# 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:** 223
**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 21, 2020, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4443 "2020-11-21T13:46:15Z")
Did the judge use the wording “in the name of Allah” in an official statement? Was the judge the first person to use the word “Allah” in the relevant case? ---
**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 21, 2020, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4444 "2020-11-21T14:11:42Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Did the judge use the wording “in the name of Allah” in an official statement? **NOT THAT EXACT WORDING**. > Was the judge the first person to use the word “Allah” in the relevant case? **YES**. > > NB- judge **s** , plural. … ---
**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 21, 2020, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4445 "2020-11-21T14:55:35Z")
Did this happen in the Americas? ---
**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 21, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4446 "2020-11-21T14:58:50Z")
> Did this happen in the Americas? **UNKNOWN**. ---
**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 21, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4447 "2020-11-21T17:01:31Z")
Were these actual judges with law degrees? Did they have the power to actual grant the plea? ---
**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:** [November 21, 2020, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4448 "2020-11-21T17:38:32Z")
Was the plea for clemency made in a separate trial? If so, were the two trials in the same jurisdiction? ---
**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 21, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4449 "2020-11-21T18:49:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Were these actual judges with law degrees? **YES … AND NO.** > > Did they have the power to actual grant the plea? **UNKNOWN … IRRELEVANT** > > Was the plea for clemency made in a separate trial? **NO** > If so, were the two trials in the same jurisdiction? **N/A** … ---
**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 24, 2020, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4450 "2020-11-24T16:18:32Z")
Was the rejection said out loud? Was it in writing? Did this happen this century? 20th C? Earlier? Is there wordplay involved? Is everyone involved human? ---
**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 24, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4451 "2020-11-24T16:36:46Z")
Was the plea one that some other reasonable judge might have considered granting? One that any reasonable person would consider ridiculous? Was rejecting it in the name of Allah a normal thing for this judge? A reaction to this specific plea? To this specific murderer? ---
**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 24, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4452 "2020-11-24T16:54:15Z")
Does the “Yes … and no” answer in response to “Were these actual judges with law degrees?” mean… – At least one of the judges was an actual judge with a law degree, and at least one was not? – They were actual judges, but did NOT have law degrees? – They were “actual judges with law degrees” if you look at it one way, but not if you look at it a different way? (For example, a character in a TV show might be a judge with a law degree within the context of the show, but in the real world, the character doesn’t exist and the actor playing them is not an actual judge with a law degree?) – Something else? ---
**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 24, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4453 "2020-11-24T16:57:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Was the rejection said out loud? **YES**. > Was it in writing? **NO** > > Did this happen this century? **NO** > 20th C? **UNKNOWN, BUT VERY LIKELY** > Earlier? **PROBABLY NOT** > > Is there wordplay involved? **No puns, homonyms, or such like. But you do have to think laterally about the words.** > Is everyone involved human? **YES** > [@](#): > > Was the plea one that some other reasonable judge might have considered granting? One that any reasonable person would consider ridiculous? **THE PLEA HAD TO BE REJECTED.** > > Was rejecting it in the name of Allah a normal thing for this judge? A reaction to this specific plea? To this specific murderer? **THEY ARE NOT GENERALLY KNOWN FOR INVOKING ALLAH, EXCEPT IN THIS ONE INSTANCE.** ---
**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 24, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4454 "2020-11-24T16:59:01Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Does the “Yes … and no” answer in response to “Were these actual judges with law degrees?” mean… > > – They were “actual judges with law degrees” if you look at it one way, but not if you look at it a different way? (For example, a character in a TV show might be a judge with a law degree within the context of the show, but in the real world, the character doesn’t exist and the actor playing them is not an actual judge with a law degree?) **THIS ONE.** … ---
**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 24, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4455 "2020-11-24T17:02:22Z")
Did this happen in the context of a work of fiction? If so: TV show? Movie? Book? Stage play? Other? ---
**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 24, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4456 "2020-11-24T17:09:10Z")
**You know it from a work of fiction (other). There is uncertainty whether it was real life or not.** ---
**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:** [November 24, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4457 "2020-11-24T17:39:11Z")
Is this from a video game? Radio/podcast drama? Comic book? Did this involve a production error? ---
**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 24, 2020, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4458 "2020-11-24T17:43:40Z")
Would it help to know more about the murder? Would it help to know the exact wording of the plea for clemency? Is the work of fiction a song? ---
**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 24, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4459 "2020-11-24T17:54:23Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Is this from a video game? **NO** > Radio/podcast drama? **NO** > Comic book? **NO** > Did this involve a production error? **NO** > [@](#): > > Would it help to know more about the murder? **YES** > > Would it help to know the exact wording of the plea for clemency? **YES** > > Is the work of fiction a song? **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 24, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4460 "2020-11-24T18:11:42Z")
Is the song based on a murder that definitely occurred in the real world, but with some details added that might be fictional? Or is the murder itself the possibly-fictional part? Is the singing of nonsense syllables involved? (“I said ah la la la la, in the name of ah la la la la…”) Is the song a folk song? Is it one that most people would associate with a specific performer? Does it have any religious content _other_ than the name of Allah? ---
**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 24, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4461 "2020-11-24T18:24:38Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Is the song based on a murder that definitely occurred in the real world, but with some details added that might be fictional? **NO**. > > Or is the murder itself the possibly-fictional part? **INCORRECT ASSUMPTION.** > > Is the singing of nonsense syllables involved? (“I said ah la la la la, in the name of ah la la la la…”) **NO.** > > Is the song a folk song? **NO.** > > Is it one that most people would associate with a specific performer? **YES.(although there have been some notable cover versions)** > > Does it have any religious content _other_ than the name of Allah? **NO.** … ---
**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 24, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/4462 "2020-11-24T18:33:57Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Does it have any religious content _other_ than the name of Allah? **NO.** Correction. YES, one other immortal being cited by name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=222) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=224)