# 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:** 95
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1881 "2020-01-27T00:22:47Z")
**Note: No wordplay in this one just to help out** ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1882 "2020-01-27T01:23:59Z")
Damn, this one sounds familiar. I’m sure I’ve heard it before, but I can’t remember the answer. Oh, well, more fun this way.😃 Was the victim someone famous? Was the perpetrator paid to kill the victim? Was there a price on the victim’s head? Was it a crime of opportunity? Was the perpetrator a soldier advancing on the victim’s home? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1883 "2020-01-27T01:27:24Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > Damn, this one sounds familiar. I’m sure I’ve heard it before, but I can’t remember the answer. Oh, well, more fun this way.😃 > > Was the victim someone famous? > > NO > > Was the perpetrator paid to kill the victim? Was there a price on the victim’s head? > > NO to both > > Was it a crime of opportunity? > > NO > > Was the perpetrator a soldier advancing on the victim’s home? > > NO kk ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1884 "2020-01-27T01:54:42Z")
Does a third person figure into this situation? If so, did they know both men? Was the reason for the murder a relationship issue? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1885 "2020-01-27T02:04:09Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Does a third person figure into this situation? > > YES > > If so, did they know both men? > > NO > > Was the reason for the murder a relationship issue? > > NO, though it would not hurt to be more specific. There could be a “yes” somewhere in there if you were more specific. But NO, it was not a relationship issue in my opinion. kk ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1886 "2020-01-27T02:11:22Z")
Was the stabber convicted of a crime? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1887 "2020-01-27T02:23:22Z")
Was the motive political? Was it connected to any aspect of the victim’s identity (e.g., race, religion, etc.)? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1888 "2020-01-27T02:57:12Z")
\*\*A man went to another man’s home and stabbed him to death right in front of his home. The two had never met and the murderer had no criminal history. Why did he do it? \*\* > [@Isamu](#): > > Was the stabber convicted of a crime? YES > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Was the motive political? > > NO > > Was it connected to any aspect of the victim’s identity (e.g., race, religion, etc.)? > > YES, I guess so ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1889 "2020-01-27T06:20:56Z")
Was the thing the victim had done something that most people would consider immoral? Did the stabber consider it immoral? Did the involved third person know just one of the men? If so - victim? Perp? Did the stabber believe the third person would approve of his action? Was the stabber convicted of murder, specifically? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1890 "2020-01-27T06:26:47Z")
Was the murder a case of mistaken identity? Was the victim actually innocent of what the murderer thought he had done? Was the murderer married or in a serious relationship? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1891 "2020-01-27T15:03:13Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Was the thing the victim had done something that most people would consider immoral? > > NO(great question, though) > > Did the stabber consider it immoral? > > MAYBE(I am not sure. I am leaning towards Yes/No at same time) > > Did the involved third person know just one of the men? > > YES > > If so - victim? Perp? > > Perp. > > Did the stabber believe the third person would approve of his action? > > I DON"T KNOW(probably NOT is my guess) > > Was the stabber convicted of murder, specifically? > > NO(yikes, good one!) > [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Was the murder a case of mistaken identity? > > NO > > Was the victim actually innocent of what the murderer thought he had done? > > NO > > Was the murderer married or in a serious relationship? > > YES Some good ones up there. Very nice. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1892 "2020-01-27T15:20:55Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Was the reason for the murder a relationship issue? > > NO, though it would not hurt to be more specific. There could be a “yes” somewhere in there if you were more specific. But NO, it was not a relationship issue in my opinion. I was thinking there was a woman involved who was seeing both men romantically, but you said the third party only knew the stabber. Was the third party a woman? Were the third party and stabber in a relationship? Did the third party lose something the victim had in his possession? If so, was it a body part? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1893 "2020-01-27T18:54:48Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > I was thinking there was a woman involved who was seeing both men romantically, but you said the third party only knew the stabber. > > NO(obviously not the situation) > > Was the third party a woman? > > YES and NO(more than one person in “third party”) > > Were the third party and stabber in a relationship? > > NO > > Did the third party lose something the victim had in his possession? > > NO > > If so, was it a body part? > > Ha, 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:** [January 27, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1894 "2020-01-27T19:02:48Z")
So, the victim did something not immoral, but that pissed off the stabber? Was the thing the victim did illegal? Was it something that hurt one or more of the third parties? The third parties, were they more than two? More than three? More than ten? Does the job of either victim or murderer matter? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1895 "2020-01-27T19:11:30Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > So, the victim did something not immoral, but that pissed off the stabber? > > YES > > Was the thing the victim did illegal? > > NO(not to my knowledge) > > Was it something that hurt one or more of the third parties? > > YES > > The third parties, were they more than two? > > YES(\*\*three \*\*I think) > Does the job of either victim or murderer matter? > > YES kk ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1896 "2020-01-27T19:14:40Z")
Would it be useful to know the historical time frame when this happens? Would a reasonable person be likely to consider this a hate crime? You’ve said the motive was connected to some aspect of the victim’s identity. Specifically, did it have anything to do with the victim’s: Race? Religion? Sexual orientation? Nationality? Profession? Age? Other? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1897 "2020-01-27T19:15:43Z")
The stabber’s wife and child? The job of the murderer matters? The job of the victim matters? Did one of the third parties or both die? Suffered some form of injury? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1898 "2020-01-27T19:35:24Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Would it be useful to know the historical time frame when this happens? > > \*\*Not really, but it was 2002. > \*\* > Would a reasonable person be likely to consider this a hate crime? > > NO > > You’ve said the motive was connected to some aspect of the victim’s identity. Specifically, did it have anything to do with the victim’s: > > Race? NO > > Religion? NO > > Sexual orientation? NO > > Nationality? NO > > Profession? YES > > Age? NO > > Other? NO > [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > The stabber’s wife and child? > > Huh? YES, those are the third party. > > The job of the murderer matters? > > NO > > The job of the victim matters? > > YES > > Did one of the third parties or both die? > > YES > > Suffered some form of injury? > > DIED kk ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1899 "2020-01-27T20:22:36Z")
So just to nail this right down… Did something the victim had done cause or contribute to the death of the stabber’s wife or child? Was it something the victim did in the course of their normal work duties? Was the victim negligent? Was the thing the victim did, something that could be expected to cause a death? Is it anything to do with allergies? Was the stabber convicted of manslaughter? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2020, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1900 "2020-01-27T20:25:59Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > So just to nail this right down… > > Did something the victim had done cause or contribute to the death of the stabber’s wife or child? > > YES > > Was it something the victim did in the course of their normal work duties? > > YES > > Was the victim negligent? > > YES > > Was the thing the victim did, something that could be expected to cause a death? > > YES > > Is it anything to do with allergies? > > NO > > Was the stabber convicted of manslaughter? > > NO kk [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=94) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=96)