doable without the box. Can’t imagine the box would help much for that one.

Always look at the box. Always start with the edges. Otherwise it’s just wrong. Also, are we not having a hard enough time as it is at the moment without doing jigsaws the “hard” way?!

One of my best days was the day I splashed out on a proper fold out jigsaw board.

I feel very strongly about this...

"jigsaw puzzle assembly command station"

PHOTO!

Also, will you marry me?

I don't even like jigsaws but I love people who do the things they love with dedication and a very high level of organisation. I bet you're a list maker too? God I love a list.

(I'm a bit worried I've been sitting in the warm tent too long, reading that back)

Your friends are at the 'total weirdo' end of the jigsaw makers spectrum, though admittedly in my experience jigsaw makers in general are a strange lot...

Unless there are instructions on the box, I don't think there is a right answer. (Unless there are official jigsaw competitions, what are their rules?)

It's never occurred to me not to look at the box.

I've just found these rules, apparently for a world jigsaw puzzle championship. The video at the bottom of the page shows contestants with the picture on the box available to them while they work.

www.worldjigsawpuzzle.org/en/championship_en.htm

It depends on the puzzle I can usually do them without looking. But I am doing one just now and having to look alot. I like doing them blind it's more challenging. Wasgij ones are great for that because you are not doing the picture on the box but what happens next.

When doing a puzzle this week with DD I briefly entertained the idea of not using the box. Then I came to my senses.

YANBU.

i look at the box for a big one with boring ordinary square-ish pieces. but not for smaller puzzles or ones with more interesting pieces.

Im not using the box on my current one... Because it comes with a printed picture of the completed puzzle (there's 4 in the box).

Next time I build an IKEA flat pack I'll look at the instructions briefly and then crack on. I'll be most amused when my wardrobes come out as a side table but at least I'll sleep well knowing I didn't cheat

I never look at the original picture, love doing wasgij and also those mystery jigsaws that I usually find in charity shops.

Seriously, how the hell do you do a jigsaw without looking at the box????

Oooh good find randomlondoner

OP hit them with that! official proof they are wrong wrong wrong so wrong

And please can we have a photo of your command station @SkippyDies?

I am doing one of those Wasgij things at the moment so I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing!

To be honest the last puzzle I did didn’t have a box either and I quite enjoy the challenge of not knowing. But yes, usually I would look at the box if it’s available/ shows the puzzle image.

I use the box when needed but it also depends on the jigsaw I'm doing. If it's an impossible puzzle there is normally no point in looking as it doesn't help and with wasgij you don't do what's on the box. Most people I know that do jigsaws do look at the box

Surely its just two levels of difficulty and you choose the one that suits you - whether skill or mood! For difficult ones I definitely use the box... and love seeing the picture emerge, inspired by the one in front of me

"Next time I build an IKEA flat pack I'll look at the instructions briefly and then crack on. I'll be most amused when my wardrobes come out as a side table but at least I'll sleep well knowing I didn't cheat"

@DontGoIntoTheLongGrass to be fair, you will probably get a better result using your own brain than relying on the fucking total bollocks that IKEA call "instructions". I hate them.

(hopes OP's jigsaw command assembly didn't come from IKEA as that would be a bit awks)

If you're not meant to look at the box then what's the point of the Wasgij ones?! You are clearly right, OP!

I normally use the box, but I have done a few puzzles where the picture on the box wasn't the actual picture of the puzzle. I also normally start from the edges but I did one puzzle where the edges were all the same shade of midnight blue and all the same size, starting from the edges was just not possible - that entire puzzle was an exercise in frustration but worth it in the end (glow in the dark puzzle of the constellations, beautiful when finished).

The rules are:
Sort by edges
Sort by colour
Sort by piece shape
All the whole looking at the picture!

What is WRONG with some people?

I started a jigsaw a few months ago one wet Sunday afternoon. Thought it might be fun. Referred to the box lid. Managed to get about four bits together in four hours. Threw a tantrum. Threw pieces back in box. Threw box on neighbours doorstep - she likes jigsaws apparently, finds them relaxing. I, however, do not!