# 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:** 69
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1361 "2023-11-20T05:48:03Z")
Here’s an oldie but goodie. I encountered it when I was a student at Defense Language Institute way back in the early 1980s. I did a quick Internet search and didn’t find it, so let’s have at it! _A man murders a wino on Skid Row and then cuts off the wino’s arms. The man mails each arm to a different address. The man then goes to the train station. Another man sees him, becomes enraged, and kills the first man. Why did the last man become enraged and kill the first man?_ ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1362 "2023-11-20T06:48:19Z")
p.s. I’m in Beijing, so it might take a bit of time before I affirm or deny responses. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1363 "2023-11-20T07:02:01Z")
Did the first man know the wino.? Did the second man know the wino? Did the second man know the first man? ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1364 "2023-11-20T08:28:38Z")
Just to be clear: Adam murders Bob and sends his arms through the post, then goes to a train station. Charlie gedts angry and kills Adam? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1365 "2023-11-20T08:49:02Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Did the first man know the wino.? No. > [@](#): > > Did the second man know the wino? No. > [@](#): > > Did the second man know the first man? Yes. (Assuming the second man is “Charlie” and the first man is “Adam”.) > [@colinfred](#): > > Just to be clear: Adam murders Bob and sends his arms through the post, then goes to a train station. Charlie gedts angry and kills Adam? Yes. Remember “Adam” sent “Bob’s” arms to different addresses. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1366 "2023-11-20T11:35:36Z")
Are Adam and Charlie involved in a criminal conspiracy together? If so, does Charlie get angry because Adam deviated from the plan? Were Bob’s fingerprints to be used for some purpose? If so, was there a reason to send the whole arms rather than just the hands? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1367 "2023-11-20T14:47:12Z")
Did A go to the train station more than a day later after mailing the wino arms? Was the train station was one of the addresses? Did A not properly prepare the wino arms for mailing? Did C work at the post office where A sent the wino arms? Did C recognize who the wino arms belonged to? Was some kind of deception intended? ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1368 "2023-11-20T16:47:09Z")
Did “Adam” send one of “Bob’s” arms to “Charlie’s” address? [ETA: or both of them to two addresses of “Charlie”'s? Did the two addresses belong to the same person/business/other group? Were the addresses those of individual/family residences, and/or businesses, and/or governmental institutions, and/or something else? ---
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1369 "2023-11-20T21:15:48Z")
Does the word “arms” refer to human limbs, starting at the shoulder, with a hand at the end? Is there another meaning such as _weapons_? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1370 "2023-11-20T22:56:43Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Are Adam and Charlie involved in a criminal conspiracy together? I’m going to have to say no for this one. > [@](#): > > If so, does Charlie get angry because Adam deviated from the plan? _I guess it’s okay to relax/stretch the yes/no rule on this one._ There was no criminal conspiracy, but yes, Adam deviated from a plan. > [@](#): > > Were Bob’s fingerprints to be used for some purpose? No. > [@](#): > > If so, was there a reason to send the whole arms rather than just the hands? Yes, there was a reason to send the whole arm, but no, it has nothing to do with fingerprints. > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Did A go to the train station more than a day later after mailing the wino arms? Yes. > [@](#): > > Was the train station was one of the addresses? No. > [@](#): > > Did A not properly prepare the wino arms for mailing? I like the question! But, sadly, the answer is no. > [@](#): > > Did C work at the post office where A sent the wino arms? No. > [@](#): > > Did C recognize who the wino arms belonged to? No. > [@](#): > > Was some kind of deception intended? Yes. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Did “Adam” send one of “Bob’s” arms to “Charlie’s” address? Yes. > [@](#): > > [ETA: or both of them to two addresses of “Charlie”'s? No. > [@](#): > > Did the two addresses belong to the same person No. > [@](#): > > /business No. > [@](#): > > /other group? No. > [@](#): > > Were the addresses those of individual/family residences, Yes. > [@](#): > > and/or businesses, No. > [@](#): > > and/or governmental institutions, No. > [@](#): > > and/or something else? No. (See above about family residences.) > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Does the word “arms” refer to human limbs, starting at the shoulder, with a hand at the end? Yes. > [@](#): > > Is there another meaning such as _weapons_? Not for this exercise. (I’m surprised nobody’s prefaced their guesses with _On the one hand…and on the other…_) ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1371 "2023-11-20T23:40:22Z")
Did C know that it was A who sent the arm? ---
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1372 "2023-11-20T23:50:41Z")
Did the original plan call for A to send something other than human arms to those addresses? If so: Did the aforementioned deviation consist of his sending arms instead? Did A switch the plan up because he decided that using arms would be more effective than the planned-on item for their purpose? Or because it would be easier? Or cheaper? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1373 "2023-11-21T00:13:46Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Did C know that it was A who sent the arm? Yes. > [@dirtball](#): > > Did the original plan call for A to send something other than human arms to those addresses? No. > [@](#): > > If so: > Did the aforementioned deviation consist of his sending arms instead? > Did A switch the plan up because he decided that using arms would be more effective than the planned-on item for their purpose? > Or because it would be easier? > Or cheaper? No. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1374 "2023-11-21T01:54:21Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > > > Did C know that it was A who sent the arm? > > Yes. Did C kill A because A sent the arm? Did C kill A because A killed the wino? Did C kill A because something about the arm told C that A had killed the wrong person? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1375 "2023-11-21T02:01:40Z")
Is there a correlation between “arms” as human limbs and as weaponry? (eg, A was requested to send arms to C) ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1376 "2023-11-21T02:06:45Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Did C kill A because A sent the arm? Yes. > [@](#): > > Did C kill A because A killed the wino? No. > [@](#): > > Did C kill A because something about the arm told C that A had killed the wrong person? No. > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Is there a correlation between “arms” as human limbs and as weaponry? (eg, A was requested to send arms to C) No. But that would be funny. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1377 "2023-11-21T02:23:25Z")
At the time C got angry with A, did he know that A had killed the wino? At the time that C got angry with A, did he know that A had mailed the arms? Was the motive for the original murder (of the wino) relevant? Was the choice of target for the original murder relevant (as opposed to a wino being a convenient and easy target)? ---
**Author:** ![MonkeysBrother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MonkeysBrother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeysBrother)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1378 "2023-11-21T19:08:15Z")
Was C expecting to get one of A’s arms? ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1379 "2023-11-21T22:56:00Z")
Did A send C the wrong arm ? Was C expecting to get an arm with a Rolex attached ? Did C kill A because A sent the other arm to the wrong address ? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1380 "2023-11-22T13:26:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > At the time C got angry with A, did he know that A had killed the wino? No. > [@](#): > > At the time that C got angry with A, did he know that A had mailed the arms? Yes. C knew A had mailed one arm to C. > [@](#): > > Was the motive for the original murder (of the wino) relevant? Yes. (Honestly, I had to think on this for a while. When I asked that question ages ago, the poser said no, but I am convinced it’s yes.) > [@](#): > > Was the choice of target for the original murder relevant (as opposed to a wino being a convenient and easy target)? Yes, relevant and yes, easy, convenient target. > [@MonkeysBrother](#): > > Was C expecting to get one of A’s arms? Yes. > [@pjd](#): > > Did A send C the wrong arm ? I assume you are asking if A sent a left arm when he should have sent a right arm. No. > [@](#): > > Was C expecting to get an arm with a Rolex attached ? No. Anyway, who mails a Rolex? > [@](#): > > Did C kill A because A sent the other arm to the wrong address ? No. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=68) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=70)