[IrishElk] It is Your Birthday.

[irishelk]

Dale works in a building with several other people who do the same job as him, and they each have their own office. They are all on good terms, and none of them have relevant physical differences. Yet he is not allowed to do something that his co-workers, and in fact almost any office worker is allowed to do. What is it?

[JenBurdoo]

Is Dale legally restricted from this thing?

Is he different from the others in some way obvious to the casual bystander (gender, age)?

Is it a work-related task?

Is he a white-collar, blue-collar, or pink-collar worker? Are they?

Are salary, training or experience relevant?

Is the task done indoors or outdoors? Is it specific to office work? Does it involve travel?

[irishelk]

JenBurdoo

Is Dale legally restricted from this thing? No.

Is he different from the others in some way obvious to the casual bystander (gender, age)? No.

Is it a work-related task? Not directly.

Is he a white-collar, This. blue-collar, or pink-collar worker? Are they? Same.

Are salary, training or experience relevant? No.

Is the task done indoors or outdoors? Is it specific to office work? Indoors. Does it involve travel? No.

[Balin]

Is this thing commonly done at the workplace? At his workplace?
Does Dale do this thing even though he is not allowed to do so?

[GalFisk]

Does he know why? Respect the rule? Did he cause this restriction? Did he chose it himself? Religion relevant? If he does it regardless, can he be disciplined? Fined? Fired? Ostracised? Is it something people do at the office? Do his coworkers do this thing? Do they know he can't? Is it his employer that's decided he can't? Is it a contractual obligation?

[irishelk]

Balin

Is this thing commonly done at the workplace? Yes. At his workplace? Irr, probably.
Does Dale do this thing even though he is not allowed to do so? No.


GalFisk

Does he know why? Yes. Respect the rule? Yes. Did he cause this restriction? Not exactly, but I'll say he's involved in the reasons for it. Did he chose it himself? Assume no. Religion relevant? No.
If he does it regardless, can he be disciplined? Fined? Fired? Ostracised? Likely the only consequence would be annoyance/anger from coworkers.
Is it something people do at the office? Yes. Do his coworkers do this thing? Probably. Do they know he can't? Yes. Is it his employer that's decided he can't? His team as a whole likely did. Is it a contractual obligation? No.

[Earnest]

Is he somehow different from the others in a non physical aspect? To be sure, can we assume that they are all in normal physical conditions? I mean, the fact that they do not have any physical difference does not automatically exclude that they all do not have any handicap for instance.
Did he make something that prevented/excluded him from doing such thing? Is incontinence/resistance/some phobia involved? Would others be annoyed if he does that thing because they have to help him? Do it instead of him? Justify his actions? Others? Fear of heights relevant?

Does it deal with a facility? e.g. smoking? preparing coffee? having lunch? break time?
or maybe with good practice? e.g. knocking at the door? Waiting for someone one the elevator? go to the bathroom whenever he wants? shooting paper in the basket? Printing? Using the phone?

Is the forbidden thing done occasionally? Regularly? every day? when it is his birthday? Often?

Is it forbidden for his safety? for the safety of others?

[GalFisk]

Is he not allowed to use a device? A printer? A microwave? Computer? Has he bungled the use of a device? Has he shown that he is incapable of doing the thing? Is the ban superstitious in nature?

[hominid]

Is Dale considered better at his job than other people? Worse at his job? Better at some other thing? Worse? Has he been working there longer than most people? Shorter?

[irishelk]

Earnest

Is he somehow different from the others in a non physical aspect? There is one difference, but I don't want to mislead--no relevant mental or emotional issues. To be sure, can we assume that they are all in normal physical conditions? Yes. I mean, the fact that they do not have any physical difference does not automatically exclude that they all do not have any handicap for instance. True--irr.
Did he make something that prevented/excluded him from doing such thing? Yope, in a sense. Is incontinence/resistance/some phobia involved? No. Would others be annoyed if he does that thing because they have to help him? Not help him do it, no. Do it instead of him? No. Justify his actions? Not relevantly. Others? Fear of heights relevant? No.

Does it deal with a facility? e.g. smoking? preparing coffee? having lunch? break time? None of these.
or maybe with good practice? Not really. e.g. knocking at the door? Waiting for someone one the elevator? go to the bathroom whenever he wants? shooting paper in the basket? Printing? Using the phone? None of these.

Is the forbidden thing done occasionally? Regularly? every day? Different people might do it occasionally or more regularly, but not every day. when it is his birthday? Not relevantly. Often?

Is it forbidden for his safety? No. for the safety of others? No.


GalFisk

Is he not allowed to use a device? No. A printer? A microwave? Computer? Has he bungled the use of a device? Has he shown that he is incapable of doing the thing? Is the ban superstitious in nature? No to rest.


hominid

Is Dale considered better at his job than other people? Worse at his job?
Better at some other thing? Worse?
Has he been working there longer than most people? Shorter? No/irr to all.

[Balin]

Is going from place to place somehow relevant? Using an elevator? Escalator? Stairs?
Is the workplace on a single floor? Multiple floors? Relevant? Relevant how high up the workplace is?
Is Dale's role in the company relevant?

[hominid]

If Dale was allowed to do this thing, and did it, would it result in something bad for the company? Would it hurt other workers? Other people? Would it annoy other workers? Other people? Would it hurt Dale?

Is Dale's name relevant? His birthday? Birth year? Age? Nationality? Preferred/native language? Voice? Political views?

If Dale were working in a different office with different people, would he still likely be subject to this restriction?

[GalFisk]

Could he change this situation? Does he want to? Dress code relevant? Can he use the device? Is it a tool? Machine? Part of the building? Does he relevantly: smell? Dress differently? WAG: has he been allowed to break a dress code, making him look more like clients/customers/visitors, provided he refrains from using something that cliens/customers/visitors are not allowed to use, as to not set an example?

[irishelk]

Balin

Is going from place to place somehow relevant? Using an elevator? Escalator? Stairs? No.

Is the workplace on a single floor? Multiple floors? Relevant? Relevant how high up the workplace is? Irr.
Is Dale's role in the company relevant? Not really, but might help you, and slight FA.


hominid

If Dale was allowed to do this thing, and did it, would it result in something bad for the company? Yes, FA. Would it hurt other workers? Other people? No. Would it annoy other workers? Yes. Other people? Not likely, outside his co-workers. Would it hurt Dale? He might be among the inconvenienced workers.

Is Dale's name relevant? His birthday? Birth year? Age? Nationality? Preferred/native language? Voice? Political views? No to all.

If Dale were working in a different office with different people, would he still likely be subject to this restriction? No.


GalFisk

Could he change this situation? Probably, with some effort. Does he want to? No. Dress code relevant?No.
Can he use the device? No device involved. Is it a tool? Machine? Part of the building?
Does he relevantly: smell? Dress differently? No. WAG: has he been allowed to break a dress code, making him look more like clients/customers/visitors, provided he refrains from using something that cliens/customers/visitors are not allowed to use, as to not set an example? No, interesting thought.

[hominid]

Is the FA that it's a company? I'm guessing it's not a company? Is it a non-profit organization? Government? School? Place of worship?

So, Dale has some relevant trait that results in having the restriction, right? Is the trait something he's had since birth? Childhood? Adolescence? Something he acquired as an adult? Before starting this job? When starting this job? After started this job?

Is his family relevant? Is he married? Does he have children? Pets? Does he possess a relevant object? Mulitple objects?

Is it something that's only true of him relative to his coworkers? Like, he's the oldest, tallest, or strongest (I know it's none of these, but you get the idea)?

[irishelk]

hominid

Is the FA that it's a company? Yes. I'm guessing it's not a company? Correct--there are companies associated, but I wouldn't say he works for a company (just like the other puzzle! ). Is it a non-profit organization? Government? School? Place of worship? No to rest.

So, Dale has some relevant trait that results in having the restriction, right? DOYD of "trait." Nothing physical or mental about him specifically. Is the trait something he's had since birth? Childhood? Adolescence? Something he acquired as an adult? Before starting this job? When starting this job? After started this job? This, no to rest.

Is his family relevant? No. Is he married? Does he have children? Pets? Does he possess a relevant object? Mulitple objects? No to rest.

Is it something that's only true of him relative to his coworkers? Yes! Like, he's the oldest, tallest, or strongest (I know it's none of these, but you get the idea)? Not a superlative, though.

[hominid]

Is this statement accurate: Dale is the only person who ________________ in this building?

Does he work at a firm of some sort?

Does it have to do with his job description? His location in the building? Would some worker in this building inevitably have this characteristic? Anything about the physical building relevant? Anything about Dale's office? Is the office itself different from other offices in the building? If Dale wanted to stop having this characteristic, would he be able to?

[irishelk]

hominid

Is this statement accurate: Dale is the only person who ________________ in this building? You could phrase it this way.

Does he work at a firm of some sort? No.

Does it have to do with his job description? No. His location in the building? Yes. Would some worker in this building inevitably have this characteristic? It seems so--I would think it could be avoided, but it's a true story, so maybe not. Anything about the physical building relevant? Yesish. Anything about Dale's office? YES. Is the office itself different from other offices in the building? YES. If Dale wanted to stop having this characteristic, would he be able to? Yes, it might be a little tricky.

[hominid]

Is Dale's office bigger than other offices? Smaller? Is it near the top of the building? Is it in the basement? Does the building have multiple floors?

Is something outside the building relevant? A smell?

Does Dale's office have a specific function? Is it more visible to the outside world?

[Doriana]

Noise relevant?

[GalFisk]

Ventilation relevant? Is there a relevant obstruciton in his office? Anything like the giant concrete pillar in Mr. Incredibles office cubicle in the film The Incredibles? Is he not allowed to open a window? Edit: WAG: is his window right by a ventilation exhaust from a bakery, so if he opens his window he'll let in delicious odors making everyone hungry?

[irishelk]

hominid

Is Dale's office bigger than other offices? Smaller? Is it near the top of the building? Is it in the basement? Does the building have multiple floors? Irr to all.

Is something outside the building relevant? No. A smell? No.

Does Dale's office have a specific function? Yes. Is it more visible to the outside world? Yes, in a specific sense.


Doriana

Noise relevant? No.


GalFisk

Ventilation relevant? No. Is there a relevant obstruciton in his office? Only for a very vague value (VVV?) of "obstruction." Anything like the giant concrete pillar in Mr. Incredibles office cubicle in the film The Incredibles? Not like this. Is he not allowed to open a window? No. Edit: WAG: is his window right by a ventilation exhaust from a bakery, so if he opens his window he'll let in delicious odors making everyone hungry? No, but this would be a perfectly sensible rule.

[GalFisk]

Is his office near an entrance? Reception? Customer area? Is it on the ground floor? Relevant who can see inside it? Is he disallowed certain decorations? Clothing? Items?

[irishelk]

GalFisk

Is his office near an entrance? Reception? Customer area? Is it on the ground floor? Irr.
Relevant who can see inside it? Yesish, but this might mislead. Is he disallowed certain decorations? Yesish. Clothing? No. Items? Yes.

[hominid]

Who can see inside it: customers? Coworkers? Other people?

Are the items things that Dale would have to bring from home? Are they for a certain holiday? Would they be somehow inappropriate for Dale's office?

[Doriana]

Fire safety relevant? Is his office part of the building's escape route?

[irishelk]

hominid

Who can see inside it: customers? No. Coworkers? Yes but irr. Other people? Yes.

Are the items things that Dale would have to bring from home? We're talking about the items he is not allowed? Irr, assume yes. Are they for a certain holiday? No, could be holiday decor though. Would they be somehow inappropriate for Dale's office? Yes.


Doriana

Fire safety relevant? Is his office part of the building's escape route? No, great thought though.

[hominid]

The other people: anyone who passes by Dale's office? Is Dale's office near the entrance? Would people who see the prohibited items in Dale's office think that the building had some other purpose?

Can they see inside the office through a window? A door?

[irishelk]

hominid

The other people: anyone who passes by Dale's office? No. Is Dale's office near the entrance? Irr. Would people who see the prohibited items in Dale's office think that the building had some other purpose? No.

Can they see inside the office through a window? A door? I'll say no to both. Technically the answer is--yes, sometimes, but that will mislead.

[hominid]

Do the other people have a connection to Dale? To the workplace? Are they inside the office? Outside the office? Are they anywhere near the office? Are they "seeing" the inside of the office virtually?

[irishelk]

hominid

Do the other people have a connection to Dale? Not directly. To the workplace? DOYD of "connection," but only very indirectly. Are they inside the office? No. Outside the office? Yes. Are they anywhere near the office? No! Are they "seeing" the inside of the office virtually? Yes! Good qs!

[Doriana]

Security cameras relevant?

[irishelk]

Doriana

Security cameras relevant? No.

[hominid]

Are the people malicious? Are they doing a job?

[irishelk]

hominid

Are the people malicious? No. Are they doing a job? No.

[Doriana]

Do they see the entire office? One specific part of the office? Do they see Dale?

Can anyone virtually see Dale's office?

Scientific experiments relevant? Pitch Drop Experiment?

[irishelk]

Doriana

Do they see the entire office? Yesish, irr. One specific part of the office? Usually one spot, irr. Do they see Dale? No.

Can anyone virtually see Dale's office? I'll say yes, if you seek it out.

Scientific experiments relevant? Pitch Drop Experiment? No, but I love that thing.

[GalFisk]

Are they seeing it through a camera? More than one camera? Periscope? Telescope? Binoculars? A reflection? TV broadcast? The internet? Are the people seeing it from all over the world?

[irishelk]

GalFisk

Are they seeing it through a camera? More than one camera? Yes, see below, Periscope? Telescope? Binoculars? A reflection? TV broadcast? Yes! The internet? Very often, yes. Are the people seeing it from all over the world? Yes, irr.

[hominid]

Did Dale put the TV camera there? Did the employer? Did someone else? Does Dale know that people can see him?

[GalFisk]

Is his office visible from a TV studio? Is his office a TV studio?

[Balin]

Is Dale forbidden to decorate his office?

[irishelk]

hominid

Did Dale put the TV camera there? Did the employer? He and his crew. Did someone else? Does Dale know that people can see him? FA.


GalFisk

Is his office visible from a TV studio? Is his office a TV studio? Yes!


Balin

Is Dale forbidden to decorate his office?


************************SPOILER

"Dale" is one of the writers for The Office. Each of the writers had their own office in the building where the mockumentary show was filmed, and one of them (I want to say Paul Lieberstein, but I might be misremembering) used the set that served as Michael Scott's office to write in. Unlike all the other staff, he could not decorate "his" writing room or move anything in it, because it was a part of the fictional office that had already been carefully decorated by set designers.

[hominid]

Ha! Not what I was expecting. Nice puzzle.