What Got You Started With Cryptograms

[martayela]

I would be interested to know why each of you are so interested in solving Cryptograms.
For me it was in my Senior English class in high school where our assignment was to read Edgar Allen Poe's "Gold Bug" (a cryptogram was introduced here). I was fascinated by this idea and have been solving Cryptograms ever since (and I won't even tell you how many years that has been, lol)....

[Beagle]

Many years ago, I lived in a place where they had a daily "Cryptoquip" in the newspaper. I enjoyed doing them every day along with the crossword and Jumble (I imagine the Cryptoquip was a syndicated feature... does it still exist?).

Then I moved away to a place that didn't carry them in the newspaper, and I stopped doing them for years (although I occasionally lamented that I missed them). Then one day a few months ago I was bored and sitting in front of a computer, and I thought, "surely there are cryptograms to solve somewhere online." A quick google and here I am, reunited with a long-lost pleasure.

[mazereeuw]

I too started with the cryptoquips in the local newspaper. I remember the first one I did when I lived in Winnipeg. I was babysitting on a Friday evening and feeling bored, I decided to try the puzzle. It took me FOREVER! I remember writing out all the letters of the alphabet and stroking them off one-by-one.
It really is so much easier and more enjoyable doing cryptograms on-line! In fact, it's downright addicting.

[fishbum]

I think Cryptoquips are still published in the pink section of the S.F. Chronicle. I know they are often someone's attempt to be clever with word play.

[lz1982]

It was in my local paper too, although I think they were called Cryptoquotes. The first time I looked at one, I didn't see how I'd ever be able to solve it.

[kimmie]

I have always enjoyed a variety of word puzzles, and I bought Penny Press puzzle books, which had cryptograms. Trying a cryptogram one day, I found that I liked solving them. I first started solving them about 5 years ago. They became my new favorite, but for my first 2 years of solving them, I had to cheat by getting a couple of letters to get me started. A year after being able to solve them without help (which was a thrilling discovery), I found this site. I still do paper-and-pencil cryptograms (I keep a book of cryptograms in my purse), but I much prefer online puzzles!