# 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:** 217
**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 13, 2020, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4323 "2020-11-13T02:15:42Z")
You said they’re alive… Are they animals? Plants? Children? ---
**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, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4324 "2020-11-13T02:21:17Z")
reply to Ana\_Byrd: You said they’re alive… Y Are they animals? Y Plants? N Children? N ---
**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 13, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4325 "2020-11-13T02:25:34Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Are they animals? Y Vertebrate or invertebrate? ---
**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, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4326 "2020-11-13T02:33:09Z")
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? +++++++++++++++++++++++++ reply to Zyada: Vertebrate N or invertebrate? N ---
**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, 2020, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4327 "2020-11-13T02:38:08Z")
fungi? ---
**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, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4328 "2020-11-13T02:40:11Z")
Hint: When used how my wife and I are using them, there are almost always only two. You need two. There can be a third, but not most times. A fourth is not completely impossible, but surely highly improbable. More than that is really not going to normally happen ever. ---
**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, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4329 "2020-11-13T02:41:29Z")
reply to Folly: fungi? N ---
**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, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4330 "2020-11-13T02:56:09Z")
I think I edited while you were replying- - 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? - At the time of use, is it still a living thing (or pair of living things)? - Is it the entire living thing, only dead? - Is it only part of the living thing? - Does it require upkeep? Like if you were to leave town for a month, would someone have to take care of it? - Can they be used by more than one person at once? - When you say “most everyone,” do you mean worldwide? US? Western countries? ---
**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, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4331 "2020-11-13T03:19:37Z")
reply to SurrenderDorothy: - Is it a thing you would say people frequently used twenty years ago? Y Fifty? Y - Do you use it in the way most people use it? Y - At the time of use, is it still a living thing (or pair of living things)? N - Is it the entire living thing, only dead? Y - Is it only part of the living thing? Y - Does it require upkeep? N Like if you were to leave town for a month, would someone have to take care of it? Y - Can they be used by more than one person at once? Y - When you say “most everyone,” do you mean worldwide? Y US? N Western countries? N ---
**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 13, 2020, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4332 "2020-11-13T04:52:14Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > - Is it the entire living thing, only dead? Y > - Is it only part of the living thing? Y So, is it part of something that is no longer alive? Is it possible that it could either be whole or a part of something? Would it have died by human intervention? Is the use decorative? ---
**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, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4333 "2020-11-13T06:33:48Z")
reply to Zyada: So, is it part of something that is no longer alive? N Is it possible that it could either be whole or a part of something? N Would it have died by human intervention? Y Is the use decorative? N ---
**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, 2020, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4334 "2020-11-13T06:37:33Z")
Are the certain somethings you and your wife are using different than the certain somethings that are on the table in your living room? ---
**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, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4335 "2020-11-13T06:40:58Z")
reply to Folly: Are the certain somethings you and your wife are using different than the certain somethings that are on the table in your living room? Y ---
**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 13, 2020, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4336 "2020-11-13T08:50:50Z")
Is its use related to entertainment? Hygiene? Fashion? Communication? Food? Neither vertebrate nor invertebrate seems like it would eliminate all kinds of animals. Is there a third category that I’m not aware of? ---
**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, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4337 "2020-11-13T13:12:43Z")
Remember, it _is_ specifically a TV tray. ---
**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, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4338 "2020-11-13T15:33:17Z")
reply to Ana\_Byrd: Is its use related to entertainment? N Hygiene? Y Fashion? N Communication? N Food? N Neither vertebrate nor invertebrate seems like it would eliminate all kinds of animals. Is there a third category that I’m not aware of? 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, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4339 "2020-11-13T15:34:36Z")
reply to Mahaloth: Remember, it _is_ specifically a TV tray. Y ---
**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 13, 2020, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4340 "2020-11-13T15:41:07Z")
Is it an.object that’s called by the name of an animal, which is not actually that animal? Would you use two of this thing at once? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4341 "2020-11-13T16:06:39Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Is the reason for having discussed the limits to the number of the thing you own due to price? Y > Size? N Upkeep? N I’m leaning towards it being a sponge, but I wouldn’t think that live sponges would be price prohibitive. Then again, “price prohibitive” could mean “we will upgrade our aquarium, but I ain’t spending another $50 on a sponge! OK, maybe one more.” ---
**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 13, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4342 "2020-11-13T16:09:59Z")
That and sponges are invertebrates. Still trying to figure out what kind of animal Biotop thinks neither has a spine nor lacks one… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=216) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=218)