# 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:** 256
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5103 "2022-02-28T15:49:01Z")
Would the thing the bouncer(s) did be considered racist? Or “anti-racist”? Would the bouncers have been hired with the explicit understanding that they were definitely going to do something to break the law as it was written at the time? Or would they have been hired with the understanding that it was hoped they would not have to break the law (as written at the time) but that they would be expected to if a certain type of situation were to arise? Would the bouncers have been hired specifically because the event organizers had some reason to believe such a “situation” might occur? ---
**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:** [February 28, 2022, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5104 "2022-02-28T16:31:31Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > but allowing/refusing entry on race is not 100% accurate. Was this a case where the law demanded segregation, and the bouncers DIDN’T segregate? ---
**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:** [February 28, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5105 "2022-02-28T18:59:55Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > 1. Would the thing the bouncer(s) did be considered racist? > > YES > > 1. Or “anti-racist”? > > NO > > 1. Would the bouncers have been hired with the explicit understanding that they were definitely going to do something to break the law as it was written at the time? > > NO, no law was broken. > > 1. Or would they have been hired with the understanding that it was hoped they would not have to break the law (as written at the time) but that they would be expected to if a certain type of situation were to arise? > > NO. > > Would the bouncers have been hired specifically because the event organizers had some reason to believe such a “situation” might occur? > > NO Answered. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2022, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5106 "2022-02-28T19:00:59Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Was this a case where the law demanded segregation, and the bouncers DIDN’T segregate?.. No, but I will tell you that laws and the legal side kind of do play into this situation. The evidence I see is that segregation was NOT required by law at the time. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2022, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5107 "2022-03-05T19:24:29Z")
Was the bouncer’s relevant action refusing to let certain people in? Letting certain people in? Did his actions directly lead to people deciding to meet somewhere else? ---
**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:** [March 5, 2022, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5108 "2022-03-05T19:28:31Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Was the bouncer’s relevant action refusing to let certain people in? Kind of. I mean…everyone was allowed in that was invited…just not allowed in “completely”. > [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Letting certain people in? It’s more how certain people were let in. > [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Did his actions directly lead to people deciding to meet somewhere else? No. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2022, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5109 "2022-03-05T23:40:51Z")
Was the party separated into two areas and the bouncer’s job was to make sure that everyone went to their designated area? ---
**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:** [March 6, 2022, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5110 "2022-03-06T00:51:11Z")
Yes. We’re making progress! ---
**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:** [March 6, 2022, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5111 "2022-03-06T17:17:33Z")
Is this West Side Story? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2022, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5112 "2022-03-06T17:19:07Z")
You mean the “bouncer” is Officer Krupke? ---
**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:** [March 6, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5113 "2022-03-06T17:20:57Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is this West Side Story? No. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > You mean the “bouncer” is Officer Krupke? No. I did just see this movie, recently, but this has nothing to do with that. There is something unique in my puzzle about how separating people actually ended up bringing them together. That is the main “situation” to figure out. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2022, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5114 "2022-03-06T17:22:07Z")
But to be clear: Is this a completely real-life situation? A completely fictional situation? Some blend of both? ---
**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:** [March 6, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5115 "2022-03-06T17:29:13Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Is this a completely real-life situation? > A completely fictional situation? > Some blend of both? Completely real. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5116 "2022-03-06T18:01:27Z")
Were the two groups opposing sides or dichotomous or disjoint? Like Crips and Bloods, Republicans and Democrats, Men and Women, Adults (18+) and Children (17-), etc.? ---
**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:** [March 6, 2022, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5117 "2022-03-06T18:16:17Z")
Were the two groups separated by race? …by some other ethnic categorization? …By sex? …By age? …By some other trait apparent on casual sight? …By language? …By a (generally) immutable trait? Would the bouncer have commonly needed to ask the attendees something to determine what category they belonged in? ---
**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:** [March 6, 2022, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5118 "2022-03-06T19:55:13Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Were the two groups opposing sides or dichotomous or disjoint? Like Crips and Bloods, Republicans and Democrats, Men and Women, Adults (18+) and Children (17-), etc.? Blacks and Whites. I think this has been established? They were separated by race. > [@Chronos](#): > > Were the two groups separated by race? > …by some other ethnic categorization? > …By sex? > …By age? > …By some other trait apparent on casual sight? > …By language? > …By a (generally) immutable trait? > > Would the bouncer have commonly needed to ask the attendees something to determine what category they belonged in?.. It’s by race. I think this has been established. And no, the bouncer(s) would not have needed to ask, since he/she could see them. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2022, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5119 "2022-03-06T19:57:26Z")
Would the Black people and the White people have been attending this event for different reasons? ---
**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:** [March 6, 2022, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5120 "2022-03-06T20:55:29Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Would the Black people and the White people have been attending this event for different reasons?.. Nope, all there for the same reason. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2022, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5121 "2022-03-06T21:01:02Z")
Was there a fire / flood / other emergency during the event? Just to double-check: The people who were “brought together” were of different races that were supposed to be physically separated from each other? Were the different groups able to communicate while separated? Did the physical separation end at some point during the event? Were they “brought together” at some later point, after the event? **ETA:** Is music involved in any way? ---
**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:** [March 6, 2022, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5122 "2022-03-06T21:08:04Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Was there a fire / flood / other emergency during the event? Nope. > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Just to double-check: The people who were “brought together” were of different races that were supposed to be physically separated from each other? Yes. I mean we all hate segregation, but it was expected at the time so “supposed to be” is accurate I guess. > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Were the different groups able to communicate while separated? No. > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Did the physical separation end at some point during the event? No. > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Were they “brought together” at some later point, after the event? Yes…I mean…segregation ended…so definitely yes. I mean some may have died before the end of segregation, but yep. I’ll ask: **Did this ultimately involve the decline or end of some segregation?** Yes(but why???) > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > **ETA:** Is music involved in any way? no. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=255) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=257)