# Lateral Thinking Puzzles - third time is best! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 18, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214 "2023-07-18T13:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [July 18, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1 "2023-07-18T13:39:29Z")
We have two previous threads on this topic, both of which grew quite large. We have had some long gaps in playing these and I thought a new thread would be helpful. If you’d like to read those other two threads they are here: You may ask yes or no questions to puzzles and solve them. No googling to cheat or get advice, but we basically are just having fun and going on the honor system. First new puzzle is in post 2. > [@53 bicycles: A lateral thinking puzzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868): > > For those not familiar with lateral thinking puzzles, one person gives a brief setup, which everyone else has to try to explain. You’re allowed to ask yes-or-no questions to narrow it down (no limit on the number; this isn’t 20 questions). In addition to yes or no, the answers might also be “I don’t know” if the question has no bearing whatsoever on the solution, or “probably” or “probably not” if it could work either way, but the nature of the solution suggests a likely answer. Careful phras… > [@Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Let's do it again!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193): > > [We did this two years ago and I thought we’d had enough of a break to maybe have another shot at it.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=830631) Very open to whatever, but let’s try to: Not reuse puzzles from the old thread, which is not databased, but I hope you can do a search within. If it happens, it happens. If you have heard it already, I would suggest we not blurt out the answer. Let’s give people a shot to solve it. No googling, obviously. I’ll go first. Not sure how great this one is, but it should get us started. \*\*A b… ---
**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:** [July 18, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2 "2023-07-18T13:39:54Z")
New puzzle: **Igor was a troll, vicious and cruel. All who met him feared him. But unlike most trolls, he had a unique reason for his cruelty and meanness. What was it?** ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3 "2023-07-18T13:43:40Z")
Does he live under a bridge? Is his reason releated to his health? ---
**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:** [July 18, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4 "2023-07-18T13:45:47Z")
> [@tofor](#): > > Does he live under a bridge? **NO** > > Is his reason releated to his health? **NO** KKKKK ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/5 "2023-07-18T13:46:22Z")
Was he responsible for tormenting a small child in Omelas? ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/6 "2023-07-18T13:48:54Z")
Is Igor an online troll? Is Igor a real 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:** [July 18, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/7 "2023-07-18T13:59:22Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Was he responsible for tormenting a small child in Omelas? NO > [@tofor](#): > > Is Igor an online troll? YES > Is Igor a real person? YES I should note that “Igor” is a fake name I made up. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/8 "2023-07-18T14:34:52Z")
Was Igor’s trolling politically motivated? ---
**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:** [July 18, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/9 "2023-07-18T14:46:56Z")
When you say that “all who met him, feared him”, do you mean “met” in the sense of interacted online? In the sense of interacted face to face? When you say they “feared” him, were they in fear for their physical, personal safety? For the physical, personal safety of others? For their status of some sort? Would his reason for cruelty and meanness be considered admirable (even if misguided)? Did he have one specific online venue that he trolled? Many venues? Did his online venues include large, well-known sites like YouTube and Facebook? Did they include small, niche sites like here? Did he ever troll here, specifically? Did he use a variety of online names in an effort to conceal his identity? Did he use a variety of names, but without an effort to conceal his identity? ---
**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:** [July 18, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/10 "2023-07-18T15:09:02Z")
Did Igor fake troll to find others with a similar viewpoint? Was Igor in law enforcement? ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/11 "2023-07-18T15:19:49Z")
Does Igor have a righteous motive for trolling? ---
**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:** [July 18, 2023, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/12 "2023-07-18T15:49:24Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Was Igor’s trolling politically motivated? **NO** > [@Chronos](#): > > When you say that “all who met him, feared him”, do you mean “met” in the sense of interacted online? **NOT EXCLUSIVELY** > > In the sense of interacted face to face? **NOT EXCLUSIVELY** > > When you say they “feared” him, were they in fear for their physical, personal safety? > > **SOMETIMES, YES** > > For the physical, personal safety of others? > > **SOMETIMES YES** > > For their status of some sort? > > **NO, NOT AS I UNDERSTAND STATUS** > > Would his reason for cruelty and meanness be considered admirable (even if misguided)? > > **NO** > > Did he have one specific online venue that he trolled? Many venues? Did his online venues include large, well-known sites like YouTube and Facebook? Did they include small, niche sites like here? Did he ever troll here, specifically? Did he use a variety of online names in an effort to conceal his identity? Did he use a variety of names, but without an effort to conceal his identity? > > **ONE VENUE** > > **NOT YOUTUBE OR FACEBOOK** > > **NOT A SMALL NICHE SITE _LIKE_ HERE, THOUGH I GUESS SINCE YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF IT** > > **HE WAS NEVER A TROLL ON SDMB OR A MEMBER** > > **DID NOT USE VARIETY OF NAMES TO MY KNOWLEDGE** > [@Biotop](#): > > Did Igor fake troll to find others with a similar viewpoint? Was Igor in law enforcement? **NO AND NO** > [@tofor](#): > > Does Igor have a righteous motive for trolling? **NO** I think I’m caught up. Some in the quotes there, some under possibly. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/13 "2023-07-18T15:54:24Z")
Is Igor a messageboard moderator? ---
**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:** [July 18, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/14 "2023-07-18T16:01:54Z")
NO KKKKKKK\<–just character count to post ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/15 "2023-07-18T16:11:27Z")
Did Igor target a specific person? Specific people? Did Igor manipulate anyone to commit a crime? ---
**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:** [July 18, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/16 "2023-07-18T16:26:45Z")
Did Igor benefit financially from his trolling? ---
**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:** [July 18, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/17 "2023-07-18T17:27:36Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Did Igor target a specific person? Specific people? > > **NO, EVERYONE HE COULD** > > Did Igor manipulate anyone to commit a crime? > > **PLEASE REPHRASE** > [@Chronos](#): > > Did Igor benefit financially from his trolling? **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:** [July 18, 2023, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/18 "2023-07-18T17:32:03Z")
Was Igor paid to troll? ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/19 "2023-07-18T17:32:50Z")
Okay, let’s see how I can break that down… Did Igor commit a crime (as the law saw it)? Did other people Igor interacted with commit any crimes (as the law saw it)? If so, did they commit those crimes because of anything Igor said or did? And if so, was that Igor’s intention? ---
**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:** [July 18, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/20 "2023-07-18T17:53:21Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Was Igor paid to troll? Money is involved, but he isn’t really paid to troll. For example, this isn’t those Russian trolls who are paid to put right-wing-election-stolen type stuff online to interfere in the US elections. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=2)