# 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:** 43
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/841 "2019-12-04T02:52:34Z")
I might have thought that such a thing would sell for more than $2000.00, **Mahaloth**. Good stuff. +++++++++ Here is one inspired by that recent riddle about hiring. It reminded me of something I had heard recently and I googled it to confirm. Yep. * * * \*\*A man unexpectedly brought a balloon to a job interview and primarily because of this he was hired for the job. What was the position? Helpful(?) and tangentially relevant hint: Years later this same man will be credited with inventing the cell phone.\*\* * * * ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/842 "2019-12-04T03:44:54Z")
Dibs on the next puzzle, after this. Was the balloon inflated? Was it inflated with air? Was it inflated with helium? Was the balloon of a size that could comfortably fit into a normal-sized office? Was the mere fact that he brought the balloon considered an asset for the position? Was something the man did with the balloon considered an asset for the position? Does the job involve working with people? Does the job involve working with children? Did the job relate to electronics? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/843 "2019-12-04T05:03:21Z")
**reply to Chronos** Was the balloon inflated? **Yes** Was it inflated with air? **Yes** Was it inflated with helium? **No** Was the balloon of a size that could comfortably fit into a normal-sized office? **No** Was the mere fact that he brought the balloon considered an asset for the position? \*\*Yes \*\* Was something the man did with the balloon considered an asset for the position? **Yes** Does the job involve working with people? **Yes** Does the job involve working with children? **Occasionally** Did the job relate to electronics? **No** ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/844 "2019-12-04T05:54:10Z")
Was it a hot air balloon? Did he bring his own balloon to a company that gave balloon rides? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/845 "2019-12-04T06:00:59Z")
**reply to Folly** Was it a hot air balloon? **Yes** Did he bring his own balloon to a company that gave balloon rides? **No** ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2019, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/846 "2019-12-04T08:31:06Z")
Was the balloon meant to carry passengers? Did it carry equipment? Did it display advertising? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2019, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/847 "2019-12-04T12:01:28Z")
Did he arrive in the balloon? Were the skills used to operate the balloon ones which would be useful for the position he wanted? Did his happen before 1950? In the USA? Was it an entry-level position? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/848 "2019-12-04T12:55:53Z")
**reply to kk fushion** Was the balloon meant to carry passengers? **Yes** Did it carry equipment? **No** Did it display advertising? **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:** [December 4, 2019, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/849 "2019-12-04T13:02:24Z")
**reply to Aspidistra** Did he arrive in the balloon? **Yes** Were the skills used to operate the balloon ones which would be useful for the position he wanted? \*\* No\*\* Did his happen before 1950? **yes** In the USA? \*\*Not sure \*\* Was it an entry-level position? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2019, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/850 "2019-12-04T13:21:32Z")
Was it the Wizard of Oz? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/851 "2019-12-04T13:32:15Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Was it the Wizard of Oz? **You got it**! ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/852 "2019-12-04T13:42:14Z")
[Helpful(?) hint](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://measuredcircle.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/the-wizard-of-oz-invented-the-cellphone/&ved=2ahUKEwiF_eLojZzmAhWBZd8KHentCO4QFjAAegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw3ZU0kdd_QEK37M0gkBAC67) --but you can also see it on the [Wizard’s wiki page](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizard_of_Oz_(character)&ved=2ahUKEwj1upWDj5zmAhXkRt8KHTyfBgoQFjAZegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw3I65V2lf7sU4VoNUOahf-m). ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/853 "2019-12-04T15:49:55Z")
OK, new one: **My mom’s house has a design flaw. You can’t really blame the architects, as this is something that surely wouldn’t be covered in architecture school. But the problem could, in principle, have been foreseen by someone with only common knowledge and access to the plans. And to us living in the house, it was blatantly obvious and annoying.** It’s possible that I’ve mentioned this design flaw before on the board; if you remember it from that, then please don’t spoil it. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/854 "2019-12-04T17:05:18Z")
Is the design flaw catastrophic(like, the house will fall apart)? Does it involve the doors? Do the doors open the wrong way? Bump into each other in certain spots when open? Does it involve the windows? Does it involve the layout? Is a key room missing?\ Is the flaw inconvenient to people who live there? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/855 "2019-12-04T17:45:42Z")
Does the flaw have anything to do with stairs? With plumbing? Does it involve a specific room, or is it something that affects the house as a whole? Would the flaw be obvious to someone looking at the house from outside? To a casual visitor who didn’t live there? ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2019, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/856 "2019-12-04T17:48:32Z")
Is the flaw about the inhabitants particular needs (as in some of them having miobility issues)? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/857 "2019-12-04T18:49:20Z")
Is the design flaw catastrophic(like, the house will fall apart)? **No** Does it involve the doors? **No** Do the doors open the wrong way? Bump into each other in certain spots when open? **No** Does it involve the windows? **No** Does it involve the layout? **Yes** Is a key room missing?\ **No** Is the flaw inconvenient to people who live there? **Yes** Does the flaw have anything to do with stairs? **No** With plumbing? **No** Does it involve a specific room **No** , or is it something that affects the house as a whole? **No** Would the flaw be obvious to someone looking at the house from outside? **No** To a casual visitor who didn’t live there? **Yes** Is the flaw about the inhabitants particular needs **Yes** (as in some of them having miobility issues)? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/858 "2019-12-04T18:53:17Z")
Is the family unusually tall? Unusually short? Unusually wide? Unusually thin? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/859 "2019-12-04T19:06:48Z")
Does it involve the location of electrical outlets? Locations of lighting? The relation of a particular room to another particular room? visually blocking something from view of an inhabitant? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/860 "2019-12-04T19:07:09Z")
Is the family unusually tall? Unusually short? Unusually wide? Unusually thin? **No to all** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=42) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=44)