# 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:** 216
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4303 "2020-10-31T19:17:35Z")
He _had been_ a member of the military, rather. (Too late to edit.) ---
**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:** [October 31, 2020, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4304 "2020-10-31T22:36:08Z")
Was the issue over the lunch being kosher? ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2020, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4305 "2020-11-01T12:04:58Z")
**No** ---
**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 2, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4306 "2020-11-02T00:16:10Z")
Had “he” done anything he shouldn’t have done? Was he harmed or put at risk in any way? If yes, by someone else doing something they shouldn’t have done? Did he actually eat the lunch? If he had ordered a similar lunch from a different deli, is it likely that the hearing would have been held? ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4307 "2020-11-02T05:45:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Had “he” done anything he shouldn’t have done? **Yes** > > Was he harmed or put at risk in any way? If yes, by someone else doing something they shouldn’t have done? **Harmed no, put at risk potentially, but not because of anyone else’s actions.** > > Did he actually eat the lunch? **He ate part of it.** > > If he had ordered a similar lunch from a different deli, is it likely that the hearing would have been held? **Yes** Time for the hint, I guess: **Location matters.** ---
**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:** [November 2, 2020, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4308 "2020-11-02T13:11:08Z")
Was the lunch technically illegal in the place where he ate it? Against cultural norms? Religiously unacceptable? Was the lunch problematic because of the exact location where it was eaten, or because of the country in which it was eaten? (e.g. in the Colosseum vs. in Italy) ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4309 "2020-11-02T15:08:51Z")
[quote] Was the lunch technically illegal in the place where he ate it? Against cultural norms? Religiously unacceptable? **None of those** Was the lunch problematic because of the exact location where it was eaten, or because of the country in which it was eaten? (e.g. in the Colosseum vs. in Italy) **Let’s say exact** ---
**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 2, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4310 "2020-11-02T18:31:35Z")
Was he in space? ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4311 "2020-11-02T18:40:21Z")
**Yes!** ---
**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 2, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4312 "2020-11-02T18:44:03Z")
So … he was an astronaut who smuggled a deli sandwich into space, leading to some sort of safety issue that put him at risk? Do we need to know the exact nature of the safety issue? Do we need to know the type of space mission (e.g., moon landing)? ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4313 "2020-11-02T18:59:47Z")
That’s good, that’s all we need. [John Young snuck a sandwich onto the Gemini 3 mission.](https://www.space.com/39341-john-young-smuggled-corned-beef-space.html) The risk was from crumbs, which could have potentially messed with the equipment. The House Appropriations Committee did not approve, with one congressman calling it a $30 million sandwich. ---
**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 2, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4314 "2020-11-02T19:08:45Z")
Great lateral thinking component to that one! ---
**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, 2020, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4315 "2020-11-12T20:04:00Z")
There is a certain something most everyone uses frequently. Right now on a table in my living room, there are two of them, though I suppose there might soon be a third and even a fourth if my wife or I desire. But we both agree that’s where it stops! If you were to use them and were to ask me about it, I would surely be able to tell you why. Therefore you should be able to tell me what my wife and I are currently using them for. What? ---
**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:** [November 12, 2020, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4316 "2020-11-12T23:21:41Z")
Are they alive? Electronic? Usually used in the living room? ---
**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 13, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4317 "2020-11-13T00:47:12Z")
Is the type of table relevant? -tv tray? -coffee table? - mathematical table? - any type of literal table with four legs you put stuff on? ---
**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 13, 2020, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4318 "2020-11-13T01:49:12Z")
reply to Zyada: Are they alive? Y Electronic? N Usually used in the living room? Y ---
**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 13, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4319 "2020-11-13T01:51:22Z")
reply to Mahaloth:] Is the type of table relevant? Y -tv tray? Y -coffee table? N - mathematical table? N - any type of literal table with four legs you put stuff on? Y ---
**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:** [November 13, 2020, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4320 "2020-11-13T01:52:21Z")
Is it a thing that belongs on the table? Like, would the room be considered (basically) clean with the thing on the table (like a lamp, wax melter thing, vase of flowers, echo dot, possibly coffee table books) or would it be something that would be put away if you were tidying up? Is it a thing you have to touch to use it? Is it a thing that most people own or do people frequently use them in public places? Is it something that is fully useful on its own or does it need something else to be used as intended? Is the reason for having discussed the limits to the number of the thing you own due to price? Size? Upkeep? eta: Oh, I forgot two: Is it a thing you would say people frequently used twenty years ago? Fifty? Do you use it in the way most people use it? ---
**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 13, 2020, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4321 "2020-11-13T01:59:57Z")
reply to SurrenderDorothy: Is it a thing that belongs on the table? N Like, would the room be considered (basically) clean with the thing on the table (like a lamp, wax melter thing, vase of flowers, echo dot, possibly coffee table books) or would it be something that would be put away if you were tidying up? Y Is it a thing you have to touch to use it? Y Is it a thing that most people own N or do people frequently use them in public places? Y Is it something that is fully useful on its own Y or does it need something else to be used as intended? N Is the reason for having discussed the limits to the number of the thing you own due to price? Y Size? N Upkeep? N ---
**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 13, 2020, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4322 "2020-11-13T02:10:35Z")
reply to SurrenderDorothy: Is it a thing that belongs on the table? N Like, would the room be considered (basically) clean with the thing on the table (like a lamp, wax melter thing, vase of flowers, echo dot, possibly coffee table books) Y or would it be something that would be put away if you were tidying up? Y Is it a thing you have to touch to use it? Y Is it a thing that most people own N or do people frequently use them in public places? Y Is it something that is fully useful on its own Y or does it need something else to be used as intended? N Is the reason for having discussed the limits to the number of the thing you own due to price? Y Size? N Upkeep? N Edited. I somehow left out a yes. Sorry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=215) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=217)