# 53 bicycles: A lateral thinking puzzle **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 9, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868 "2017-07-09T19:51:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 172
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3422 "2018-09-17T19:19:04Z")
\*\*reply to SpoilerVirgin \*\* Did the lie become true because there was a physical change to the land? \*\*No \*\* Did the lie become true because of a change in a law? \*\*No \*\* Did the lie become true because of a change in a scientific classification? \*\*No \*\* Did the lie become true because of a change in some other type of classification (e.g. something that was once referred to as a “car” no longer was)? \*\*Yes \*\* Does this in any way involve a media work (book, movie, play, etc.)? \*\*No \*\* ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3423 "2018-09-17T20:38:16Z")
Did the change in classification involve a mode of transportation? Is the current classification something that the average person with no specialized training would recognize today? Is the old classification something that the average person with no specialized training would have recognized when the lie was first told? Is the old classification something that the average person with no specialized training would recognize today? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3424 "2018-09-17T21:11:26Z")
Was the lie about the speed of something? Was the lie about the quality of something? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3425 "2018-09-17T22:34:40Z")
**reply to SpoilerVirgin** : Did the change in classification involve a mode of transportation? \*\*No \*\* Is the current classification something that the average person with no specialized training would recognize today? **FWIW the “classification” now is the same as it was when the report was first issued. Just about everyone would understand.** Is the old classification something that the average person with no specialized training would have recognized when the lie was first told? \*\*Yes \*\* Is the old classification something that the average person with no specialized training would recognize today? \*\*Yes \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3426 "2018-09-17T22:36:55Z")
\*\*reply to Mahaloth \*\*: Was the lie about the speed of something? \*\*No \*\* Was the lie about the quality of something? \*\*No \*\* ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3427 "2018-09-17T23:53:12Z")
Did the change in classification involve the way a word or phrase is used? Did the lie involve telephone numbers? A party line? Something else to do with telephones? Did the lie involve another type of communication or signaling? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3428 "2018-09-17T23:53:41Z")
> [@](#): > > It happened in the 1930’s. With the backing of one of the world’s largest oil companies, trusted experts Otto and Ernest knowingly deceived the public in a report they issued. At first they got away with their deception. But then their lie was discovered. A lawsuit was sure to follow. Putting that kind of misinformation out to the public was a serious crime. > > Except the case could not be prosecuted because the lie was was not a lie. Experts Otto and Ernest turned out to be wrong. Their intentional lie was actually the truth. And it was one of the world’s very smallest businesses that proved it so. What was their lie? We know: The oil company is a fossil fuel company. Like, no trick here on it being “essential oils” or something. Otto and Ernest(both human), who were hired by the oil company, believed the lie they were telling WAS a lie. That lie was about land. Specifically, it was about the location of the land, which was in North America, New York specifically. They expected a non-monetary benefit from the lie. The lie became truth because of a change in classification. Otto and Ernest’s job is highly relevant and something people do today. The business that proved their lie was true was a small Mom and Pop General store with less than 10 people who worked there. It provided services and manufactured and delivered goods. Their store was located on the land. Their proving the lie had become true was purely accidental. The store is gone, but there is a historical marker. The lie involved transportation as well. Cars. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3429 "2018-09-17T23:54:41Z")
Did this involve automobiles? Did cars refer to train cars? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3430 "2018-09-18T00:08:47Z")
We’ve probably moved past the point where this could be useful, but did this situation involve tetraethyl lead? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3431 "2018-09-18T01:15:15Z")
**reply to SpoilerVirgin** : Did the change in classification involve the way a word or phrase is used? **No** Did the lie involve telephone numbers? A party line? Something else to do with telephones? **No** Did the lie involve another type of communication or signaling? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3432 "2018-09-18T01:22:43Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > We know: > > The oil company is a fossil fuel company. Like, no trick here on it being “essential oils” or something. > > Otto and Ernest(both human), who were hired by the oil company, believed the lie they were telling WAS a lie. That lie was about land. Specifically, it was about the location of the land, which was in North America, New York specifically. They expected a non-monetary benefit from the lie. > > The lie became truth because of a change in classification. > > Otto and Ernest’s job is highly relevant and something people do today. > > The business that proved their lie was true was a small Mom and Pop General store with less than 10 people who worked there. It provided services and manufactured and delivered goods. Their store was located on the land. Their proving the lie had become true was purely accidental. The store is gone, but there is a historical marker. > > The lie involved transportation as well. Cars. I don’t know that the General Store manufactured anything. Probably not, but this is irrelevant. I think the store was standard retail sales. The transportation angle is only tangential. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3433 "2018-09-18T01:25:23Z")
**reply to Mahaloth** : Did this involve automobiles? **Yes, but not directly. The lie itself is not about cars.** Did cars refer to train cars? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3434 "2018-09-18T01:30:52Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > We’ve probably moved past the point where this could be useful, but did this situation involve tetraethyl lead? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3435 "2018-09-18T02:16:03Z")
Were Otto and Ernest: architects? construction workers(or managers)? mathematicians? teachers? farmers? consultants? military? sales? doctors? military? pirates? criminals? police? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3436 "2018-09-18T02:37:02Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Were Otto and Ernest: > > architects? > > construction workers(or managers)? > > mathematicians? > > teachers? > > farmers? > > consultants? > > military? > > sales? > > doctors? > > military? > > pirates? > > criminals? > > police? \*\*None of the above. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3437 "2018-09-18T02:46:35Z")
Otto and Ernest produced the report containing the lie for the oil company. Was it shared with anyone else aside from the oil company? Was it shared with the owners of the general store? Was it shared with news media? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3438 "2018-09-18T02:59:04Z")
**reply to SpoilerVirgin** : Otto and Ernest produced the report containing the lie for the oil company. Was it shared with anyone else aside from the oil company? **Yes, and with the full backing of the oil company.** Was it shared with the owners of the general store? **Yes** Was it shared with news media? **Not specifically. But the report was widely shared. See hint in #3415.** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3439 "2018-09-18T03:13:35Z")
Was the report shared in a way that was easily accessible by the general public? Was the report share through advertising? Was the report shared as something printed on, or sold along with a product? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3440 "2018-09-18T03:34:07Z")
**reply to SpoilerVirgin** : Was the report shared in a way that was easily accessible by the general public? **Yes** Was the report share through advertising? **No** Was the report shared as something printed on, or sold along with a product? **Not printed on a product or sold along with a product. But you are on the right track. Easy to get.** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3441 "2018-09-18T03:38:38Z")
Did the general public need to send away to get the report? Was it in some public location that was easily visible? Was it printed in a comic book? Was it available in print? Or in some other medium? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=171) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=173)