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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

198 replies

SkippyDies · 17/04/2020 13:03

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

OP posts:
NameChangeOctober · 17/04/2020 14:31

The picture emerges whether you look at the box or not

Bargebill19 · 17/04/2020 14:35

I’m a box looker. And I start with the outside edges. Then.... I randomly pick a bit to do. So it might be all the sky or all the whatever else.
Anything else is wrong and people will be told to step away from my jigsaw.

pigsDOfly · 17/04/2020 14:35

I don't go by colour, I go by piece shape!

Well, you would have a had a lot of fun with a puzzle I finished a couple of weeks ago. Every single piece was the same shape and size.

I've never come across a puzzle like it before. It was an absolute nightmare, took me forever to complete as I left it hanging around for quite a few months in between gritting my teeth and ploughing on with it.

Absolutely no pleasure to do and I only kept on with it until it was finished because I won't give up with things like that.

I always look at the box, especially at the moment, as I'm doing jigsaws as a way of relaxing, life is enough of a challenge at the moment without adding to it.

I've just completely a puzzle I bought from 'The Works' before lockdown, and yes, it wasn't massively hard work but I really enjoyed doing it.

I've got another one from there waiting in the wings, so looking forward to starting on that when I can bring myself to dismantle with one I've just finished.

MrAlyhakinsMassiveYacht · 17/04/2020 14:35

I finished one yesterday that you couldn't do the edges of until you'd done the middle.

I almost stopped. It sat, untouched, for over 24 hours while I came to terms with the utter abomination would doing a jigsaw the wrong way.

But not doing one with the box? Nah jog on mate.

Yawnfest · 17/04/2020 14:41

I was not aware that there was any other way to do a jigsaw than keep referring to the picture.

We bought a jig to do on a caravan holiday in September, it was mega-hard, a Mexican city and had loads of tiny houses in it, you had to scrutinize each piece and then the picture, I remember fights over who was looking at the box.

We didn't finish it and in my wisdom I decided to slide it into the box with a fish slice and do it at home. I didn't think of how I would get it out of the box at home and it broke again into pieces again.
In the end it was finished - minus one piece. I then cut up a piece of cardboard and painted it in. That was more satisfying than the jigsaw!
Here is a picture (if it uploads) - see if you can spot the missing piece.

To assume nice, normal reasonable people look at the box when doing a jigsaw puzzle?
ElsieDear · 17/04/2020 14:46

I have NEVER heard of this not looking at the box thing! How weird!

bottersnikes · 17/04/2020 14:50

This thread has really made me laugh! All those fellow puzzle enthusiasts about there!
I have to use the box, and start with the edges. Partly because I do love a nice tidy system, and partly because I am completely incapable of rotating images in my head. If I didn't have the box, it would take me weeks to do a jigsaw and I'd get annoyed. Grin
I saw on FB today that Kodak have released the largest jigsaw in the world - 57,000 pieces, or thereabouts. Bet that couldn't be done without the box Wink

ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 17/04/2020 14:53

Seasoned and dedicated jigsawer here: of course you look at the picture on the box!! Its all about scrutinising the box and seeing where each piece goes!!

lifestooshort123 · 17/04/2020 14:55

I always look at the box and do edges first. MDD loved jigsaws when she was younger and not only wouldn't look at the box but also completed them upside down - they could be quite complicated ones as well.

ElaineMarieBenes · 17/04/2020 14:58

From the age of 3 I was taught it’s cheating to look at the picture! YABU

Chrysanthemum5 · 17/04/2020 15:10

Sadly your friend is lost to reason Confusedjust move on. More importantly what is a jigsaw assembly station? We must know

CakeAndGin · 17/04/2020 15:10

The box is usually there for a guide but we can do them without the box but it depends how hard the puzzle is. Currently attempting this one - www.amazon.co.uk/Schmidt-Charis-Tsevis-Premium-Quality/dp/B0749W39M1?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 and couldn’t do it without the box as it uses photos of London that just repeats throughout the picture, at different sizes.
I love the wasgij ones and the point of those is to look at the box for clues.

Moonflower12 · 17/04/2020 15:11

Not only would I look at the box- I'd keep the bloody thing in it! I hate puzzles but admire your dedication OP!

SmallPinkBear · 17/04/2020 15:16

Whaaaat? I am currently doing a puzzle off a panda face because I am clearly a sadist and didn’t think that the whole thing would only be black or white... anyway if I didn’t have the picture there is no way I could have done any of it. She is clearly a weirdo

Myfuckingfreezer · 17/04/2020 15:18

Looking at the box is cheating - that is and always has been true

Agree! How is it fun to look at a picture, check a piece and put it in?!

DowntonCrabby · 17/04/2020 15:20

Hilarious OP, regardless of whether whenever looks or does bot look at the box what a fucking twat to create a FB poll.

What was the outcome of the poll???

Is she generally an uptight know-all?

DowntonCrabby · 17/04/2020 15:20

*whomever

BackseatCookers · 17/04/2020 15:22

YABU

Though I fear I'm a psychopath as I also don't look at IKEA instructions properly, I just sort of grab a few things and see what happens as I go.

It's how I know my other half loves me because he doesn't get annoyed about it even though left to his own devices he would get all the pieces out and group them to check everything in the instruction booklet is there... probably why he always ends up having to rebuild my less rigid designs 😊

CHIRIBAYA · 17/04/2020 15:24

Comments such as looking at the box is 'cheating' speaks volumes. I do jigsaws because they are relaxing and enjoyable. Yes there is challenge and I enjoy that element but I do not see it as a marathon or an exam and instil a competetive modus operandi into the whole exercise. Usually my problem is I can't get to see the picture on the box as the cat likes to make a bed out of it.

5foot5 · 17/04/2020 15:25

I have never heard of this mad idea to not look at the box.

5foot5 · 17/04/2020 15:26

*DS14...

DOESN'T START WITH THE EDGES!*

@iklboo Well I blame the parents

WhatICallMyUsername · 17/04/2020 15:26

I've had a Wasgij under the sofa for about 3 years. I hate bit having a picture!! Even though I've googled it and got the image to try and motivate myself it's just not the same!!

Original poster
SkippyDies · 17/04/2020 15:28

In defence of my weird friend, she did her FB poll as a piss take. I think.

OP posts:
iklboo · 17/04/2020 15:35

@5foot5 - I've tried. Heavens help me I've tried. The boy's headed for The Dark Side .

KOKOagainandagain · 17/04/2020 15:42

I bought several Marvel and Simpson's puzzles 750-1000 pieces thinking the DC might join in if I started. I ended up doing most of them but didn't really look at the box - more colour and shape. DS1 joined in with one Simpson's jigsaw and was outraged to find that using the box was deliberately misleading as certain things had been changed - eg colour of a hat or the direction a character faced. Useful life lesson - appearances can be deceptive Smile