# 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:** 230
**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 23, 2026, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4581 "2026-05-23T02:05:57Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > First can we confirm that they were real human females? > > **YES** > > Did what they share have something to do with: > > History? > > **NO** > > Politics? > > **NO** > > War? > > **NO** > > Medicine? > > **NO** > > Law? > > **NO** > > familial connection? > > Well, this is where things get weird. **YES** , but not as you normally think. They were not related at all. > > Geography? > > **NO** kkkkkk ---
**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 24, 2026, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4582 "2026-05-24T22:18:51Z")
Hint: They both did something absolutely normal and typical. I’d even say prevalent. However, they both shared a very odd detail within their otherwise normal and typical thing they did. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2026, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4583 "2026-05-24T22:24:59Z")
Would this normal and typical thing be a common activity mostly done everyday by most people? I’m trying to distinguish between normal and typical things that are common and mundane like eating, or cleaning; from ‘normal and typical’ things that are less common/mundane like vacations, attending theatres, voting… …hey… Did this have to do with voting or elections? ---
**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 24, 2026, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4584 "2026-05-24T22:29:47Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Would this normal and typical thing be a common activity mostly done everyday by most people? No. > [@Sigene](#): > > Did this have to do with voting or elections? No. ---
**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 24, 2026, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4585 "2026-05-24T23:14:04Z")
Does the answer have anything to do with the way they were born? The way they died? ---
**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:** [May 24, 2026, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4586 "2026-05-24T23:18:54Z")
Did it have something to do with the families that each of them had? Does it have something to do with their ancestors? Their descendants? ---
**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 24, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4587 "2026-05-24T23:33:17Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Does the answer have anything to do with the way they were born? > The way they died? No to both. > [@Chronos](#): > > 1. Did it have something to do with the families that each of them had? > > 2. Does it have something to do with their ancestors? > > 3. Their descendants? 1. Yes. 2. No. 3. No. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2026, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4588 "2026-05-24T23:41:26Z")
So something with their families, but not ancestors or descendants (I consider parents as ancestors). That leaves contemporaries; is that correct? Does it have something to do with their siblings? Or cousins, aunts, uncles etc. who were family but neither ancestors or descendants? ---
**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 24, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4589 "2026-05-24T23:54:10Z")
Did they have wedding ceremonies (or associated activities/events) with this unusual detail? ---
**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 25, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4590 "2026-05-25T00:15:38Z")
Were they both part of a set of quintuplets? (or other large set of siblings) ---
**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 25, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4591 "2026-05-25T00:19:26Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Were they both part of a set of quintuplets? (or other large set of siblings). No. That wouldn’t be prevalent, either. Anyway, 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:** [May 25, 2026, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4592 "2026-05-25T00:47:56Z")
Was Anna related to anyone famous? Was Kirstie? If yes: to the same famous person? Did they share an unusual genetic trait? ---
**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 25, 2026, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4593 "2026-05-25T01:01:14Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > 1. Was Anna related to anyone famous? 2. Was Kirstie? If yes: to the same famous person? > > 2. Did they share an unusual genetic trait? 1. Yes. (anna related to a famous person) 2. No. (kirstie not related to anyone famous) 3. No. (this is to the genetic trait q) ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4594 "2026-05-25T01:47:38Z")
Yes or no to Anna Freud? ---
**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 25, 2026, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4595 "2026-05-25T02:34:26Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Yes or no to Anna Freud?. No. kkkkkkk ---
**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 25, 2026, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4596 "2026-05-25T13:24:40Z")
Another helpful tip might be: Maybe just start listing a bunch of common things people do and see if you can hit on the relevant one? ---
**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 25, 2026, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4597 "2026-05-25T13:29:32Z")
Did you overlook this one? > [@dirtball](#): > > Did they have wedding ceremonies (or associated activities/events) with this unusual detail? ---
**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 25, 2026, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4598 "2026-05-25T15:25:58Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Did they have wedding ceremonies (or associated activities/events) with this unusual detail? They did have wedding ceremonies. And, yes, I suppose this detail was in the ceremony, though I don’t think the ceremony for either was notable. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4599 "2026-05-25T17:51:05Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > So something with their families, but not ancestors or descendants (I consider parents as ancestors). > > That leaves contemporaries; is that correct? > > Does it have something to do with their siblings? > > Or cousins, aunts, uncles etc. who were family but neither ancestors or descendants? I don’t think I got a followup with this one. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4600 "2026-05-25T17:56:39Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Maybe just start listing a bunch of common things people do and see if you can hit on the relevant one? Things that are common but don’t happen daily…Does it involve: vacation? Travel? Food? religion? Reading/Writing? schooling? employment? Is this commonality a ‘thing’ or an ‘activity’, or ‘occurance’? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=229) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=231)