Can cheating be a good thing sometimes?

I play Words With Friends. Have about 10 people I play consistently. Two of them use a cheat. One is 75+ years old, so that’s cool. It’s cool that she’s even on this electronic venue.

The other, however, is a cousin of Rick’s, Tracy. She’s my age. Reasonably intelligent. She was one of the first ones I ever played. At one point I asked her sister, Tanna, who I also play, where Tracy came up with those insane words! Tanna told me Tracy cheats. She said she’s called her on it, but Tracy denies cheating. I mean, come on! Words like THYRSES?! Consistently? And consistently using ALL of your tiles? No doubt, she cheats.

Anyway, I tried to quit playing her because it’s really no fun to get your butt kicked by 200+ points every single game. But she kept coming back and coming back. Finally I said, to myself, “Fine. But let’s level this playing field!” So I use a cheat when I play her, and only against her.

It seems to me, though, that my regular, non-cheating games have improved since I started using that cheat against Tracy. So am I learning from the cheat board? Can cheating be a good thing sometimes?

PS It’s a LOT more exciting coming up with your own 100+ point words out of your own head. It’s a rush. Cheating is no fun….but it IS interesting.