# 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:** 52
**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 15, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1021 "2019-12-15T20:38:00Z")
If he had been making other noises (e.g., talking) would it still be a crime? ---
**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 15, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1022 "2019-12-15T21:11:54Z")
\*\* reply to Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\*\* Is “he” a human? Yes Was the laughter a recording? 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:** [December 15, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1023 "2019-12-15T21:13:22Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > If he had been making other noises (e.g., talking) would it still be a crime? 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 15, 2019, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1024 "2019-12-15T23:45:28Z")
The Merriam-Webster definition of chuckling is “to laugh inwardly or quietly”. Is that the definition for the chuckle in your riddle? ---
**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 15, 2019, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1025 "2019-12-15T23:56:33Z")
Did his chuckling: - indicate apathy - show conflict-of-interest - come during a time when he should be serious - get noticed by anyone else - come at a time when he should be impartial - happen in a location relevant to the puzzle solution? Do we have to figure out what he was doing at the time to solve this puzzle? Do we have to figure out where he was at the time to solve the puzzle? (what must we figure out or describe to get this solved?) ---
**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 16, 2019, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1026 "2019-12-16T00:06:15Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > The Merriam-Webster definition of chuckling is “to laugh inwardly or quietly”. Is that the definition for the chuckle in your riddle? I am OK with that definition or any definition for similar audible expressions of mirth. I mean it really could have been a chortle. ---
**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 16, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1027 "2019-12-16T00:15:31Z")
**His chuckling was a crime. Why?** * * * **reply to Mahaloth** (NR=Not Relevant) Did his chuckling: - indicate apathy --NR - show conflict-of-interest --NR - come during a time when he should be serious --NR - get noticed by anyone else --NR - come at a time when he should be impartial --NR - happen in a location relevant to the puzzle solution? NO Do we have to figure out what he was doing at the time to solve this puzzle? NO Do we have to figure out where he was at the time to solve the puzzle? NO (what must we figure out or describe to get this solved?) **You need to answer _why_ his chuckling was a crime. No more or less.** ---
**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 16, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1028 "2019-12-16T00:37:15Z")
I keep debating whether or not to post the big hint. Do you want 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 16, 2019, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1029 "2019-12-16T00:40:52Z")
edit: double posted something by mistake. ---
**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 16, 2019, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1030 "2019-12-16T00:45:00Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > I keep debating whether or not to post the big hint. Do you want it? Is there a way to make it a smallish hint? A nudge? ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1031 "2019-12-16T00:58:44Z")
Was it a crime at the time it occurred and later declared not to be a crime? Was it declared a crime ex post facto? ---
**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 16, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1032 "2019-12-16T01:00:26Z")
Is it specifically chuckling that was the crime? Would it have been a crime if he had tittered, giggled, sniggered, snickered, chortled, cackled, guffawed or simply laughed? ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1033 "2019-12-16T01:15:39Z")
Although you said the chuckling itself was the crime, I’ll ask whether he was held in contempt by a magistrate, which could occur outside of a courtroom. ---
**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 16, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1034 "2019-12-16T01:19:52Z")
Would the charge be a disorderly conduct charge? Would the charge be a disturbing the peace charge? ---
**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 16, 2019, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1035 "2019-12-16T01:54:13Z")
Was he in the military? Was he a government official? Was the occasion one where laughter would generally be considered inappropriate (e.g. a funeral)? ---
**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 16, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1036 "2019-12-16T01:57:05Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > Was it a crime at the time it occurred and later declared not to be a crime? > > Was it declared a crime ex post facto? No to all. ---
**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 16, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1037 "2019-12-16T01:59:56Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is it specifically chuckling that was the crime? Would it have been a crime if he had tittered, giggled, sniggered, snickered, chortled, cackled, guffawed or simply laughed? Not “chuckling” specific. Choose your synonym. ---
**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 16, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1038 "2019-12-16T02:01:08Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > Although you said the chuckling itself was the crime, I’ll ask whether he was held in contempt by a magistrate, which could occur outside of a courtroom. 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:** [December 16, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1039 "2019-12-16T02:02:13Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Would the charge be a disorderly conduct charge? > > Would the charge be a disturbing the peace charge? No to all. ---
**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 16, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1040 "2019-12-16T02:03:36Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Was he in the military? > > Was he a government official? > > Was the occasion one where laughter would generally be considered inappropriate (e.g. a funeral)? NR [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=51) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=53)