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Proposal: Puzzling

To be sure I correctly grasp the full spectrum of the proposal – Are Cryptograms on-topic too?

I'm asking because some regard them to be puzzles, while others disagree and simply push cryptographic puzzles into the cryptanalysis corner…

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  • Also note that at least in Dutch but possibly in other related languages as well, cryptic crosswords are called cryptograms.
    – SQB
    May 1, 2014 at 9:22
  • @SQB Yeah, I know … and I’m sure Piet Burger would’ve agreed with you if he were still alive. (N.B.: Ik ben een halve Belg, en heb een paar Jaar in Nederland gewoont.) That’s the reason why I linked to the English “Cryptograms” article at Wikipedia – to be sure it’s clear what exactly I’m talking about. ;)
    – e-sushi
    May 1, 2014 at 14:42

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If they have one solid answer which anyone can look at and say, "Yep, that is correct", then yes, I would say they are on topic.

But (and I'm just including this point for completeness) if the answer to the cryptogram can be any one of thousands of answers that "look" correct, and can only be found the "right" solution to with a key, then no, they are not suited for puzzlers.

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    I completely agree… I was actually thinking about (a) cryptograms with solutions where people ask how to get to that solution so they learn how to do it themselves next time, and (b) cryptogram-related questions that ask how to create cryptograms, what hints to provide to people so they can solve them, etc. So, nothing along the lines of “What does F5&44$}58” decrypt to?” – as such questions hardly make sense or add value to SE. Like I said, we certainly seem to agree there. ;)
    – e-sushi
    Mar 12, 2014 at 19:14
  • @e-sushi Ah, yes, I would say those two would be very much on-topic here.
    – IQAndreas
    Mar 27, 2014 at 8:05
  • @e-sushi Actually, decrypto only offers 10 solutions for F5&44$}58. I am going with "unfeeling".
    – user11235
    May 4, 2014 at 18:48

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