# 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:** 198
**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:** [November 5, 2025, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3941 "2025-11-05T19:06:36Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Was the task financial in nature? No > [@dirtball](#): > > Health or fitness related? In a sense. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2025, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3942 "2025-11-05T19:34:53Z")
Did it have something to do with food? ---
**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:** [November 5, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3943 "2025-11-05T19:45:28Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Did it have something to do with food? 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:** [November 5, 2025, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3944 "2025-11-05T21:24:20Z")
Did it have to do with exercise? Losing weight? Gaining weight/mass/muscle? Did it involve getting a degree in health & fitness? Did it involve getting a job in health & fitness? Did it involve growing back an arm or leg? ---
**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:** [November 5, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3945 "2025-11-05T23:02:20Z")
None of those. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3946 "2025-11-05T23:15:01Z")
was the problem she was trying to solve involve a medical condition? Were the failed solutions medical interventions? ---
**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:** [November 5, 2025, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3947 "2025-11-05T23:38:31Z")
None of those. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3948 "2025-11-06T15:26:23Z")
Was it about her health or fitness? Or someone else’s? Or something else’s? ---
**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:** [November 6, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3949 "2025-11-06T16:12:24Z")
Does it have anything to do with the great big, general area of sex in any way? Was she considering birth control methods? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3950 "2025-11-06T19:36:10Z")
Is ‘rejecting them all’ a successful/positive outcome? We normally think that ‘rejecting’ means failure in a bad way. But I’m exploring if ‘rejecting’ is a positive outcome or result (i.e. rejecting a virus) ---
**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:** [November 6, 2025, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3951 "2025-11-06T20:05:45Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > She is a real person. A person who actually lived? As in, is this a real event? ---
**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:** [November 6, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3952 "2025-11-06T21:08:46Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Was it about her health or fitness? > Or someone else’s? > Or something else’s? Her own. And people generally should apply her reasoning. But note that it’s about health only in a manner of speaking. > [@dirtball](#): > > Does it have anything to do with the great big, general area of sex in any way? > Was she considering birth control methods? No and no. > [@Sigene](#): > > Is ‘rejecting them all’ a successful/positive outcome? We normally think that ‘rejecting’ means failure in a bad way. But I’m exploring if ‘rejecting’ is a positive outcome or result (i.e. rejecting a virus) After rejecting various methods she decided not to try. This is a positive thing for her. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > A person who actually lived? > As in, is this a real event? She is a real person. You’ve probably heard of her. As to the factual accuracy I can’t say. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3953 "2025-11-06T21:17:04Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > After rejecting various methods she decided not to try. This is a positive thing for her. I hope this isn’t too morbid… but is it anything to do with trying to take her own life? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3954 "2025-11-06T21:19:01Z")
Is she still living? Is she an actress, writer, singer, director? Somehow involved in the entertainment industry. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2025, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3955 "2025-11-06T21:21:02Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > I hope this isn’t too morbid… but is it anything to do with trying to take her own life? Yes. > [@Sigene](#): > > Is she still living? > > Is she an actress, writer, singer, director? Somehow involved in the entertainment industry. Deceased, writer. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3956 "2025-11-06T21:50:05Z")
Were the methods rejected because of who would find her body? > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Deceased, writer. Deceased due to suicide? Is it Sylvia Plath? I know she battled depression for years before her suicide. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2025, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3957 "2025-11-06T21:52:55Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Deceased due to suicide? > > Is it Sylvia Plath? I know she battled depression for years before her suicide. No and no. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3958 "2025-11-07T01:55:11Z")
Oh, I missed one. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Were the methods rejected because of who would find her body? 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:** [November 7, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3959 "2025-11-07T03:25:02Z")
Dorothy Parker? “[Resume](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44835/resume-56d2241505225)”? Oh, I guess the actual answer to the question in that case is “nooses.” D’oh! ---
**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:** [November 7, 2025, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3960 "2025-11-07T04:04:50Z")
Winner. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=197) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=199)