# 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:** 53
**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:** [August 20, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1041 "2017-08-20T22:21:33Z")
Was distressed, but not at all worried. And there’s a little bit more ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1042 "2017-08-20T22:35:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Was distressed, but not at all worried. And there’s a little bit more Donated blood? Felt light-headed? ETA: The injury was caused by the needle to get the blood donation? ---
**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:** [August 20, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1043 "2017-08-20T23:28:51Z")
Ok, that’s it, now. I’d hoped that folks would go down a few blind alleys, but it was not to be. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1044 "2017-08-21T00:15:46Z")
\*\*I heard a story about about a woman who was fired for the oddest reason. She had simply said the word “eleven”. Why did this cause her firing?\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1045 "2017-08-21T15:08:15Z")
Her boss, bragging about the “great relationship” he has with his underlings asked his group (in front of HIS boss), “So how would you’all rate me on a scale of 1 to 10 on the asshole meter?” ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1046 "2017-08-21T15:12:10Z")
Okay, fer reals now. Was she answering a question? If so, was her boss asking the question? Was the question directed to her? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1047 "2017-08-21T18:59:22Z")
Does the word “fired” in this story refer to dismissal from a job? Was she Joan of Arc? Was she a human cannonball? ---
**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:** [August 21, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1048 "2017-08-21T22:23:16Z")
Was she expected to say a number at that point? Would she have been fired if she had instead said “one”? Would she have been fired if she had instead said “thirteen”? ---
**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:** [August 22, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1049 "2017-08-22T00:12:16Z")
> [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > Her boss, bragging about the “great relationship” he has with his underlings asked his group (in front of HIS boss), “So how would you’all rate me on a scale of 1 to 10 on the asshole meter?” No. > [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > Okay, fer reals now. > > 1. Was she answering a question? > > 2. If so, was her boss asking the question? > > 3. Was the question directed to her? 1-3. No. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > 1. Does the word “fired” in this story refer to dismissal from a job? > > 2. Was she Joan of Arc? > > 3. Was she a human cannonball? 1. Yes. 2-3. No. > [@Chronos](#): > > 1. Was she expected to say a number at that point? > 2. Would she have been fired if she had instead said “one”? > 3. Would she have been fired if she had instead said “thirteen”? 1. No. 2. Unknown. Probably. 3. Unknown. Probably. Eleven is what was said and that is what is relevant. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2017, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1050 "2017-08-22T04:38:38Z")
Did she say “eleven” because of a count? If so, was it a miscount? Did she know she would be fired for saying “eleven?” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1051 "2017-08-22T22:18:08Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Did she say “eleven” because of a count? > > If so, was it a miscount? > > Did she know she would be fired for saying “eleven?” Taking that one step further: did she want to be fired? ---
**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:** [August 23, 2017, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1052 "2017-08-23T00:54:20Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Did she say “eleven” because of a count? > > If so, was it a miscount? > > Did she know she would be fired for saying “eleven?” 1. No 2. No 3. No > [@BigT](#): > > Taking that one step further: did she want to be fired? No. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2017, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1053 "2017-08-23T01:26:22Z")
1: Was she fired for unethical behavior? 2: Was she fired for dishonest behavior? 3: Was she fired for unprofitable behavior? ( I mean in a sense other than "if word got out that she was unethical, it’d be bad for profits) 4: Would a typical person who knew the whole story agree that the firing was to be expected? ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1054 "2017-08-23T01:27:16Z")
Is eleven intended as the usual English word meaning one more than ten? ---
**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:** [August 23, 2017, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1055 "2017-08-23T11:16:05Z")
Was she fired for incompetence? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2017, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1056 "2017-08-23T11:51:48Z")
1. Would anyone have been fired for doing this, or was it something specific to this woman’s situation? 2. Did this have something to do with her job (ie, was it poor performance)? 3. If not 2, was it that she was engaged in a non-job related activity on the job? ---
**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:** [August 23, 2017, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1057 "2017-08-23T12:39:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > 1: Was she fired for unethical behavior? > 2: Was she fired for dishonest behavior? > 3: Was she fired for unprofitable behavior? ( I mean in a sense other than "if word got out that she was unethical, it’d be bad for profits) > 4: Would a typical person who knew the whole story agree that the firing was to be expected? 1-3. No. 4. It’s harsh. I can only say “probably not” > [@RadioWave](#): > > Is eleven intended as the usual English word meaning one more than ten? Yes > [@Chronos](#): > > Was she fired for incompetence? Yes. > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > 1. Would anyone have been fired for doing this, or was it something specific to this woman’s situation? > > 2. Did this have something to do with her job (ie, was it poor performance)? > > 3. If not 2, was it that she was engaged in a non-job related activity on the job? 1. Yes 2. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2017, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1058 "2017-08-23T12:45:10Z")
Was “eleven” some sort of setting? Did the firing occur the same day she said “eleven”? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1059 "2017-08-23T13:41:21Z")
1. Did she say eleven, or did she read it, like from a teleprompter? ETA: 2) Did she misread two lowercase Ls as 11? 1. If no, did she misread Xi as a Roman numeral, when it was actually an Asian name? ---
**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:** [August 23, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1060 "2017-08-23T20:25:14Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Was “eleven” some sort of setting? > Did the firing occur the same day she said “eleven”? 1. No. 2. Yes. > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > 1. Did she say eleven, or did she read it, like from a teleprompter? > > ETA: 2) Did she misread two lowercase Ls as 11? > > 1. If no, did she misread Xi as a Roman numeral, when it was actually an Asian name? 1. Not a yes or no question. Anyway, from a teleprompter. 2. No. 3. Yes! And close enough to count as solved. [It was a news reporter who read Xi Jinping’s names as “Eleven Jinping”. She was a short-term contract hire and was let go immediately.](http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/doordarshan-anchor-sacked-after-naming-chinese-president-xi-eleven/article6426435.ece) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=52) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=54)