# 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:** 20
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/381 "2019-11-12T14:32:28Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Were the members of the crowd human? 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:** [November 12, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/382 "2019-11-12T14:49:01Z")
Were the members of the crowd Jim’s pets? Did the police mistakenly believe that it was illegal for Jim to own those pets? If so, was it because of the quantity of the pets? Or because of the species of the pets? ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/383 "2019-11-12T15:28:49Z")
Is the crowd made of insects? mammals? birds? reptiles? Is the crowd just in Jim’s imagination? ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/384 "2019-11-12T17:05:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Were the members of the crowd Jim’s pets? > Did the police mistakenly believe that it was illegal for Jim to own those pets? > If so, was it because of the quantity of the pets? > Or because of the species of the pets? No to all > [@Folly](#): > > Is the crowd made of insects? > mammals? > birds? > reptiles? > Is the crowd just in Jim’s imagination? Mammals. No to the imagination question. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/385 "2019-11-12T17:06:50Z")
Were the members of the crowd Simians? ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/386 "2019-11-12T17:17:18Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Just as a datapoint, I am 31 and like Biotop’s younger colleagues, I have no idea who that is and barely know what the gong show is. You probably don’t know who Rodney Dangerfield is either, damn millenial… Were the mammals bovine? Canine? Lupine? Supine? (nm that one) Was Jim some type of animal handler (herder, vet, pet store employee) ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/387 "2019-11-12T17:27:48Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Were the members of the crowd Simians? No. > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Were the mammals bovine? > Canine? > Lupine? > Supine? (nm that one) > > Was Jim some type of animal handler (herder, vet, pet store employee) No to all. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/388 "2019-11-12T17:33:03Z")
Would identifying the exact type of mammal make the solution apparent? Did this occur in the United States? Did the animals have something to do with Jim’s transportation such that the police had to drive Jim home? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/389 "2019-11-12T18:15:08Z")
Did Jim utter something about these animals, that could have been misinterpreted as a derogatory term? ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/390 "2019-11-12T18:15:42Z")
Equine? Feline? ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/391 "2019-11-12T18:28:03Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Would identifying the exact type of mammal make the solution apparent? Yes\* > > Did this occur in the United States? Yes > > Did the animals have something to do with Jim’s transportation such that the police had to drive Jim home? No \*not apparent, but would help > [@panache45](#): > > Did Jim utter something about these animals, that could have been misinterpreted as a derogatory term? No > [@Folly](#): > > Equine? No > Feline? 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:** [November 12, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/392 "2019-11-12T18:47:05Z")
Reptile? ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/393 "2019-11-12T18:48:53Z")
Were the felines housecats? Large predatory cats? Did Jim carry something that made the cats interested in following him? If so, was it food? ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/394 "2019-11-12T18:53:10Z")
Did the police think Jim was a cat burglar? (duck and run) ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/395 "2019-11-12T18:53:36Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Were the felines housecats? YES > Large predatory cats? NO > Did Jim carry something that made the cats interested in following him? YES > If so, was it food? NO KK ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/396 "2019-11-12T18:54:38Z")
Did Jim carry catnip? ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/397 "2019-11-12T19:58:01Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Did the police think Jim was a cat burglar? > > (duck and run) No > [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Did Jim carry catnip? 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:** [November 12, 2019, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/398 "2019-11-12T20:16:40Z")
Was Jim arrested for carrying catnip and attracting a crowd of cats? Is there a play on words involved between crowd of cats and clowder of cats? Did a police officer arrest Jim for attracting a large group of cats? Was the officer later convinced at the station that it is not against the law to attract a large group of cats? ---
**Author:** ![newme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e0b2c6/32.png) [@newme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newme)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/399 "2019-11-12T20:41:33Z")
Did the police think the catnip was marijuana? ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/400 "2019-11-12T22:28:11Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Was Jim arrested for carrying catnip and attracting a crowd of cats? NO > Is there a play on words involved between crowd of cats and clowder of cats? NO > Did a police officer arrest Jim for attracting a large group of cats? YES > Was the officer later convinced at the station that it is not against the law to attract a large group of cats?NO We’ll call it, though. Jim was selling catnip door to door, but a huge crowd of stray cats began to follow him. He was arrested for attracting a big crowd of cats, but he explained his situation to them down at the police station and they agreed to just let him go. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=21)