# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 231
**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, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4601 "2026-05-25T18:28:48Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > 1. That leaves contemporaries; is that correct? > > 2. Does it have something to do with their siblings? > > 3. Or cousins, aunts, uncles etc. who were family but neither ancestors or descendants? 1. Yes. 2. No. 3. 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 25, 2026, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4602 "2026-05-25T18:29:17Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > 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’? No to all. Activity ---
**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, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4603 "2026-05-25T18:41:52Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > 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. Does that mean that weddings aren’t relevant to the answer we’re looking for? Is it true that although this detail could appear in weddings, our answer involves a different situation? ---
**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, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4604 "2026-05-25T21:15:46Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > 1. Does that mean that weddings aren’t relevant to the answer we’re looking for? > 2. Is it true that although this detail could appear in weddings, our answer involves a different situation? 1. Not particularly relevant. 2. No, _this_ detail could appear in weddings. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4605 "2026-05-26T12:23:00Z")
Is this activity more of a physical one or a mental/emotional one? If physical does it involve a feat of strength? You mentioned it could appear in weddings. Can it also appear at other events…specifically: birthdays, holidays or even non-holidays (just regular old days)? Could we characterized it as a ‘positive’ (make people feel good) activity, or negative? Or is it neutral? Is the fact that Anna being related to a famous person actually important for the answer? Was that famous person Anna related to, directly related like a parent/grand parent? Or sibling? or directly related child/ grand child of anna. Or related indirectly like cousins/ aunts…or related by marriage? ---
**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 26, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4606 "2026-05-26T18:18:32Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Is this activity more of a physical one or a mental/emotional one? If physical does it involve a feat of strength? No. > [@Sigene](#): > > You mentioned it could appear in weddings. Can it also appear at other events…specifically: birthdays, holidays or even non-holidays (just regular old days)? No. > [@Sigene](#): > > Could we characterized it as a ‘positive’ (make people feel good) activity, or negative? Or is it neutral? Neutral > [@Sigene](#): > > Is the fact that Anna being related to a famous person actually important for the answer? Not really. > [@Sigene](#): > > Was that famous person Anna related to, directly related like a parent/grand parent? Or sibling? or directly related child/ grand child of anna. Or related indirectly like cousins/ aunts…or related by marriage? By marriage. ---
**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 27, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4607 "2026-05-27T23:04:23Z")
Tell you what, start asking questions about the identity of the two main women. They are actually both famous, however their fame is not related to this connection/similarity. I bet if you realize who they are, you can kind of work your way to an answer. ---
**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 27, 2026, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4608 "2026-05-27T23:27:35Z")
Are they both famous in the same field? Similar, related fields? Totally different fields? Is either or both of them famous in: - writing? - music? - sports? - military? - politics? - art? - acting? - other types of performing? - producer, director, or other non-performing movie/TV/ theatre maker? ---
**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 27, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4609 "2026-05-27T23:50:53Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Are they both famous in the same field? Similar, related fields? Totally different fields? > > **Both Famous. Different Fields.** > > Is either or both of them famous in: > > - writing? **NO** > - music? **NO** > - sports? **NO** > - military? **NO** > - politics? **Anna is, Kirstie is not.** > - art? **NO** > - acting? **Kirstie is. Anna is not.** > - other types of performing? **NO** > - producer, director, or other non-performing movie/TV/ theatre maker? **NO** There you go. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4610 "2026-05-27T23:58:00Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Did this have to do with voting or elections? Previously you answered ‘no’ to this, but anna is involved in politics. Did Kirstie play Anna in a play/movie/TV show? Was Anna unusual in that she ran for a political office? Since it didn’t involve voting, I disregarded her as being the first woman voter or elected official in some capacity. ---
**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 27, 2026, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4611 "2026-05-27T23:59:40Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > 1. Did Kirstie play Anna in a play/movie/TV show? > > 2. Was Anna unusual in that she ran for a political office? > > 3. Since it didn’t involve voting, I disregarded her as being the first woman voter or elected official in some capacity. 1. No. 2. No. 3. You can disregard that. ---
**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 28, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4612 "2026-05-28T00:03:06Z")
Is Kirstie Alley the Kirstie we’re dealing with here? ---
**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 28, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4613 "2026-05-28T00:10:38Z")
Is Anna Eleanor Roosevelt? ---
**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 28, 2026, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4614 "2026-05-28T00:26:38Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Is Kirstie Alley the Kirstie we’re dealing with here? Yes. > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Is Anna Eleanor Roosevelt?. Yes. Hey, I bet we get it here! ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4615 "2026-05-28T00:36:43Z")
based on that, I cheated. I can tell you that my friend, Dennis Smith, shares the same thing; and the odds are more likely that he would then either Kristie or Anna ---
**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 28, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4616 "2026-05-28T17:23:09Z")
I’m going to wrap it up. I had two pms of people who got it right, which means it is solved. Anna = Eleanor Roosevelt. Eleanor Roosevelt’s maiden name??? Roosevelt. She married someone with the same name. Kirstie Alley = Cheers Actress Her maiden name? Alley…and she married an Alley. Both unrelated famous people who didn’t have to change their names because they already had the same last name. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4617 "2026-05-29T02:53:54Z")
Closed on May 29, 2026, 2:53am UTC Closed by request of the OP for next thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=230)