# 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:** 122
**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, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2421 "2020-03-04T20:03:41Z")
Does climbing the pole provide benefits to any person anywhere? Any Plant, Animal or Mineral? Does any inanimate object benefit from the climbing? Are they tending to vines climbing a terrace? ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2422 "2020-03-04T20:14:50Z")
Are they looking for something, or at something, once up on the pole? And just to be sure, they are not Polish, are they? Anything to do with Gibraltar? ---
**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, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2423 "2020-03-04T20:26:14Z")
\*\*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? \*\* > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Does climbing the pole provide benefits to any person anywhere? > > NO > > Any Plant, Animal or Mineral? Does any inanimate object benefit from the climbing? > > NO > > Are they tending to vines climbing a terrace? > > NO > [@Isosleepy](#): > > Are they looking for something, or at something, once up on the pole? > > I guess looking around, but no, not really. > And just to be sure, they are not Polish, are they? > > NO > > Anything to do with Gibraltar? > > NO ---
**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, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2424 "2020-03-04T20:55:31Z")
Does doing the thing they do while on top of the pole benefit anyone? Any living entity or groups of entities? ---
**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, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2425 "2020-03-04T21:46:40Z")
> [@aspidistra](#): > > does doing the thing they do while on top of the pole benefit anyone? Any living entity or groups of entities? no :d ---
**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, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2426 "2020-03-04T23:08:02Z")
I’m sorry I keep harping on this but I want to make sure I have the bit that it’s not a military duty clear. If Liam woke up one morning, decided he’d had enough of Pole climbing and said to his fellow troops “Hey guys, I think I’m done with pole-climbing. No more poles for me.” there would be no official repercussions. No reprimands nothing of that nature? IOW, this isn’t something the military is making him do? Conversely, The officers and government of their country is fine with soldiers neglecting their actual duties just to sit on top of a pole, even though it doesn’t benefit them or their country? ---
**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, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2427 "2020-03-04T23:27:23Z")
I’m going to try to answer with more detail to help things along. > [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > I’m sorry I keep harping on this but I want to make sure I have the bit that it’s not a military duty clear. > > If Liam woke up one morning, decided he’d had enough of Pole climbing and said to his fellow troops “Hey guys, I think I’m done with pole-climbing. No more poles for me.” there would be no official repercussions. No reprimands nothing of that nature? IOW, this isn’t something the military is making him do? > > \*\*Answer: I don’t think the military is _making_ anyone do this. However, if they were not in the military, they would likely not be doing this. So, no, I think they could stop their daily pole climbing routine and suffer no issues. > \*\* > Conversely, > > The officers and government of their country is fine with soldiers neglecting their actual duties just to sit on top of a pole, even though it doesn’t benefit them or their country? > > \*\*Answer: No, they don’t want or allow these guys to go up and just sit there for a long time. And here is where I help more than I might if this hadn’t gone on awhile: > > It doesn’t help or benefit them. They might THINK it does, though…(we KNOW it doesn’t, though)\*\* Don’t feel bad harping on it. You are certainly getting to what makes this lateral puzzle pretty good. It’s hard to understand or think of this situation in a way that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2020, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2428 "2020-03-05T03:56:13Z")
Is it a contest of some sort, or training therefor? ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2020, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2429 "2020-03-05T03:58:03Z")
In this European country, does doing this, or having done this, help get you girls? ---
**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 5, 2020, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2430 "2020-03-05T05:41:39Z")
Is this taking place now, in the 21st century? If not was it ended in the 20th century, 19th century, etc., etc, ---
**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 5, 2020, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2431 "2020-03-05T11:24:12Z")
Do they believe they are helping themselves or do they think they are helping other people? Is there religious significance to the climbing? Is it cultural superstition? ---
**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 5, 2020, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2432 "2020-03-05T12:22:10Z")
\*\*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? \*\* > [@Isosleepy](#): > > Is it a contest of some sort, or training therefor? NO > [@Isosleepy](#): > > In this European country, does doing this, or having done this, help get you girls? NO > [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Is this taking place now, in the 21st century? > > If not was it ended in the 20th century, > 19th century, > etc., etc, 17th and 18th centuries > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Do they believe they are helping themselves or do they think they are helping other people? > > THEMSELVES > > Is there religious significance to the climbing? Is it cultural superstition? > > NO to both. ---
**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 5, 2020, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2433 "2020-03-05T13:14:10Z")
Were they climbing the pole in order to observe something? Did they wear kilts? Was this activity ever halted due to harsh weather conditions? Did they climb together or one at a time? ---
**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 5, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2434 "2020-03-05T14:45:37Z")
Are they trying to avoid something they think will make them sick? Are they in their home country? ---
**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 5, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2435 "2020-03-05T15:02:31Z")
Are the soldiers climbing during wartime / peacetime / both? Is the benefit to themselves related to good luck? safety? wealth? job performance? ending the war? winning the war? ---
**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 5, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2436 "2020-03-05T20:36:44Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Were they climbing the pole in order to observe something? > > NO > > Did they wear kilts? > > NO > > Was this activity ever halted due to harsh weather conditions? > > I have no idea(irrelevant) > > Did they climb together or one at a time? > > I don’t know(irrelevant) > [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Are they trying to avoid something they think will make them sick? > > YES(kind of) > > Are they in their home country? > > NO > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Are the soldiers climbing during wartime / peacetime / both? > > BOTH > > Is the benefit to themselves related to good luck? > > NO > > safety? > > NO > > wealth? > > NO > > job performance? > > YES, somewhat > > ending the war? > > NO > > winning the war? > > NO kk ---
**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 5, 2020, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2437 "2020-03-05T20:51:29Z")
Were they trying to get something that would make them healthy? Fresh air? Sunshine? ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2438 "2020-03-05T20:58:24Z")
When we have solved the puzzle, will we recognize “they climb a pole” as something more familiar, or will we have understood an unusual practice that existed then that will be unfamiliar? Or something else? ---
**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 5, 2020, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2439 "2020-03-05T21:32:54Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Were they trying to get something that would make them healthy? > > YES - sort of > > Fresh air? > Sunshine? > > NO to fresh air and sunshine > [@eschrodinger](#): > > When we have solved the puzzle, will we recognize “they climb a pole” as something more familiar, or will we have understood an unusual practice that existed then that will be unfamiliar? Or something else? “They climb a pole” means they literally went up a pole as we understand that phrase in English. Picture a pole, perhaps metal or wooden. Now picture someone climbing to the top of it. Now picture him coming back down. Your picture is accurate enough I would bet. However, let me answer your broader question. \*\*You will have understood an unusual practice that existed and is probably unfamiliar to you. \*\* I just wanted to make sure you understood “climb a pole” means literally climbing a pole. ---
**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 6, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2440 "2020-03-06T13:33:57Z")
So, men who are in the military in Europe in the 17th to 18th centuries were in the habit of climbing a pole each day in order to avoid becoming sick or to help become healthier. Did climbing the pole give them access to something that wasn’t on the ground? Were they trying to get away from something that was on the ground? Does the advancement of medicine prove that their efforts were not effective? Does it have to do with diseases that were common at that time? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=121) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=123)