# 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:** 46
**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 6, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/901 "2019-12-06T19:37:32Z")
\*\*Mike just lost the game, but in doing so, he helped out a lot of people(and made a little money, too!). Why? \*\* > [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Would you classify this game as an entertaining activity made for enjoyment? > > NO > > Would you classify it as a competition? > > NO(I mean, not really) > > Would you call it a wild animal in a hunt? > > MAYBE(I mean…maybe) > > Is it a symbolic game (i.e. the game of love, or game of thrones)? > > NO > > Is it a physical object described as a game (i.e. he lost a video game, or he lost a board game)? > > NO kk ---
**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 6, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/902 "2019-12-06T20:54:26Z")
Is the “game” an animal? Is it game meat? ---
**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 6, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/903 "2019-12-06T21:05:21Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Is the “game” an animal? > > Is it game meat? 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 6, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/904 "2019-12-06T21:08:09Z")
… Is the game a person? ---
**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 6, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/905 "2019-12-06T21:16:07Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > … > Is the game a person? 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 6, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/906 "2019-12-06T21:34:06Z")
Does it involve computers? Does it involve cellphones? Does it involve cartoon characters? Does it involve Pokèmon? ---
**Author:** ![Delayed\_Reflex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/delayed_reflex/32/3172_2.png) [@Delayed\_Reflex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delayed_Reflex)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/907 "2019-12-06T22:14:34Z")
Does the game involve elimination of individuals over the course of the game? Can the team be eliminated? Were the people Mike helped the other individuals in the game? Or did he end up helping the team he was playing against? Is the game comprised of multiple rounds? Were there people who lost the game before Mike did? Did they make any money? Does staying in the game longer result in making more money? Are all of the individuals participating in the game simultaneously? ---
**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 6, 2019, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/908 "2019-12-06T22:54:11Z")
When Mike ‘made a little money’ - was this through the people he helped, paying him? Was it through finding something of value? ---
**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 6, 2019, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/909 "2019-12-06T23:33:35Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Does it involve computers? > > Does it involve cellphones? > Does it involve cartoon characters? > > Does it involve Pokèmon? No to all questions. > [@Delayed\_Reflex](#): > > Does the game involve elimination of individuals over the course of the game? Can the team be eliminated? > > No. > > Were the people Mike helped the other individuals in the game? > > No. > > Or did he end up helping the team he was playing against? > > No(well…kinda…losing is a kind of help). But, no, not like you mean. > > Is the game comprised of multiple rounds? > > No. > > Were there people who lost the game before Mike did? Did they make any money? > > Yes, I assume so. > > Does staying in the game longer result in making more money? > > No. > > Are all of the individuals participating in the game simultaneously? > > Yes > [@Aspidistra](#): > > When Mike ‘made a little money’ - was this through the people he helped, paying him? > > No. > > Was it through finding something of value? > > No KK ---
**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 6, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/910 "2019-12-06T23:35:26Z")
A very minor adjustment to the puzzle. I have added quotes. \*\*Mike just lost the “game”, but in doing so, he helped out a lot of people(and made a little money, too!). Why? \*\* It’s not word-play(puns, double-meanings, etc.). I just think if I were saying it out-loud, I’d add little finger quotes to the word game. ---
**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 7, 2019, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/911 "2019-12-07T07:42:37Z")
Is “game” a non-English word that just happens to be written like the English word? ---
**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:** [December 7, 2019, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/912 "2019-12-07T07:53:44Z")
Is it “game” in the sense of a hunted animal? ---
**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 7, 2019, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/913 "2019-12-07T08:41:40Z")
Did the people Mike helped out, know that he helped them? Was the object of the game to find the members of the team he was playing against? Was it to find or create a method of doing something? ---
**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:** [December 7, 2019, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/914 "2019-12-07T08:53:06Z")
Is it this [Mike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_the_Headless_Chicken)? ---
**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 7, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/915 "2019-12-07T14:16:03Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Is “game” a non-English word that just happens to be written like the English word? NO > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is it “game” in the sense of a hunted animal? NO > [@Aspidistra](#): > > Did the people Mike helped out, know that he helped them? > > NO, probably not. > > Was the object of the game to find the members of the team he was playing against? > > NO > > Was it to find or create a method of doing something? > > NO > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is it this [Mike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_the_Headless_Chicken)? Ha, 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 7, 2019, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/916 "2019-12-07T17:10:50Z")
Is there some sort of organization behind the game? Is Mike a real person? Is Mike a human? Did he made money directly from the game, or was it something tangential (i.e. by writing a book about it later)? Are there rules in the “game”? Is it a game associated with children? With teenagers? With grownups? With the elderly? Does it involve Chtulhu? ---
**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 7, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/917 "2019-12-07T17:24:55Z")
\*\*Mike just lost the “game”, but in doing so, he helped out a lot of people(and made a little money, too!). Why? \*\* > [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Is there some sort of organization behind the game? > > YES > > Is Mike a real person? > > I made up the name, but he represents a person who exists. The situation is real, but I did not have an exact name. So…YES(but no in the sense Mike is just a name I picked) > > Is Mike a human? > > YES > > Did he made money directly from the game, or was it something tangential (i.e. by writing a book about it later)? > > From the organization in your first Q. YES, from the “game”. > > Are there rules in the “game”? > > NO(but there are guidelines/tips) > > Is it a game associated with children? > > NO > > With teenagers? > > NO > > With grownups? > > Not associated, but “for adults” would be YES. > > With the elderly? > > NO > > Does it involve Chtulhu? > > NO ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/918 "2019-12-07T17:35:03Z")
Is the game predicting something? ---
**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 7, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/919 "2019-12-07T18:12:07Z")
Does he have to do some action to be rated by a panel of judges? Does the game involve prestidigitation? Music? Dancing? Entertainment of some kind? ---
**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 7, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/920 "2019-12-07T22:39:36Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > Is the game predicting something? YES (good question, by the way) > [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Does he have to do some action to be rated by a panel of judges? > > NO > > Does the game involve prestidigitation? > > NO > > Music? > > NO > > Dancing? > > NO > > Entertainment of some kind? > > NO [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=47)