# 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:** 176
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3501 "2025-06-25T15:54:24Z")
I saw an interesting video on YouTube showing how I might get more sleep on some days if I get a fish. How? ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3502 "2025-06-25T16:08:21Z")
“Fish” in the sense of an aquatic animal? Some item that resembles or represents such an animal without literally being one? Or is the word being used in some other sense altogether (e.g. a mark for a conman)? If it’s the animal, would you be getting it as a pet? To eat? ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3503 "2025-06-25T16:24:18Z")
reply to Fretful\_Porpentine: “Fish” in the sense of an aquatic animal? Some item that resembles or represents such an animal without literally being one? Yes Or is the word being used in some other sense altogether (e.g. a mark for a conman)? If it’s the animal, would you be getting it as a pet? To eat? No to everything else. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3504 "2025-06-25T16:33:16Z")
A painting or other artwork depicting a fish? A stuffed fish? Another kind of toy fish? A Christian / Darwin fish? Swedish fish? Billy Bass? Nemo? Dory? ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3505 "2025-06-25T16:35:04Z")
Does the increase in sleep involve light levels? Does the increase in sleep involve breathing patterns? Does the increase in sleep involve changes in obligations? Does the increase in sleep involve substances with a pharmaceutical effect? Does the increase in sleep involve going to bed sooner? Does the increase in sleep involve getting up later? Does the increase in sleep involve spending less time laying in bed awake? ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3506 "2025-06-25T16:40:57Z")
reply to Fretful\_Porpentine: A painting or other artwork depicting a fish? A stuffed fish? Another kind of toy fish? A Christian / Darwin fish? Swedish fish? Billy Bass? Yes Nemo? Dory? No to all others. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3507 "2025-06-25T16:44:28Z")
reply to Chronos: Does the increase in sleep involve light levels? Does the increase in sleep involve breathing patterns? Does the increase in sleep involve changes in obligations? Yes. Does the increase in sleep involve substances with a pharmaceutical effect? Does the increase in sleep involve going to bed sooner? Does the increase in sleep involve getting up later? Yes. Does the increase in sleep involve spending less time laying in bed awake? No to all others ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3508 "2025-06-25T17:39:36Z")
Would you be getting the fish instead of getting something else? ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3509 "2025-06-25T17:46:06Z")
- > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Would you be getting the fish instead of getting something else? No ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3510 "2025-06-25T17:58:13Z")
Is there a thing that you would ordinarily do in the morning that you can now get Billy Bass to do for you? Is its ability to sing relevant? To move? To startle people? ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3511 "2025-06-25T18:22:26Z")
reply to Fretful\_Porpentine: Is there a thing that you would ordinarily do in the morning that you can now get Billy Bass to do for you? Yes Is its ability to sing relevant? YesTo move? Yes To startle people? Yes ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3512 "2025-06-25T18:25:06Z")
Does the fish wake up your children/spouse so you don’t have to? ---
**Author:** ![SailorHG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SailorHG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SailorHG)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3513 "2025-06-25T18:26:43Z")
Does the fish occupy a pet who would otherwise pounce on you in the morning and thereby wake you up? ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3514 "2025-06-25T18:55:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Does the fish wake up your children/spouse so you don’t have to? No ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3515 "2025-06-25T18:55:42Z")
> [@SailorHG](#): > > Does the fish occupy a pet who would otherwise pounce on you in the morning and thereby wake you up? No ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3516 "2025-06-25T19:11:52Z")
Are any non-human animals (other than the Billy Bass itself) involved? Other people in your household? People from outside your household? Does the location of the Billy Bass matter? Bedroom? Other room of the house? Outside? ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3517 "2025-06-25T19:16:20Z")
reply to Fretful\_Porpentine: Are any non-human animals (other than the Billy Bass itself) involved? Yes Other people in your household? No People from outside your household? No Does the location of the Billy Bass matter? Yes Bedroom? No Other room of the house? No Outside? Yes ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3518 "2025-06-25T19:47:10Z")
Was the video suggesting how you might get more sleep accurate? That is, does it depict something that could actually work in the real world? If it could work, would it be likely to? ---
**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:** [June 25, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3519 "2025-06-25T19:55:51Z")
reply to Chronos: Was the video suggesting how you might get more sleep accurate? Yes That is, does it depict something that could actually work in the real world? Yes If it could work, would it be likely to? Maybe… It worked in the video. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3520 "2025-06-25T22:03:17Z")
Is Billy being used to scare off some animals who would otherwise make noise and wake you up? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=175) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=177)