# 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:** 83
**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 13, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1641 "2024-01-13T23:34:56Z")
reply to pjd: Was the doll left accidentally by a previous diaper changer, and was put there so that they might retrieve it at their next visit ? No. But I really like this guess. ---
**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 14, 2024, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1642 "2024-01-14T00:39:01Z")
If this was in space the doll would act as a gravity indicator, but alas there no grocery stores in space yet. Is the ribbon important to this, or would the answer be the same if any old bit of string was used? ---
**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 14, 2024, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1643 "2024-01-14T00:46:45Z")
Does the composition of the doll matter? Could a doll work if it were made entirely of cloth? Plastic? Paper? Corn husks? Wood? Metal? Could a doll work if it were made partly of any of those materials? ---
**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 14, 2024, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1644 "2024-01-14T00:51:09Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > If this was in space the doll would act as a gravity indicator, but alas there no grocery stores in space yet. > > Is the ribbon important to this, or would the answer be the same if any old bit of string was used? String would work just fine. ---
**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 14, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1645 "2024-01-14T00:55:39Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Does the composition of the doll matter? Could a doll work if it were made entirely of cloth? Plastic? Paper? Corn husks? Wood? Metal? Could a doll work if it were made partly of any of those materials? As long as the doll represents an infant all those materials would be fine. Barbie, for example, not good. Cabbage Patch Infant, good. ---
**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 14, 2024, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1646 "2024-01-14T01:00:42Z")
Would this be equally relevant in any sort of public bathroom, or is the fact it is a grocery store relevant? ---
**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 14, 2024, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1647 "2024-01-14T01:08:54Z")
reply to Fiendish\_Astronaut: Would this be equally relevant in any sort of public bathroom, or is the fact it is a grocery store relevant? Any public bathroom. Grocery store not relevant. ---
**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 14, 2024, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1648 "2024-01-14T01:14:07Z")
Re-reading one of the early answers this was done by a member of the public, so was this done for humorous reasons? ---
**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 14, 2024, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1649 "2024-01-14T01:17:50Z")
reply to Fiendish\_Astronaut: Re-reading one of the early answers this was done by a member of the public, so was this done for humorous reasons? Yes! ---
**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 14, 2024, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1650 "2024-01-14T01:27:44Z")
Was it deliberately misreading a sign printed by the changing table? ---
**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:** [January 14, 2024, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1651 "2024-01-14T01:31:07Z")
Was the doll modified in some way? ---
**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 14, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1652 "2024-01-14T01:46:28Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > Was it deliberately misreading a sign printed by the changing table? Sort of… ---
**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 14, 2024, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1653 "2024-01-14T01:47:49Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Was the doll modified in some way? Nothing other than dangling upside-down. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1654 "2024-01-14T02:57:02Z")
Is this in response to a warning about leaving an infant not strapped-in? Or some other safety warning sign on the changing table? ---
**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 14, 2024, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1655 "2024-01-14T03:21:14Z")
reply to Hoopy\_Frood: Is this in response to a warning about leaving an infant not strapped-in? Or some other safety warning sign on the changing table? No to all. ---
**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 14, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1656 "2024-01-14T15:17:39Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > was this done for humorous reasons? > **Yes**! It’s baby changing. You can leave your baby and take this one. ---
**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 14, 2024, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1657 "2024-01-14T15:23:11Z")
reply to Peter\_Morris: It’s baby changing. You can leave your baby and take this one. Kind of funny, that. But not the laugh intended. ---
**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 14, 2024, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1658 "2024-01-14T15:43:49Z")
Did the image on the baby changing station look like a baby hanging, so someone left one there hanging(a doll, obviously)? ---
**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 14, 2024, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1659 "2024-01-14T15:53:10Z")
reply to Mahaloth: Did the image on the baby changing station look like a baby hanging, so someone left one there hanging(a doll, obviously)? So close… ---
**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:** [January 14, 2024, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1660 "2024-01-14T19:11:05Z")
Is there some wordplay intended, possibly but not necessarily based on instructions or a warning posted at the station? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=82) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=84)