# 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:** 259
**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:** [April 4, 2022, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5163 "2022-04-04T04:13:53Z")
I remember my reaction the first time I saw one of those signs. It was along the lines of “What the fuck! People actually do that!?” I grew up the son of an electrician. Having heard some of the stories of what my dad had seen done by weekend home improvement warriors instilled upon me a special appreciation of electrical safety. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5164 "2022-06-19T17:08:42Z")
In a fictional story certain items disappear from a home. These items include several eggs, a couple of bottles of cosmetics, and alcohol. A maid is suspected and fired. But she is innocent. Why are these items missing? And perhaps more importantly, why do real-life authorities try to keep a part of this story from ever reaching the public? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5165 "2022-06-19T17:40:39Z")
Is this story a detective story? Is this story famous? Would most of us likely know it? Are the authorities trying to prevent someone copycatting something from the story? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5166 "2022-06-19T18:41:52Z")
reply to Mahaloth: Is this story a detective story? No. Is this story famous? No. Would most of us likely know it? Not sure. Are the authorities trying to prevent someone copycatting something from the story? No. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5167 "2022-06-19T18:51:51Z")
Were the items taken by a human? Were the items taken by an animal? If they were taken, was the taker someone/thing that was supposed to be in the house? Did the items leave the house intact? Did the items remain intact inside the house? Were the items destroyed, consumed, or otherwise rendered non-intact, while inside the house? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5168 "2022-06-19T18:57:39Z")
Does it matter that these specific items went missing? That is to say, could the same story have been told just as effectively if a different assortment of items had disappeared? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5169 "2022-06-19T19:07:32Z")
reply to Chronos: Were the items taken by a human? Yes. Were the items taken by an animal? No. If they were taken, was the taker someone/thing that was supposed to be in the house? Yes. Did the items leave the house intact? No. Did the items remain intact inside the house? No. Were the items destroyed, consumed, or otherwise rendered non-intact, while inside the house? Yes. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5170 "2022-06-19T19:09:20Z")
reply to dirtball: Does it matter that these specific items went missing? Yes. That is to say, could the same story have been told just as effectively if a different assortment of items had disappeared? 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:** [June 19, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5171 "2022-06-19T20:16:28Z")
Does it matter what type of cosmetics? IOW, could it be just as likely to be eye liner as face powder? Was the alcohol consumable? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5172 "2022-06-19T20:47:05Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > Was the alcohol consumable? Were the eggs? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5173 "2022-06-19T20:50:00Z")
Were the missing items made into a cake ? ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5174 "2022-06-19T20:53:18Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > Does it matter what type of cosmetics? IOW, could it be just as likely to be eye liner as face powder? > > Was the alcohol consumable? Yes. The cosmetics matter and the alcohol was consumable. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5175 "2022-06-19T20:53:50Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Were the eggs? Yes. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5176 "2022-06-19T20:54:15Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > Were the missing items made into a cake ? No. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5177 "2022-06-19T20:54:44Z")
Were the eggs ordinary chicken eggs? Would the problem work as well if they were some other sort of edible egg, such as duck or quail? Did the remains of the items remain in the house? In case the answer to @pjd 's question is no, were the items made into some other single thing? Does the story include directions for doing something dangerous to the doer? Does the story include directions for doing something dangerous to others? Does the story include directions for doing something illegal? Does the story include directions for doing something legal, but which could easily be used for illegal purposes? ---
**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:** [June 20, 2022, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5178 "2022-06-20T01:14:07Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Yes. The cosmetics matter and the alcohol was consumable. Was it: - lipstick - foundation - eye shadow - eye liner - skin coloring makeup - mascara Anyone else care to add to this list until we get it? ---
**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:** [June 20, 2022, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5179 "2022-06-20T01:35:44Z")
Is the stealing the main plotline of the story? Was the story written before 1900? If not, does it take place before 1900? Were the items used to make a poison? I’m thinking those old-timey cosmetics has lead or arsenic in them and combined with alcohol and eggs they were ingested by a victim. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2022, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5180 "2022-06-20T02:20:28Z")
Nail polish ---
**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:** [June 20, 2022, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5181 "2022-06-20T04:38:44Z")
reply to Chronos: Were the eggs ordinary chicken eggs? Yes. Would the problem work as well if they were some other sort of edible egg, such as duck or quail? I suppose. Would have been unusual. Did the remains of the items remain in the house? Don’t know. Not answered in the story. In case the answer to @pjd 's question is no, were the items made into some other single thing? No. Does the story include directions for doing something dangerous to the doer? No. Does the story include directions for doing something dangerous to others? No. Does the story include directions for doing something illegal? No. Does the story include directions for doing something legal, but which could easily be used for illegal purposes? No. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2022, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5182 "2022-06-20T04:41:15Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Was it: > > - lipstick > - foundation > - eye shadow > - eye liner > - skin coloring makeup > - mascara > > Anyone else care to add to this list until we get it? FWIW the cosmetic is “beauty cream.” Perhaps that’s more of an HBC item, but whatever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=258) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=260)