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Post by Oliveman on Nov 29, 2007 2:45:29 GMT -5
I've decided to start a weekly game, appropriate for our awesome, creative group.
These are actually called Lateral Thinking Puzzles. I'll be respectful and start off giving you a "Fiendish" Puzzle:
The Cellar Door A little girl was warned by her parents never to open the cellar door or she would see things she was not meant to see. One day while her parents were out she did open the cellar door. What did she see?
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tsukiryoko
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There's a Skittle on the floor! Quick, grab it!
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Post by tsukiryoko on Nov 30, 2007 23:51:55 GMT -5
Lateral thinking puzzles are awesome, even though I'm terrible at them.
Let's see... Here's my answers: She either A-saw something she was not meant to see, or B- saw a dead body or a bunch of crazy sex posters.
Yay or nay?
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Post by Oliveman on Dec 6, 2007 15:33:04 GMT -5
Ah! I'm one day late. Since there's such a low interest in these *up-eyebrows everyone*, I'll keep them in this thread. But surely you guys can come up with answers, even bad ones ;P
The answer to last week's puzzle When the girl openned the cellar door she saw the living room and, through its windows, the garden. She had never seen these before because her parents had kept her all her life in the cellar.
That's lateral thinking for you! Alright, I'll tone it down a bit. This week we've got difficult puzzle, and a paradox, at that.
The Protagoras Paradox Protagoras was a lawyer in ancient Greece. As an act of kindness he took on a poor but promising young man as a pupil. He agreed to teach him law but make no charge until the student had won his first case, when the student would repay his tuition fees. The young man gladly agreed to this plan. The student completed his training, then decided that he did not wish to practice law. Instead, he retired to the countryside to keep goats. Protagoras was disgusted at this waste of talent and training and dismayed that he would not be reimbursed for the tuition. He decided to sue his pupil in order to recover his fees. If the two men met in court to argue the case, who do you think would have won?
Good luck!
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Kyle
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~~~~~ Trust Beyond See ~~~~~ "One light will tear apart the night"
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Post by Kyle on Dec 6, 2007 21:27:02 GMT -5
If he's smart, the student--he'll know that only a fool has himself as a lawyer.
PS: I didn't realize the last one was an actual puzzle. I thought it was something to inspire you to come up with creative answers.
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Post by Oliveman on Dec 7, 2007 2:08:24 GMT -5
Well, you can come up with creative answers apleanty if you like
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DamaNegra
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Angolera de cora?ao
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Post by DamaNegra on Dec 7, 2007 13:27:33 GMT -5
Well, that's an interesting paradox, because if the student wins the case, that means he settles that he doesn't have to pay the tuition. However, it was agreed that the tuiton had to be paid when the student won his case. But if the student loses the case, he has to pay nonetheless. So Protragoras wins either way.
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tsukiryoko
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There's a Skittle on the floor! Quick, grab it!
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Post by tsukiryoko on Dec 7, 2007 15:51:29 GMT -5
Well, that's an interesting paradox, because if the student wins the case, that means he settles that he doesn't have to pay the tuition. However, it was agreed that the tuiton had to be paid when the student won his case. But if the student loses the case, he has to pay nonetheless. So Protragoras wins either way. Oh! Very good thinking, Dama!
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Post by Oliveman on Dec 14, 2007 5:16:19 GMT -5
The answer to last week's puzzle
Believe it or not (I mean... I do have the book), I got the answer right. IF it was fought in court, the student would win. However, the teacher could immediately make a new case, and would win overall, recovering his lost funds. Somewhat paraphrased, it says:
This is a paradox with no clear cut answer. Both parties have a good case. It would be interesting to see it argued out in court. Whoever lost could claim to have won - the student in losing would still not have won a case, Protagoras in losing would assure a first victory for his pupil.
Some believe that the most likely outcome of such a situation, if it had come to trial, would be a victory for the student... (It goes on to explain the answer I cited above)
(Then, Kyle got this part right) The student would be smart to choose not to represent himself but to select a good lawyer who would win the first case for him. In that case, since the pupil would still not have won a case, he would have won the contest.
So congrats to all, you basically got every part of this answer.
Now... for our next puzzle.
Another Man in an Elevator Bill was on holiday. He stayed on the fifth floor of a hotel. Every morning at 8 a.m. he took the elevator down to the lobby on the first floor, had breakfast, and then took the elevator back up to the fifth floor. Every evening at 8 p.m. he took the elevator down the the lobby and then he walked up the five flights of stairs and went back to his room. He did not like walking up all those stairs, so why did he do it?
Really have no clue on this one. Good luck.
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Kyle
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~~~~~ Trust Beyond See ~~~~~ "One light will tear apart the night"
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Post by Kyle on Dec 14, 2007 8:13:54 GMT -5
Exercise.
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Post by Oliveman on Dec 15, 2007 5:28:41 GMT -5
I think the "he doesn't like to walk up 5 flights of stairs" part rules excercise out. He would like to give himself that healthy boost, otherwise. Besides, he's on vacation!
My current guess surrounds the fact that he had agreed to meet someone in the lobby at 8 p.m. Maybe his secret lover. Oh yes. And then the stairs were empty because of the lazy people in the hotel, so he could stay secretive.
Yeah, that guess is bad too.
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Kyle
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~~~~~ Trust Beyond See ~~~~~ "One light will tear apart the night"
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Post by Kyle on Dec 15, 2007 8:12:07 GMT -5
People exercise all the time without liking to =P It's called a "necessary evil"
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Post by Oliveman on Dec 19, 2007 19:09:12 GMT -5
Looks like I stumped everyone. The answer to last week's puzzleBill was on a holiday with his wife and two-year-old son. The boy is a very lively fellow. Bill and his wife found that the best way to tire the youngster out each night was to let him clib five flights of stairs just before his bedtime. He enjoyed doing it but for Bill it was a chore. In honor of Christmas, I give to you the last diabolical puzzle: This week's puzzle - A puzzling attackFour rational and reasonable people were seated around a table. Suddenly three of them jumped up and viciously beat the fourth one senseless. Why? Happy holidays, and may the best answer win
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tsukiryoko
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There's a Skittle on the floor! Quick, grab it!
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Post by tsukiryoko on Dec 20, 2007 15:53:45 GMT -5
Gah, I know I've heard of this one before! I can't think of what the answer is though....
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Post by Oliveman on Dec 26, 2007 22:06:56 GMT -5
Stumped? I'll give you one last chance.. and two more days ;D
Oh and here are some hints: Q: Were any of the four criminals? A: No.
Q: Did the three have a sound reason for beating up the fourth? A: Yes. A very sound reason.
Q: Had he said something which inflamed them? A: Yes.
Q: Were any dwarfs, lighthouse-keepers, or blocks of ice involved? A: No.
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