# 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:** 47
**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, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/921 "2019-12-07T23:03:45Z")
n/m – doesn’t fit with it being outside ---
**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, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/922 "2019-12-07T23:09:09Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > n/m – doesn’t fit with it being outside But the Shorting Stocks thing was a clever idea. Is it a “game” where you “win” by “losing”? ---
**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, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/923 "2019-12-07T23:12:12Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Is it a “game” where you “win” by “losing”? 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:** [December 8, 2019, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/924 "2019-12-08T02:37:54Z")
Did he cheat or otherwise not play as he should have? Was his losing clearly “legal” within the guidelines of the game? Is this a game one “plays”. Competes in actively? Does one have to enter the game? ---
**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 8, 2019, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/925 "2019-12-08T03:27:25Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > Did he cheat or otherwise not play as he should have? > > NO > > Was his losing clearly “legal” within the guidelines of the game? > > YES > > Is this a game one “plays”. > > No > > Competes in actively? > > Yes, I guess so. > > Does one have to enter the game? > > Yes kk ---
**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 8, 2019, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/926 "2019-12-08T05:37:51Z")
Did he predict something bad? Something good? Something weather related? Something economically related? Something scientifically realted? Births? Deaths? How others would play the game? Trivial things? Did he predict using established odds? Did he predict crowd behavior? Something econically successful Something economically unsuccessful? ---
**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 8, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/927 "2019-12-08T16:16:53Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Did he predict something bad? > > NO > > Something good? > > Yes(ish)\* > > Something weather related? > > NO > > Something economically related? > > YES > > Something scientifically realted? > > NO > > Births? > > NO > > Deaths? > > NO > > How others would play the game? > > NO > > Trivial things? > > NO > > Did he predict using established odds? > > NO > > Did he predict crowd behavior? > > NO > > Something econically successful > > NO > > Something economically unsuccessful? > > YES - if you mean something about unsuccessfulness in the economy \*by something good, I mean “the prediction did good” or “good came out of the prediction”, not that the prediction itself is good. ---
**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 8, 2019, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/928 "2019-12-08T17:33:50Z")
Does it involve math? Does the “game” refer to Game Theory? ---
**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 8, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/929 "2019-12-08T19:36:29Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Does it involve math? > > The game? NO > > The prediction? YES > > Does the “game” refer to Game Theory? > > NO kk ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/930 "2019-12-09T03:21:26Z")
If it’s okay, I’ll give the three thoughts that I had that don’t fit. In case I’m breaking rules, I’m going to spoiler it. First thought was some sort of charity run or walk, but can’t be because it’s not a race in the way you’d normally think of a race; same thing with my second thought of betting on horses; third was stock trading/shorting stocks, but doesn’t work because the game is outside I can’t even think of another question right now. ---
**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 9, 2019, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/931 "2019-12-09T03:31:44Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > If it’s okay, I’ll give the three thoughts that I had that don’t fit. In case I’m breaking rules, I’m going to spoiler it. > > First thought was some sort of charity run or walk, but can’t be because it’s not a race in the way you’d normally think of a race; same thing with my second thought of betting on horses; third was stock trading/shorting stocks, but doesn’t work because the game is outside > > I can’t even think of another question right now. NO to all(and anyone can read your guesses, no spoilers there). I will think of a hint or guide for you guys. ---
**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 9, 2019, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/932 "2019-12-09T03:34:03Z")
OK, my nudge to help: **Try to figure out more about “the game”, like how it is played or what you have to do when you are playing it.** It might re-frame things or put you down the path better. ---
**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 9, 2019, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/933 "2019-12-09T07:31:27Z")
So, to recap: _**Mike just lost the game, but in doing so, he helped out a lot of people(and made a little money, too!). Why?**_ It’ a game based on ability and wits. He wasn’t raising awareness for a cause. The people he helped and himself would still had got the help and money had he won. He got the money and helped the people intentionally. The purpose of the game was to help said people. He wasn’t sponsored for charity. It’s a game of individuals facing a team. All the individuals play against the same team. The people playing is between 50 and 500. Everybody plays in the same physical location. Takes between an hour and a day to play. It’s mostly played outside. It’s an event done regularly. Part of the game is timed. It’s not a competition nor entertainment. Maybe the game could be called a wild animal in a hunt. The game has no rounds. It could be assumed that the other individuals who participated also made money. All the individuals are participating at the same time. There’s an organization behind the game. It’s about predicting something related to the economy and more or less positive about something economically unsuccessful. Is all of that correct? ---
**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 9, 2019, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/934 "2019-12-09T07:33:39Z")
Did Mike try to guess something by using probability? ---
**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 9, 2019, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/935 "2019-12-09T13:06:09Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > So, to recap: > _**Mike just lost the game, but in doing so, he helped out a lot of people(and made a little money, too!). Why?**_ > > It’ a game based on ability and wits. **CORRECT** > He wasn’t raising awareness for a cause. **CORRECT** > The people he helped and himself would still had got the help and money had he won. **CORRECT** > He got the money and helped the people intentionally. **CORRECT** > The purpose of the game was to help said people. **CORRECT** > He wasn’t sponsored for charity. **CORRECT** > It’s a game of individuals facing a team. All the individuals play against the same team. **CORRECT** > The people playing is between 50 and 500.\*\* I THINK SO(NOT THAT RELEVANT)\*\* > Everybody plays in the same physical location. **CORRECT** > Takes between an hour and a day to play. **MORE LIKE 1-8 HOURS** > It’s mostly played outside. **CORRECT** > It’s an event done regularly. **CORRECT** > Part of the game is timed. **CORRECT** > It’s not a competition nor entertainment. **CORRECT** > Maybe the game could be called a wild animal in a hunt. **CORRECT** > The game has no rounds. **CORRECT** > It could be assumed that the other individuals who participated also made money. **CORRECT** > All the individuals are participating at the same time. **CORRECT** > There’s an organization behind the game. **CORRECT** > It’s about predicting something related to the economy and more or less positive about something economically unsuccessful. **CORRECT** > > Is all of that correct? So, pretty much right, but with some clarifications from me. > [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Did Mike try to guess something by using probability? 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 9, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/936 "2019-12-09T15:03:34Z")
Would the average doper have heard of this “game”? Does it happen in North America? South America? Europe? Asia? Australia? Africa? Is the game an exam? ---
**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 9, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/937 "2019-12-09T15:08:50Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Would the average doper have heard of this “game”? > > NO, but you(dopers) have heard of something very similar. > Does it happen in North America? > > YES, in NYC. > > South America? > Europe? > Asia? > Australia? > Africa? > Is the game an exam? > > NO KK ---
**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 9, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/938 "2019-12-09T15:13:52Z")
Deathpool? ---
**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 9, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/939 "2019-12-09T15:15:07Z")
Does it always happen at the same time of year? If so, summer? Winter? Fall? Spring? ---
**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 9, 2019, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/940 "2019-12-09T16:55:51Z")
Is the “game” part of a research project of some sort? Do people make money merely by participating, regardless of whether they win? Does the amount of money they make depend on how successful they are at the “game”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=46) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=48)