# 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:** 206
**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 28, 2025, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4101 "2025-11-28T02:15:42Z")
So the blowing wind causes a Bernoulli Effect which creates a change in a object. The faster the wind, the more the change and the system does not reset itself after the wind. Is that where we are at? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4102 "2025-11-28T02:16:13Z")
yes. correct ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4103 "2025-11-28T02:58:49Z")
Do you lose internet of electricity when a power line goes down? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4104 "2025-11-28T03:20:39Z")
> Do you lose internet of electricity when a power line goes down? not that either. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4105 "2025-11-28T03:27:14Z")
more hint. If the high wind and its affect on the object has happened in the previous night, I will detect and note it within minutes of getting up the next morning. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2025, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4106 "2025-11-28T07:19:28Z")
Does the item change shape, as a result of the wind? Is it the floor? The rug? Something on the fireplace? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4107 "2025-11-28T07:47:33Z")
Does any th int’s magnetic charge change? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4108 "2025-11-28T12:37:58Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Does the item change shape, as a result of the wind? > > Is it the floor? The rug? Something on the fireplace? I would say the item doesn’t change shape, but an integral part of it diminishes not rug and nothing to do with the fireplace ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4109 "2025-11-28T12:38:19Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Does any th int’s magnetic charge change? Nothing to do with magnets ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4110 "2025-11-28T12:40:09Z")
perhaps ask about the location, we’ve established it is not in the kitchen. ---
**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:** [November 28, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4111 "2025-11-28T15:02:16Z")
Is it in the bathroom? Does the water level in the toilet diminish? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4112 "2025-11-28T15:07:36Z")
> Is it in the bathroom? Does the water level in the toilet diminish? Yes. this is it. The wind rushing past the vent stack causes a drop in pressure. During windy days the toilet water can be seen moving as the pressure in the vent varies. It causes the water to be sucked out of the bowl leaving a lower level. If it happens during the night, I notice the lower level in the morning. Flushing the toilet resets it to its normal level. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4113 "2025-12-03T14:35:33Z")
Given the lull, let me mention this: I was recently given a choice of STAR WARS movies; they were listed not in the order they were released, nor in the order they took place; instead, it was The Phantom Menace followed by Attack Of The Clones followed by Revenge Of The Sith followed by A New Hope followed by The Rise Of Skywalker followed by The Empire Strikes Back followed by Return Of The Jedi followed by The Force Awakens followed by The Last Jedi. Why? ---
**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:** [December 3, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4114 "2025-12-03T15:07:16Z")
Were they offered to you by an individual, or by a company, or other? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4115 "2025-12-03T15:08:20Z")
Company. I was on a plane, and they were available as clickable options for an in-flight movie. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4116 "2025-12-03T17:24:24Z")
Were they in some order that is not obvious at first and we should be trying to guess the characteristic order? Just a first stab guess. Were they in order of length of time? Maybe so you can pick the movie that corresponds with your flight time? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4117 "2025-12-03T17:39:01Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Were they in some order that is not obvious at first and we should be trying to guess the characteristic order? > > Just a first stab guess. Were they in order of length of time? Maybe so you can pick the movie that corresponds with your flight time? That’s an excellent guess — but, as far as I can tell, each prequel was longer than anything in the original trilogy, and The Last Jedi was longer still. And, yes, they’re in an order that’s not obvious at first. ---
**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:** [December 3, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4118 "2025-12-03T17:51:34Z")
I’m not familiar enough with the whole Star Wars thing in general to be confident that this isn’t a laughably clueless question (I’ve seen and enjoyed the original trilogy, though). But…Were they listed in order of popularity? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4119 "2025-12-03T17:59:07Z")
To the best of my knowledge, no; not per Rotten Tomatoes, and not by box-office gross (adjusted or unadjusted). But, more to the point, I didn’t need to check any of that — or the runtime — to eventually realize why they were listed in that order; I already had all of the information I needed. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2025, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4120 "2025-12-03T18:17:31Z")
Come to think of it, I’m now curious: should I PM the answer to @dirtball, who can then say “yeah, that would’ve eventually dawned on me with no additional knowledge” or “no, I lacked the information to solve this” to settle whether it’s as lateral as I suspect? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=205) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=207)