# 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:** 258
**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 7, 2022, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5143 "2022-03-07T13:43:14Z")
So the Judge is the Bouncer? I vote that LHOD got the win on this one. Unless I’m missing something his answer nailed it and this answer leaves something to be desired. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5144 "2022-03-07T18:36:53Z")
Judge was not the bouncer. He was outside at a different party across the street and observed what was going on. > **[The Blind Leading - Futility Closet](https://www.futilitycloset.com/2022/02/17/the-blind-leading-2/)** > > I just ran across this absurd sentence in Love in the Lead, Peter Brock Putnam’s 1979 history of the seeing eye dog: As late as the 1950s, an association for the blind in a southern city used to post sighted monitors at the entrance for its Christmas... ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5145 "2022-04-01T22:31:38Z")
**A sign in a store informs customers that a specific item is not and will never be for sale. These signs have to go up around the same time each year. What is this item and why do people want it?** ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5146 "2022-04-01T22:36:06Z")
Is this related in some way to a generally recognized holiday? Is it an item that does not actually exist? ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5147 "2022-04-01T22:36:11Z")
Is the specific item something the store has but doesn’t want to sell ? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5148 "2022-04-01T22:36:17Z")
Snowplow? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5149 "2022-04-01T22:42:12Z")
> Is this related in some way to a generally recognized holiday? **The item, no. The situation, yes.** > Is it an item that does not actually exist? **No** > Is the specific item something the store has but doesn’t want to sell ? **They do not have it.** > Snowplow? **No** ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5150 "2022-04-01T22:50:22Z")
Does this sign go up when people start shopping for Christmas? Is demand for the item driven (either wholly or partially) by a television show, movie, song, or some other work of popular entertainment or art? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5151 "2022-04-01T22:52:50Z")
> Does this sign go up when people start shopping for Christmas? **Yes to the Christmas season. It’s not about gift shopping, though.** > Is demand for the item driven (either wholly or partially) by a television show, movie, song, or some other work of popular entertainment or art? **No** ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5152 "2022-04-01T22:55:14Z")
Is the store part of a chain? If yes: does the sign go up at all locations? At some of them? Only one? Would it help to know the type of store, e.g, department store, supermarket, etc.? Is the item something that is normally sold at this type of store? Is it something that is normally sold at all? ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5153 "2022-04-01T23:02:10Z")
Is the location of the store pertinent? Located in the US? In Europe? The middle east? Asia? If in the US, would it help to know what state? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5154 "2022-04-01T23:02:17Z")
> Is the store part of a chain? **From what I understand, it’s not one specific store or chain, but several.** > If yes: does the sign go up at all locations? At some of them? Only one? **See above** > Would it help to know the type of store, e.g, department store, supermarket, etc.? **Yes** > Is the item something that is normally sold at this type of store? **Most won’t, but it is in the general category of what these stores sell.** > Is it something that is normally sold at all? **You can buy one if if know where to look. I found one on Amazon.** ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5155 "2022-04-01T23:07:29Z")
Does the item have something to do with decorating or entertaining for the holidays? Would a store decide not stock the item because the price is too high for its customers? Or because it’s too large, physically, for them to deal with? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5156 "2022-04-01T23:09:18Z")
> Is the location of the store pertinent? **Might help. This is in the US.** > If in the US, would it help to know what state? **No (as far as I know)** ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5157 "2022-04-01T23:10:25Z")
> Does the item have something to do with decorating or entertaining for the holidays? **Yes** > Would a store decide not stock the item because the price is too high for its customers? **No** > Or because it’s too large, physically, for them to deal with? **No** ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5158 "2022-04-01T23:12:17Z")
WAG: Is it ham at a Jewish deli? If not, is it something religious associated with Christianity? Is it something culturally associated with celebrating Christmas? (Like Christmas trees, or stockings). ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5159 "2022-04-01T23:12:53Z")
Is it to do with Christmas lights? Like a male/male or female/female plug attachment thing? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5160 "2022-04-01T23:13:19Z")
> WAG: Is it ham at a Jewish deli? **No** > If not, is it something religious associated with Christianity? **No** > Is it something culturally associated with celebrating Christmas? (Like Christmas trees, or stockings). **No** ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5161 "2022-04-01T23:14:25Z")
Do the items normally sold at this store include: Clothing? Food? Furniture / household items? Medical items? Books? Music? Games? Gifts? Art / craft / hobby supplies? Gardening items? Other? If the sign were _not_ on display, would a reasonable person assume the store did in fact have this item for sale? If yes, would they be making this assumption on the basis of something they saw / heard at the store? Something in the store’s advertising materials? Some other basis? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2022, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5162 "2022-04-01T23:17:36Z")
> Is it to do with Christmas lights? Like a male/male or female/female plug attachment thing? **Yes, and solved.** [It is a male to male power cord,](https://twitter.com/kobunheat/status/1336134415336964096/photo/1) which people sometimes want to use for putting up their Christmas lights, and which electricians would prefer you not use at all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=257) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=259)