# 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:** 21
**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, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/401 "2019-11-12T22:41:53Z")
That’s a funny image. I know cats can go crazy over catnip, but having a big crowd of cats follow you seems like something out of a cartoon. ---
**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, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/402 "2019-11-12T23:03:41Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > That’s a funny image. I know cats can go crazy over catnip, but having a big crowd of cats follow you seems like something out of a cartoon. [Here is one account of it. It was in 1909.](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/542413/strange-wedding-gifts-given-royals) ---
**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, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/403 "2019-11-12T23:25:57Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > [Here is one account of it. It was in 1909.](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/542413/strange-wedding-gifts-given-royals) I didn’t mean to imply I doubted the story, but now I think you’re pulling my leg. 😛 ETA: Ok. I think I found the link. > **[In 1909, a Door-to-Door Catnip Salesman Incited a Riot in New York](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/505352/1909-door-door-catnip-salesman-incited-riot-new-york)** > > "Why don’t you arrest the catnip? That is collecting the crowd. Not I,” he argued. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/404 "2019-11-12T23:34:11Z")
If you’ve only ever encountered the dried stuff – cats can be much more attracted to the fresh plant, or have a stronger reaction. ---
**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, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/405 "2019-11-12T23:40:24Z")
Good point. I’ve only encountered dried and the story says he had two basketfuls of freshly harvested plants. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/406 "2019-11-13T00:37:05Z")
Time for a new one? \*\*Normally, of course, nobody would ever use Item X and Item Y together – it’s one or the other. But under one specific circumstance, there is a rule that you must use both. What are Item X and Item Y?\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/407 "2019-11-13T01:06:05Z")
Is the “rule” a law or is it a custom? ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/408 "2019-11-13T01:18:03Z")
Is the “rule” a law **To the best of my knowledge, no.** or is it a custom? **Yes.** ---
**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 13, 2019, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/409 "2019-11-13T01:53:44Z")
Are the items associated with food? Are the items articles of clothing? Are the items tangible objects? Are the items linguistic in nature? Would the items be bought in some sort of store? ---
**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 13, 2019, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/410 "2019-11-13T01:53:59Z")
Are X and Y something edible/ drinkable/ smokable? ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/411 "2019-11-13T02:20:22Z")
Are the items associated with food? **No.** Are the items articles of clothing? **Yes.** Are the items tangible objects? **Yes.** Are the items linguistic in nature? **No. (Well, there are words for them, but I assume that’s not what you mean.** Would the items be bought in some sort of store? **Yes.** Are X and Y something edible/ drinkable/ smokable? **No.** ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/412 "2019-11-13T02:27:33Z")
Well this is gonna be fun. Bowties and shorts - when you’re a nerd? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/413 "2019-11-13T02:28:33Z")
Oh wait, is it military wear? ---
**Author:** ![mjmlabs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mjmlabs/32/69_2.png) [@mjmlabs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmlabs)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/414 "2019-11-13T02:30:15Z")
Are these clothing items designed to prevent one’s trousers from sliding down? ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/415 "2019-11-13T02:42:22Z")
Well this is gonna be fun. Bowties and shorts - when you’re a nerd? **No.** Oh wait, is it military wear? **No.** Are these clothing items designed to prevent one’s trousers from sliding down? **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:** [November 13, 2019, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/416 "2019-11-13T03:17:42Z")
white socks? black shoes? white socks with black shoes? ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/417 "2019-11-13T03:20:10Z")
white socks? black shoes? white socks with black shoes? **No to all.** ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/418 "2019-11-13T03:22:26Z")
Is it human clothing? ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/419 "2019-11-13T03:24:12Z")
Is it human clothing? **Yes.** ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/420 "2019-11-13T05:19:39Z")
Is it about sports? Is it about religion? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=22)