# 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:** 195
**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:** [October 23, 2025, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3881 "2025-10-23T11:07:46Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > was the amateur Ice Skating exhibition part of or related to the Olympics? > > Is the ‘exhibition’ part of the puzzle significant? > > Was she a professional skating in an amateur competition which led to legal consequences? No to all ---
**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:** [October 23, 2025, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3882 "2025-10-23T11:09:48Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Had Nancy participated in other, similar events using a false name before this incident? > Had she previously used her real name to do the same thing? She had used her real name to ice skate perform, and had used the false name before but not to ice skate. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2025, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3883 "2025-10-23T12:22:23Z")
Did the person who outed her recognize the name from a particular work of fiction, or simply recognize that the name used wasn’t her real name? ---
**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:** [October 23, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3884 "2025-10-23T17:42:25Z")
Had she previously used the fake name in pursuing whatever her criminal activity was? ---
**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:** [October 24, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3885 "2025-10-24T15:41:10Z")
Was the fake name conspicuously _not_ a normal name for that time and place? ---
**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:** [October 24, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3886 "2025-10-24T23:57:24Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Did the person who outed her recognize the name from a particular work of fiction, or simply recognize that the name used wasn’t her real name? I suppose you could say they recognized it from fiction. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2025, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3887 "2025-10-24T23:58:02Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Had she previously used the fake name in pursuing whatever her criminal activity was? Yes ---
**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:** [October 24, 2025, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3888 "2025-10-24T23:59:37Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Was the fake name conspicuously _not_ a normal name for that time and place? No. Most attendees did not notice anything unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3889 "2025-10-27T07:13:18Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > she did not register under her true name and she did not ever perform. Did she use a name that tipped the officer that something was amiss? Did she use the name of someone she victimized, such as like identity theft? ---
**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:** [October 27, 2025, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3890 "2025-10-27T11:53:38Z")
reply to Sigene: Did she use a name that tipped the officer that something was amiss? No. Did she use the name of someone she victimized, such as like identity theft? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3891 "2025-10-27T13:03:48Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Did she use the name of someone she victimized, such as like identity theft? Yes Was the person who reported her have some connection to the victim, therefore recognizing the name? Was that person the victim? If not, can you tell us what the relationship was between the name used and the reporter person? ---
**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:** [October 27, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3892 "2025-10-27T15:34:35Z")
reply to Sigene: Was the person who reported her have some connection to the victim, therefore recognizing the name? Yes Was that person the victim? Yes If not, can you tell us what the relationship was between the name used and the reporter person? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3893 "2025-10-27T21:38:18Z")
was the crime thievery? Did Nancy steal the victims skating gear? Did Nancy steal the victims wallet/purse and use the victims name? Was it some other crime other than stealing? ---
**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:** [October 28, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3894 "2025-10-28T22:29:38Z")
- > [@Sigene](#): > > was the crime thievery? Did Nancy steal the victims skating gear? > Did Nancy steal the victims wallet/purse and use the victims name? > > Was it some other crime other than stealing? The crime was identity theft and fraud. Cheating people who could mostly not afford it. Really all I am looking for, this whole puzzle, is the name of the person in the audience who stopped this nefarious skater and her accomplices. A name certainly known to us all. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2025, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3895 "2025-10-29T00:10:31Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > A name certainly known to us all. That’s a bit of an assumption. I have no interest in sports. Unless it’s Brian Boitano I’ve probably never heard it. And I’ve only heard of him because of the South Park movie. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2025, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3896 "2025-10-29T00:12:22Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > The crime was identity theft and fraud. Cheating people who could mostly not afford it. Really all I am looking for, this whole puzzle, is the name of the person in the audience who stopped this nefarious skater and her accomplices. A name certainly known to us all. Uh, Tonya Harding? Was the person in the audience famous for being a figure skater? ---
**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:** [October 29, 2025, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3897 "2025-10-29T00:13:56Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Tonya Harding Who? . ---
**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:** [October 29, 2025, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3898 "2025-10-29T04:09:27Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > That’s a bit of an assumption. I have no interest in sports. Unless it’s Brian Boitano I’ve probably never heard it. And I’ve only heard of him because of the South Park movie. Sports got nothing to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3899 "2025-10-29T06:26:01Z")
If not Tonya Harding, how about Nancy Kerrigan? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3900 "2025-10-29T13:36:06Z")
getting back on track…..1956 ….and no where is there an implication that the victim or perpetrator are known for sports. was the victim known for: politics? Acting? writing? science? social movements? or being married to someone from one of those? Did this event happen before the victim’s name became known? (I would think so, since it would be odd for the perp to use an identity that would have been widely known at the time) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=194) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=196)