# 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:** 89
**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:** [March 9, 2024, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1761 "2024-03-09T22:01:41Z")
Fair enough. They surely would have been among the first to celebrate the new century but that’s not what this was about. The positioning of the ship was the crux. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1762 "2024-03-09T23:30:56Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > They weren’t celebrating a special year. > [@Biotop](#): > > Close. The S. S. Warrimoo supposedly changed its course to pass over the equator and the date line at exactly midnight on December 31st 1899. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I’m guessing they became the first people to celebrate a special year. To be pedantic, not the beginning of a century but something like 1800, **1900** , 2000. Midnight December 31, 1899 does mean they were the first in the year 1900. > [@Biotop](#): > > Fair enough. They surely would have been among the first to celebrate the new century but that’s not what this was about. The positioning of the ship was the crux. > [@Biotop](#): > > But based on the responses to Chronos, they did cross the IDL right as the year was changing? > But it wasn’t a special year like an American ship being the first to be in 1876 (Centennial year)? > > No. Note above I had 1900 as a special year. And this one talked about **the ship crossing the IDL** at a special time. So again Thread Foul on Biotop. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1763 "2024-03-13T17:26:56Z")
**A man was wanted for burglarizing dozens of businesses over a period of almost a year. Surveillance footage from the businesses clearly showed this man’s face and the local news station showed this footage to viewers on many occasions. The local police department even placed “wanted” posters around the community to help catch the burglar. However, when the man was spotted by two police officers familiar with the burglaries, he was not arrested. What happened?** ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1764 "2024-03-13T18:11:19Z")
Was he dead? ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1765 "2024-03-13T18:25:08Z")
Was he already in jail? Was he at religious services? Was he in a place outside of their jurisdiction? ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1766 "2024-03-13T18:32:59Z")
Was he dead? **No.** Was he already in jail? Well, that was quick! **Answer: The man was currently in jail and the two police officers came to get a statement from him for the upcoming trial.** ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1767 "2024-03-13T18:49:39Z")
Whoops. Might take me a while to come up with one; anybody who’s got one ready, please feel free to go ahead and post it. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1768 "2024-03-13T19:09:47Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > Answer: The man was currently in jail and the two police officers came to get a statement from him for the upcoming trial. Could we also say he was out of their jurisdiction? ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1769 "2024-03-13T19:11:59Z")
OK I have one. Explaining an automobile add-on saved a person’s life. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1770 "2024-03-13T20:03:26Z")
Was an automobile accident involved? Was it the information conveyed in the explanation that saved the life, or was it the act of explaining the add-on itself that saved the life (say for example a delay caused by the explanation)? Was it the person who was saved the person who explained the add-on? Was it the person who was saved the person who the add-on was explained to? Was the person who did the saving the person the add-on was explained to? Did understanding the add-on help a person escape an automobile? Did understanding the add-on allow a person to call for help? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1771 "2024-03-13T20:11:25Z")
Was the add-on a safety device? Was the add-on a manufacturer offered option, or a 3rd party product? Was the add-on used in the manner it was intended to be used when it was first installed or was it an “off label” sort of use? Was it a whoopie knob? I only ask because I want to mention whoopie knobs. [Apparently, they’re actually called Brodie Knobs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodie_knob) ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1772 "2024-03-13T22:54:47Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Was an automobile accident involved? > > Was it the information conveyed in the explanation that saved the life, or was it the act of explaining the add-on itself that saved the life (say for example a delay caused by the explanation)? > > Was it the person who was saved the person who explained the add-on? > Was it the person who was saved the person who the add-on was explained to? > Was the person who did the saving the person the add-on was explained to? > > Did understanding the add-on help a person escape an automobile? > > Did understanding the add-on allow a person to call for help? No Yes to the information. The person who explained was part of saving the life No Understanding? Well technically yes but I fear that may be the wrong path. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1773 "2024-03-13T22:56:31Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > as the add-on a safety device? > > Was the add-on a manufacturer offered option, or a 3rd party product? > > Was the add-on used in the manner it was intended to be used when it was first installed or was it an “off label” sort of use? > > Was it a whoopie knob? No 3rd Party Used in the manner it was intended Nope to the suicide knob ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1774 "2024-03-13T23:02:36Z")
Was the add-on something that would be visible to someone standing next to the car? Sitting inside? Looking under the hood? ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1775 "2024-03-13T23:05:32Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Understanding? Well technically yes but I fear that may be the wrong path. Let me explain further. The person doing the explaining did the call for help, not the person that learned. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1776 "2024-03-13T23:06:10Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Was the add-on something that would be visible to someone standing next to the car? > Sitting inside? > Looking under the hood? It was inside the car in the sitting area, not the engine or trunk. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1777 "2024-03-13T23:27:14Z")
Was the add-on itself instrumental in the life-saving? Was it instrumental in causing the danger to life? If the explainer hadn’t been present, but all others present were nonetheless well-informed about the add-on, would the life still have been saved? ---
**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:** [March 13, 2024, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1778 "2024-03-13T23:37:39Z")
Nope Nope That is a tough one. Possibly on the choices they made. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1779 "2024-03-14T00:58:13Z")
Was the add-on primarily electronic in nature? Was the add-on primarily mechanical in nature? Did the person who used the device do so with the purpose of getting help? Was this add-on invented after the year 2000. Was this add on invented after the year 1980. Was this add on invented after the year 1950. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2024, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1780 "2024-03-14T03:34:55Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Was the add-on primarily electronic in nature? > Was the add-on primarily mechanical in nature? Electronic > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Did the person who used the device do so with the purpose of getting help? Nope > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Was this add-on invented after the year 2000. > Was this add on invented after the year 1980. > Was this add on invented after the year 1950. In the form we are familiar with after 1950 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=88) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=90)