[Mimino] Hang loose

[Mimino]

Although the advice is probably well-meant, it is the most stupid thing one could do.

[markobr]

Is the advice to let something hang loose? To hang something somewhere? To let something loose? Different spelling/meaning of "loose" and "lose" relevant?

Is the advice indeed given in situations where following it would be the most stupid thing one could do? Or at least one of the most stupid things? Would following the advice result in death? Injury? Pain? Sickness? Disfigurement? Damage of property? Financial loss? Loss of data? Loss of time? Unnecessary work? Offending someone? Ridicule? Other unwanted social reactions? Arrest? Boredom?

Do those who give the advice expect it to be followed? Do they think it is a smart thing to do? Have they usually done what they advise to do? In a situation that is relevantly different from the situation they give advice on?

[Mimino]

Is the advice to let something hang loose? No To hang something somewhere? No To let something loose? No Different spelling/meaning of "loose" and "lose" relevant? No

Is the advice indeed given in situations where following it would be the most stupid thing one could do? Or at least one of the most stupid things? I would not argue whether it's most stupid or just stupid but definitely I do not recommend to do it Would following the advice result in death? Injury? This (could, at least) Pain? And this Sickness? Disfigurement? Damage of property? Financial loss? Loss of data? Loss of time? Unnecessary work? Offending someone? Ridicule? Other unwanted social reactions? Arrest? Boredom?

Do those who give the advice expect it to be followed? Yes Do they think it is a smart thing to do? Possibly Have they usually done what they advise to do? Possibly In a situation that is relevantly different from the situation they give advice on? No, if then in rather a similar situation

[markobr]

So some of those who give the advice have been in a similar situation? Have these people done what they now advise? And, as a result, experienced pain? Injury? Do they think doing so has advantages that compensate for the pain or injury? But in fact it doesn't?

Is the advice given in a situation where those advised already suffer some pain? Are injured? Sick? Cold? Hot? Exhausted? Nauseous? Dizzy? Same for situations where they expect suffering from such conditions in future? Sme kind of folk medicine relevant? Sports relevant? Outdoor activities?

Is the advice given in a situation where something hangs loose? Relevantly hangs somewhere? Is loose?

[Mimino]

So some of those who give the advice have been in a similar situation? Possibly Have these people done what they now advise? If they have been, likely And, as a result, experienced pain? Injury? No (otherwise they would not give this advice) Do they think doing so has advantages that compensate for the pain or injury? But in fact it doesn't? No. They think the advice prevents from getting injured.

Is the advice given in a situation where those advised already suffer some pain? Are injured? Sick? Cold? Hot? Exhausted? Nauseous? Dizzy? No Same for situations where they expect suffering from such conditions in future? Yes, for pain and injury. No to the rest. Some kind of folk medicine relevant? No Sports relevant? No Outdoor activities? No, although this situation usually occurs outdoors

Is the advice given in a situation where something hangs loose? Possibly Relevantly hangs somewhere? Yes Is loose? No

[Balin]

Could the advice be classified as a superstition? As an interjection (e.g. "Heads up!")?

[Mimino]

Could the advice be classified as a superstition? No As an interjection (e.g. "Heads up!")? A very stretched Yope. Actually, a No.

[markobr]

Is the advice to make a certain movement? If so: a movement that involves your hands? arms? feet? legs? back? neck/head? To move an object? Prevent an object from moving? Touch an object? Say something? Make another kind of sound? Eat something? Drink something? Apply something else to yourself? Wear something? Take some clothing off? Or is the advice rather to avoid some actions?

Is the pain/injury you risk from following the advice of the same cause as the pain/injury you hope to avoid?

[Mimino]

Is the advice to make a certain movement? Yes If so: a movement that involves your hands? arms? feet? legs? back? neck/head? This, no to the rest To move an object? Prevent an object from moving? Touch an object? Say something? Make another kind of sound? Eat something? Drink something? Apply something else to yourself? Wear something? Take some clothing off? No to all this Or is the advice rather to avoid some actions? But this could be part of it

Is the pain/injury you risk from following the advice of the same cause as the pain/injury you hope to avoid? Yes

[Mimino]

RECAP
An advice is given to people who are in a potentially dangerous situation. The situation might result in pain and injury and the advice is given to prevent that from happening. However, following the advice could make the pain and the injury even worse. The situation usually occurs outdoors.
The advice involves moving the head and/or neck and (indirectly) avoiding some actions.
Something relevantly hangs, and potentially hangs loose.
And please, keep in mind that this is a lateral puzzle.

[peter365]

Is it something cliched like 'Don't look down?'

[Mimino]

Is it something cliched like 'Don't look down?' This is a good example. Yes, it's sort of a stereotypical advice.

[GalFisk]

Pain/injury from: fall? Slip? Trip? Animal attack? Crash? A sport? WAG: is it advice to go slowly on a course where speed is needed to clear jumps? Are wheels involved? Winter sports?

[Mimino]

Pain/injury from: fall? Slip? Trip? Animal attack? No to these Crash? This comes closest but beware of FA A sport? No WAG: is it advice to go slowly on a course where speed is needed to clear jumps? No Are wheels involved? No Winter sports? No

[GalFisk]

Vehicles involved? Mechanical devices? Walking? Running? Balance? Does the advice impair some function of the body? Mind? A machine? Device?
WAG: is it a public announcement about being on guard against pickpockets, which makes people check their valuables and thereby showing pickpockets where they are? Edit: no, that doesn't make sense here.

[Mimino]

Vehicles involved? Rarely Mechanical devices? Could be Walking? But mostly this Running? Or this Balance? No Does the advice impair some function of the body? No Mind? No A machine? No Device? No
WAG: is it a public announcement about being on guard Yes against pickpockets but no, which makes people check their valuables and thereby showing pickpockets where they are?

[GalFisk]

On guard against: other traffic? Other people walking? Walking into people relevant? Into objects? Watching where you go instead of looking at a screen relevant? Navigating/finding your way? Crowds? Any crimes relevant?

[Mimino]

On guard against: other traffic? No Other people walking? No Walking into people relevant? No Into objects? Yope Watching where you go instead of looking at a screen relevant? This could be an aspect but the advice is not that specific Navigating/finding your way? No Crowds? No Any crimes relevant? No

HINT: The relevance of the puzzle title has already been elaborated.

[GalFisk]

Something hanging: objects? People? Animals? Hitting one's head relevant? Food relevant? Drink? Is this outdoors? In nature?

[Mimino]

Something hanging: objects? Yes People? No Animals? No Hitting one's head relevant? Yope Food relevant? No Drink? No Is this outdoors? Yes In nature? Possibly, but more likely in cities

[GalFisk]

Are the hanging things manmade? Mass manufactured? Heavy? Sharp? Dangerous? Electric? Snow? Icicles? Can they relevantly dangle? Fall? Hurt? Is the advice to look at them? Avoid them?

[Mimino]

Are the hanging things manmade? No Mass manufactured? No Heavy? Could be Sharp? Could be Dangerous? Could be, therefore Electric? Snow? Icicles? This one Can they relevantly dangle? Not really Fall? But yes Hurt? Yes Is the advice to look at them? Essentially, yes. But usually a different wording is used. Avoid them? Yes

Almost there. What can you usually read on signs warning of icicles?

[peter365]

Don't stand below them? Don't lick them? Don't try and break them off?

[wunderland]

Watch out for them?

[GalFisk]

Does it say "look out"? But you'd be safer staying inside?

[Balin]

Is the point that it's safer not to look at icicles so as to avoid getting hit in the eyes?

[Mimino]

Don't stand below them? No Don't lick them? No Don't try and break them off? No
Watch out for them? Exactly
Does it say "look out"? Or this But you'd be safer staying inside?
Is the point that it's safer not to look at icicles so as to avoid getting hit in the eyes? Very much so

SPOILER
"Watch out for icicles" is something you can read on various signs during these times. I think you should not exactly do that but rather simply avoid walking there where big icicles are hanging down from the roof. And where you can't avoid it better look downward and use your arm to protect your head. It's already not pleasant being hit by a 5lb icicle in the back but I really would not have it slamming right into my face.

Congrats to wunderland, Galfisk and Balin for the finishing move.

[peter365]

Very good