[Nimue] The Joke's on the Joker

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Author Message Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8769 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 - 8:49 pm:        A common riddle rests on a false assumption about what most people can determine. How come? Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2122 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 - 9:13 pm:        Is the riddle a mathematical one? Does it require logical thinking? Lateral thinking? Is it language based? Is the answer based on wordplay? Is it of the form where an object is described in a cryptic way and the hearer must guess the object? Eg "what has an x but no y", or "what xs but never ys"? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8771 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 - 6:54 pm:        Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2122 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 - 9:13 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Is the riddle a mathematical one? no Does it require logical thinking? yopeLateral thinking? yopeIs it language based? no Is the answer based on wordplay? no Is it of the form where an object is described in a cryptic way and the hearer must guess the object? Eg "what has an x but no y", or "what xs but never ys"? no Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8776 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Friday, January 18, 2013 - 6:59 pm:        HINT: This riddle is popular with children. Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2148 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Friday, January 18, 2013 - 8:08 pm:        Does the riddle have a 'trick' element to the answer? Is it usually given verbally? In writing? Does the riddle ask 'why'? 'what'? 'who'? 'where'? 'when'? 'how'? Does the riddle actually have an answer that the person is supposed to guess? Does it take the form of a story? Is the assumption to do with people's ability to determine something about a situation? A person? An object? By 'people', do you mean people who appear as part of the riddle? People who get asked the riddle? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8780 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Friday, January 18, 2013 - 8:40 pm:        Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2148 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Friday, January 18, 2013 - 8:08 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Does the riddle have a 'trick' element to the answer? not really Is it usually given verbally? Do you mean orally? It could be either orally or in writing. In writing? see previous answer Does the riddle ask 'why'? 'what'? 'who'? 'where'? 'when'? 'how'? What Does the riddle actually have an answer that the person is supposed to guess? yes Does it take the form of a story? no Is the assumption to do with people's ability to determine something about a situation? yesA person? no An object? yope By 'people', do you mean people who appear as part of the riddle?yes People who get asked the riddle? yes Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2152 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Friday, January 18, 2013 - 8:55 pm:        Does the riddle ask what you should do in a particular situation? Wild guess - it is the riddle with two forks in the road guarded by two guards, one of whom lies and one tells the truth? Anything like that? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8784 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Friday, January 18, 2013 - 8:57 pm:        Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2152 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Friday, January 18, 2013 - 8:55 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Does the riddle ask what you should do in a particular situation? no Wild guess - it is the riddle with two forks in the road guarded by two guards, one of whom lies and one tells the truth? Anything like that? no Liquizt (Liquizt) New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 781 Registered: 5-2008 Posted on Saturday, January 19, 2013 - 12:50 pm:        Does the riddle reference the solver as 'you'? as in "What can/do/have you..."? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8786 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Saturday, January 19, 2013 - 7:36 pm:        Liquizt (Liquizt) New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 781 Registered: 5-2008 Posted on Saturday, January 19, 2013 - 12:50 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Does the riddle reference the solver as 'you'? as in "What can/do/have you..."? possibly Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2218 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 9:31 pm:        Does the puzzle statement mean that without that false assumption, the riddle would be unsolvable? Would have more than one possible answer? The given answer would not in fact be true? Would the determining be done by sight? Hearing? Touch? By reasoning based on knowledge? If so, knowledge of a situation? Of human nature? Of science? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8814 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 9:47 pm:        Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2218 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 9:31 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Does the puzzle statement mean that without that false assumption, the riddle would be unsolvable? no Would have more than one possible answer? no no The given answer would not in fact be true? Would the determining be done by sight? yes Hearing? no Touch? unlikely By reasoning based on knowledge? possibly If so, knowledge of a situation? yes Of human nature? no Of science? yes Galfisk (Galfisk) New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 5160 Registered: 9-2009 Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 11:51 am:        Is it falsely assumed that most people: can determine something, which they in reality can't? Can't determine something, which they in reality can? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8818 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 5:12 pm:        Galfisk (Galfisk) New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 5160 Registered: 9-2009 Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 11:51 am: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Is it falsely assumed that most people: can determine something, which they in reality can't? yes Can't determine something, which they in reality can? no Shez (Shez) New member Username: Shez Post Number: 3774 Registered: 2-2011 Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 7:36 pm:        is it to do with telling whether someone is lying? is it to do with weight? size? sex? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8820 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 8:11 pm:        Shez (Shez) New member Username: Shez Post Number: 3774 Registered: 2-2011 Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 7:36 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) is it to do with telling whether someone is lying? no is it to do with weight?no size? noish or yopesex? no Shez (Shez) New member Username: Shez Post Number: 3777 Registered: 2-2011 Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 8:51 pm:        distance? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8821 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 9:31 pm:        Shez (Shez) New member Username: Shez Post Number: 3777 Registered: 2-2011 Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 8:51 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) distance? The relevant situation involves only close-up observation Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2228 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 9:58 pm:        Is it something that could be measured in exact units? Does the riddle ask the difference between two or more things? Ask for a comparison between two or more things? Ask the listener to explain a situation? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8822 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 10:33 pm:        Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2228 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 9:58 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Is it something that could be measured in exact units?yope Does the riddle ask the difference between two or more things? see next answerAsk for a comparison between two or more things? yes Ask the listener to explain a situation? no Balin (Balin) New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18251 Registered: 4-2010 Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 9:00 am:        Pound of gold versus pound of feathers/bricks/etc? Which weighs more? Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2229 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 11:06 am:        Following on from that...is density the relevant thing that cannot be determined? Galfisk (Galfisk) New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 5186 Registered: 9-2009 Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 12:16 pm:        If not density: volume? Pressure? Buoyancy? Air resistance? Monetary value? Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2234 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 12:20 pm:        Quantity of something? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8825 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Friday, January 25, 2013 - 8:40 pm:        Balin (Balin) New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18251 Registered: 4-2010 Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 9:00 am: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Pound of gold versus pound of feathers/bricks/etc? Which weighs more? Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2229 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 11:06 am: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Following on from that...is density the relevant thing that cannot be determined? no Galfisk (Galfisk) New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 5186 Registered: 9-2009 Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 12:16 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) If not density: volume? Pressure? Buoyancy? Air resistance? Monetary value? no to all Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2234 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 12:20 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Quantity of something? yes Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2260 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Friday, January 25, 2013 - 9:38 pm:        So is it the ability to determine the quantity of something? To count the number of something? Or to estimate the quantity? The quantity of something countable? Of objects? People? Animals? Of something uncountable? A liquid? Solid? Gas? Abstract concept? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8828 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Sunday, January 27, 2013 - 5:29 pm:        Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2260 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Friday, January 25, 2013 - 9:38 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) So is it the ability to determine the quantity of something? yesTo count the number of something? yes Or to estimate the quantity?possibly The quantity of something countable? yes Of objects? see next answer but onePeople? noAnimals? yesOf something uncountable? noA liquid? no Solid? yesGas? no Abstract concept? no Shez (Shez) New member Username: Shez Post Number: 3791 Registered: 2-2011 Posted on Sunday, January 27, 2013 - 7:22 pm:        animals - a particular kind of animal? mammal? bird? fish? reptile? amphibian? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8830 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Sunday, January 27, 2013 - 8:01 pm:        Shez (Shez) New member Username: Shez Post Number: 3791 Registered: 2-2011 Posted on Sunday, January 27, 2013 - 7:22 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) animals - a particular kind of animal? yes mammal? no bird? nofish? noreptile? no amphibian? no Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2272 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Sunday, January 27, 2013 - 9:18 pm:        Insect? Other creepy-crawlie? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8831 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Sunday, January 27, 2013 - 10:18 pm:        Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2272 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Sunday, January 27, 2013 - 9:18 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Insect? noOther creepy-crawlie? yes Shez (Shez) New member Username: Shez Post Number: 3799 Registered: 2-2011 Posted on Monday, January 28, 2013 - 1:35 pm:        spider? worm? slug? snail? centipede? one that flies? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8832 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Monday, January 28, 2013 - 11:01 pm:        Shez (Shez) New member Username: Shez Post Number: 3799 Registered: 2-2011 Posted on Monday, January 28, 2013 - 1:35 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) spider? no worm? yesslug? no snail? nocentipede?no one that flies? no Noel (Noel) New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3382 Registered: 7-2009 Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 1:29 pm:        worm as in earthworm? Some sort of intestinal/parasitic worm? worms in produce (e.g. worms that eat apples)? Other? Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2277 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 5:37 pm:        Is the riddle also a joke? Intended to be humorous? 'What's worse than finding a worm in your apple?' 'Finding half a worm' But in fact half a worm looks very similar to a full worm? Nimue (Nimue) New member Username: Nimue Post Number: 8834 Registered: 8-2001 Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 7:13 pm:        Enjay (Enjay) New member Username: Enjay Post Number: 2277 Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 5:37 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) ********* SPOILER ********* Enjay's solution is so perfect that I've simply reproduced it below. Please check out my new puzzle!! Is the riddle also a joke? Intended to be humorous? yes 'What's worse than finding a worm in your apple?' 'Finding half a worm' yes But in fact half a worm looks very similar to a full worm? yes