# 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:** 153
**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:** [April 1, 2025, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3041 "2025-04-01T04:19:06Z")
Wild guess: Insurance against necromancy, cancelled when one or both of them died and their remains dealt with in a way that made that impossible (e.g. cremation)? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2025, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3042 "2025-04-01T12:53:54Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Wild guess: Insurance against necromancy, cancelled when one or both of them died and their remains dealt with in a way that made that impossible (e.g. cremation)?. Nope. The focus on supernatural beliefs is a good idea, though. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2025, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3043 "2025-04-01T12:57:36Z")
Does it have anything to do with reincarnation? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3044 "2025-04-01T13:47:51Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Does it have anything to do with reincarnation?. No, not reincarnation. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2025, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3045 "2025-04-01T17:10:08Z")
Is death involved in any way? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3046 "2025-04-01T17:28:18Z")
Were they insuring themselves against being turned into zombies? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3047 "2025-04-01T17:45:37Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Is death involved in any way? Nope. > [@dirtball](#): > > Were they insuring themselves against being turned into zombies? No. Hint #2: You have confirmed it involved supernatural beliefs. I will now ask _Is that belief religious in nature?_ **Definitely.** ---
**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:** [April 1, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3048 "2025-04-01T17:47:43Z")
Does it involve the Rapture? Insuring against being left behind? Being taken? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3049 "2025-04-01T17:55:23Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Does it involve the Rapture? > > Insuring against being left behind? Being taken?. No to all of this. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2025, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3050 "2025-04-01T18:16:00Z")
Does it involve a belief held by at least one of what we would think of as the major world religions? If so, would it be considered a “core belief”? Would it be considered heresy? ---
**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:** [April 1, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3051 "2025-04-01T18:22:52Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Does it involve a belief held by at least one of what we would think of as the major world religions? Yes in the general sense. No in the sense that these sisters belief was not widespread. But it involved something a major world religion has in it. > [@dirtball](#): > > If so, would it be considered a “core belief”? Not what the sisters believed, but the overall concept is a core belief > [@dirtball](#): > > Would it be considered heresy? I suppose the sisters belief is heresy, certainly not a view held by those with the same faith. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2025, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3052 "2025-04-02T03:19:44Z")
Does it involve God? Jesus? The Devil? ---
**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:** [April 2, 2025, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3053 "2025-04-02T12:24:42Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Does it involve God? > > Jesus? > > The Devil?. It involves Jesus. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2025, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3054 "2025-04-02T12:27:22Z")
Does it involve the Second Coming? ---
**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:** [April 2, 2025, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3055 "2025-04-02T12:36:28Z")
Not in the traditional sense, no. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3056 "2025-04-02T12:40:23Z")
Were they insuring themselves against immaculate conception? ---
**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:** [April 2, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3057 "2025-04-02T12:49:14Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > Were they insuring themselves against immaculate conception?. No, but I’m going to give it to you because I think you mean supernaturally becoming pregnant with Jesus Christ(look up immaculate conception). Anyway, consider this solved. Three sisters took out a policy to cover the costs of having to raise the Christ-child in case one of them conceived Jesus Christ. The policy was approved, but was specifically cancelled due to pressure from the Catholic Church. ---
**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:** [April 9, 2025, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3058 "2025-04-09T02:25:23Z")
Okay, how about another video game puzzle? Again, don’t shout it out if you already know it. **A point-and-click adventure game in the '90s had the player solve one of its puzzles by using a specific tool to shut off a water pump. Sounds simple, right? Yet players outside of the US found the puzzle nigh impossible. Why?** ---
**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:** [April 9, 2025, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3059 "2025-04-09T03:30:33Z")
Was the tool not used for the same purpose outside the US as in the United States? ---
**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:** [April 9, 2025, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3060 "2025-04-09T03:31:56Z")
**The tool is used for the same things regardless of country.** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=152) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=154)