# 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:** 37
**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 24, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/721 "2023-08-24T23:17:36Z")
So maybe prices could vary, but if I wanted to buy my own pair of whatevers and just get something of reasonable quality, could I pay less than ten dollars? Less than fifty? Less than a hundred? Could I find them at a place like Walmart? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/722 "2023-08-24T23:19:25Z")
Were all the objects identical? Were the first and last objects different than the paired objects? ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/723 "2023-08-24T23:26:15Z")
Would one pair of this object be useful, normally? Or would it have to be many pairs? If I were to go out and buy a pair (or a bunch of them), could I likely get them at A hardware store? A feed/ farm supply store? A pet store? Walmart? A clothing store? A dollar store? A grocery store? An office supply store? A bookstore? Were the first and last single items originally from the same pair? Are the pairs physically connected? If so, to separate them, would you Break them? Unlink them? Tear them? Unstick them? Cut them? ---
**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:** [August 24, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/724 "2023-08-24T23:35:25Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > So maybe prices could vary, but if I wanted to buy my own pair of whatevers and just get something of reasonable quality, could I pay less than ten dollars? > Less than fifty? > Less than a hundred? > Could I find them at a place like Walmart? Yes to all > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Were all the objects identical? > Not exactly > > Were the first and last objects different than the paired objects? > No > [@SurrenderDorothy](#): > > Would one pair of this object be useful, normally? > Yes, I guess? > Or would it have to be many pairs? > > If I were to go out and buy a pair (or a bunch of them), could I likely get them at > A hardware store? > No > A feed/ farm supply store? > No > A pet store? > Probably not > Walmart? > Yes > A clothing store? > No > A dollar store? > Maybe > A grocery store? > Yes > An office supply store? > Maybe > A bookstore? > No > > Were the first and last single items originally from the same pair? > Yes > > Are the pairs physically connected? > Yes > > If so, to separate them, would you > Break them? > Yes > Unlink them? > Tear them? > Unstick them? > Cut them? ---
**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 24, 2023, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/725 "2023-08-24T23:38:53Z")
Are they sunglasses? ---
**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:** [August 24, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/726 "2023-08-24T23:40:11Z")
No ---
**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 24, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/727 "2023-08-24T23:54:23Z")
Are the objects edible? Are they packaging for something else? > [@SurrenderDorothy](#): > > Were the first and last single items originally from the same pair? > Yes Were they originally all connected in a circle? ---
**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:** [August 24, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/728 "2023-08-24T23:55:24Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Are the objects edible? > No > > Are they packaging for something else? > Yes > > > [@SurrenderDorothy](#): > > > > Were the first and last single items originally from the same pair? > > Yes > > Were they originally all connected in a circle? > No Post can’t be empty. ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2023, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/729 "2023-08-25T00:11:00Z")
Were you using half of the first pair for something while throwing the rest away? Standing on it like a stool? Holding the pedal on the trash bin down in order to keep the lid up? Propping a cabinet or refrigerator door open? Were you doing another activity while you were throwing things away? Had you finished your activity prior to starting to throw things away? ---
**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:** [August 25, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/730 "2023-08-25T00:17:43Z")
> [@SurrenderDorothy](#): > > Were you using half of the first pair for something while throwing the rest away? > Yes > Standing on it like a stool? > No > Holding the pedal on the trash bin down in order to keep the lid up? > No > Propping a cabinet or refrigerator door open? > No > Were you doing another activity while you were throwing things away? > Yes > Had you finished your activity prior to starting to throw things away? > No No, Discourse, this post isn’t 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:** [August 25, 2023, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/731 "2023-08-25T00:51:54Z")
If these objects are packaging for something else, does that mean our little scenario is that you’re unpacking something? Are you throwing away objects that have been put in the box to cushion the product? ---
**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:** [August 25, 2023, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/732 "2023-08-25T01:08:51Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > If these objects are packaging for something else, does that mean our little scenario is that you’re unpacking something? > Partially > Are you throwing away objects that have been put in the box to cushion the product? > No qwertyuiop ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2023, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/733 "2023-08-25T01:13:32Z")
Were you cooking or preparing food? Were both parts of each pair essentially the same (as opposed to, like, a jar and a lid being counted as a pair of objects)? ---
**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:** [August 25, 2023, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/734 "2023-08-25T01:14:03Z")
Yes to Both ---
**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:** [August 25, 2023, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/735 "2023-08-25T01:19:35Z")
Eggshells? Were you separating yolks from whites? ---
**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:** [August 25, 2023, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/736 "2023-08-25T01:22:20Z")
No to both ---
**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 25, 2023, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/737 "2023-08-25T01:31:59Z")
Did you need the last half-of-a-pair to hold something while you threw the pairs away? ---
**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:** [August 25, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/738 "2023-08-25T01:34:43Z")
No ---
**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 25, 2023, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/739 "2023-08-25T01:39:58Z")
Was the last thing thrown away a pair to the first thrown away? ---
**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 25, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/740 "2023-08-25T01:54:06Z")
Are the objects made of plastic? Paper? Glass? Are they the natural shells or skins of some kind of food (e.g. peanut shells or banana peels)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=36) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=38)