# This is one of those riddles that don't make sense and you just can't figure it out **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 13, 2002, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504 "2002-11-13T00:37:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![\_etalhea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/779978/32.png) [@\_etalhea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_etalhea)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/41 "2002-11-15T16:52:11Z")
A Candle ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/42 "2002-11-15T17:21:38Z")
A Clue! ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/43 "2002-11-15T18:21:16Z")
\ Hey **metal** , I had that sig a few moons ago. If you want to go the whole nine yards with it: _The penis, mightier than the S word_. \ **MTNGIRL** , there’s only been one person who commented in a negative way, and I’m sure he/she was just teasing playfully, and not trying to be mean. Everyone teases everyone around here, no need to get defensive. Now as to the riddle, it isn’t by any chance propaganda written by the Phillip-Morris Co.? no? OK, I’m stumped. ---
**Author:** ![MTNGIRL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MTNGIRL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTNGIRL)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/44 "2002-11-16T01:22:50Z")
I figured out that it was a pencil: colored pencils, they’re small from a days work, they’re cheap, and of course people need them. Chalk was the closest thing anyone came up with. Thanks for your some of your guys’ help. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/45 "2002-11-16T03:03:09Z")
Hey MTNGIRL I wasn’t trying to be mean with my comment, but it came out that way. I am also the one who answered chalk, so do I get let off the hook or can I take that extra credit backdated 20 years? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/46 "2002-11-16T03:16:46Z")
With all due respect, your teacher needs to be bitch slapped. This wasn’t a riddle. This was an “I spy with my little eye” game. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/47 "2002-11-16T03:26:08Z")
If it is colored pencils then that is one lame-assed mofo riddle. ---
**Author:** ![SandWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@SandWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandWriter)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/48 "2002-11-16T03:28:52Z")
sunset? ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/49 "2002-11-16T04:32:25Z")
Maybe it’s breath. Although the part about colors doesn’t make much sense. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/50 "2002-11-16T15:12:01Z")
Could it be as corny as to be “time” "I am of many colors; " Times are rosy, times are blue.(this is a reach I guess) The rest fits kinda,sorta: " People need me; At the end of the day, I am short; I do not cost much; What am I?" ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/51 "2002-11-16T18:17:02Z")
The third english word ending in “gry”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![\_etalhea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/779978/32.png) [@\_etalhea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_etalhea)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/52 "2002-11-18T04:45:44Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Moe \* \*\*\ Hey **metal** , I had that sig a few moons ago. If you want to go the whole nine yards with it: _The penis, mightier than the S word_. \ Thanks Moe. I didn’t get it from your sig, just a coincidence. Not an intentional ripoff. I gotta change it anyway, after about 30 days a sig gets old to me. Also the main reason I don’t have any tattoo’s. Later. ---
**Author:** ![MTNGIRL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MTNGIRL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTNGIRL)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/53 "2002-11-18T06:08:49Z")
I know, I agree. All of the answers everyone gave were more logical than the answer. Of course, like any other lame riddle it had to be something that no one would give thought to (some did come close like “chalk”). Anyways thanks again you guys. ---
**Author:** ![quicken78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/919ad9/32.png) [@quicken78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quicken78)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/54 "2002-11-18T07:08:39Z")
MTNGIRL, are you from SA? Are you posting from your cell phone? ---
**Author:** ![SandWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@SandWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandWriter)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/55 "2002-11-19T21:55:31Z")
Pencils! Man, What a ripoff! Pencils are not always short at the end of the day, depending on their use, you could start off with a short one, then switch in the middle of the day to a longer one. Plus with today’s mechanical pencils, they stay the same length and only the lead (or non-lead lead substitute) gets shorter. I thought it was an emotion or some other intangible like patience. What rip. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/56 "2002-11-19T22:43:10Z")
Plus, who really **needs** colored pencils? Plus, a colored pencil is not many colors, and the riddle asked for an item in the singular, not the plural. See if the teacher will give you extra credit for pointing out all her illogical mistakes. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MTNGIRL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MTNGIRL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTNGIRL)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/57 "2002-11-21T04:53:44Z")
Thanks, those are pretty good observations. It seems to me that you guys have been doing this for quite some time. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504/58 "2002-11-21T05:20:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mnemosyne \* > \*\*a penny is just worth a penny > \*\* Wait, wait, ya lost me. I thought “chalk” right away. I’m too literal minded for riddles. I always guess “rocks” when the answer is “love.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-one-of-those-riddles-that-dont-make-sense-and-you-just-cant-figure-it-out/136504.md?page=2)