# 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:** 157
**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:** [June 1, 2020, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3122 "2020-06-01T17:42:57Z")
> [@Ace309](#): > > Does the something require special skill? **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:** [June 1, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3123 "2020-06-01T17:58:39Z")
Does the customer have to sing a song? Recite poetry? Say a code word? ---
**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:** [June 1, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3124 "2020-06-01T18:33:43Z")
Was the ad some sort of puzzle? ---
**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:** [June 1, 2020, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3125 "2020-06-01T18:37:59Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Does the customer have to sing a song? Recite poetry? Say a code word? **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:** [June 1, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3126 "2020-06-01T18:39:04Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Was the ad some sort of puzzle? **No**. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3127 "2020-06-01T18:58:20Z")
So to get the discount, you have to do something to the ad, but it doesn’t have to be presented to the cashier. So a hidden discount code? A hidden phrase you’d have to say? You have to alter it in some way that would be embarrassing to do in line, but not impossible. Would that thing be REASONABLE to do in line? Legal? It would be embarrassing in line, but isn’t always embarrassing… so is it something private rather than something silly? Something lavatorial? Something specific to men or women? ---
**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:** [June 1, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3128 "2020-06-01T19:41:45Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Did they damage it in any way? **Yes**. Let’s not forget that the ad was damaged. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3129 "2020-06-01T19:57:52Z")
Could one typically get the discount without having done whatever to the ad, by saying the same thing as the previous customer in line? Would someone who has seen the ad but not done anything with it, and who has not heard from anyone who’s done anything with it, know that there’s something they could say to the cashier to get the discount? Could the same someone as in the previous question know what they needed to say to the cashier? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2020, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3130 "2020-06-02T00:42:30Z")
**reply to Chronos** : Could one typically get the discount without having done whatever to the ad, by saying the same thing as the previous customer in line? \*\*Possibly. \*\* Would someone who has seen the ad but not done anything with it, and who has not heard from anyone who’s done anything with it, know that there’s something they could say to the cashier to get the discount? **They could probably figure it out.** Could the same someone as in the previous question know what they needed to say to the cashier? \*\*Probably \*\* ---
**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:** [June 2, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3131 "2020-06-02T00:48:25Z")
**reply to SurrenderDorothy** : So to get the discount, you have to do something to the ad, but it doesn’t have to be presented to the cashier. So a hidden discount code? A hidden phrase you’d have to say? **Something along those lines.** You have to alter it in some way that would be embarrassing to do in line, but not impossible. Would that thing be REASONABLE to do in line? **No**. Legal? **I am not sure about the law, but I imagine it is illegal in some places…** It would be embarrassing in line, but isn’t always embarrassing… so is it something private rather than something silly? **Yes** Something lavatorial? **Yes**. Something specific to men or women? **rephrase please**. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2020, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3132 "2020-06-02T01:07:41Z")
Does it involve origami? Does it involve making a toilet out of the ad? How about making it into a toilet seat cover? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2020, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3133 "2020-06-02T03:21:13Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Does it involve origami? > > Does it involve making a toilet out of the ad? > > How about making it into a toilet seat cover? **No**. These sure are interesting guesses as we explore the frontiers of advertising. 🙂 ---
**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:** [June 2, 2020, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3134 "2020-06-02T10:06:13Z")
Did it involve getting the ad wet somehow? ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3135 "2020-06-02T13:25:45Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Would that thing be REASONABLE to do in line? **No**. Legal? **I am not sure about the law, but I imagine it is illegal in some places…** > It would be embarrassing in line, but isn’t always embarrassing… so is it something private rather than something silly? **Yes** > Something lavatorial? **Yes**. > Something specific to men or women? **rephrase please**. Did pissing on the ad make some text visible, said text being or including a code one needed to give in order to get the discount? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2020, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3136 "2020-06-02T14:12:45Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Did it involve getting the ad wet somehow? **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:** [June 2, 2020, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3137 "2020-06-02T14:14:56Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Did pissing on the ad make some text visible, said text being or including a code one needed to give in order to get the discount? \*\*Yes! But why was this ad form used? What’s the gimmick?\*\* ---
**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:** [June 2, 2020, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3138 "2020-06-02T14:44:18Z")
Was it an ad specifically for something for the bathroom, like a toilet? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3139 "2020-06-02T14:46:35Z")
Was it baby related? With the urine activating a pregnancy test based text? ETA… this is far more disturbing than I expected. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3140 "2020-06-02T14:46:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Was it an ad specifically for something for the bathroom, like a toilet? **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:** [June 2, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3141 "2020-06-02T14:53:17Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Was it baby related? With the urine activating a pregnancy test based text? [You got it!](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.adweek.com/creativity/ikea-wants-you-to-pee-on-this-ad-if-youre-pregnant-it-will-give-you-a-discount-on-a-crib/&ved=2ahUKEwiIkaTmr-PpAhWbl3IEHSJ9DFoQFjAJegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw0HASvXTjttayP-BftjnPH0)The ad had a built-in pregnancy test. If you peed on the ad and were pregnant you would get the discount message and get a discount on a crib. I think this is the only time I am aware of a reputable company asking folks to pee on their ad. I don’t want to know about disreputable ones :eek:. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=156) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=158)