# 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:** 79
**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, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1561 "2024-01-08T19:29:14Z")
> [@](#): > > If for some reason a game were not broadcast, would she care about that game? It would change her plans, yes. To clarify this: If there were a game being played but not broadcast, would that be the same to her as if the game were not played at all? Would it be the same to her as if the game were played and broadcast? Oh, and another question: Could a scenario like this plausibly play out in the environs of some other city, with their own professional football team? All other such cities? ---
**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, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1562 "2024-01-08T19:32:06Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > To clarify this: If there were a game being played but not broadcast, would that be the same to her as if the game were not played at all? **Yes** > > Would it be the same to her as if the game were played and broadcast? Being broadcast is key!! > > Oh, and another question: Could a scenario like this plausibly play out in the environs of some other city, with their own professional football team? Probably All other such cities? I think so. Getting very close ---
**Author:** ![MonkeysBrother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MonkeysBrother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeysBrother)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1563 "2024-01-08T19:35:02Z")
Is she responsible for monitoring commercials used during the broadcast? ---
**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, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1564 "2024-01-08T19:37:09Z")
Or more generally, does she need this information for her job? ---
**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, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1565 "2024-01-08T20:03:06Z")
> [@MonkeysBrother](#): > > Is she responsible for monitoring commercials used during the broadcast? No > [@Chronos](#): > > Or more generally, does she need this information for her job? No. ---
**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, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1566 "2024-01-08T20:38:49Z")
Does part of the reason involve another person? ---
**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:** [January 8, 2024, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1567 "2024-01-08T20:49:22Z")
Does she know someone who is a Steelers fan and need to know when they’re going to be incommunicado ? ---
**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, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1568 "2024-01-08T20:56:11Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Does part of the reason involve another person? No > [@pjd](#): > > Does she know someone who is a Steelers fan and need to know > when they’re going to be incommunicado ? 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, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1569 "2024-01-08T22:04:08Z")
Well, I’m going to be tied up the rest of the evening and nobody has quite gotten it to my surprise. I was expecting the first reply to be a correct guess just because it is so simple. Many of your guesses/thoughts were way more interesting than the truth. My gf keeps an eye on the Steelers schedule (and particularly the broadcast information) because she hates doing grocery shopping when it is crowded. Around here, if you go to the grocery store when there’s a game on, the store is virtually empty. During a bye week she plans ahead and skips grocery shopping for that week. ---
**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, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1570 "2024-01-08T23:07:00Z")
We once went shopping during the Super Bowl figuring the same – no way. A thousand wives and gfs were getting out of the house. ---
**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, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1571 "2024-01-08T23:43:44Z")
I guess it varies with location. Pittsburgh is extremely close to the Steelers. I’ve been in Steeler bars in a few islands in the Caribbean and enjoyed an Iron City Beer, paying extra for the opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2024, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1572 "2024-01-09T11:38:11Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > My gf keeps an eye on the Steelers schedule (and particularly the broadcast information) because she hates doing grocery shopping when it is crowded. Around here, if you go to the grocery store when there’s a game on, the store is virtually empty. During a bye week she plans ahead and skips grocery shopping for that week. I deliberately went to IKEA during the last royal wedding. Virtually empty. ---
**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:** [January 9, 2024, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1573 "2024-01-09T17:11:26Z")
We’re being plagiarized. This is at least the second time this channel has stolen a question from us. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/NpLMKGE0ouQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Who mustn't "let go first"?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpLMKGE0ouQ) ---
**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 9, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1574 "2024-01-09T17:37:34Z")
This is hilarious, though! ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1575 "2024-01-09T18:02:36Z")
Decades ago, Los Angeles had a Day Without an Immigrant (well before the 2017 protest of the same name). I think it backfired because people that did not participate talked about how wonderful it was with no traffic, grocery stores empty, etc. ---
**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:** [January 9, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1576 "2024-01-09T18:11:42Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > We’re being plagiarized. I asked in the comment section. ---
**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:** [January 9, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1577 "2024-01-09T18:17:12Z")
Did you make this one up? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2024, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1578 "2024-01-09T18:32:43Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > This is at least the second time this channel has stolen a question from us. What was the first? ---
**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:** [January 9, 2024, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1579 "2024-01-09T19:00:39Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > What was the first? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/rGyogtAv_qE/maxresdefault.jpg "The stranger said "It's for you"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGyogtAv_qE) ---
**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 9, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1580 "2024-01-09T19:03:20Z")
No I got them both from the podcast and thought they would be fun here. Sorry should have been more transparent! Actually I thought I said in that first one I posted but obviously not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=78) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=80)