# 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:** 229
**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:** [May 21, 2026, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4561 "2026-05-21T02:39:58Z")
1. Yes 2. Real 3. They were alive for a time at the same time. Both are now dead. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4562 "2026-05-21T02:47:31Z")
Is the commonality they share biological on their persons? Is the commonality involving some art (including paintings, literature, sculpture, music)? Does it involve an accomplishment that they have done? Does it involve an interaction with another 3rd person (only)? Or does it involve an interaction with several people? ---
**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:** [May 21, 2026, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4563 "2026-05-21T12:32:17Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Is the commonality they share biological on their persons? > > **NO** > > Is the commonality involving some art (including paintings, literature, sculpture, music)? > > **NO** > > Does it involve an accomplishment that they have done? > > **NO** > > Does it involve an interaction with another 3rd person (only)? > > **I’m not sure what that “(only)” means.** > > Or does it involve an interaction with several people? > > **NO** It _does_ involved interaction(?) with another person. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4564 "2026-05-21T12:42:59Z")
I just wanted to make the distinction if it involved interaction between one or more than one persons. Is the 3rd person someone famous? ---
**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:** [May 21, 2026, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4565 "2026-05-21T12:51:32Z")
1. More than 1 individual. 2. It isn’t just one person. It involves both famous and not-famous people. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4566 "2026-05-21T16:51:17Z")
Did they have the same job? If so, did one replace the other at this job? ---
**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:** [May 21, 2026, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4567 "2026-05-21T19:00:33Z")
No to both. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2026, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4568 "2026-05-21T19:08:43Z")
Have they both met an entire group of people (not at the same time), for example, met (and got the proof of such as autographs) all of the men who walked on the moon? ---
**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:** [May 21, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4569 "2026-05-21T19:10:52Z")
Were either or both of them alive during the 21st century? The 20th? The 19th? ---
**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:** [May 21, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4570 "2026-05-21T20:05:43Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Have they both met an entire group of people (not at the same time), for example, met (and got the proof of such as autographs) all of the men who walked on the moon? No. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Were either or both of them alive during the 21st century? The 20th? The 19th? Anna was born in the 19th century and died in the 20th century. Kirstie was born in the 20th century and died in the 21 century. As I said early, they were briefly both alive at the same time. Irrelevant, though. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2026, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4571 "2026-05-22T12:31:59Z")
Were either of them involved in criminal activity? Is how they died relevant? ---
**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:** [May 22, 2026, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4572 "2026-05-22T15:46:02Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Were either of them involved in criminal activity? > > Is how they died relevant?. No to both. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2026, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4573 "2026-05-22T16:33:49Z")
This thing the two share: Is it something they did? If so: Did they do it accidentally? Deliberately? Deliberately, but the notable element, as far as we’re concerned, is an unexpected consequence? Or was something done to them? ---
**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:** [May 22, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4574 "2026-05-22T16:55:03Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. This thing the two share: Is it something they did? > If so: > 2. Did they do it accidentally? > 3. Deliberately? > 4. Deliberately, but the notable element, as far as we’re concerned, is an unexpected consequence? > 5. Or was something done to them? 1. Yes. 2. Yes and No. This would need more questions to clarify. 3. Yes and No. This would need more questions to clarify. 4. Yes. 5. No. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4575 "2026-05-22T16:57:10Z")
That “notable element” is the best question and provides the clearest answer to accidental vs deliberate. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4576 "2026-05-22T23:03:52Z")
does it have to do with science? the periodic table of elements? ---
**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:** [May 22, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4577 "2026-05-22T23:28:18Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > does it have to do with science? > > the periodic table of elements?. No to both. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4578 "2026-05-22T23:39:49Z")
Does the answer have anything to do with sports? Art/Entertainment in any form? ---
**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:** [May 22, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4579 "2026-05-22T23:48:30Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Does the answer have anything to do with sports? > Art/Entertainment in any form?. No to both. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4580 "2026-05-23T01:44:50Z")
Alright lets go down this path and see if we can narrow it some aspect of human culture or condition. First can we confirm that they were real human females? Did what they share have something to do with: History? Politics? War? Medicine? Law? familial connection? Geography? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=228) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=230)