# 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:** 218
**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, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4343 "2020-11-13T16:10:01Z")
reply to Ana\_Byrd: Is it an.object that’s called by the name of an animal, which is not actually that animal? Y Would you use two of this thing at once? 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, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4344 "2020-11-13T16:30:27Z")
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? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ You have enough information now to know what is on my living room table and why. But I suggest lateral, not traditional, thinking. No sponges are involved. ---
**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, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4345 "2020-11-13T17:59:50Z")
Does it involve alcohol at all? Is it a coaster? Is it a can? ---
**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, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4346 "2020-11-13T18:08:53Z")
reply to Mahaloth: Does it involve alcohol at all? N Is it a coaster? N Is it a can? 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, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4347 "2020-11-13T19:04:09Z")
Vertebrates are a subset of chordate ---
**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, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4348 "2020-11-13T19:34:41Z")
That’s true, though probably irrelevant unless Biotop and his wife have a use for a pair of tunicates or something. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4349 "2020-11-13T19:48:58Z")
Are they computer mice? ---
**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, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4350 "2020-11-13T21:06:23Z")
There “might soon be a third” - is the possibility connected with current events? Is it specifically the US election? ---
**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 14, 2020, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4351 "2020-11-14T02:04:46Z")
reply to kitap: Are they computer mice? 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 14, 2020, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4352 "2020-11-14T02:06:58Z")
reply to Peter\_Morris: There “might soon be a third” - is the possibility connected with current events? Y Is it specifically the US election? 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 14, 2020, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4353 "2020-11-14T07:44:48Z")
I thought for sure this would be solved tonight. Most here have used the objects in the way similar to our own table event, though maybe not as recently. Alas the objects are now off the table and put away for a few weeks. We used two of the subject of this puzzle during our event. Perhaps had we used three or four then the result might have been altered. But it is not that simple, is it? Oh well. There is always next time. Five, by the way, would of course be illegal. ---
**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 14, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4354 "2020-11-14T18:56:30Z")
Just to be clear - we need to figure out two different kinds of objects, one kind that you and your wife are using, and another that were on your table? And between them, they are: computer mice, related to hygiene, an animal, commonly used, likely to be used during election season, and always numbering at least two and never more than four? Please correct at least one of these. I’m trying to think laterally, but I don’t even know which way is sideways anymore. ---
**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 14, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4355 "2020-11-14T19:16:39Z")
And to be clear, an animal that is neither vertebrate nor invertebrate, that is a computer mouse, right? ---
**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 14, 2020, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4356 "2020-11-14T21:14:21Z")
Are we talking about something that would be consumed? Alcohol? ---
**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 15, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4357 "2020-11-15T01:04:44Z")
reply to Ana\_Byrd: Just to be clear - we need to figure out two different kinds of objects, one kind that you and your wife are using, and another that were on your table? Y And between them, they are: computer mice, related to hygiene, an animal, commonly used, likely to be used during election season, and always numbering at least two and never more than four? 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 15, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4358 "2020-11-15T01:06:26Z")
reply to Peter\_Morris: And to be clear, an animal that is neither vertebrate nor invertebrate, that is a computer mouse, right? 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 15, 2020, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4359 "2020-11-15T01:08:22Z")
reply to SurrenderDorothy: Are we talking about something that would be consumed? N Alcohol? 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 15, 2020, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4360 "2020-11-15T05:29:23Z")
Is the animal real? ---
**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 15, 2020, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4361 "2020-11-15T05:39:20Z")
reply to Zyada: Is the animal real? 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 15, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4362 "2020-11-15T16:16:16Z")
Is this in a game? Is the law against owning more than 4 a real world law, or one in game? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=217) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=219)