# 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:** 76
**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 20, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1501 "2017-09-20T21:12:23Z")
Does the service have to be stopped because it causes harm? Does the service have to be stopped because it does too much good? Is the overly skilled service eventually stopped by authorities? By the customer? By the service provider? Is the service something highly unusual? ```auto ``` ---
**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 20, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1502 "2017-09-20T21:20:57Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Is the person offering the service making a product as part of that service? No. > [@Biotop](#): > > Does the service have to be stopped because it causes harm? NO > > Does the service have to be stopped because it does too much good? NO > > Is the overly skilled service eventually stopped by authorities? NO > > By the customer? NO > > By the service provider? NO > > Is the service something highly unusual? PRETTY UNUSUAL, YES. NOT INSANELY SO, BUT PRETTY UNUSUAL. > > ```auto > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1503 "2017-09-20T21:30:11Z")
- Is it a creator of something? - Is it a repairer/maintainer of something? - Is it a destroyer of something? - Is it a preventer of something? ---
**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 20, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1504 "2017-09-20T21:46:19Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > - Is it a creator of something? > - Is it a repairer/maintainer of something? > - Is it a destroyer of something? > - Is it a preventer of something? No to all. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1505 "2017-09-20T23:36:30Z")
Does the service involve physically touching human beings? Does the service involve animals? ---
**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 20, 2017, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1506 "2017-09-20T23:44:01Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Does the service involve physically touching human beings? > Does the service involve animals? No to both. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2017, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1507 "2017-09-20T23:44:09Z")
Is this an actual occupation that pays a salary? Can this activity be done without any training? Does this encompass more than one activity? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1508 "2017-09-21T00:06:13Z")
Is the service being performed for individuals who hire the person who performs it? Is the service being performed for businesses who hire the person who performs it? Is the service being performed for a government entity? Is the service being performed on a volunteer (unpaid) basis? ---
**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 21, 2017, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1509 "2017-09-21T01:13:25Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Is this an actual occupation that pays a salary? > Can this activity be done without any training? > Does this encompass more than one activity? 1. The person is paid who does it, so I guess “YES” 2. Yes. 3. No. > [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Is the service being performed for individuals who hire the person who performs it? > Is the service being performed for businesses who hire the person who performs it? > Is the service being performed for a government entity? > Is the service being performed on a volunteer (unpaid) basis? 1. Yes. 2. Yes. 3. I don’t know, but certainly not exclusively. Let’s say “99% of the time, NO.” 4. No. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1510 "2017-09-21T02:44:14Z")
Hitman? ---
**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 21, 2017, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1511 "2017-09-21T03:02:45Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Hitman? No, man. 😃 ---
**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 21, 2017, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1512 "2017-09-21T04:31:49Z")
Is the service rendered obsolete by the servicer becoming too skilled? Is being less than perfectly skilled somehow part of the service? Is the one offering the service the same as the one providing the service? ---
**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 21, 2017, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1513 "2017-09-21T04:37:07Z")
Is it a service that could have been offered a hundred years ago? If one person achieves the too high level of skill, is another person able to take over 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:** [September 21, 2017, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1514 "2017-09-21T12:25:26Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Is the service rendered obsolete by the servicer becoming too skilled? > > Is being less than perfectly skilled somehow part of the service? > > Is the one offering the service the same as the one providing the service? 1. Yes. 2. Yes. 3. 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 21, 2017, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1515 "2017-09-21T12:41:42Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Is it a service that could have been offered a hundred years ago? > > If one person achieves the too high level of skill, is another person able to take over the job? 1. No. 2. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1516 "2017-09-21T15:30:25Z")
Is the person testing something in the role of someone who doesn’t know anything about the product/service? Once they are familiar with it they can no longer play the role of a novice. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1517 "2017-09-21T15:47:35Z")
Is it anything to do with Trump and the Russia investigation? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1518 "2017-09-21T15:52:30Z")
Is being observed while doing it a fundamental part of performing the service? Does the service have anything to do with information technology (computers, smart phones, etc.)? ---
**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:** [September 21, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1519 "2017-09-21T15:56:31Z")
Is testing or assessment involved? ---
**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 21, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1520 "2017-09-21T17:18:17Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Is the person testing something in the role of someone who doesn’t know anything about the product/service? Once they are familiar with it they can no longer play the role of a novice. Yes. > [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Is it anything to do with Trump and the Russia investigation? No. > [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Is being observed while doing it a fundamental part of performing the service? > > Does the service have anything to do with information technology (computers, smart phones, etc.)? 1. No. 2. Yes. > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Is testing or assessment involved? Yes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=75) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=77)