# 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:** 185
**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:** [August 10, 2020, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3683 "2020-08-10T02:40:45Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Did 999 dispatch emergency personnel to Nigel after he hung up? Did those personnel solve Nigel’s emergency? Was Nigel afraid to talk, or did he think talking would cause him further distress due to his emergency situation?.. No to all. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3684 "2020-08-10T17:44:00Z")
Did Nigel learn something when the 999 operator answered the line? Was the thing he learned about himself, his location or did it have to do with the 999 system? Was Nigel on a land line or cell phone? Was he at home or away from home? Did the emergency involve Nigel personally or was it someone else’s emergency that he was helping with? Did Nigel’s emergency have to do with his phone? his health? his hearing, or other senses? ---
**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:** [August 10, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3685 "2020-08-10T17:58:31Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Did Nigel learn something when the 999 operator answered the line? Was the thing he learned about himself, his location or did it have to do with the 999 system? **No** > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Was Nigel on a land line or cell phone? **Cell phone** > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Was he at home or away from home? Did the emergency involve Nigel personally or was it someone else’s emergency that he was helping with? **N/A or makes no difference.** > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Did Nigel’s emergency have to do with his phone? his health? his hearing, or other senses? **Yes, his phone** ; the rest N/A, it had to do with his ability to make a phone call regardless of what the ‘emergency of sorts’ was. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3686 "2020-08-10T18:13:03Z")
Did he have to make a phone call to maintain his phone coverage? ---
**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:** [August 10, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3687 "2020-08-10T18:16:08Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > Did he have to make a phone call to maintain his phone coverage?.. **No** , but rephrased the answer might be different. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3688 "2020-08-10T19:07:27Z")
Did his carrier require that he make occasional phone calls? ---
**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:** [August 10, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3689 "2020-08-10T19:12:47Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > Did his carrier require that he make occasional phone calls?.. **No** ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3690 "2020-08-10T19:14:42Z")
Is Nigel choosing to call 999 because that call would be free? ---
**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:** [August 10, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3691 "2020-08-10T19:25:21Z")
Was he trying to prove his phone worked to someone who claimed it didn’t? ---
**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:** [August 10, 2020, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3692 "2020-08-10T19:30:02Z")
**Nigel had an emergency of sorts. He was able to solve his emergency by calling the emergency number (999 as it so happens in this case). However, he immediately hung up after they answered, why?** > [@Teuton](#): > > Is Nigel choosing to call 999 because that call would be free? **No.** > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Was he trying to prove his phone worked to someone who claimed it didn’t? **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:** [August 11, 2020, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3693 "2020-08-11T12:06:48Z")
Is the fact that 999 has more coverage than standard numbers relevant? Is something else about 999 relevant? ---
**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:** [August 11, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3694 "2020-08-11T12:19:15Z")
You stated the emergency related to his phone. Was the emergency related to the physical phone itself? the service for the phone? Could he have solved his emergency by dialing a different number than 999? Was he afraid that his phone could not call 999 due to a problem with his service? ---
**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:** [August 11, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3695 "2020-08-11T13:32:43Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Is the fact that 999… Is the fact that 999 has more coverage than standard numbers relevant? **No**. Is something else about 999 relevant? **Yes**. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2020, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3696 "2020-08-11T13:34:09Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > You stated the emergency… You stated the emergency related to his phone. **Yes**. Was the emergency related to the physical phone itself? **Yes** the service for the phone? **Indirectly** Could he have solved his emergency by dialing a different number than 999? **No** Was he afraid that his phone could not call 999 due to a problem with his service? **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:** [August 11, 2020, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3697 "2020-08-11T14:32:05Z")
Is the type of cell phone relevant? Is the relevance of 999 due to the system being able to trace calls? Did the 999 operator say anything before Nigel hung up? Is that relevant to the emergency? ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3698 "2020-08-11T14:34:46Z")
Is 999 relevant because most phones will allow you to call 999 even if it’s locked or you don’t have a service plan with a provider? ---
**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:** [August 11, 2020, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3699 "2020-08-11T15:32:17Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Is the type of cell phone… Is the type of cell phone relevant? **Yes** Is the relevance of 999 due to the system being able to trace calls? **No** Did the 999 operator say anything before Nigel hung up? Is that relevant to the emergency? **No, No** ---
**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:** [August 11, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3700 "2020-08-11T15:33:28Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > Is 999 relevant because most phones will allow you to call 999 even if it’s locked or you don’t have a service plan with a provider? Is 999 relevant because most phones will allow you to call 999… **Yes** …even if it’s locked or you don’t have a service plan with a provider? **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:** [August 11, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3701 "2020-08-11T16:02:51Z")
Was the phone designed to only get incoming calls? ---
**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:** [August 11, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3702 "2020-08-11T16:25:10Z")
did nigel dial by touch? does the phone vibration have relevance? Does the minimum number of digits to complete a call with 999 have relevance? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=184) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=186)