# 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:** 76
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1501 "2023-12-27T22:35:55Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Is there any connection between the two Sals other than their both being named Sal? Brothers > [@Yllaria](#): > > Are both Sals male? Both male Shall I finish this, or does anyone know who I’m talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1502 "2023-12-28T11:23:39Z")
I don’t know the people involved, but is this one of those “Our baby died, and our new baby is actually our old one reincarnated and so we’ve named them the same and will treat them as if they were” type deals? ---
**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:** [December 28, 2023, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1503 "2023-12-28T15:49:35Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > I don’t know the people involved, but is this one of those “Our baby died, and our new baby is actually our old one reincarnated and so we’ve named them the same and will treat them as if they were” type deals?. Who was the celebrity raised this way as a baby? I thought it was W.C. Fields or something, but I think I have the wrong celebrity. An older sibling died before their birth and when they were born they were given the same name and possibly raised as if they were that child. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1504 "2023-12-28T16:35:38Z")
[Salvador Dali](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Dal%C3%AD), surrealist painter, born May 11, 1904; son of Salvador and Felipa. His older brother, Salvador, died as a toddler (1901-1903) ---
**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:** [December 28, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1505 "2023-12-28T17:14:47Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > [Salvador Dali](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Dal%C3%AD), surrealist painter, born May 11, 1904; son of Salvador and Felipa. His older brother, Salvador, died as a toddler (1901-1903). That’s it!!! ---
**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:** [December 28, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1506 "2023-12-28T20:48:24Z")
I don’t think I ever would have gotten that one; I didn’t know anything about Dali’s family. OK: what I came up with is a dim recollection of a story, I don’t remember name of story or author. Early in the story we’re given two pieces of information about the viewpoint character. One is that her sole inheritance from her mother is a high quality fur coat. The other is that although she dearly loves the man she’s living with, he can’t satisfy her sexual desires. These two pieces of information indicate something essential about the character. What is it? ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1507 "2023-12-28T21:02:29Z")
I think I know this but as I’m first to guess, I shall blur it to save it for others. a dog or a cat? ---
**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:** [December 28, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1508 "2023-12-28T21:03:12Z")
I said it was probably too easy ---
**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:** [December 28, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1509 "2023-12-28T21:12:46Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I don’t remember name of story or author. [This one.](https://isfd88-bue.infd.edu.ar/sitio/upload/Just_Good_Friends_-_by_J._Archer_1.pdf) ---
**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:** [December 28, 2023, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1510 "2023-12-28T22:00:04Z")
Isn’t that the one he “borrowed” from someone else ? Allegedly. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1511 "2023-12-28T22:09:58Z")
Yes, it is. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2023, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1512 "2023-12-28T22:23:32Z")
Yes, I think that’s it. Unless, if it’s “borrowed”, I’m remembering where it’s borrowed from. Maybe I should just withdraw this one. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1513 "2024-01-03T14:09:32Z")
I enjoyed the story, even though it had already been spoiled by the nature of the game. Thanks! ---
**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:** [January 3, 2024, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1514 "2024-01-03T17:38:13Z")
OK, I think that was officially a failure. (Or as officially as it can get without the OP weighing in.) I’ll try to think of something else on the off chance that I win another one; but in the meantime, anybody else got one? ---
**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:** [January 3, 2024, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1515 "2024-01-03T17:47:33Z")
I actually liked it, as one of the best in this thread. It was logical and guessable whilst being tricky. It’s much better than the “vague statement that could really apply to anything being narrowed down by inches to specific situation that was completely unguessable” that most of these are. I would much prefer to see more like @thorny_locust’s even if they do go quick. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2024, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1516 "2024-01-03T18:25:10Z")
Thanks! – but it also wasn’t drawing any guesses. I think maybe I should have given less information to start with; maybe leaving out that it was taken from a story. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1517 "2024-01-08T02:26:43Z")
Here’s another one from the real world. A profession has the following rule: “Don’t let go first.” What is it? ---
**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:** [January 8, 2024, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1518 "2024-01-08T02:37:28Z")
Is it referring to letting go of something tangible? Is it referring to something being held by the hand(s) of a member of the profession? Is there someone else holding on to something? If so, is that someone else from the same profession? Does the profession make something? Does the profession gather something from somewhere? Does the profession provide a service? ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1519 "2024-01-08T02:43:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Is it referring to letting go of something tangible? > > Yes > > Is it referring to something being held by the hand(s) of a member of the profession? > > Depends. > > Is there someone else holding on to something? > > Yes > > If so, is that someone else from the same profession? > > No > > Does the profession make something? > > No > > Does the profession gather something from somewhere? > > No > > Does the profession provide a service? > > Yes This might not take too long to get but I’m going to sleep now so it’ll last at least a few more hours! ---
**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:** [January 8, 2024, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1520 "2024-01-08T03:20:42Z")
By letting go first would you lose a sale? lose a life? let down your team? ruin a relationship? Are these profession holders hoping that someone else will let go first? Would someone else holding hope that you let go first instead of them? Do we hope that no one let’s go? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=75) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=77)