# Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Let's do it again! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [October 23, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193 "2019-10-23T21:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 108
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2141 "2020-02-09T18:40:46Z")
Is there a religious aspect to this? Does the maze goer drink the drink or do something else with it? ---
**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:** [February 9, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2142 "2020-02-09T18:43:26Z")
Does the maze satisfy some kind of distance requirement? Time requirement? Is the maze considered a tourist attraction? Does the maze cross boundaries? ---
**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:** [February 9, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2143 "2020-02-09T19:05:06Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Is there a religious aspect to this? > > NO > > Does the maze goer drink the drink or do something else with it? > > Drink it. > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Does the maze satisfy some kind of distance requirement? > > YES > > Time requirement? > > NO > Is the maze considered a tourist attraction? > > NO > Does the maze cross boundaries? > > NO Getting close to putting all of this together perhaps? ---
**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:** [February 9, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2144 "2020-02-09T19:08:49Z")
Is the maze there to block people who are drinking from public view? Is it there to create a loophole in the law? (For example: the establishment cannot legally “sell” drinks, but it can allow people to “win” them by navigating the maze, after which it is customary to make a small “donation”?) Are all non-disabled people over the age of (say) ten equally able to navigate this maze? Or is it significantly easier or harder for some people than others? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2145 "2020-02-09T19:40:22Z")
Is the maze a way to get around a law stating that drinks may not be sold within X meters of a certain establishment (School, church, train station, etc)? ---
**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:** [February 9, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2146 "2020-02-09T19:46:45Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Is the maze there to block people who are drinking from public view? > > NO > > Is it there to create a loophole in the law? (For example: the establishment cannot legally “sell” drinks, but it can allow people to “win” them by navigating the maze, after which it is customary to make a small “donation”?) > > YES > > Are all non-disabled people over the age of (say) ten equally able to navigate this maze? Or is it significantly easier or harder for some people than others? > > I’m sure it is somewhat unfair. > [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Is the maze a way to get around a law stating that drinks may not be sold within X meters of a certain establishment (School, church, train station, etc)? YES - the expressway. We’ll call this solved. In India, the law was set to put bars/pubs 500M from the expressway. [One bar bulit a maze(this links to a picture)](https://im.indiatimes.in/content/2017/Apr/0ce6f9c0-2d6e-4856-b68f-8a4adb38e0ac_1491646187.jpg) so that people would have to navigate a long way and make it 500M from the road. The bar is now called “Wall of Love”. [Read the whole story here.](https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/a-bar-in-kerala-just-made-a-250m-long-maze-wall-to-beat-supreme-court-s-500m-rule-275175.html) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2147 "2020-02-09T19:55:33Z")
That’s crazy, in a good way. I’m sure the gov’t could get around it by adding “As the crow flies” or similar language to the statute, but maybe they don’t want to. It reminds me of the way non-medical dispensaries can get away with selling weed, now that it’s sort-of-but-not-really legal in DC. You go in and buy a cheap little sticker, barely worth a penny, for 80 dollars. Then the store owner, out of gratitude for your patronage, gives you a 80 bucks (what a coincidence!) worth of weed. I don’t think this transparent ruse would last a minute in court, but since the DC gov’t doesn’t want to bother and would rather have the stuff be legal anyway, they get away with it. ---
**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:** [February 10, 2020, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2148 "2020-02-10T14:02:16Z")
**During winter in Rochester Minnesota, a work crew of city employees arrive at a cemetery each evening armed with noisemakers, lasers, and blank pistols. Why?** ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2149 "2020-02-10T17:40:30Z")
Same crew and same cemetery every evening? Is a particular Christian denomination running the cemetery? A non-Christian religious group? Is the weather relevant? Snow cover? Temperature below a certain point? Does “armed with” imply they are using military-grade equipment? ---
**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:** [February 10, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2150 "2020-02-10T17:41:46Z")
Are they trying to scare somebody off? Do they typically _use_ these things? Or would they use them only in the case of an emergency or other unusual circumstance? Are religious or cultural customs involved? Does it matter who is buried in the cemetery? ---
**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:** [February 10, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2151 "2020-02-10T17:59:01Z")
kk fusion: Same crew and same cemetery every evening? **Yes** Is a particular Christian denomination running the cemetery? A non-Christian religious group? **Irrelevant** Is the weather relevant? Snow cover? Temperature below a certain point? **Yes, no, no** Does “armed with” imply they are using military-grade equipment? **They could be, but source does not specify** ---
**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:** [February 10, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2152 "2020-02-10T18:00:39Z")
fretful porcupine: Are they trying to scare somebody off? **Not somebody…** Do they typically use these things? Or would they use them only in the case of an emergency or other unusual circumstance? **Only for this purpose** Are religious or cultural customs involved? **No** Does it matter who is buried in the cemetery? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2153 "2020-02-10T18:11:55Z")
Is this based on a real story? Is it based on a fictional story? Is it something that could happen in the real world? > [@](#): > > During winter The season? > [@](#): > > in Rochester Minnesota, The US city? > [@](#): > > a work crew of city employees Literal employees, with a salary and stuff? > [@](#): > > arrive at a cemetery A cemetery where the remains of human beings are buried? > [@](#): > > each evening Including weekends? > [@](#): > > armed with noisemakers, lasers, and blank pistols. Why? Scaring off local fauna? ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2154 "2020-02-10T18:12:50Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Is the weather relevant? Snow cover? Temperature below a certain point? > **Yes, no, no** Sunset? Fog? Rain? Blizzard? Lightning? ---
**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:** [February 10, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2155 "2020-02-10T18:32:45Z")
I think I know what it is, but will play along, and will attempt to provide a link if I am correct. Is this something that only happens in Rochester Minnesota? Is this a cemetery specific activity? ---
**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:** [February 10, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2156 "2020-02-10T19:06:41Z")
Go Arachnid Laser: Is this based on a real story? Yes Is it based on a fictional story? No Is it something that could happen in the real world? Yes Quote: During winter The season? Yes Quote: in Rochester Minnesota, The US city? Yes Quote: a work crew of city employees Literal employees, with a salary and stuff? Yes Quote: arrive at a cemetery A cemetery where the remains of human beings are buried? Yes Quote: each evening Including weekends? Source doesn’t specify Quote: armed with noisemakers, lasers, and blank pistols. Why? Scaring off local fauna? 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:** [February 10, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2157 "2020-02-10T19:08:30Z")
> [@kk\_fusion](#): > > Sunset? Fog? Rain? Blizzard? Lightning? It’s the time of winter, not winter conditions ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2158 "2020-02-10T19:14:36Z")
So, animals. Insects? Reptilia? birds? Mammals? if so, bears? Wolves? Racoons? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2159 "2020-02-10T20:15:52Z")
Migratory birds? Specifically Geese? ---
**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:** [February 10, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2160 "2020-02-10T20:40:05Z")
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