Larian Studios Forums General Chat Chat (Anything) Lateral thinking puzzles

In these puzzles someone describes a scenario, and the others will have to find out the whole story.

You may ask questions that may be answered by "yes" or "no". Alright?

May I suggest that if you already know the story, do not tell it right away but let the others have a guess?

I will start with my favourite one:

A man walks into a bar and asks the barkeeper for a glass of water. The barkeeper pulls out a gun and points it at the man. The man says "Thank you very much" and leaves the bar.

Explain this! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />

Shucks!!!

I read about this one only 30 minutes ago.

Kyra_Ny <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

What a pity! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" />

he needed a shot of water? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Good pun. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ROFL.gif" alt="" />

But: No.

This is one of those things that even when you see the answer you have to think about it for a second or two before it sinks in. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Kyra_Ny <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Did it happen in parallel universe???

Übereil

It could be a recreation of a scene : A detective asks the barkeeper, who responds like he had seen it in his bar or somewhere else before.

After having this evidence (through re-creation of a scene), the detective says "Thank you!"

I know what it is, so I won't spoil anything, but I find it amusing to see you all doing so nice work guessing etc. So keep up the good work.

@alrik: What is your question?

@uebereil: No.

Sorry, I don't have a question. If you have one, you can go on. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Or anyone else. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Damn... Did anything happen between the events? (Eg did there happen something else between the question and the pulling off the gun? And between the pulling of the gun and the thank you?)

Übereil

@ Ube =>
Ube, this is a real hard one.
I'll even admit I would have never figured this one out.
The only reason I know the answer is because I read about it before its initial post here.

I'm telling you Ube...
Even when you see the answer it might not click in / make sense right away.

Kyra_Ny <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

You gotta try though.

Übereil

Was the man after the water a customer? We he an employee of the bar? Was he masquerading as an employee of the bar?

Ok here's my little guess: <span class='standouttext'>Spoiler : </span><span class='spoiler'> the barkeeper used a watergun/ postmix device </span>

Great idea for a thread Sveltje. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />


Clever guess Mea - I like it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Mine was much more tortuous (and I doubt if it's right...)

<span class='standouttext'>Spoiler : </span><span class='spoiler'> A man was walking along a busy street carrying his pet rat. Suddenly, the rat jumped out of his arms and fell into the road, where -splat - it was hit by a passing bicycle.

The rat was badly injured and clearly needed to be put out of its misery. The owner could not bring himself to give a killing hit.

So he rushed into the nearby bar and blurted out the story to the barman. Explaining that he needed to drown his pet he asked for a glass of water.

But instead the barman produced a gun, and showed it to the man. "Thank you" he said, took the gun and shot the rat...

Probably not correct, but is it any more outlandish or lateral than the 'real' answer?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
</span>

Another guess:

<span class='standouttext'>Spoiler : </span><span class='spoiler'> The 'gun' is one of those cigarette lighters that produce a flame from the end when you pull the trigger. The barkeeper just lit the man's cigarette for him. </span>

Maybe I need to ask some questions instead of just guessing.

Did the barkeeper and the customer know each other before the incident?

Did the barkeeper intend the gun to be a threatening gesture? i.e. a threat to shoot at the customer?

Was it a real gun, loaded with bullets?

Are any of these factors relevant:

The historical time of the incident?
The time of day, week or year?
The state of health of either the barman or the customer?
The relationship between the two (blood relation, friend, enemy or whatever)?
If I knew what either or both were wearing would that help? (i.e. uniform or identifying clothing).

Is it essential to the story that he asked for water, rather than another drink, or other item?

Could it be re-written, with the same basic idea, but using something other than a glass of water?

Is it necessary to the story that the man leaves the bar after saying "Thank you"?


Apologies for asking so many questions at one time, but with the time zone difference if I ask them one at a time it will take me months to guess. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Kris : great story (your first guess)! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ROFL.gif" alt="" />

Now I'll probably be disappointed by the "real" answer!

I think a gun is what we call a glass of water but in this other countries lingo.