# 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:** 77
**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 8, 2024, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1521 "2024-01-08T03:37:52Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Is there someone else holding on to something? > > Yes Is the someone else a human? (I don’t know why Discus is only quoting Chronos and not @Fiendish_Astronaut, who was answering Chronos.) ---
**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, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1522 "2024-01-08T03:55:35Z")
After someone else lets go, is there any problem with one of these professionals letting go second? ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1523 "2024-01-08T04:45:02Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > “Don’t let go first.” Is the profession religious? Is the thing being held another person? Does the holding involve hugging? Is the holding shaking hands? ---
**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:** [January 8, 2024, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1524 "2024-01-08T04:51:18Z")
Is it a phone call? Like, if you work at a suicide-prevention hotline, maybe you’re told to never hang up first? ---
**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, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1525 "2024-01-08T11:02:27Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > lose a sale? > lose a life? > let down your team? > ruin a relationship? No to all > [@Biotop](#): > > Are these profession holders hoping that someone else will let go first? Yes > [@Biotop](#): > > Would someone else holding hope that you let go first instead of them? Don’t know > [@Biotop](#): > > Do we hope that no one let’s go? No > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Is the someone else a human? Yes > [@Chronos](#): > > After someone else lets go, is there any problem with one of these professionals letting go second? No > [@OldGuy](#): > > Is the profession religious? No > [@OldGuy](#): > > Is the thing being held another person? Not relevant > [@OldGuy](#): > > Does the holding involve hugging? Yes > [@OldGuy](#): > > Is the holding shaking hands? No ---
**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:** [January 8, 2024, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1526 "2024-01-08T13:13:55Z")
Is the hugging being done to comfort someone who is distraught? ---
**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, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1527 "2024-01-08T13:18:21Z")
Wait a moment… The holding does involve hugging, but it’s not relevant if what’s being held is a person? That seems… incongruous, to me. Is the thing being held always alive? Is the thing being held sometimes alive? Is it always an animal? Is it sometimes an animal? > [@](#): > > Is it referring to something being held by the hand(s) of a member of the profession? > > Depends. OK, let’s drill deeper into this. Is it referring to something being held by a member of the profession? Is it something that might be held by a member of the profession? Do they always use their hands for this? Do they sometimes use their hands for this? ---
**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 8, 2024, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1528 "2024-01-08T14:39:17Z")
Is the professional a member of an organization? Does the gender of the professional matter? Are the professionals getting paid for their service of hugging, or is this free of charge? Are there more than one of these people hugging at the same time? I think I know it. I’ll spoiler tag it to let others keep guessing. Is it workers (characters) at Disneyland/Disneyworld? I’m betting they’re told to not let go first. ---
**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, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1529 "2024-01-08T14:43:29Z")
@Rebo’s answer is correct! Good work! If you or @Chronos want to continue playing shall I answer your questions? ---
**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, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1530 "2024-01-08T15:14:42Z")
Let’s at least see answers to the currently-outstanding questions. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1531 "2024-01-08T15:17:46Z")
Hah! I read Rebo’s spoilered answer. Good job @Rebo! Great puzzle ---
**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, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1532 "2024-01-08T15:21:02Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Is the hugging being done to comfort someone who is distraught? No > [@Chronos](#): > > Is the thing being held always alive? Yes > [@Chronos](#): > > Is the thing being held sometimes alive? > Is it always an animal? > Is it sometimes an animal? No > [@Chronos](#): > > Is it referring to something being held by a member of the profession? Yes > [@Chronos](#): > > Is it something that might be held by a member of the profession? > Do they always use their hands for this? > Do they sometimes use their hands for this? Sorry if my answers were vague to this line of questioning before but we’ve now established the holding refers to hugging; hands are involved but they aren’t doing all of the holding so the wording mattered. > [@Rebo](#): > > Is the professional a member of an organization? Yes > [@Rebo](#): > > Does the gender of the professional matter? No > [@Rebo](#): > > Are the professionals getting paid for their service of hugging, or is this free of charge? They are paid, but not per hug > [@Rebo](#): > > Are there more than one of these people hugging at the same time? Not usually but maybe sometimes I suppose. ---
**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, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1533 "2024-01-08T15:27:30Z")
OK, I read the spoiler, too. Let’s call this one done. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1534 "2024-01-08T15:59:19Z")
I have one that should go very quickly. It is from my real life and made some friends laugh over the holidays. **My gf has the Pittsburgh Steelers schedule refrigerator magnet hanging in our kitchen. She has their schedule hanging up on the bulletin board of her office at home. She has their schedule on her phone as well.** **Why?** ---
**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, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1535 "2024-01-08T16:07:40Z")
I take it your gf is not a fan of the Steelers but has the schedule up for another reason? Are you a Steelers fan? Is someone else in the household a Steelers fan? Does she or anyone else in the household work for the Steelers? Or for a business that serves the Steelers? Or a business that is close by and affected by supporter traffic? ---
**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:** [January 8, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1536 "2024-01-08T16:14:28Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > I take it your gf is not a fan of the Steelers but has the schedule up for another reason? Correct > > Are you a Steelers fan? Not really > > Is someone else in the household a Steelers fan? Nope > > Does she or anyone else in the household work for the Steelers? Actually, her nephew does but that’s not the reason. > > Or for a business that serves the Steelers? Nope > > Or a business that is close by and affected by supporter traffic? You’re getting warm here. This’ll be 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 8, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1537 "2024-01-08T16:18:06Z")
Are you asking why she has the schedule in multiple places (as opposed to just relying on one of them); or asking why she needs/wants the schedule at all? ETA: does she need the schedule because of traffic concerns? ---
**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:** [January 8, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1538 "2024-01-08T16:18:52Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > asking why she needs/wants the schedule at all? This is correct. ---
**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 8, 2024, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1539 "2024-01-08T16:19:41Z")
That was quick – you replied while I was editing. Did you see the edit? ---
**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:** [January 8, 2024, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1540 "2024-01-08T16:20:16Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > does she need the schedule because of traffic concerns? No, she does not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=76) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=78)