# 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:** 152
**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:** [March 28, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3021 "2025-03-28T22:53:50Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Something tickling the back of my mind. Did the policy involve someone getting married?. No. kkkkkkkk ---
**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:** [March 28, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3022 "2025-03-28T23:24:00Z")
guess : Insurance against the end of the world. Cancelled because if it happened, they wouldn’t be around to pay it, and the sisters wouldn’t be around to collect. ---
**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:** [March 28, 2025, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3023 "2025-03-28T23:32:11Z")
No. (word count) ---
**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:** [March 29, 2025, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3024 "2025-03-29T01:22:11Z")
Did the policy cover somehow cover damage to their reputation? (For the purposes the this question, let’s consider “reputation” to have a flexible definition.) ---
**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:** [March 29, 2025, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3025 "2025-03-29T01:24:47Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Did the policy cover somehow cover damage to their reputation? (For the purposes the this question, let’s consider “reputation” to have a flexible definition) No. jibberjabber ---
**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:** [March 29, 2025, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3026 "2025-03-29T01:45:43Z")
Could an insurance company issue a similar policy to me today? Was the policy cancelled: for a practical reason? (Such as no longer relevant.) for ethical reasons? (Such as it being wrong to take advantage of the delusional.) for publicity reasons? (One party embarrassed to be associated with this policy) ---
**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:** [March 29, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3027 "2025-03-29T01:50:33Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Could an insurance company issue a similar policy to me today? No, it could not be sold to you today. I will ignore @Biotop 's parentheses and just answer the Q’s. If you wish to specifically ask the parentheses questions, feel free. > [@Biotop](#): > > for a practical reason? (Such as no longer relevant.) Nope. > [@Biotop](#): > > for ethical reasons? (Such as it being wrong to take advantage of the delusional.) Nope. > [@Biotop](#): > > for publicity reasons? (One party embarrassed to be associated with this policy) A bit? Not a full answer, though. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2025, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3028 "2025-03-29T02:09:06Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > No, it could not be sold to you today. In 2000, could it have been sold to anybody? Some people other than those 3? Only those 3? ---
**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:** [March 29, 2025, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3029 "2025-03-29T02:35:48Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > In 2000, could it have been sold to anybody? No. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Some people other than those 3? Yes. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Only those 3? 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:** [March 29, 2025, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3030 "2025-03-29T03:36:06Z")
Was what was being covered exclusive to the UK? Or Commonwealth countries? ---
**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:** [March 29, 2025, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3031 "2025-03-29T13:09:57Z")
If the policy had paid off, would it have been due to some type of political activity? ---
**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:** [March 29, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3032 "2025-03-29T13:58:55Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Was what was being covered exclusive to the UK? Or Commonwealth countries? No. > [@dirtball](#): > > If the policy had paid off, would it have been due to some type of political activity? Nope. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2025, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3033 "2025-03-30T00:48:10Z")
Hint: The company canceled the policy due to pressure applied to them from a source outside the three sisters. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2025, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3034 "2025-03-30T00:53:31Z")
Was the insurance company in question Lloyd’s of London? (I don’t think this is relevant, but they’re known for offering oddball insurance) Was the insurance against loss of some sort of capability or trait that was useful to them professionally? Were the sisters in the entertainment industry? ---
**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:** [March 30, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3035 "2025-03-30T00:55:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Was the insurance company in question Lloyd’s of London? (I don’t think this is relevant, but they’re known for offering oddball insurance) I don’t know, so we’ll say irrelevant. It appears “no”, but it is irrelevant completely. > [@Chronos](#): > > Was the insurance against loss of some sort of capability or trait that was useful to them professionally? No > [@Chronos](#): > > Were the sisters in the entertainment industry? No. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3036 "2025-03-31T16:11:40Z")
Is the fact that they were sisters relevant? Did the thing insured against have anything to do with supernatural beliefs? ---
**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:** [March 31, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3037 "2025-03-31T17:38:53Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Is the fact that they were sisters relevant? Nope. Edit: It is only in the story because the story is true and they were sisters in real life. It could legit be just one person. > [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Did the thing insured against have anything to do with supernatural beliefs? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3038 "2025-03-31T20:29:21Z")
Did it have to do with ‘fairies’ Or maybe have to do with Houdini? ---
**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:** [March 31, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3039 "2025-03-31T20:34:15Z")
Were they insuring themselves against demonic possession? ---
**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:** [March 31, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3040 "2025-03-31T22:35:49Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Did it have to do with ‘fairies’ > Or maybe have to do with Houdini? Neither, nope. > [@dirtball](#): > > Were they insuring themselves against demonic possession? Nope. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=151) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=153)