# 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:** 219
**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, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4363 "2020-11-15T16:20:51Z")
reply to Zyada: Is this in a game? N Is the law against owning more than 4 a real world law, N or one in game? N šŸ˜‰ ---
**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, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4364 "2020-11-15T16:34:29Z")
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 thatā€™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 know how in lateral thinking puzzles, there is a tricky situation posed? And it is possible but difficult to guess it maybe from the initial puzzle, but then you ask questions and from the answers you can determine the truth in an ā€œahaā€ moment? This is that kind of puzzle. That saidā€¦ ---
**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 15, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4365 "2020-11-15T18:34:49Z")
When you said that five would be illegal, were you joking? ---
**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, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4366 "2020-11-15T19:04:27Z")
Is it a real object? ---
**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, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4367 "2020-11-15T19:29:56Z")
reply to Ana\_Byrd: When you said that five would be illegal, were you joking? 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, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4368 "2020-11-15T19:31:08Z")
reply to Zyada: Is it a real object? N ---
**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 15, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4369 "2020-11-15T21:06:55Z")
Have any of your other answers been jokes, or otherwise not quite true? ---
**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, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4370 "2020-11-15T21:52:15Z")
reply to Ana\_Byrd Have any of your other answers been jokes, or otherwise not quite true? 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 16, 2020, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4371 "2020-11-16T01:14:34Z")
Please note: This puzzle is not a practical joke or any kind of joke. The trick is not to find out that some of the answers do not seem straightforward. This is a real LTP and the solution is to determine what was going on my table in the living room. There is enough information now to work that out. As I said before, think laterally! I did exaggerate when I said that more than four of the item on the table would be illegal. It is just that more than four should not be possible. ---
**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 16, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4372 "2020-11-16T01:48:53Z")
Would more than four require more than four hands? ---
**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 16, 2020, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4373 "2020-11-16T02:10:43Z")
Are the things, themselves, hands? ---
**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 16, 2020, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4374 "2020-11-16T04:19:36Z")
reply to Folly: Would more than four require more than four hands? 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 16, 2020, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4375 "2020-11-16T04:22:13Z")
reply to Chronos: Are the things, themselves, hands? 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 16, 2020, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4376 "2020-11-16T15:41:02Z")
The something I am talking about is very common. Super common. Everyday common.The way my wife and I used this something on our table is also so common I am nearly certain everyone here has done so, surely multiple times. When you did it you used two of them. Maybe once and a while you used three. It is in the realm of possibility you used four, but I bet you didnā€™t. Five is right out! ---
**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 16, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4377 "2020-11-16T15:44:26Z")
Is it a kind of kitchen utensil? ---
**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 16, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4378 "2020-11-16T17:02:39Z")
reply to Ana\_Byrd: Is it a kind of kitchen utensil? 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 16, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4379 "2020-11-16T17:14:23Z")
Is it normally used in the 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 16, 2020, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4380 "2020-11-16T17:18:08Z")
reply to Zyada: Is it normally used in the living room? Y ---
**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 16, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4381 "2020-11-16T18:30:50Z")
Was it fixing a wobbly leg on the table? A wad of paper under the short leg? With election flyers? ---
**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 16, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4382 "2020-11-16T18:47:44Z")
reply to Peter\_Morris: Was it fixing a wobbly leg on the table? Y A wad of paper under the short leg? N With election flyers? Y +++++++++++++ Note: The above is not the answer to the riddle. Our table is fine. Itā€™s legs are fine. I gather this may be frustrating, but all I can suggest is examining the puzzle again. There is a solution. šŸ˜‰ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=218) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=220)