53 bicycles: A lateral thinking puzzle

Was the question about politics one which would be considered relevant by a significant number of voters in 2019?

Was the question about politics one which would be considered relevant by a significant number of voters at some point in the past?

Was the question about politics a factual question?

Was the question about ethics a factual question?

These kind of Yes and No questions are hard to answer. In one sense “no” it does not involve necessarily Virginia State politics or Virginia. If you change the riddle to “Bob from Alaska” and “Alaskan State politics” it would still work fine. But I am from Virginia so the specific question I asked about Virginia politics is relevant, I think, and the puzzle thus works better. I probably said too much here but oh well.

reply to Mr. Shine:

Do you know the answer to the 2nd question? Yes
If not, does anybody? See above

reply to Chronos

Was the question about politics one which would be considered relevant by a significant number of voters in 2019? No

Was the question about politics one which would be considered relevant by a significant number of voters at some point in the past Yes

Was the question about politics a factual question? Yes

Was the question about ethics a factual question? Yes

Did either of the questions involve a specific political position or entity (the governorship, the state legislature, the judiciary)?

Was either of the questions a yes or no question?

Is the answer to either of the questions a number?

reply to SpoilerVirgin

Did either of the questions involve a specific political position or entity (the governorship, the state legislature, the judiciary)? Yes

Was either of the questions a yes or no question? No

Is the answer to either of the questions a number? No

Are both questions about the same position or entity?

Is either about the executive branch?

Is either about the legislative branch?

Is either about the judicial branch?

reply to SpoilerVirgin

Are both questions about the same position or entity? No

Is either about the executive branch? Yes

Is either about the legislative branch? Yes

Is either about the judicial branch?** No**

Was the answer to the first question established fact as of 200 years ago?

Was the answer to the second question established fact as of 200 years ago?

Answer to Covfefe

Was the answer to the first question established fact as of 200 years ago? Yes

Was the answer to the second question established fact as of 200 years ago? No

Do I need to give a hint? I don’t think it is necessary but I kind of like this puzzle so here goes:

If I was to rewrite this riddle I wouldn’t involve me at all but would instead involve a real life example and the Fed Ex Corporation. That said, I would appreciate if those attempting to solve the puzzle would stick to asking about the original riddle as given. Thanks.

Not reading the hint yet, because I don’t think I’m really stumped yet (I’ve only been out of this thread because I forgot to check it):

Was the answer to the politics question the name(s) of a person or persons?
Was the answer to the politics question a political office?
Was the answer to the politics question a law and/or legal document?
Is the political question relevant to pre-statehood Virginia politics?
Is the political question relevant to politics of Virginia under the Articles of Confederation?
Is the political question relevant to politics of Virginia under the US Constitution?
Did the ethics question involve an official punishment or sanction of someone?

Could reasonable people disagree on the answer to the second question?

Would people of different political affiliations give different answer to the second question?

Was your assumption that nobody knew the answer to your ethics question correct?
Was the request that you leave and not come back related to any ill feelings towards you?
Was the request that you leave and not come back due to nobody knowing the answer?
Was the gathering of a sort where people would be expected to ask political questions?
Was the gathering of a sort where people would be expected to ask ethical questions?
Was the gathering of a sort where people would be expected to not ask either of those sorts of questions?

To clarify those last three questions: At a history conference or a trivia competition, people would be expected to ask questions. At a gathering of friends at a bar, there would be no expectation either way: It might come up, or it might not. At a Masons meeting, there would be an expectation of no political questions, because the Masons have a rule against political discussion.

answer to Chronos

Was the answer to the politics question the name(s) of a person or persons? No
Was the answer to the politics question a political office? Yes
Was the answer to the politics question a law and/or legal document? No
Is the political question relevant to pre-statehood Virginia politics? No
Is the political question relevant to politics of Virginia under the Articles of Confederation? No
Is the political question relevant to politics of Virginia under the US Constitution? No
Did the ethics question involve an official punishment or sanction of someone? No

Answer to Regallag_The_Axe

Could reasonable people disagree on the answer to the second question? Yes

Would people of different political affiliations give different answer to the second question? Not relevant

answer to Chronos

Was your assumption that nobody knew the answer to your ethics question correct? Almost certainly
Was the request that you leave and not come back related to any ill feelings towards you? No
Was the request that you leave and not come back due to nobody knowing the answer? No
Was the gathering of a sort where people would be expected to ask political questions? Yes
Was the gathering of a sort where people would be expected to ask ethical questions? Yes
Was the gathering of a sort where people would be expected to not ask either of those sorts of questions? No

To clarify those last three questions: At a history conference or a trivia competition, people would be expected to ask questions. At a gathering of friends at a bar, there would be no expectation either way: It might come up, or it might not. At a Masons meeting, there would be an expectation of no political questions, because the Masons have a rule against political discussion.
[/QUOTE]

Is it anything to do with historical issues more than 20 years old? More than 50 years old? More than 100 years old?

Is it anything to do with segregation? Civil rights? The Civil War? Slavery?

In reference to the riddles as a whole, no. In reference to the Virginia question, then more than 100 years old is correct but the rest is still no.

I am going to work now but will try and answer further queries tonight unless someone solves.

Is it connected to the Tobacco industry?