Wordle!

Could it be an old man's obsession?

When I first started to get into Wordle about a year or so ago, I had concerns. I was worried that it was one of those games, those obsessive hobbies, that screams OLD PERSON! You know what I mean—like birdwatching, jigsaw puzzles, or quilting. At 67, you have to watch out for that kind of thing.

That turned out not to be the case. All ages play. Even kids. There also have been many studies touting its great cognitive benefits, especially for aging brains, and maybe that softened my concerns a little. But then I began to see the social media postings of my friends, championing their Wordle fetes. Dozens and dozens of them every day. They were all over the place, everywhere on Instagram and Facebook. It was clear the feet of the obsession were deep in wet cement that at any moment would harden and trap us all forever. And the old people would have the toughest time escaping, considering their declining physical abilities. So, I continued to be a at least somewhat concerned that I might be heading for the nursing home.

A couple of years ago a psychologist interviewed on CNBC had suggested that Wordle fulfills what he calls the “ABCs of human needs.” A— autonomy, B—belonging, and C—competence. We like the individuality of the game, its sense of camaraderie with other players, and its ability to make us feel that we are good at something. And sharing our “wins” — even our “losses”—can help us feel connected. It is not just a game to kill time. It’s a game that brings us together.

This makes sense. Still, I’ve never purposely posted a personal Wordle win or loss. Although I solved it in two tries more than once. And for you none-Wordle types, that’s pretty good. Still, there are those cheaters who have solved it in one try. One? Really? Okay, maybe not cheaters but some damn lucky folks, that’s for sure. And, by the way, what the hell is the skill in that?

It is also a puzzle that is easy to play. Another reason why people are hooked. Wordle truly is an accessible game. It’s not chess. And as Americans we just love the productivity aspect of it. It’s something to “get done.” Got to do my Wordle! It’s what I do. Another item to check off the daily checklist.

My Wordle of choice is the daily one in the New York Times. Others play elsewhere, of course. It’s everywhere, allowing you to take your obsession to limitless possibilities. But this is where it gets into the crazed addiction category, like in the world of gamers. You can just see that old geezer sitting in his Barcalounger, a four-day growth of beard, in his underwear, his med bottles littering a side-table, scattered empty bags of Fritos and single-sized yogurt containers strewn about the floor, his reading glasses falling from his nose, his hands clutching an iPad, as he grumbles over what the hell is a five-letter word starting with a P, has a R in the middle, and possibly a R at the end.

That’s one of the hardest words in the Wordle world, by the way. (The answer: PARER, a blade used to cut vegetables).

There have been countless news stories and studies on Wordle and its players, and the articles, discoveries, and psychological findings will keep on coming as long as we are playing with reckless abandon. Humans are a fascinating bunch, are we not?

Meantime, TACIT came up in my Wordle the other day. Sorry, that’s just really unfair.

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David W. Berner is the author of several books of award-winning fiction and memoir. You can follow him through his free monthly newsletter at www.davidwberner.com