How the Rubik’s Cube contributed to my delinquency
The first time I ever got into trouble at school was thanks to a Rubik’s cube.
I was in fourth grade and had recently concluded that academic achievement wasn’t doing anything for me socially. Fortunately, I didn’t yet have to work very hard on the academic side, which allowed me to focus on how to be more popular.
While my other attempts to be cool failed miserably, I did manage to ingratiate myself with several classmates because I was the only one in the school who could solve a Rubik’s cube without taking it apart (or, even more pathetic, rearranging the stickers).
I solved most of them on the playground at recess, but one day I agreed to solve one during class. It belonged to a fifth-grade boy who lived in my neighborhood, and I found him a little intimidating.
I tried to hide it inside the opening of my desk, but my teacher must have grown suspicious as I kept my head bent nearly all the way over while I twisted the cube around. I didn’t even see her come up to my desk; the next thing I knew she had snatched it away. She didn’t mention when – or if – she’d return it to me, and I was too frightened to ask.
At recess, the owner of the cube asked me where it was. When I confessed what had happened, he told me I’d better get it back. I was already mentally counting what allowance I’d saved, in the event that I had to buy him a replacement (and then solve it, dammit).
My teacher returned the cube at the end of the day, and going forward, I told all other cube owners that they’d have to entrust their cubes to me overnight.
Kids will certainly do a lot to be liked just a little – even as early as the fourth grade.
January 13th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
I was a pathetic sticker-rearranger.
But only once!
I knew how to do some “tricks” (the simple checkerboard, “X”, etc.) but when my cousin stole my cube and totally messed it up, I didn’t know how to solve, hence the stickers.
I bow my head in shame.
January 13th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
I’m impressed. I solved it once…but had no idea how I did it so I couldn’t repeat it.
January 13th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
I never solved a Rubiks Cube! Except once when I pulled it apart. However that doesn’t really count, does it.
January 13th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
In my attempt to be a cool kid and therefore got in trouble at school, I, instead of being smart and doing a hard puzzle, decided to drink glue straight from the bottle.
I was not cool. AND I got swats. Double bummer.
January 13th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
I never did better than one side at a time, but SwingDaddy was a Cube Kid too.
January 13th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
I’m impressed not only by your cubing skills, but your ability to use them to your advantage at such a young age, smartypants.
January 14th, 2007 at 12:23 am
You know, that’s actually a great teaching device if you think about it. It’s a very left-brain gadget. Yeah, I’m one of those parents who believes in letting their kid stick the bean up their nose. Go ahead: see what happens. Then you get to explain what all the equipment does in the pediatrician’s office.
January 14th, 2007 at 7:11 am
“academic achievement wasn’t doing anything for me socially” – LOL, I love that line.
January 14th, 2007 at 7:35 am
Pathetic sticker arranger here. I never could solve that damn thing. Instead, we took to blowing it up. That was cool.
January 14th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Wow. I could NEVER solve it.
January 14th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
I could solve it. But only after i got the little booklet that told you how. Yes, I thought outside the box, even then!
January 14th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Excellent. I’m bringing a cube to Blogher to see your skills in action. (Of course, you can do it at Blogher recess.)
January 15th, 2007 at 8:58 am
so, is it true that rearranging the stickers renders the cube impossible to ever be solved “correctly” again? or was that just another 80s urban legend?