— — Now I see why actor Alec Baldwin got kicked off a plan for playing a game on his mobile phone. And while I don’t exactly feel sympathetic — rules are rules even if you are a celebrity — I understand the temptation of Words with Friends.

I have spent too much time playing the game over the last week. My smartphone doesn’t have an application for the game. So, I have been forced to log onto to Facebook more than usual. OK, a lot more than usual.

I am addicted, even though I have lost three games. Thank goodness I am not a sore loser or I wouldn’t have known how fun it is to score a 48-point word.

I know I am late to the Words with Friends party. I resisted the game for years,  ignoring all the requests in an effort to keep a game-free atmosphere. And now, in 2012, I have finally joined the ranks of Alec Baldwin and others who can’t resist the lure of a triple-word move.



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“Ding.”

My mom is on the phone. She wants to know what that noise is in the background.

“Ding.”

My screen freezes for a moment. I tell her to hold on a minute; I was putting together a good word. The word “storm” puts me in the lead.

We continue talking, until another “ding” interrupts our conversation.

I told her I would call her back later.

There were multiple things that needed to be done that night. Laundry, dishes and a random craft project dominated my mental to-do list. But the “ding” of the game canceled out any household tasks. After a long day at work, I was content to play Words with Friends, even as my eyelids grew heavy with sleep. Needless to say, my Monday evening was unproductive. However, I was excited about winning my first game. My coworker Andy folded in defeat.

This all started last weekend. It was the first time in months I was able to enjoy a full Saturday and Sunday with no commitments, other than a Super Bowl party. And I am not ashamed to admit I spent a majority of the weekend cleaning, organizing, hanging out with friends and playing Words with Friends. I started with one challenge but others in the Facebook community sent game requests. I had to turn games down; it seemed like everyone wanted to play a word game with a journalist. I am not sure if they really wanted to play or test their smarts against a friend who makes a living with words?



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I am going to disappoint them eventually. My writing talent does not overlap into games, whether it be Facebook’s Words with Friends or the old-fashioned board game Scrabble. I lose interest quickly with games. As a child, I played Monopoly, but grew tired of trying to build hotels. And truthfully, I am not a gamer. I dislike most card games. Well, I love Go Fish and Old Maid, but I don’t know many adults who like to play those old favorites. At home, dust always settled on my old Nintendo. I never bought new games or embraced new technology like the Wii. And those FarmVille, CityVille and other Facebook games? They seem like a hassle. My iPod comes with an App store, but I have not downloaded any games. My boss Samantha Perry is always downloading games on her devices. She used to be hooked on Angry Birds, but now favors Clumsy Bob. I have yet to play Angry Birds or Clumsy Bob. I don’t have time to get addicted to another game. I am too busy trying to beat my other friend Todd with the word “church” in Words with Friends. It is a rematch, and as I write this column, I am leading the game. Fingers crossed. I am still a rookie, anything can happen, especially if I get a bad combination of letters.

For now, the “ding” of the game is working its magic. I am charmed and addicted at the same time. I have no will power against the game and my friends are up for the challenge. As I continue to play, hopefully, I will lose my rookie status and start winning even more games. For now, Words with Friends is holding my interest, but I don’t foresee any more adventures into other games, no matter how times someone sends a request for FarmVille.

“Ding”

I am starting to love that sound. However, it comes with a warning. Productivity levels may suffer. Or you could get kicked off a plane.

Jamie Parsell is the Lifestyle editor of the Daily Telegraph. Contact her at jparsell@bdtonline.com.