# 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:** 225
**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:** [April 26, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4481 "2026-04-26T23:31:55Z")
Ah, the specific details are so bland that I’d be embarrassed to drag it out much longer; like I’d said, you guys pretty much have the key aspect. It was our junior-high team against another junior high’s team in an academic trivia competition: you get two points for a correct answer, or lose one for an incorrect one — and, either way, it then moves on to the next question: folks aren’t given a shot at correctly answering the question after you get it wrong; their reward is that you lost a point, not that they get to earn points by saying “false” now that they’ve been flatly told it’s not “true,” or whatever. Anyway, we were up by four points, and there were three questions left, and I realized something that I should have realized a heck of a lot earlier: that, in a situation like this, they win if they get all three right, and we win if we get all three right, and _we win if we get all three wrong._ As this dawned on me, the questioner asked _what is the tense of the verb in the following sentence,_ and I didn’t wait to hear it, because: why bother trying to improve my odds of getting it right? We win if I get all three wrong! And so I buzzed in, fully expecting to get it wrong, only to find out that, huh, turns out it _was_ Future Perfect, like I’d just said! Well, shucks: now we’re up by six, and there are only two questions left! And so it doesn’t matter what happens next! And so I’ll just shut the hell up! ---
**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:** [April 26, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4482 "2026-04-26T23:50:12Z")
Ah, so it was important that you were the first to buzz in, but once you buzzed in, it didn’t actually matter if it was right or wrong. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4483 "2026-04-26T23:53:40Z")
And, to this day, I’m not 100% clear on what Future Perfect _is!_ ---
**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 27, 2026, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4484 "2026-04-27T00:00:53Z")
Its been abandoned after it was discovered not to be. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4485 "2026-04-27T00:38:05Z")
Don’t worry, you will have been clear on it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4486 "2026-04-27T17:16:55Z")
Douglas Adams reference? ---
**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 27, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4487 "2026-04-27T18:10:29Z")
Yup. . . . . ---
**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 29, 2026, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4488 "2026-04-29T05:09:58Z")
**A few weeks ago, I placed an order with a certain company. They delivered a piece of furniture, which I threw away. Yesterday I received an identical piece of furniture from the same company, and I threw that one away too. Both times I was satisfied with my purchase, and I will probably order from them again. Why?** ---
**Author:** ![SailorHG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SailorHG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SailorHG)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4489 "2026-04-29T09:29:30Z")
Are you an investor or owner of the company, and they give you free or reduced-rate items from time to time? Would a normal (no offense!) customer use the item for a longer period of time, say for several months/years? Is the method of disposal relevant? For example, burning it in a fire, giving it away, burying it in the backyard (like a casket for a deceased pet), putting it out in the trash? ---
**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:** [April 29, 2026, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4490 "2026-04-29T10:01:20Z")
I think I’ve got this, and will PM you to see if I’m right or if I can play. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2026, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4491 "2026-04-29T10:37:52Z")
Did you need a pair of really big cardboard boxes? ---
**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:** [April 29, 2026, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4492 "2026-04-29T12:58:15Z")
Was the furniture designed to be disposable? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4493 "2026-04-29T13:05:16Z")
Did you receive anything else along with the furniture that you did not also dispose of? Did you receive anything else along with the furniture besides packaging that you _did_ dispose of? ---
**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 29, 2026, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4494 "2026-04-29T23:22:15Z")
> [@SailorHG](#): > > [@SailorHG](#): > > Are you an investor or owner of the company, and they give you free or reduced-rate items from time to time? **No** > > Would a normal (no offense!) customer use the item for a longer period of time, say for several months/years? **No** > > Is the method of disposal relevant? For example, burning it in a fire, giving it away, burying it in the backyard (like a casket for a deceased pet), putting it out in the trash? **I put it in the trash.** > [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Did you need a pair of really big cardboard boxes? **No** > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Was the furniture designed to be disposable? **Yes** > [@BigT](#): > > Did you receive anything else along with the furniture that you did not also dispose of? **Yes** > > Did you receive anything else along with the furniture besides packaging that you _did_ dispose of? **Just that and the packaging.** Post not empty ---
**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:** [April 29, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4495 "2026-04-29T23:31:34Z")
Would it help us to know what kind of furniture? If yes, was it something intended for people to sit on it? Was it something intended for people to put things on? Was it something intended for storing something? Did you gain some benefit from the thing being in your trash? ---
**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 29, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4496 "2026-04-29T23:45:49Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Would it help us to know what kind of furniture? **Yes** > > If yes, was it something intended for people to sit on it? Was it something intended for people to put things on? Was it something intended for storing something? **It’s a type of furniture that people put things on.** > > Did you gain some benefit from the thing being in your trash? **No** Post not empty ---
**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 29, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4497 "2026-04-29T23:46:16Z")
To be clear: Is the story that (step by step): 1. You ordered something you wanted. 2. You received that whateveritwas thing and kept it. 3. The item you threw away was shipped along with the thing you wanted. Was the item you threw away sent as a promotional item? (Like, for example, “Order a set of our Skizzix solar-powered steak knives by midnight tonight, and we’ll throw in a FREE tote bag!” Except this bonus item would be a piece of disposable furniture? I mean, that doesn’t seem likely, but I’m trying to work with what I got here.) Was the item you threw away included as an accessory for the “main item” you ordered, but you just didn’t need it? Since this thing was designed to be disposable, did you use it and then dispose of it? Or does it matter? ---
**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 29, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4498 "2026-04-29T23:48:40Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > To be clear: Is the story that (step by step): > > 1. You ordered something you wanted. > 2. You received that whateveritwas thing and kept it. > 3. The item you threw away was shipped along with the thing you wanted. **All correct** > > Was the item you threw away sent as a promotional item? (Like, for example, “Order a set of our Skizzix solar-powered steak knives by midnight tonight, and we’ll throw in a FREE tote bag!” Except this bonus item would be a piece of disposable furniture? I mean, that doesn’t seem likely, but I’m trying to work with what I got here.) **No** > > Was the item you threw away included as an accessory for the “main item” you ordered, but you just didn’t need it? **No** > > Since this thing was designed to be disposable, did you use it and then dispose of it? Or does it matter? **I didn’t use it for anything.** Post not empty ---
**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:** [April 30, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4499 "2026-04-30T00:08:31Z")
Was the piece of furniture sized appropriately for a person to use it? Was it sized appropriately for, say, a dollhouse? ---
**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 30, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4500 "2026-04-30T00:09:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Was the piece of furniture sized appropriately for a person to use it? **No** > > Was it sized appropriately for, say, a dollhouse? **Yes** Post not empty [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=224) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=226)