# 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:** 111
**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 13, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2201 "2020-02-13T17:55:43Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Was Colby a monkey? No. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > A wheel of cheese? No. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Crash test dummy? No. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Skeleton? No. > [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Was Colby somebody’s pet? For instance, someone is trying to embarrass officials at a third-rate program and signs her cat Colby up for the program…Colby not only gets admitted with very low GRE scores (like nonexistent) but winds up passing through the program with a huge donation? YES! Colby Nolan was the cat living with a deputy attorney general in Pennsylvania. To expose a Dallas-based diploma mill under the Trinity Southern University he was signed with a made-up application. ---
**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 13, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2202 "2020-02-13T19:04:13Z")
In fact, it’s already been played [in the old thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20604888&postcount=2008). I didn’t mention it earlier, in case somebody missed it and wanted to guess here. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2203 "2020-02-13T19:17:09Z")
> [@kk\_fusion](#): > > I didn’t mention it earlier, in case somebody missed it and wanted to guess here. That’s OK, several of us already did a few posts back. ---
**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 13, 2020, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2204 "2020-02-13T19:30:20Z")
> [@kk\_fusion](#): > > In fact, it’s already been played [in the old thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20604888&postcount=2008). > > I didn’t mention it earlier, in case somebody missed it and wanted to guess here. Oh, damn. It was so much better stated too. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2020, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2205 "2020-02-13T20:35:49Z")
\*\*In 1959, a little boy put a finger in each ear. No one cared at the time, but he really should not have done this. Indeed people still talk about and remember this action now. Why? \*\* ---
**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 13, 2020, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2206 "2020-02-13T20:57:04Z")
Is it based on a real story? Is it based on a fictional story? Is it something that could happen in the real world? > [@](#): > > In 1959, Gregorian calendar? Is the year relevant? > [@](#): > > a little boy A human boy? > [@](#): > > put a finger His own finger? > [@](#): > > in each ear. His own ears? > [@](#): > > No one cared at the time, Did anybody cared eventually? Would people have cared had they known? > [@](#): > > but he really should not have done this. Because of consequences the boy suffered? Consequences that happen to something else? > [@](#): > > Indeed people still talk about and remember this action now. People worldwide? People in a continent? People in a country? People in a region? > [@](#): > > Why? A form of mockery? ---
**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:** [February 13, 2020, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2207 "2020-02-13T21:15:52Z")
**reply to Go\_Arachnid\_Laser** Is it 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**. Gregorian calendar? **Yes** Is the year relevant? **Not the exact year really, but it does place what happened in a time frame.** A human boy? **Yes** His own finger? **Yes** His own ears? **Yes** Did anybody cared eventually? **Yes** Would people have cared had they known? **Yes** Because of consequences the boy suffered? **No** Consequences that happen to something else? **No** People worldwide? **No** People in a continent? **No** People in a country? **No** People in a region? **No** A form of mockery? **No** ---
**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 13, 2020, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2208 "2020-02-13T21:32:52Z")
Is the boy currently alive? Is he known for anything other than putting his fingers in his ears? Was he filmed doing it? Was he photographed doing it? ---
**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:** [February 13, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2209 "2020-02-13T21:38:12Z")
**reply to Fretful Porpentine** : Is the boy currently alive? **Not sure** Is he known for anything other than putting his fingers in his ears? **I don’t think so** Was he filmed doing it? **Yes** Was he photographed doing it? **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 13, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2210 "2020-02-13T21:58:48Z")
Was the kid in a feature film? Television? ---
**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 13, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2211 "2020-02-13T22:58:56Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > \*\*In 1959, a little boy put a finger in each ear. No one cared at the time, but he really should not have done this. Indeed people still talk about and remember this action now. Why? \*\* Is it the kid in North by Northwest who knew some kind of explosion was going to go(or gun shots) so he plugged his ears before the “bang” happened? Note: did not cheat, but the image of a kid with his fingers in his ears made me remember this moment in the movie. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2212 "2020-02-14T00:28:09Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is it the kid in North by Northwest who knew some kind of explosion was going to go(or gun shots) so he plugged his ears before the “bang” happened? > > Note: did not cheat, but the image of a kid with his fingers in his ears made me remember this moment in the movie. **Yes** ---
**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 16, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2213 "2020-02-16T21:12:31Z")
\*\*Detective Smith and his team were aggressively pursuing the tail of the worst serial killer in the history of their police force. 40 murders or attempted murders, probably more that went undiscovered. Suddenly, Smith and his team called off all investigations. Why? \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2214 "2020-02-17T02:03:57Z")
Was the killer human? ---
**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 17, 2020, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2215 "2020-02-17T02:07:14Z")
Were the individuals who were killed human? Does it matter when this happens? Does it matter where it happens? Was the identity of the killer known to Detective Smith? ---
**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 17, 2020, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2216 "2020-02-17T04:17:54Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > Was the killer human? YES > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Were the individuals who were killed human? > > YES > > Does it matter when this happens? > > NO > > Does it matter where it happens? > > NO > > Was the identity of the killer known to Detective Smith? > > NO kk ---
**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 17, 2020, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2217 "2020-02-17T05:56:36Z")
Did someone else take over the investigation? Was there a change in law that legalized what the killer was accused of? Was there any change in government or civil adminstration? ---
**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 17, 2020, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2218 "2020-02-17T07:06:49Z")
Did a different police force solve the crime? ---
**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 17, 2020, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2219 "2020-02-17T07:13:56Z")
Is this based on true events? Is this based on a fictional story? Is this something that could happen in the real world? Is Detective Smith working in a precinct? Is this in the U.S.? Was his team made of people? More than three? More than ten? The tail they were pursuing was not a literal tail, was it? Was the serial killer an actual serial killer (as in defined as such by, for instance, the FBI)? Was the history of their police force particularly brief? Were the attempted murders included in that 40-victim tally? Did Smith call off the investigation? Did an external authority call off the investigation? ---
**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:** [February 17, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2220 "2020-02-17T15:06:59Z")
Was Smith’s calling off of the investigation an ethical action (as defined by standard police professional ethics)? Did Smith call off the investigation because of something new he learned about the suspect? At the time Smith called off the investigation, was the suspect alive? Is a statute of limitations relevant? Was Smith the top authority in his police force? Was Smith ordered by someone else to call off the investigation? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=110) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=112)