# Offspring of Three Minute Mysteries **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 30, 2000, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410 "2000-03-30T03:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/1 "2000-03-30T03:16:00Z")
If you’ve been following the Three Minute Mysteries threads, you know how this works. I’ve never known anyone to get the answer for this without hints, but I hope the SDMBers will do better than us and our RL friends. A man was driving down the road. He pulled over to the side and killed himself. Why? I’m hoping to get to bed by midnight, so let’s get those questions flowing. ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/2 "2000-03-30T06:15:00Z")
Was he listening to the radio? * * * Am I reading Hippocrates right? He’s not just a big box for storing large semi-aquatic mammals, is he? ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/3 "2000-03-30T07:26:00Z")
He realized what a pointless misery life is? ---
**Author:** ![Lexicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/4 "2000-03-30T07:29:00Z")
Because he hit the tree that was there. Now then: A man is marrooned in the desert and has plenty of water. But he’s not worried about starvation. Why? * * * “Winners never quit and quitters never win, but those who never win and never quit are idiots.” And “This site is more addictive than caramel-covered crack!” ---
**Author:** ![fippo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@fippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fippo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/5 "2000-03-30T07:52:00Z")
Because he has plenty of food, too? * * * Fippo- _Through our bleeding/We are one_ ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/6 "2000-03-30T12:55:00Z")
Was he listening to the radio? YES He realized what a pointless misery life is? NO Because he hit the tree that was there. NO A man is marrooned in the desert and has plenty of water. But he’s not worried about starvation. Why? BECAUSE OF THE SAND WHICH IS (SANDWICHES) THERE. THAT’S A WORD GAME, NOT A MYSTERY. I’m off to (Internet-free) work now. Feel free to ponder the mystery and I’ll answer questions when I get home. ---
**Author:** ![RussellM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed8c4c/32.png) [@RussellM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RussellM)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/7 "2000-03-30T12:59:00Z")
- The odds against anything coming from Mars, were a million to one. But still they came \* Russell ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/8 "2000-03-30T13:05:00Z")
Did he commit suicide? Was his death accidental? ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/9 "2000-03-30T15:17:00Z")
The man heard something on the radio that greatly distressed him, so he killed himself. i.e. [ul]He found out his family was killed. He found out that the police were after him. He was supposed to kill himself when something specific was said on the radio.[/ul] * * * New and Improved Enright3 ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/10 "2000-03-30T16:15:00Z")
These kind of puzzles are often called story games or linear thinking puzzles…there is a collection of them at [www.eecg.toronto.edu/~bryn/HTML/Stories.html](http://www.eecg.toronto.edu/~bryn/HTML/Stories.html) My fave is Albatross Soup * * * Sure, when … “OINK FLAP OINK FLAP” ----well I’ll be damned! ---
**Author:** ![danielnsmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c89c15/32.png) [@danielnsmith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danielnsmith)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/11 "2000-03-30T16:53:00Z")
Simple (I hope.) He was on a bridge when he pulled off of the side of it and off into the water. ---
**Author:** ![I.M.Kierkegaard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ea5d25/32.png) [@I.M.Kierkegaard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.M.Kierkegaard)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/12 "2000-03-30T16:54:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by beagledave: > My fave is Albatross Soup … “mmmm albatross soup… reminds me of this divine dish I had while deserted on an island with a magnificent chef…” * * * –I am Soren Kierkegaard.– “People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid.” ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/13 "2000-03-31T06:46:00Z")
Another one that allows infinite possible stories: 1. He was listening to American Top 40 and they got to the Brittany Spears(sp?) song. 2. He pulled over to rest, left the motor running so he could listen to the radio, and the exhaust system in his 1972 Chevy Impala leaked, giving him CO poisoning. 3. He heard Eve Golden dedicate a song to someone else. 4. He heard a stock market report and realized he lost his shirt. (Three and four are just variations of Enright’s guesses.) 1. He forgot he was driving in England, pulled over to the right and was clobbered by a lorry. 2. He forgot he was driving south on the Pacific Coast highway and plunged to a horrible fiery death off any otherwise scenic vista. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/14 "2000-03-30T23:35:00Z")
**SwimmingRiddles** asks: _Did he commit suicide?_ YES. _Was his death accidental?_ NO. **Enright3** asks: _The man heard something on the radio that greatly distressed him, so he killed himself._ BE MORE SPECIFIC _He found out his family was killed._ NO. _He found out that the police were after him._ NO. _He was supposed to kill himself when something specific was said on the radio._ NO. **danielnsmith** asks: _He was on a bridge when he pulled off of the side of it and off into the water._ NO. **Finagle** asks: _Another one that allows infinite possible stories:_ THAT’S WHY YOU ASK QUESTIONS. THE IDEA IS NOT TO ASK RANDOM QUESTIONS HOPING TO COMPLETELY DESCRIBE THE INTENDED SCENARIO BY LUCK/CHANCE, BUT TO GET ENOUGH CLUES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO SOLVE IT. _1. He was listening to American Top 40 and they got to the Brittany Spears(sp?) song._ NO _2. He pulled over to rest, left the motor running so he could listen to the radio, and the exhaust system in his 1972 Chevy Impala leaked, giving him CO poisoning._ NO. _3. He heard Eve Golden dedicate a song to someone else._ NO. _4. He heard a stock market report and realized he lost his shirt._ _(Three and four are just variations of Enright’s guesses.)_ YES, THEY ARE. THOSE ARE WRONG, TOO. _5. He forgot he was driving in England, pulled over to the right and was clobbered by a lorry._ NO. _6. He forgot he was driving south on the Pacific Coast highway and plunged to a horrible fiery death off any otherwise scenic vista._ NO. Anyways, I’m back now. Any more questions? ---
**Author:** ![Pixoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pixoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixoid)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/15 "2000-03-31T00:22:00Z")
Kat, I’ve sent an e-mail guess, as I think I’ve heard this one before… -Pix * * * Question authority–just not mine. ---
**Author:** ![Pixoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pixoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixoid)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/16 "2000-03-31T00:38:00Z")
Kat, I’ve sent an e-mail guess, as I think I’ve heard this one before… -Pix * * * Question authority–just not mine. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/17 "2000-03-31T01:59:00Z")
Okay, the topic list says last post at 6:38. Just wondering if a new post will cause it to show up. Especially since I need to know if my long post made it in. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/18 "2000-03-31T03:54:00Z")
OK, so you weren’t amused by my guesses. The 3-minute mysteries I remember from my youth didn’t allow questions. You pretty much had to get them from the initial conditions. Anyway: Did the man just hit someone? ---
**Author:** ![Nanno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nanno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanno)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/19 "2000-03-31T03:59:00Z")
ok, he was driving “down” the road, when his car hit the bottom it was like he killed himself, right?? * * * whatever ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410/20 "2000-03-31T04:05:00Z")
_Did the man just hit someone?_ NO. _OK, so you weren’t amused by my guesses._ Well, **I** thought they were funny (especially the Brittany Spears one), but Stentorian-voiced Answerwoman wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise. Oops, watch out, she’s comin’ back. _ok, he was driving “down” the road, when his car hit the bottom it was like he killed himself, right??_ NO. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offspring-of-three-minute-mysteries/15410.md?page=2)