# 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:** 14
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/261 "2023-08-05T16:27:09Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Was the dog an actual living creature? As opposed to, for example, a plush toy. Normal living dog. > [@kayaker](#): > > Was the man’s body unable to be recovered? The dog’s body? Both recovered. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/262 "2023-08-05T17:30:07Z")
Did the man die first? Did the dog die first? did they die at more or less the same time? Is the order of death unknown? Was the man not buried at all? Was he cremated? Was put in an above-ground sepulcher? Was the man some sort of leader of men? King? Pharaoh? Tribal chief? Warlord? Viking chief? Did this happen in modern times? ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/263 "2023-08-05T17:37:53Z")
Was the man in the military? Was the dog? Did the man and the dog somehow end up on opposite sides of a conflict? ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/264 "2023-08-05T19:18:52Z")
I apologize; I would like to re-state this puzzle. I don’t think it was adequate initially. **A man’s dog dies and he desires to purchase a cemetery lot for his dog. The cemetery, normally just for humans, agrees only if he will agree to be buried in the same grave once he dies. He agrees and unfortunately, he dies just a few days later. However, the cemetery does NOT bury him with his dog as had been the requirement and agreement. Why?** Edit: Feel free to ask anything again you desire. I think my answers were accurate, but the puzzle was poorly written. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/265 "2023-08-05T20:32:42Z")
Let’s get the morbid questions out of the way: did he kill himself? Did he eat the dog? Is the man’s cause of death relevant? ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/266 "2023-08-05T20:54:34Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Let’s get the morbid questions out of the way: did he kill himself? Did he eat the dog? > > NO and NO. > > Is the man’s cause of death relevant? > > YES, though it is not the solution itself. Thanks and sorry again for the re-post. I think it looks better this time. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/267 "2023-08-05T20:57:00Z")
Was the man killed by his dog? ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/268 "2023-08-05T20:59:00Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Was the man killed by his dog?.. No. Their deaths being nearby was coincidental. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/269 "2023-08-05T21:01:01Z")
Did the man die committing a crime? ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/270 "2023-08-05T21:28:09Z")
Was he executed for a crime, or otherwise die in prison, and interred in the prison grounds? ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/271 "2023-08-05T22:22:36Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Did the man die committing a crime? NO > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Was he executed for a crime, or otherwise die in prison, and interred in the prison grounds? NO to everything here ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/272 "2023-08-05T23:13:06Z")
If someone had stated the actual circumstances to the man as a hypothetical (before he died), would he have agreed that the cemetery’s action was fair and reasonable? Did the man’s human next of kin have any relevant say in the matter? Was the condition of the gravesite (at the time of the man’s death) suitable for a human burial? ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/273 "2023-08-05T23:21:39Z")
Did this happen in the 21st Century? The 20th? The 19th? Before the 19th? ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/274 "2023-08-05T23:33:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > If someone had stated the actual circumstances to the man as a hypothetical (before he died), would he have agreed that the cemetery’s action was fair and reasonable? > > **YES - I think so** > > Did the man’s human next of kin have any relevant say in the matter? > > **I don’t know. IRRELEVANT** > > Was the condition of the gravesite (at the time of the man’s death) suitable for a human burial? > > **YES** > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Did this happen in the 21st Century? The 20th? The 19th? Before the 19th? **20th.** ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/275 "2023-08-05T23:44:24Z")
Did the cemetery employee who made the same-grave deal with the man exceed his or her authority in doing so? ---
**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:** [August 5, 2023, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/276 "2023-08-05T23:56:26Z")
When the man was buried, was the dog’s body no longer there? ---
**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:** [August 6, 2023, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/277 "2023-08-06T00:27:22Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Did the cemetery employee who made the same-grave deal with the man exceed his or her authority in doing so? NO > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > When the man was buried, was the dog’s body no longer there? NO, it was still there. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2023, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/278 "2023-08-06T00:42:15Z")
Was the man under some obligation to be buried somewhere else? ---
**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:** [August 6, 2023, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/279 "2023-08-06T01:26:34Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Was the man under some obligation to be buried somewhere else?.. Nope. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/280 "2023-08-06T02:17:33Z")
Did it matter who the man was to be buried beside? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=15)