# Three Minute Mysteries Part III **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 29, 2000, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379 "2000-03-29T19:00:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/61 "2000-03-29T19:42:00Z")
_Could the man have died the same way in another confined area (say an elevator)?_ No. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/62 "2000-03-29T19:42:00Z")
Does the fish have anything to do with HOW the man died? Does the fish have anything to do with WHY the man died? ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/63 "2000-03-29T19:44:00Z")
Did the man bleed to death? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/64 "2000-03-29T19:44:00Z")
_Do you realize that if you’ve left and don’t keep playing this game until someone solves it, my entire afternoon is shot?_ Yes. 😃 _Was there a phone call involved before the man died?_ Yes. _If so, did it have something to do with the fish?_ Yes. _Does the fish have anything to do with HOW the man died?_ yes. _Does the fish have anything to do with WHY the man died?_ Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/65 "2000-03-29T19:45:00Z")
The problem with these mysteries is that there are so many possible solutions. Fer example, the man is carrying the package and drops it after spending his last dime (showing my age here) on the phone call. Hopelessly wedged in, he starves to death after first attempting to smash his way out of the phone booth. Or…he’s carrying fresh fish home in a newspaper when a pack of starving sabertoothed tigers observe him. He flees into the phonebooth for protection but it’s too late. He drops the fish in horror as huge talons of death rip through the glass and metal like they were tissue paper. Or…a fisherman catches a prize fish and is calling home to gloat when a poorly operated forklift skewers the phone booth, knocking it off the dock into full fathoms five of water. Or the guy with the fish is the 1-800-Call-ATT guy and he’s just finished another damn commercial when trained military SEALS finally locate him and pierce him with spear guns, leaving him thrashing in a final agony. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/66 "2000-03-29T19:45:00Z")
_Did the man bleed to death?_ Yes. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/67 "2000-03-29T19:46:00Z")
The plot thickens. Not unlike pea soup. Did the man place the call? Did the person on the other end induce the man’s death? Was the fish completely dead? ARE YOU SURE? ---
**Author:** ![MtnMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@MtnMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MtnMan)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/68 "2000-03-29T19:46:00Z")
Did the dead man initiate the phone call? ---
**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 29, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/69 "2000-03-29T19:49:00Z")
Did the broken glass kill the man? Did he die from bleeding to death? (not exactly natural causes.) did the man drop the fish and bump his head picking it up? It’s never been specifically asked… Did the man break the glass? ~or was it something else? ~ someone else? * * * New and Improved Enright3 ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/70 "2000-03-29T19:51:00Z")
So far: Man dead in old-fashioned phone both, with two (opposite) sides damaged. Nor murder or suicide or disease. Man broke glass while dying. Man has bled to death. Man was never trapped in the phone booth and did not break the glass for air. In another enclosed spot (such as elevator) man would not have died. Raw, dead fish wrapped in newspaper at the man’s feet. Man brought fish into phone booth with him. Species of fish is irrelevant. Phone call involving fish happened before man died. _Did the man place the call?_ Yes. _Did the person on the other end induce the man’s death?_ No. _Was the fish completely dead? ARE YOU SURE?_ Yes. _Did the dead man initiate the phone call?_ Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trout_Mask_Replica)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/71 "2000-03-29T19:52:00Z")
Did the man get into an argument with the person he called? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/72 "2000-03-29T19:53:00Z")
_Did the broken glass kill the man?_ Yes. _did the man drop the fish and bump his head picking it up?_ No. _Did the man break the glass?_ Yes. _Did the man get into an argument with the person he called?_ No. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/73 "2000-03-29T19:54:00Z")
Is WHO the man called relevant? ---
**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 29, 2000, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/74 "2000-03-29T19:57:00Z")
## Did the man get the fish he was supposed to? Would he have died had he gotten a different fish? Does the size of the fish matter? New and Improved Enright3 ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/75 "2000-03-29T19:58:00Z")
_Is WHO the man called relevant?_ Somewhat. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/76 "2000-03-29T19:58:00Z")
Did the man break the glass by accident? ---
**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 29, 2000, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/77 "2000-03-29T19:59:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Finagle: > \*\*The problem with these mysteries is that there are so many possible solutions. > \*\* Finagle, ## I think that’s what so fun about them. You’re given some obscure facts that could be just about anything, and you try to figure out what happened using only yes and no questions. New and Improved Enright3 ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/78 "2000-03-29T20:00:00Z")
OK, man is a diver. He leaned his speargun against the outside of the phonebooth while making his call. When slamming down the receiver, he accidentally jars the gun, setting it off and skewering himself. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/79 "2000-03-29T20:00:00Z")
Did the man ever end the conversation? ie: did he die mid-coversation? Did the conversation cause him to become aggitated? ---
**Author:** ![Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trout_Mask_Replica)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379/80 "2000-03-29T20:00:00Z")
Did the man drop the fish before he died? Did he call the person who sold him the fish? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-minute-mysteries-part-iii/15379.md?page=5)