# 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:** 30
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/581 "2023-08-21T02:36:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Before the missionary came, did the ponies have any job or use other than their “day job” in the mines? > > How about after? > > Is horse manure relevant? > > Is water consumption relevant? NO to everything in the above quoted post. > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Did it involve prayer? > > **NO** > > Did it involve other formal religious practices, like attending church or visiting a shrine or something? > > **NO** > > Did it involve fasting? Some other abstinence-based practice? > > **NO to fasting. What other abstinence-based practice is there? Sex? No to sex.** > > Was it something that people would typically do at work? During their leisure time? > > **Both.** > > Were the people who normally worked with the ponies / in the mine putting this suggestion into practice while they were working? > > **YES** ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/582 "2023-08-21T03:04:30Z")
Did it have anything to do with clothing? ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/583 "2023-08-21T03:13:18Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Did it have anything to do with clothing Nope. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/584 "2023-08-21T03:13:32Z")
Were the workers who dealt directly with the ponies the only ones putting this suggestion into practice? Or was it something that other mining company employees were doing as well? ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/585 "2023-08-21T03:21:33Z")
Did it have anything to do with language? Say, the suggestion had to do with words people should say (or not say, like swear words?) And that interfered with the commands given to the ponies? ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/586 "2023-08-21T03:24:45Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Were the workers who dealt directly with the ponies the only ones putting this suggestion into practice? > Or was it something that other mining company employees were doing as well? **Everyone** > [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Did it have anything to do with language? Say, the suggestion had to do with words people should say (or not say, like swear words?) And that interfered with the commands given to the ponies? **This is the answer.** \*\*The miners stopped using profanity while giving directions/orders to the ponies and it was noticed that the ponies no longer fully understood the orders _without_ the profanity. \*\* **Solved.** ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/587 "2023-08-21T04:57:21Z")
Good one, Mahaloth! ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/588 "2023-08-21T11:57:05Z")
**A new business is growing strongly. In order to ensure success, the owners stop all advertising and marketing. Perhaps surprisingly, this works. Why?** ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2023, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/589 "2023-08-21T12:06:25Z")
Was there an effect on the price of what they sold? ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2023, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/590 "2023-08-21T12:21:30Z")
Did the business stop advertising / maketing to a) Increase sales b) Decrease Sales (or reduce the rate of growth) c) something else? ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/591 "2023-08-21T12:24:56Z")
Did customers figure they were now Going Out Of Business, with a last chance to get _low low everything must go_ prices? ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/592 "2023-08-21T12:33:44Z")
> [@Jegpeg](#): > > Did the business stop advertising / maketing to a) Increase sales b) Decrease Sales (or reduce the rate of growth) c) something else? Something else. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/593 "2023-08-21T12:34:07Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Did customers figure they were now Going Out Of Business, with a last chance to get _low low everything must go_ prices? Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2023, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/594 "2023-08-21T12:45:23Z")
Was the advertising that was stopped: billboards? magazine? tv? radio? newspaper? internet? on the product itself? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2023, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/595 "2023-08-21T12:48:10Z")
Was the advertising for: product? service? travel? politics? ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/596 "2023-08-21T12:49:00Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Was the advertising that was stopped: > > billboards? > magazine? > tv? > radio? > newspaper? > internet? > on the product itself? I do not know what the company was using, but: All advertising Is the answer. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/597 "2023-08-21T12:50:03Z")
Would it help to figure out what the product/service was? ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/598 "2023-08-21T12:50:50Z")
Yes, probably. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/599 "2023-08-21T12:51:55Z")
Were they an advertising company? ---
**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:** [August 21, 2023, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/600 "2023-08-21T12:58:49Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Were they an advertising company?. Nope. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=31)