# 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:** 133
**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:** [March 25, 2020, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2642 "2020-03-25T03:43:59Z")
**Why did little Eddie send four toothpicks and some string to the Quaker Oats Company?** Note: I came upon this story in the past week and it really made me smile. There have not been a lot of smile-producing stories in the past month, so I hope this one cheers some of you up as much as it did me. Though I love reading about the unusual, I somehow had never had crossed paths with this tale. And interestingly enough, in researching stories about this event I stumbled upon a thread from the SDMB back in 2010 that covers the gist of twist. Our regular LTP player **Chronos** discussed it then. So he may have to bow out because it is extra knowledge. But, assuming you do not already know the bizarre story, can you perhaps guess what little Eddie had in mind? ---
**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 25, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2643 "2020-03-25T13:10:35Z")
Did Eddie think something was wrong with the Quaker? Did Eddie think the material he sent could build something? Was Eddie responding to a Quaker Oats commercial or ad? Did Eddie think the material would help with somebody’s oral hygiene? ---
**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:** [March 25, 2020, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2644 "2020-03-25T13:16:47Z")
**reply to Knowed Out** Did Eddie think something was wrong with the Quaker? **No** Did Eddie think the material he sent could build something? **Yes** Was Eddie responding to a Quaker Oats commercial or ad? **Yes…sort of…** Did Eddie think the material would help with somebody’s oral hygiene? **No** ---
**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 25, 2020, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2645 "2020-03-25T13:17:49Z")
Did Eddie misunderstand an advertisement from Quaker? ---
**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:** [March 25, 2020, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2646 "2020-03-25T13:19:17Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Did Eddie misunderstand an advertisement from Quaker? **No** ---
**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:** [March 25, 2020, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2647 "2020-03-25T13:52:20Z")
OK, then, to be fair I’ll bow out of this one… but I don’t remember that at all, and am currently just as puzzled as anyone else. …Wait, actually, I think I might know what this is about. Let me see if I can think of a confirmatory question that doesn’t give it away… Did this happen in January-February of 1955? ---
**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:** [March 25, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2648 "2020-03-25T13:57:51Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, then, to be fair I’ll bow out of this one… but I don’t remember that at all, and am currently just as puzzled as anyone else. > > …Wait, actually, I think I might know what this is about. Let me see if I can think of a confirmatory question that doesn’t give it away… > > Did this happen in January-February of 1955? **Yes, you are indeed correct 😉** ---
**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 25, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2649 "2020-03-25T14:24:11Z")
Was he responding to something printed on the Quaker Oats box? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2650 "2020-03-25T14:43:55Z")
Did he send other relevant materials other than the ones listed (aside from the envelope or whatever)? Were the toothpick and string assembled into something or otherwise connected together in some way? Did Little Eddie assemble or connect them in some way? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2651 "2020-03-25T16:13:00Z")
Meant to add this before… Did Eddie send along instructions to assemble or connect the items in some way? ---
**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:** [March 25, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2652 "2020-03-25T16:22:02Z")
Frustrating… I know the general context here, but I don’t know the specifics of this particular case. So I can’t play, and I can’t answer questions, either. ---
**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:** [March 25, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2653 "2020-03-25T16:59:08Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Was he responding to something printed on the Quaker Oats box? **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:** [March 25, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2654 "2020-03-25T17:01:37Z")
**reply to Folly** : Did he send other relevant materials other than the ones listed (aside from the envelope or whatever)? **No** Were the toothpick and string assembled into something or otherwise connected together in some way? **No** Did Little Eddie assemble or connect them in some way? **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:** [March 25, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2655 "2020-03-25T17:02:46Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Meant to add this before… > > Did Eddie send along instructions to assemble or connect the items in some way? **Yes** ---
**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:** [March 25, 2020, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2656 "2020-03-25T17:07:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Frustrating… I know the general context here, but I don’t know the specifics of this particular case. So I can’t play, and I can’t answer questions, either. Sorry ☹ I am sorry I missed the original thread years ago. I shouldn’t have been surprised that this had been discussed before. You can probably guess why Eddie sent the items, I bet. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2657 "2020-03-25T17:16:36Z")
Did the instructions that were sent say to connect all the toothpicks together using a single string? Do any of the toothpicks touch any of the other toothpicks when assembled? is there any glue involved in assembly? Is there anything involved in assembly aside from the toothpicks and the string? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2658 "2020-03-25T17:21:29Z")
Was the string elastic? Was the assembly meant to be a slingshot? Anything that might be considered a miniature weapon? Anything that might launch a piece of cereal? catch a piece of cereal? ---
**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 25, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2659 "2020-03-25T17:22:06Z")
Did the instructions include the use of a Quaker Oats can? Is it string telephone related? ---
**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:** [March 25, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2660 "2020-03-25T18:16:25Z")
**reply to Folly** : Did the instructions that were sent say to connect all the toothpicks together using a single string? **Not sure what the instructions exactly said. But you could probably do it that way. I think I would probably cut the string, but that’s just me.** Do any of the toothpicks touch any of the other toothpicks when assembled? **No** is there any glue involved in assembly? **No** Is there anything involved in assembly aside from the toothpicks and the string? **I think the idea was just to use the toothpicks and string.** ---
**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:** [March 25, 2020, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2661 "2020-03-25T18:23:03Z")
**reply to Folly** : Was the string elastic? **I don’t think so**. Was the assembly meant to be a slingshot? **No** Anything that might be considered a miniature weapon? **No** Anything that might launch a piece of cereal? catch a piece of cereal? **No. No airborne grains or otherwise propelled/snagged kernels involved**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=132) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=134)