# 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:** 136
**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 26, 2020, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2702 "2020-03-26T22:35:20Z")
And I knew of it because my dad had another one of those “plots”. He liked to joke about buying up three more around it, and setting up a tripod oil drill. He never took it as far as Eddie did, but I think he probably got his money’s worth out of the amusement he got from it. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2703 "2020-03-26T23:03:25Z")
OK, I’ll try one. I have an ax, which is bilaterally symmetric with two edges (it looks like a T when I hold it up in front of me). Still, it’s _not_ symmetric when I turn it by 90 degrees! Tell me the purpose of 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:** [March 26, 2020, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2704 "2020-03-26T23:13:39Z")
OK, I’m thinking of the ax being held vertically, like a z-axis. Turning it 90 degrees, like I’m holding it parallel to the ground would make it asymmetrical as regards the z-axis. Is that what you had in mind? ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2705 "2020-03-26T23:23:44Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > OK, I’m thinking of the ax being held vertically, like a z-axis. Turning it 90 degrees, like I’m holding it parallel to the ground would make it asymmetrical as regards the z-axis. Is that what you had in mind? Nope. I’m turning it around the axis of the handle. And the lack of symmetry is from \*my \*viewpoint; I have no doubt that some observer from the n:th dimension might still find it symmetric! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2706 "2020-03-27T00:04:19Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Great questions by Ignotus at 2726 or this could have taken awhile. Thank you, **Folly**! Glad to be able to contribute! ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2707 "2020-03-27T00:56:03Z")
As for the asymmetrical axe (or should I call it a hatchet?) I’ll give y’all one more clue: It never was supposed to work by itself all alone. It would have taken something more…! 🙂 ---
**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 27, 2020, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2708 "2020-03-27T02:17:15Z")
Is it a toy? ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2709 "2020-03-27T02:30:07Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Is it a toy? 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 27, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2710 "2020-03-27T13:57:05Z")
By “axe”, do you mean that it is a device meant for chopping wood or other material into smaller pieces? If so: Does it have two sharp edges? Is it intended for use as a weapon? Is it intended for use on wood? Is it intended for use on some other material? ---
**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 27, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2711 "2020-03-27T15:27:18Z")
Regarding the two axe blades (at least the two parts of the axe that form the horizontal portion of the T) is one ‘blade’ centered and perpendicular to the handle, as in a typical axe? Regarding the ‘something more’ does it attach to the axe? must it touch the axe in order to be of use? Does it touch whatever the axe is working on? ---
**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:** [April 8, 2020, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2712 "2020-04-08T02:12:43Z")
Are there any axe answers coming? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2713 "2020-04-08T03:53:26Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > By “axe”, do you mean that it is a device meant for chopping wood or other material into smaller pieces? Is it a guitar? Other musical instrument? ---
**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:** [April 21, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2714 "2020-04-21T22:27:12Z")
So…we’re allowed to google search now, right? Not that I think that it will help very much… ---
**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:** [April 21, 2020, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2715 "2020-04-21T23:33:06Z")
I’d love to see this thread get going again. Can whoever posted the most recent puzzle keep it going(restate it) or give us 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:** [April 26, 2020, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2716 "2020-04-26T22:32:43Z")
I’ll do a new one, then. Totally googleable, so please avoid. **Roger was a hero in the eyes of many, though I’m sure some disliked him along the way. He received numerous commendations and medals in his lifetime. The thing is, Roger had a secret he kept almost his entire life, one that he feared would get out. What was Roger’s secret and why was he so afraid of it getting out?** ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2717 "2020-04-26T22:44:36Z")
Was Roger secretly an agent for the other side? ---
**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:** [April 26, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2718 "2020-04-26T22:50:25Z")
Was Roger a woman? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2020, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2719 "2020-04-27T00:06:43Z")
Was Roger posing as a woman? ---
**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:** [April 27, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2720 "2020-04-27T00:08:36Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Was Roger secretly an agent for the other side? > [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Was Roger a woman? > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Was Roger posing as a woman? NO to everything here. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2020, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/2721 "2020-04-27T00:20:27Z")
Was Roger a non-white person passing as a white person? Was Roger gay? Had Roger committed a crime in the past? ETA: Is this a true story or fiction? Is Roger Human? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=135) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=137)