# 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:** 100
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1981 "2024-05-03T12:04:02Z")
Was the work _A Midsummer Night’s Dream?_ Was it _Don Quixote?_ Some other work that prominently features an ass / donkey? Is misinterpretation of a word involved? Was the misrepresentation the product of human error? Computer error? Deliberate human malfeasance? Some combination of the above? ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1982 "2024-05-03T12:16:13Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Does the title simply involve a word for ‘butt’ — like, say, HOWARDS END, or maybe THE GOLDEN ASS? **Not quite, but…** > [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > The Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumbass **Haha, not this. But not really far off.** > [@dirtball](#): > > Did it have anything to do with [Chuck Tingle](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=chuck+tingle+pounded+in+the+butt&crid=1Q4L85NGZB1AN&sprefix=chuck+tingle+pounded+in+the+butt%2Caps%2C104&ref=nb_sb_noss_2)? **No** > > Sometimes weasely, small-time “writers” use book titles and/or pen names that look remarkably similar to well-known writers or books to take advantage of readers who don’t know, or don’t notice, the difference between, for example, Stephen King and Steven King. Is it anything in that general category? **No** > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Was the work _A Midsummer Night’s Dream?_ **No** > > Was it _Don Quixote?_ Some other work that prominently features an ass / donkey? **No** > > Is misinterpretation of a word involved? **Not exactly misinterpretation, but close to this** > > Was the misrepresentation the product of human error? Computer error? Deliberate human malfeasance? Some combination of the above? **Computer error** Post not empty ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1983 "2024-05-03T12:19:42Z")
…The Analects Of Confucius? ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1984 "2024-05-03T12:29:12Z")
Do you need to know anything about the work’s content to solve this? Or just the title / author? Does it have anything to do with words / phrases that typically appear in reviews / other descriptions of the work, rather than the work itself? Was the work originally written in English? Is translation (or mistranslation) relevant in any way? ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1985 "2024-05-03T12:35:26Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > …The Analects Of Confucius? **No** > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Do you need to know anything about the work’s content to solve this? Or just the title / author? **Just the title** > > Does it have anything to do with words / phrases that typically appear in reviews / other descriptions of the work, rather than the work itself? **No** > > Was the work originally written in English? **No** Is translation (or mistranslation) relevant in any way? **Yes** Post not empty ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1986 "2024-05-03T12:42:24Z")
I have no idea, but I sure hope someone gets it in the end. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1987 "2024-05-03T12:44:54Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > sure hope someone gets it in the end. Is that a clue?! ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1988 "2024-05-03T12:57:32Z")
Is it a well known title? Was it made into a movie with the same title? With a different title? ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1989 "2024-05-03T13:02:07Z")
**Pretty well known. I don’t think there was a movie.** ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1990 "2024-05-03T13:22:14Z")
Did the title contain a butt like word like anus hidden between other words in the title? Such as (thinks of terrible made up title): “A PelicAN USually Flys Alone” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1991 "2024-05-03T13:34:58Z")
Did it involve the use of the word DERRIÈRE? ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1992 "2024-05-03T13:49:30Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Did the title contain a butt like word like anus hidden between other words in the title? > > Such as (thinks of terrible made up title): “A PelicAN USually Flys Alone” **No** > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Did it involve the use of the word DERRIÈRE? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1993 "2024-05-03T13:52:14Z")
Was it an error in spacing like 101 Ways to Use Butt er in Your Kitchen? ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1994 "2024-05-03T13:56:03Z")
So it wasn’t written in English. Did the misrepresentation have something to do with the way the title was translated? Would this misrepresentation apply only to the English version? ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1995 "2024-05-03T13:59:37Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Was it an error in spacing like > 101 Ways to Use Butt er in Your Kitchen? **No** > [@dirtball](#): > > Did the misrepresentation have something to do with the way the title was translated? **No** > Would this misrepresentation apply only to the English version? **No. In fact, it didn’t apply to the English version at all.** ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1996 "2024-05-03T14:15:49Z")
If not a mistranslation then was it a word that means something different is a different language? I’m thinking like when internet filters ban websites with “cum” in them so you can’t find a page about someone graduating summa cum laude. ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1997 "2024-05-03T14:16:57Z")
Did a foreign language title appear to contain an English word such as ass, butt, anal, or another unfortunate sequence of letters? [ETA or anus?] ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1998 "2024-05-03T14:17:04Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > If not a mistranslation then was it a word that means something different is a different language? I’m thinking like when internet filters ban websites with “cum” in them so you can’t find a page about someone graduating summa cum laude. **No** > [@Rhodes](#): > > Did a foreign language title appear to contain an English word such as ass, butt, anal, or another unfortunate sequence of letters? [ETA or anus?] **No** ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1999 "2024-05-03T14:18:08Z")
Everyone Poops? ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2000 "2024-05-03T14:22:15Z")
Not written in English. Translation (or mistranslation) is relevant, but doesn’t apply to the English version. Is the English language involved at all? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=99) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=101)