# Lateral Thinking Puzzles: Fourthcoming Mysteries **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [May 29, 2026, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468 "2026-05-29T01:30:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**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:** [October 11, 2026, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/101 "2026-10-11T23:13:34Z")
reply to Chronos: Did the location have any relevance beyond “She had to have been in the city where the ad was run to respond to the ad”, or the like? The location is important. But the ad could have been run in some other city, in which case she’d have to have been there. It helped that the notice appeared where she was. Wouldn’t have worked in another site unless you want to rewrite history. Did the relevant historical event conclude before she answered the ad? No.Did it start after she answered the ad? Yes Was the event ongoing at the time she answered the ad? I don’t think so. Did the event take place in the location where she was at the time she answered the ad? Yes.Did it take place anywhere in the US? No. Did it specifically take place in Chicago, Boston, New York, and/or Connecticut (the places in the US where she’s said to have lived). No. Was the event something that one would expect to see mentioned in a textbook on US history? One on European history? World history? Not probably in any of these. Maybe in the European one if any. What continent was she on when she answered the ad? (I know, but pretend that’s seven yes-no questions) Yes to Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/102 "2026-10-11T23:24:24Z")
was she related to someone famous…like one of her children. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/103 "2026-10-12T00:05:43Z")
Did anyone involved anticipate that the historical event was soon to take place? Did anything relevant happen as a result of answering the ad that indicated that the event was starting or imminent? Did answering that ad, in some direct or indirect way, cause the event? Was the ad offering money to respondants in exchange for something (for instance, offering to buy something)? Was the ad offering something else to respondants in exchange for money from them (i.e., offering to sell them something)? Was the ad offering a trade of goods and/or services without money being involved? Was the ad for something that would not typically be viewed as a transaction (for instance, an invitation to attend some free event)? ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/104 "2026-10-12T00:09:11Z")
- > [@Sigene](#): > > was she related to someone famous…like one of her children. Interestingly enough, Margaret’s mother, her husband, and one of her children all have their own wiki pages. Her son was a Hollywood script writer. Only many years after Margaret’s death did he learn about the reason for Margaret’s wiki inclusion. So no, being related to someone famous is not 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:** [October 12, 2026, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/105 "2026-10-12T00:14:11Z")
reply to Chronos: Did anyone involved anticipate that the historical event was soon to take place? Yes. Did anything relevant happen as a result of answering the ad that indicated that the event was starting or imminent? No. Did answering that ad, in some direct or indirect way, cause the event? No. Was the ad offering money to respondants in exchange for something (for instance, offering to buy something)? No. Was the ad offering something else to respondants in exchange for money from them (i.e., offering to sell them something)? No, at least I do not think so. Was the ad offering a trade of goods and/or services without money being involved? No. Was the ad for something that would not typically be viewed as a transaction (for instance, an invitation to attend some free event)? Yes. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/106 "2026-10-12T00:24:31Z")
OK, just to tie two loose threads together here, and then I think I’m done for the night: Was the advertisement advertising the relevant historical event itself? ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/107 "2026-10-12T00:34:07Z")
- > [@Chronos](#): > > OK, just to tie two loose threads together here, and then I think I’m done for the night: Was the advertisement advertising the relevant historical event itself? Yes ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/108 "2026-10-12T00:39:20Z")
Does this involve the Titanic? ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/109 "2026-10-12T00:59:14Z")
- > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Does this involve the Titanic? No. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/110 "2026-10-12T01:16:40Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > A correction to the above: It was 53 years after her death for the NYT obituary, not 26. Dammit, curiosity got the better of me and I gave up. Shouldn’t it be _63_ years? ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/111 "2026-10-12T01:54:21Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Dammit, curiosity got the better of me and I gave up. > > Shouldn’t it be _63_ years? Tru dat. Never said my math skills were any good. But an interesting story, no? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/112 "2026-10-12T02:41:56Z")
Hell, it’s like a Mad Libs! ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/113 "2026-10-14T13:28:14Z")
She answered an ad related to a major historical event in the 19th century that would NOT likely be in a history textbook? Was the event related to the performing arts, i.e. music, theater, or similar? Did Margaret participate in the event, or just witness / observe it? Did something unexpected happen at the event which caused it to become a “major historical” event? ---
**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:** [October 14, 2026, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/114 "2026-10-14T20:58:27Z")
reply to Cheesesteak: She answered an ad related to a major historical event in the 19th century that would NOT likely be in a history textbook? Major historical, but maybe more of a minor major event. Was the event related to the performing arts, i.e. music, theater, or similar? No. Did Margaret participate in the event, or just witness / observe it? Participate. Did something unexpected happen at the event which caused it to become a “major historical” event? 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:** [October 14, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/115 "2026-10-14T21:05:39Z")
I asked AI, and it says the event qualifies as “a major historical event.” ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/116 "2026-10-14T21:28:13Z")
Would people have recognized, at the time it happened, that this was a “major historical event”? Or was the “historical” nature of it something that was recognized only later? ---
**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:** [October 14, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/117 "2026-10-14T21:39:20Z")
reply to dirtball🙂 Would people have recognized, at the time it happened, that this was a “major historical event”? Some I guess. Or was the “historical” nature of it something that was recognized only later? Moreso later probably. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/118 "2026-10-14T21:47:08Z")
Does the event relate to an invention? A “first” of some sort? Is it an event that most people would view as positive? Negative? Was the event photographed? If so, does Margaret appear in any of the images? Did it take place in the UK? France? Italy? Germany? At the time of Margaret’s death, were people generally aware of the event’s significance? Would Margaret’s involvement have been known to a reasonably diligent researcher, or was it discovered only later? ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/119 "2026-10-14T22:05:35Z")
Was the event a test or experiment or anything in the general category of “Well, okay, let’s do this thing and see what happens”? Was it medical in nature? ---
**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:** [October 14, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468/120 "2026-10-14T22:49:16Z")
Was the event an attempt to set a world record of some sort? Was the event a competition of some sort between the participants? Was the event a protest of some sort? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-fourthcoming-mysteries/1030468.md?page=7)