# 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:** 121
**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:** [March 3, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2401 "2020-03-03T19:18:50Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Are there added conditions that make the climb more challenging? > Are Liam and friends members of some kind of club? > Are Liam and friends partially or fully naked? > Is teamwork an objective? NO to everything. > [@Chronos](#): > > Let me see if I can summarize: > > 1. There is something that Liam and colleagues are supposed to do on a regular basis (approximately daily). > 2. This something is related to the military in some way. > 3. This something should be done at a height above the ground. > 4. For this purpose, easily-climbed poles were erected, so that Liam and colleagues could reach the necessary height. > 5. The requirement for height does not involve seeing things or being seen. Point by point(I numbered your list) 1. YES 2. Well, they part of the military, so in that sense, yes. 3. YES 4. YES 5. YES You guys may feel a million miles away, but you are making progress. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2402 "2020-03-03T19:35:43Z")
Are the poles ladders? Could the poles be replaced with ladders for equivalent functionality? Is this related to flags? Are they flagpoles? Is the climbing ceremonial? Is the climbing related to the security of the military unit? ---
**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:** [March 3, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2403 "2020-03-03T20:12:13Z")
I guess it wasn’t [Hundreds of Naval Academy plebes climb monument](https://youtu.be/P8x0SqF2IKM). ---
**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:** [March 3, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2404 "2020-03-03T20:18:53Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Are the poles ladders? Could the poles be replaced with ladders for equivalent functionality? > > \*\*Yes, I suppose ladders would do. > \*\* > Is this related to flags? Are they flagpoles? > > NO > > Is the climbing ceremonial? Is the climbing related to the security of the military unit? > > NO > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > I guess it wasn’t [Hundreds of Naval Academy plebes climb monument](https://youtu.be/P8x0SqF2IKM). NO ---
**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:** [March 3, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2405 "2020-03-03T21:19:32Z")
Is the specific elevation important? Do they need to get X feet above ground? Or above sea level? Are they carrying anything with them that is important to the answer? ---
**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:** [March 3, 2020, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2406 "2020-03-03T22:22:54Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Is the specific elevation important? Do they need to get X feet above ground? Or above sea level? > > NO. Just “pretty high” was all. > > Are they carrying anything with them that is important to the answer? > > NO kk ---
**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:** [March 3, 2020, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2407 "2020-03-03T22:40:40Z")
Are they on a ship? ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2408 "2020-03-04T00:08:00Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Are they on a ship? NO ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2409 "2020-03-04T00:19:16Z")
Are they on an airbase? A training area? Guantanamo bay? A fort? Are they overseas? ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2410 "2020-03-04T00:45:23Z")
\*\*Liam and his friends/colleagues have a very odd daily routine. They climb a pole to the top every day, wait awhile, then climb back down and go about their business. Why is this? \*\* > [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Are they on an airbase? > > NO > > A training area? > > NO > > Guantanamo bay? > > NO > > A fort? > > NO(perhaps some of the time…) > > Are they overseas? > > YES kk ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2411 "2020-03-04T00:54:45Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > A fort? Let me make this a clear: NO for that question instead of suggesting perhaps part of the time they were at a fort. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2412 "2020-03-04T01:03:21Z")
Couldn’t see these above, apologies if they’ve already been asked Are Liam and his friends Americans? Is the pole climbing part of their military duties? ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2413 "2020-03-04T01:04:54Z")
Couldn’t see these above, apologies if they’ve already been asked Are Liam and his friends Americans? Is the pole climbing part of their military duties? ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2414 "2020-03-04T01:15:38Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Couldn’t see these above, apologies if they’ve already been asked > > Are Liam and his friends Americans? > > NO > > Is the pole climbing part of their military duties? > > NO, I would not describe them climbing the pole as a “military duty”. kk ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2415 "2020-03-04T01:32:07Z")
Maybe I could be a little more clear about military duties. If Liam missed a day of pole climbing and didn’t have a good reason–like he was sick or had conflicting orders–would he be in any formal trouble? ETA: and is the name “Liam” a clue to his nationality or have any other significance? ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2416 "2020-03-04T01:43:29Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > If Liam missed a day of pole climbing and didn’t have a good reason–like he was sick or had conflicting orders–would he be in any formal trouble? > > NO > > ETA: and is the name “Liam” a clue to his nationality or have any other significance? > > Nah, just a name. yep ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2417 "2020-03-04T07:10:53Z")
Is the thing the climbers do connected with radio? Communications of any sort? ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2418 "2020-03-04T12:05:57Z")
Is there something on the pole that the climbers may choose to manipulate? Does climbing the pole put them in reach of something they may choose to manipulate? Does climbing the pole benefit anyone? The climbers? Others in the military? Others outside the military? ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2419 "2020-03-04T13:35:57Z")
Are Liam and friends from \? ---
**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:** [March 4, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2420 "2020-03-04T19:13:15Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Is the thing the climbers do connected with radio? Communications of any sort? NO > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Is there something on the pole that the climbers may choose to manipulate? > > NO > > Does climbing the pole put them in reach of something they may choose to manipulate? > > NO > > Does climbing the pole benefit anyone? The climbers? Others in the military? Others outside the military? > > NO - (maybe ask more about this kind of topic) > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Are Liam and friends from \? Europe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=120) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=122)