# help...this riddle is driving me nuts! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 1999, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099 "1999-12-13T22:10:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/21 "1999-12-14T02:17:00Z")
My guess? I think it’s one of those miserable “meta” riddles. And the answer is probably “a vowel”. The only part that doesn’t fit is the “often hindered when natures power is loosed.” But the line about “sometimes in Sky, but more often on the ground” makes me think of aeiou and sometimes y. ---
**Author:** ![saraam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@saraam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saraam)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/22 "1999-12-14T02:20:00Z")
The thing about these riddles is that you never notice the obviousness of the answer until you hear it. This one is annoying because several intangibles sort of fit: love, lines of lattitude, politics or laws. Well, I guess I will try the obvious answer, being that if it were to be right (yeah, ha) it is at the end of the riddle - truth (?). ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/23 "1999-12-14T03:08:00Z")
:::increasingly frustrated response::: Alcohol? Oh, yeah, right, it’s a kid’s riddle…intangible… Grrrr…Thanks, Miss Melanie! ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/24 "1999-12-14T03:11:00Z")
:::increasingly frustrated response::: Alcohol? Oh, yeah, right, it’s a kid’s riddle…intangible… Grrrr…Thanks, Miss Melanie! ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/25 "1999-12-14T03:13:00Z")
A shadow. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/26 "1999-12-14T03:13:00Z")
OOPS! meant a NEW reply… how about HOPE? ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/27 "1999-12-14T03:30:00Z")
Ideas! It’s gotta be! ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/28 "1999-12-14T03:37:00Z")
How about “transportation”. Does that qualify as intangible? I can’t figure out how the “imagination” thing fits in either. Still, it’s the best I can come up with. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/29 "1999-12-14T04:14:00Z")
I’d say Transportation and Hope are pretty interrelated. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/30 "1999-12-14T08:58:00Z")
Borders. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/31 "1999-12-14T09:02:00Z")
So I woke up with the answer ‘behaviour’. Then I read saraam’s post. Truth it is! * * * In the bathtub of history, the truth is harder to hold than the soap… (Pratchett) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/32 "1999-12-14T11:35:00Z")
A Caps Lock key ? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/33 "1999-12-14T11:49:00Z")
Well, I’m gonna say its a shitty riddle, and it probably doesn’t have a clear answer if its one which he made up on his own. If there is a easy answer I hope you transfered it very carefully. The punctuation seems to be inconsistant like several may ahave been left out. This really complicates things. Riddles are funny in that the person who perpotrates it is never intelligent enough to solve it on his own, but likes to taunt others. The “intangible” aspect precludes the Size shape and Location description, unless it is a “meta” riddle, less geared towards creative thought and more towards a misdirection, or trickery. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/34 "1999-12-14T12:19:00Z")
_I COME IN ALL SIZES IN SHAPES AND LOCATIONS, I TRAVEL THE WORLD AND CONNECT EVERY NATION. HUMANS CREATE ME FOR HUMANS I’M USED OFTEN HINDERD AM I WHEN NATURE’S POWER IS LOOSED YOU’LL FIND ME WHEREVER IMAGINATION IS FOUND SOMETIMES IN THE SKY, MORE OFTEN ON THE GROUND. THINK HARD NOW, DEAR READER AND THEN ANSWER TRUE I KNOW WHAT I AM, DO YOU?_ I think this is supposed to be a grammar riddle or a play on words, but parts are misspelled which will create a serious problem if my intuition is correct. _HINDERD_ ? HINDERED, I presume. Hopefully this isn’t a clue. _I COME IN ALL SIZES IN SHAPES AND LOCATIONS, I TRAVEL THE WORLD AND CONNECT EVERY NATION._ This section needs some punctuation: I come in all sizes\*\*,\*\* in shapes and locations, I travel the world and connect every nation. Humans create me\*\*,\*\* for humans I’m used\*\*.\*\* Often hinder **e** d am I when natures power is loosed\*\*.\*\* You’ll find me wherever imagination is found\*\*.\*\* Sometimes in the sky, more often on the ground. Think hard now Dear Reader\*\*,\*\* and then answer true\*\*.\*\* I know what I am, Do You? Maybe? Are these punctuations correct, or is the lack of puntuation important? Could it be a hint, or a direct attempt to obfuscate the solution. So far the closest answer for me is “Vowels”, mainly because of the “sometimes sky” line. Maybe its looking for a letter, or a part of speech. A transition, or a preposition. I don’t think its looking for anything like “ideas” or “thought” My guess is “Words”, or “language” ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Thin\_Skin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@Mr\_Thin\_Skin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Thin_Skin)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/35 "1999-12-14T13:20:00Z")
I think, as did A.W., that it’s the internet, or e-mail. The riddle was forced into rhyme, so don’t expect it to be strictly grammatical. For instance, I’m sure the word “loosed” was used instead of “lost” because loosed rhymes with “used.” I come in all sizes, shapes and locations: The internet has everything and is everywhere I travel the world and connect every nation: packets Hindered where power is lost: obvious Somethimes in the sky, more often on the ground: cellular/satellite connections vs. dial-up, dedicated, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/36 "1999-12-14T13:43:00Z")
I don’t know Mr. Thin…I’ve heard this one before…give me a while, and I’ll remember where…and maybe even the answer… ---
**Author:** ![Neilsnah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de053/32.png) [@Neilsnah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neilsnah)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/37 "1999-12-14T14:16:00Z")
Time? “Big Ben” in the sky? Time is intangible, comes in all sizes, shapes, locations (digital watches, “Big Ben”, imagination), it “connects” every nation, and blah blah blah. Or maybe the correct answer is: “No.”? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Thin\_Skin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@Mr\_Thin\_Skin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Thin_Skin)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/38 "1999-12-14T14:32:00Z")
I’m so stupid > [@](#): > > AND THEN ANSWER TRUE The answer must be “TRUE” ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Crunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Chief\_Crunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Crunch)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/39 "1999-12-14T14:59:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I KNOW WHAT I AM… The only thing on this planet that actually knows what it is, is a person or human being. I know it’s not intangible, but a human or person fits every line: > [@](#): > > I COME IN ALL SIZES > IN SHAPES AND LOCATIONS, > I TRAVEL THE WORLD AND > CONNECT EVERY NATION. The above are obvious. > [@](#): > > HUMANS CREATE ME > FOR HUMANS I’M USED Humans give birth to other humans. Humans work for other humans > [@](#): > > OFTEN HINDERD AM I > WHEN NATURE’S POWER IS LOOSED Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. > [@](#): > > YOU’LL FIND ME WHEREVER > IMAGINATION IS FOUND > SOMETIMES IN THE SKY, > MORE OFTEN ON THE GROUND. A few people fly in planes, most of us are on the ground. > [@](#): > > THINK HARD NOW, DEAR READER > AND THEN ANSWER TRUE > I KNOW WHAT I AM, DO YOU? Only a human “knows” it is a human. I guess the answer could be a “person” or any synonym for human. ---
**Author:** ![mr\_john](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@mr\_john](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr_john)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099/40 "1999-12-14T15:23:00Z")
At last I have suceeded in bugging people with out even being here. MUUUUUHWAAA HA HAHAHA Hi ,mel,glad you made it… Caution, folks,Melanie is a genuine Mensa,she is gonna add some class to this place. I think some of you may be correct in that this thing has been garbled,Mel,copied it the way it was posted though. The riddler may not know the answer himself,it has happened over there before. It doesn’t read as one that was ‘created’ with impossible conditions,though that has happened too. Only thing I think just about every thing that’s been posted has been guessed. Glee, he HAS seen GRY,beleave me. It is posted there in every concevable form,some will win prizes for garbledness. I finally had to post my multi paragraph explanation of the various workable versions as well as a list of GRY words for those who insist on taking it as a vocabulary test. * * * “Pardon me while I have a strange interlude.”-Marx [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-this-riddle-is-driving-me-nuts/12099.md?page=3)