| Author | Message | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 191 Registered: 10-2003 |
It was half empty and half full, only one half appealed to me. | ||
| Tobasi (Tobasi)
New member Username: Tobasi Post Number: 79 Registered: 8-2006 |
Is 'it' a recipient? relevant what it is exactly? Does it contain: a liquid? items? 'me'= you Mycroft? human? adult? male? relevant? Is this a true story? is there a story at all? Are you in this situation an optimist? a pessimist? Did the full half appeal to you? the empty? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 204 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hi Tobasi! Is 'it' a recipient? relevant what it is exactly? Yes Does it contain: a liquid? yes but irrelevantitems? Also yes but also irrelevant 'me'= you Mycroft? yes human? adult? male? yes to all, last time I checked! relevant? relevant to a particular aspect of my character Is this a true story? absolutely, it happened to me this afternoon is there a story at all? not really a whole story, but hopefully a nice little puzzle whilst I think of something else Are you in this situation an optimist? a pessimist? Did the full half appeal to you? the empty? the empty half appealed to me, if that makes me a pessimist then so be it! | ||
| Tobasi (Tobasi)
New member Username: Tobasi Post Number: 80 Registered: 8-2006 |
So 'it' is a palpable recipient, right? Is it: a bottle? a glass? a box? Is the material relevant? the size? Did the empty half contain: air? something worthless? something that would usually be considered as worthless? Would the empty half appeal to anybody or just to you? appeal in the sense of: it mattered to you? you liked it? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 206 Registered: 10-2003 |
So 'it' is a palpable recipient, right? aH! I think you probably mean receptacle, ie a container of some sort. If that's true then yes Is it: a bottle? a glass? a box? none of these Is the material relevant? not really the size? much more so Did the empty half contain: air? something worthless? something that would usually be considered as worthless? it certainly contained air and other items, but nothing that the full half didnt contain and nothing of any real worth Would the empty half appeal to anybody or just to you? it would I think appeal to most people appeal in the sense of: it mattered to you? you liked it? the 'most people' above would say they liked it, to me it actually matters | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 396 Registered: 3-2006 |
The size: as big as a drink can? a shoe box? a one-litre container? a pail? a cabinet? a refeigerator? a wardrobe? a room? Is there a partition separating the full half from the empty half? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 208 Registered: 10-2003 |
The size: as big as a drink can? a shoe box? a one-litre container? a pail? a cabinet? a refeigerator? a wardrobe? a room? bigger still than a room Is there a partition separating the full half from the empty half? yope | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 398 Registered: 3-2006 |
The size of a concert hall? A stadium? Did you prefer the empty half because the other half was full of people? | ||
| Tobasi (Tobasi)
New member Username: Tobasi Post Number: 83 Registered: 8-2006 |
Well it might still be bigger than: a stadium? a town? a city? land of the size of the UK? the USA? asia? the planet earth? Do you just make a statement about this receptacle or are you related to it in another way? Are you in it? Does it belong to you? Could you say that the right (or upper or anything) side is empty and the other side is full? Or are the empty and full regions mixed up? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 209 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jumpingjack The size of a concert hall? A stadium? smaller than these Did you prefer the empty half because the other half was full of people? Yes! Tobasi Well it might still be bigger than: a stadium? a town? a city? land of the size of the UK? the USA? asia? the planet earth? see above, it's smaller than a stadium Do you just make a statement about this receptacle or are you related to it in another way? yesAre you in it? yes Does it belong to you? no Could you say that the right (or upper or anything) side is empty and the other side is full? Or are the empty and full regions mixed up? indeed, one side of it is full up and the other side is completely empty | ||
| Tobasi (Tobasi)
New member Username: Tobasi Post Number: 87 Registered: 8-2006 |
Has the receptacle the size of an apartment? Is it an apartment? or more general a building? part of a building? So both of the halfs contain air and other items but there are people only in one part? Are the people seperated from the other part by: a wall? a curtain? Is the number of people relevant? Are they in there professionally? for amusement? Are they sitting? standing? lying? relevant? Are you part of the people? Is the division exactly 50%-50%? relevant? | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 411 Registered: 3-2006 |
Ah, the importance of applying previous knowledge.  A supermarket? shopping mall? Was there a kind of sale going on at one end, causing all the people to flock to one side of the room? | ||
| 0815 (0815)
New member Username: 0815 Post Number: 439 Registered: 3-2006 |
A swimming pool? One half for the swimmers and one half for the non-swimmers? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 210 Registered: 10-2003 |
Tobasi Has the receptacle the size of an apartment? depends on the apartment! but probably bigger Is it an apartment? or more general a building? part of a building? not a building So both of the halfs contain air and other items but there are people only in one part? Yes Are the people seperated from the other part by: a wall? a curtain? neither of these Is the number of people relevant? No Are they in there professionally? for amusement? yope to professionally, no for amusement Are they sitting? mostlystanding? somelying? norelevant? yope - only in so far as it may help identify the object Are you part of the people? no Is the division exactly 50%-50%? relevant? exactly 50-50 and yes this is relevant! Jumpingjack Ah, the importance of applying previous knowledge. it's always a good starting point! A supermarket? noshopping mall? noWas there a kind of sale going on at one end, causing all the people to flock to one side of the room? no 0815 A swimming pool? One half for the swimmers and one half for the non-swimmers? and no these as well, I'm afraid | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 418 Registered: 3-2006 |
Are you in the full half or the empty half? If you are in the full half, would you be able to leave and stand in the empty half? Are there objects on the floor of the empty half that cannot be stepped on? There is no tangible barrier separating the two halves, correct? Would it be dangerous for people to be in the empty half? Is there a scientific experiment going on? How many people are there per square metre of the full half? less than 1? one? two? more than that? Was it congested? The people in the full half--do they all have the same occupation? Do they have the same occupation as you do? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 211 Registered: 10-2003 |
Are you in the full half or the empty half? I am, thankfully, in the empty half If you are in the full half, would you be able to leave and stand in the empty half? but were I in the full half, I, or any of the others in the full half, could do this Are there objects on the floor of the empty half that cannot be stepped on? NoThere is no tangible barrier separating the two halves, correct? No. Which is to say, there IS a tangible barrierWould it be dangerous for people to be in the empty half? NoIs there a scientific experiment going on? noHow many people are there per square metre of the full half? less than 1? one? two? more than that? this one Was it congested? Yes The people in the full half--do they all have the same occupation? nope Do they have the same occupation as you do? no | ||
| Tobasi (Tobasi)
New member Username: Tobasi Post Number: 95 Registered: 8-2006 |
Are you in a vehicle? a train? an aeroplane? Are you in something with walls? Is this going on outside? subterranean? Apart from the people do the two sides look similar? Are they even symmetrical? Is the barrier: more like a line? more like a plane? Is it horizontal? vertical? Why do the people stay in the full half: do they want to stay near their family/friends? there is something in either of the halves? they want to be closer to something or farer from something? they think differently than you? they don't decide on their own? there is something they can only achieve by staying on this side? Those who are sitting, are they sitting on chairs? seats? on the floor? | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 420 Registered: 3-2006 |
Are you the only person in the empty half? Would people from the full half think it strange that you should choose to be in the empty half? Is there a door through which one can come into the empty half from the full half? Are they all here for a common purpose? Do you share this purpose? Have they paid to come in here? Have you? Would this phenomenon take place everyday? once a week? once a month? once a year? or is it a completely one-off thing? If you were not afraid of crowds, would you rather be in the full half? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 212 Registered: 10-2003 |
Tobasi Are you in a vehicle? Yesa train? YES!an aeroplane? Are you in something with walls? Is this going on outside? subterranean? both Apart from the people do the two sides look similar? yesAre they even symmetrical? not exactly, but pretty much Is the barrier: more like a line? more like a plane? a plane Is it horizontal? vertical? vertical Why do the people stay in the full half: quite frankly, I have no idea! This is what prompted the puzzle. I can eliminate some specific examples though do they want to stay near their family/friends? possibly there is something in either of the halves? nope they want to be closer to something or farer from something? possibly this-closer to something they think differently than you? possibly they don't decide on their own? they definitely seem to decide on their own there is something they can only achieve by staying on this side? I dont think so Those who are sitting, are they sitting on chairs? seats? on the floor? on seats Jumpingjack Are you the only person in the empty half? YesWould people from the full half think it strange that you should choose to be in the empty half? no Is there a door through which one can come into the empty half from the full half? yes Are they all here for a common purpose? yopeDo you share this purpose? yes Have they paid to come in here? yes Have you?yes Would this phenomenon take place everyday? yes, I thinkonce a week? once a month? once a year? or is it a completely one-off thing? but it's the first time I've experienced itIf you were not afraid of crowds, would you rather be in the full half? I'd still rather be in the empty half! good round of questions there from you both, there is a little left to establish but that was a very good close in! | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 431 Registered: 3-2006 |
So one half of the train is full of people, and the other half has only you in it? That's strange. Are you scaring them away? Does this train have a driver? Do the people want to be closer to him? Do they feel it will be easier for them to hop out when they reach their station? Is there something wrong with the door leading from the platform to the empty carriage, so they have to enter the full one, and just decide to stay there? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 215 Registered: 10-2003 |
So one half of the train is full of people, and the other half has only you in it? yesThat's strange. I thpught so!Are you scaring them away? smile if you will, but i have been known to do this! Does this train have a driver? yesDo the people want to be closer to him?no Do they feel it will be easier for them to hop out when they reach their station? no Is there something wrong with the door leading from the platform to the empty carriage, so they have to enter the full one, and just decide to stay there? no - one person infact did come through about five minutes later and looked as amused as I must have done | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 438 Registered: 3-2006 |
Are the people in the full half tourists? part of some excursion group? Does this train have windows? Relevant? Which carriage is closer to the front of the train--yours or the full one? Was there someone famous in the full one? | ||
| 0815 (0815)
New member Username: 0815 Post Number: 444 Registered: 3-2006 |
smokers' and non-smokers' compartments relevant? 1st class vs 2nd class relevant? | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 441 Registered: 3-2006 |
Could people on the platform see into the carriages? | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 485 Registered: 7-2006 |
Are the people packed into the 1st class compartment because they've paid for 1st class, whereas your compartment is 2nd class but roomier? | ||
| Lzeiters (Lzeiters)
New member Username: Lzeiters Post Number: 829 Registered: 6-2005 |
I like Plebeian's question better than mine, but here's mine anyway... Hi all, by the way! Glad to see things still running! Air-conditioned versus non-air conditioned cars? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 217 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jumpingjack Are the people in the full half tourists? nopart of some excursion group? noDoes this train have windows? yesRelevant? but no Which carriage is closer to the front of the train--yours or the full one? the full one Was there someone famous in the full one? no 0815 smokers' and non-smokers' compartments relevant? no 1st class vs 2nd class relevant? no Jumpingjack Could people on the platform see into the carriages? yope Plebeian Are the people packed into the 1st class compartment because they've paid for 1st class, whereas your compartment is 2nd class but roomier? no Lzeiters Hi! Air-conditioned versus non-air conditioned cars? no | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 504 Registered: 7-2006 |
Is there some imagined benefit to occupancy of the full half of the train, as far as the crowd are concerned? Is there some imagined problem connected to being in the half of the train you occupy? Is it relevant that you are closer to the back of the train? Are you (? or the crowd?) closer to the buffet car? Toilets? Some other relevant part of the train? | ||
| Tobasi (Tobasi)
New member Username: Tobasi Post Number: 98 Registered: 8-2006 |
Do we have to find out why the people stayed in the crowded half (as you said before you had no idea about this)? Do we have to find out more about the people? the train? the situation? you in the situation? | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 448 Registered: 3-2006 |
Before entering the train, could the people tell that one carriage was full and one was empty? Did they just enter the first carriage that came up, not realising that the second carriage was empty? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 221 Registered: 10-2003 |
Plebeian Is there some imagined benefit to occupancy of the full half of the train, as far as the crowd are concerned? \b{no} Is there some imagined problem connected to being in the half of the train you occupy? no Is it relevant that you are closer to the back of the train? yes Are you (? or the crowd?) closer to the buffet car? noToilets? no Some other relevant part of the train? Yope Tobasi Do we have to find out why the people stayed in the crowded half (as you said before you had no idea about this)? I've no idea why people stayed there, but I do know why people got on to this part of the train, and that's what I'd like all you clever people to find out Do we have to find out more about the people? nope the train? mostly this the situation? and a little this you in the situation? and a little here Jumpingjack Before entering the train, could the people tell that one carriage was full and one was empty? no Did they just enter the first carriage that came up, not realising that the second carriage was empty? Yope-explore! | ||
| Martinfg (Martinfg)
New member Username: Martinfg Post Number: 42 Registered: 8-2005 |
Did you get on at a large station? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 225 Registered: 10-2003 |
Did you get on at a large station? no | ||
| Martinfg (Martinfg)
New member Username: Martinfg Post Number: 44 Registered: 8-2005 |
Is the length of the platform relevant? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 226 Registered: 10-2003 |
Is the length of the platform relevant? Yes | ||
| Martinfg (Martinfg)
New member Username: Martinfg Post Number: 45 Registered: 8-2005 |
Is this an underground train? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 227 Registered: 10-2003 |
Is this an underground train? No - I walk across London rather than using one of those! | ||
| Martinfg (Martinfg)
New member Username: Martinfg Post Number: 46 Registered: 8-2005 |
When the train arrives at the platfom ist it more convenient to board it in the full half? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 228 Registered: 10-2003 |
When the train arrives at the platfom ist it more convenient to board it in the full half? for everyone apart from me,yes | ||
| Martinfg (Martinfg)
New member Username: Martinfg Post Number: 47 Registered: 8-2005 |
Is the train longer than the platform where you board it? Where everyone else boards it? | ||
| 0815 (0815)
New member Username: 0815 Post Number: 455 Registered: 3-2006 |
Did you board the train from a different side than all the other people? Did you come in with another train? Did the others? Did you wait at the station? Did the others? Was the platform longer on one side than on the other? Was there some obstacle on the platform? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 229 Registered: 10-2003 |
Martinfg Is the train longer than the platform where you board it? no Where everyone else boards it? no 0815 Did you board the train from a different side than all the other people? no Did you come in with another train? no Did the others? noDid you wait at the station? no Did the others? yes Was the platform longer on one side than on the other? no Was there some obstacle on the platform? no | ||
| 0815 (0815)
New member Username: 0815 Post Number: 457 Registered: 3-2006 |
Was it more convenient for the others to reach the door of the first carriage? Was it impossible for them to get on the second carriage at some point of time? Was the second carriage added to the train after they had entered the first? Did you arrive late at the station? ... so that the second carriage was aready there? Were you already in the second carriage when it was added to the train? Is your occupation relevant? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 230 Registered: 10-2003 |
looks like we're both having a very productive Friday afternoon at work... Was it more convenient for the others to reach the door of the first carriage? YesWas it impossible for them to get on the second carriage at some point of time? no slight FA here - there are infact 8 carriages four of which are full and the other four are empty (apart from me) Was the second carriage added to the train after they had entered the first? no Did you arrive late at the station? yes!... so that the second carriage was aready there? the whole train was pulling in just as I arrived Were you already in the second carriage when it was added to the train? no Is your occupation relevant? no | ||
| Martinfg (Martinfg)
New member Username: Martinfg Post Number: 48 Registered: 8-2005 |
Was your position on the platform relevant? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 231 Registered: 10-2003 |
Was your position on the platform relevant? very much so, yes | ||
| Plebeian (Plebeian)
New member Username: Plebeian Post Number: 509 Registered: 7-2006 |
Did you walk from the platform to your carriage directly through a door (i.e. without having to move through other carriages to get to yours)? Did the other passengers get directly to their carriage? Was your seat in the carriage reserved? Were a large number of theirs? Did you (? or the crowd?) have to walk any significant distance to get from the position on the platform to the carriage door when the train stopped? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 232 Registered: 10-2003 |
Did you walk from the platform to your carriage directly through a door (i.e. without having to move through other carriages to get to yours)? yes Did the other passengers get directly to their carriage? yes Was your seat in the carriage reserved? Were a large number of theirs? no to both Did you (? or the crowd?) have to walk any significant distance to get from the position on the platform to the carriage door when the train stopped? I didn't, but the crowd did | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 451 Registered: 3-2006 |
So was it something like.. I *everybody waits here* I I I I I *But you, being late, run in from here* I I (These represent the 8 carriages) And so you board the last few carriages instead? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 234 Registered: 10-2003 |
So was it something like.. I *everybody waits here* I I I I I *But you, being late, run in from here* I I (These represent the 8 carriages) And so you board the last few carriages instead? couldn't have put it better myself! But there's a reason everyones waiting at the place indicated on your picture... | ||
| 0815 (0815)
New member Username: 0815 Post Number: 458 Registered: 3-2006 |
oh well - considering the boring stuff I have to do today, it could be even worse... Are the others at a comfortable waiting area with benches etc.? Is it raining and they are under a roof? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 236 Registered: 10-2003 |
Are the others at a comfortable waiting area with benches etc.? no - this is an English train station! Is it raining and they are under a roof? the whole platform is roofed, even so it wasn't raining | ||
| 0815 (0815)
New member Username: 0815 Post Number: 461 Registered: 3-2006 |
Position of ticket vending machine relevant? Position of food stands relevant? Position of bookshop relevant? Position of any bad-smelling things relevant? Was there a "Please wait here"-sign? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 237 Registered: 10-2003 |
Position of ticket vending machine relevant? Position of food stands relevant? Position of bookshop relevant? Position of any bad-smelling things relevant? Was there a "Please wait here"-sign? none of these I'm afraid | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 453 Registered: 3-2006 |
Is the thing that attracts them there something out of the ordinary? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 238 Registered: 10-2003 |
Is the thing that attracts them there something out of the ordinary? no | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 454 Registered: 3-2006 |
Is it nearer to the usual entrance? Did you come from a direction that people don't usually come from? Because you took a shortcut? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 239 Registered: 10-2003 |
Is it nearer to the usual entrance? Did you come from a direction that people don't usually come from? Because you took a shortcut? all no - there's only one entrance here and the point at which they enter the train is further away from the entrance than mine | ||
| Jumpingjack (Jumpingjack)
New member Username: Jumpingjack Post Number: 456 Registered: 3-2006 |
Is it generally considered safer to wait where they are waiting? Is there a large board with a map near where they are standing? entertainment of some sort? Perhaps while waiting for the train, they are so bored that they walk along the platform, and so end up further away from the entrance than you? (I often do this!) | ||
| Tobasi (Tobasi)
New member Username: Tobasi Post Number: 100 Registered: 8-2006 |
Was the train longer than the people expected? | ||
| Erik (Erik)
New member Username: Erik Post Number: 15 Registered: 9-2006 |
Did the last four carriages open (where you were) on a later time than the first four (the crowded one)? Are lights relevant? People getting off relevant? | ||
| Mycroft (Mycroft)
New member Username: Mycroft Post Number: 240 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jumpingjack Is it generally considered safer to wait where they are waiting?no Is there a large board with a map near where they are standing? entertainment of some sort?neither of these Perhaps while waiting for the train, they are so bored that they walk along the platform, and so end up further away from the entrance than you? (I often do this!)no, although I sometimes do this too! Tobasi Was the train longer than the people expected? Yes! which by any means is good enough for a ***SPOILER*** All the other trains which arrive at the platform only have four coaches, but the train back to Brighton has eight. I assumed that most of the people who weren't perhaps travelling very far would be able to get on any of the trains since the first few stops are the same. So everyone apart from me piles into the front four carriages, opposite where they've been waiting. Having got to the station just in time, I get on a carriage much nearer to the station entrance, and realise to my amazement (and relief!) that it's completely empty. Why people want to stay in the four really busy carriages rather than travel down the train where I'm enjoying a whole carriage to myself though is another matter! Thanks everyone for playing! | ||
| Tobasi (Tobasi)
New member Username: Tobasi Post Number: 104 Registered: 8-2006 |
I'm so glad that I provoked a spoiler with my post number 100. Indeed, this was a nice little puzzle, thank you. |
