# 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:** 151
**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:** [May 25, 2020, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3002 "2020-05-25T23:11:15Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > **Yes!** Screwed up you quote there. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3003 "2020-05-25T23:14:35Z")
Was the bird notable for the same reason as the cows were? Was the interesting thing about these cows specific to these two individuals? Like if one had had a scheduling conflict, could they just as easily have invited a different cow? Did the owner of the cows own lots of cattle? Other species? Was the owner of the cows someone who would likely be used to attending fancy events in NYC? Was the bird notable because of its species? Because of something it had done? Because of some unusual characteristic? Was the relevant thing about the bird something people might notice or care about if they weren’t that into birds? Was there something notable about the way the bird interacted with humans? With other animals? With technology/infrastructure? ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3004 "2020-05-26T02:42:11Z")
Was the bird a corvid (crow/raven/magpie/jay/etc.)? Was the bird a parrot? Was the bird a mockingbird? ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3005 "2020-05-26T04:30:24Z")
**reply to SurrenderDorothy** : Was the bird notable for the same reason as the cows were? **No There is a pretty strong relation but I think the bird was most notable for other reasons.** Was the interesting thing about these cows specific to these two individuals? Like if one had had a scheduling conflict, could they just as easily have invited a different cow? **There was specifically one other cow that could have gone instead. But that other cow got to go to a hotel in Washington, was allowed to graze on Boston Common, and also was once put on the radio, so I’d say it did all right!** Did the owner of the cows own lots of cattle? **Just two others besides these two that I know of, and one of them had already alas died at the time of this incident.** Other species? **Only dogs and cats that I am aware.** Was the owner of the cows someone who would likely be used to attending fancy events in NYC? **Yes** Was the bird notable because of its species? **No** Because of something it had done? **Yes** Because of some unusual characteristic? **No** Was the relevant thing about the bird something people might notice or care about if they weren’t that into birds? **Yes** Was there something notable about the way the bird interacted with humans? **No** With other animals? **Not primarily, but a tiny bit I suppose.** With technology/infrastructure? **Again not primarily, though there is a tenuous connection** ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3006 "2020-05-26T04:33:24Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Was the bird a corvid (crow/raven/magpie/jay/etc.)? > Was the bird a parrot? > Was the bird a mockingbird? **The bird people were overheard talking about is none of these.** ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3007 "2020-05-26T07:16:04Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > **The bird people were overheard talking about is none of these.** Was the bird noteworthy for a sound it made? Were the cows noteworthy for a sound they made? ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3008 "2020-05-26T11:14:06Z")
Was the bird noted for an (alleged) high intelligence? Were the cows noted for an (alleged) high intelligence? ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3009 "2020-05-26T11:23:24Z")
Were the cows owned by a celebrity? Was the bird owned by a celebrity? The same celebrity or a different celebrity? If different, were the celebrities related in any way? ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3010 "2020-05-26T14:05:14Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Was the bird noteworthy for a sound it made? > > Were the cows noteworthy for a sound they made? **Moo to all. I mean No** ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3011 "2020-05-26T14:11:36Z")
Did one of these cows have a marking that looked like something else? I’m thinking of the cow that had a spot in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3012 "2020-05-26T14:14:02Z")
**reply toChronos** : Was the bird noted for an (alleged) high intelligence? **Yes** Were the cows noted for an (alleged) high intelligence? **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:** [May 26, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3013 "2020-05-26T14:17:21Z")
**reply to Cheesesteak** : Were the cows owned by a celebrity? **Yes** Was the bird owned by a celebrity? The same celebrity or a different celebrity? If different, were the celebrities related in any way? **No to all this.** ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3014 "2020-05-26T14:21:11Z")
**Two cows are standing in a ritzy New York hotel ballroom crowd, mingling while they enjoy their “hay on ice” cocktails. They overhear someone talking about a bird. Why?** +++++ \*\*Two drunks are sitting at a bar inside a ritzy hotel ballroom. First Drunk: That’s weird. There are two cows in here. Second Drunk: Yeah, but you know what’s weirder than that? First Drunk: What? Second Drunk: There are two cows in here, but everybody is talking about a bird!\*\* +++++ > [@kitap](#): > > Did one of these cows have a marking that looked like something else? I’m thinking of the cow that had a spot in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head. **No to special marking(s)** ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3015 "2020-05-26T14:31:07Z")
It occurs to me that at a real event, a creature need not be real to be discussed. Was the bird real? ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3016 "2020-05-26T14:45:05Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > **reply to Cheesesteak** : > > Were the cows owned by a celebrity? **Yes** Is this why they were in the ballroom? Was their celebrity owner also in the ballroom? Was the bird linked to the celebrity or the celebrity’s career in any way? Was the celebrity in entertainment? Is the celebrity’s career or identity of any import? ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3017 "2020-05-26T14:45:11Z")
**reply to Chronos** : It occurs to me that at a real event, a creature need not be real to be discussed. Was the bird real? **Yes. Somewhere, probably not at our ballroom, this marvelous living creature actually existed. Perhaps it was in my home state of Virginia, where such birds are not uncommon. Maybe it was preparing to fly north or south again? My sources do not say.** ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3018 "2020-05-26T14:49:21Z")
**reply to Cheesesteak** : Is this why they were in the ballroom? Was their celebrity owner also in the ballroom? **My sources do not say if the owner was there. I don’t think so.** Was the bird linked to the celebrity or the celebrity’s career in any way? **Yes** Was the celebrity in entertainment? **No** Is the celebrity’s career or identity of any import? **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:** [May 26, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3019 "2020-05-26T16:21:19Z")
\*\*Little Johnny is with his mother in a crowded festive ballroom in a ritzy New York Hotel. He looks puzzled at the two large cows mingling within the group of well-dressed people. At the front of the ballroom a speaker is addressing the room. Little Johnny watches the cows and then the speaker before tugging on his Mother’s dress and asking, “Mommy, why is that man talking about a bird?” \*\* ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3020 "2020-05-26T16:52:29Z")
Rephrase, were the cows in the ballroom because they were owned by a celebrity? Little Johnny asks “why are there cows here?” His mom replies “because they’re the President’s cows.” Was the bird a goose? Another type of migratory bird? Was the celebrity in politics? business? sport? ---
**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:** [May 26, 2020, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3021 "2020-05-26T17:06:35Z")
**reply to Cheesesteak** : Rephrase, were the cows in the ballroom because they were owned by a celebrity? Little Johnny asks “why are there cows here?” His mom replies “because they’re the President’s cows.” **I think the Mom might tell Johnny about the celebrity. But she would surely talk about something else too.** Was the bird a goose? Another type of migratory bird? **No to goose. No to migratory bird — though this particular bird was known to fly north and south for what that’s worth.** Was the celebrity in politics? **No** business? **No** sport? **No**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=150) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=152)