Lateral thinking

[DaShi]

You've got to be kidding me.

[Velociryx]

Nope...

Shall I post another? Anybody game?

-=Vel=-

[ColdWizard]

sure, post more , i couldn't figure out the second one

[Velociryx]

'k....I'll post some more, categorized. If anybody has questions relating to the problem at hand, I am allowed to answer yes/no questions, so feel free to ask in pursuit of the answer!

Here goes:

Easy
The Silent Cabbie

A London cab driver picked up a lady who was a notorious chatterbox. He did not want to engage in conversation, so he pretended to be deaf and dumb. He pointed to his mouth and ears to indicate that he could neither speak nor hear. After she alighted, he pointed to the meter so that she could see how much she owed. She paid him and walked off. Then she realized that he could not have been a deaf mute. How did she know?

The Unseen Walker

On a busy Friday afternoon, a man walked several miles across London from Westminster to Knightsbridge without seeing anybody or being seen by anybody. The day was clear and bright. He had perfect eyesight and he looked where he was going. He did not travel by any method of transport other than by foot. London was thronged with people, yet not one of them saw him. How?

Moderate
Anthony and Cleopatra

Anthony and Cleopatra are lying dead on the floor in an Egyptian villa. Nearby is a broken bowl. There are no marks on their bodies, and they were not poisoned. Not a person was in the villa when they died. How did they die?

Five Men

Five men were proceeding together down a country path. It began to rain. Four of the men quickened their step and began to walk faster. The fifth man made no effort to move any faster. However, he remained dry and the other four got wet. They all arrived at their destination together. How could this be so?
(note: They relied only on foot power!)

Historical
The Grateful Prisoner

In 1902 in the French West Indies, Mr. Cyparis was in prison awaiting trial for drunkenness. He was detained longer than he expected, was neglected, and was left without food and water, and yet, when he was released, he was grateful to have been in prison. Why should that be so?



-=Vel=-

[Solver]

The Silent Cabbie

Of course...

Spoiler:

He couldn't hear where the lady had to go if he was deaf

.

The Unseen Walker

Uhh, did he

Spoiler:

walk underground, through some pipes or whatever?

.

Anthony and Cleopatra

Know this one.

Spoiler:

They're fish

Five Men

Spoiler:

Assuming no water repelling cloak... could it be a dead man in a coffin?

.

The Grateful Prisoner

Uhh, he got laid by some women there ?

[ColdWizard]

ok, i'm definitely not a lateral thinker

[DaShi]

Don't worry.

[Dauphin]

Historical
The Grateful Prisoner

In 1902 in the French West Indies, Mr. Cyparis was in prison awaiting trial for drunkenness. He was detained longer than he expected, was neglected, and was left without food and water, and yet, when he was released, he was grateful to have been in prison. Why should that be so?



-=Vel=-

Spoiler:

Some cataclism had wiped out the prison guards and townspeople. A rescue team let him out of the jail which had been spared.

West Indies - Hurricane?

[Velociryx]

I'll post the answers tomorrow...GREAT stuff so far tho! (resisting the urge to say more)



-=Vel=-

[Adagio]

The Silent Cabbie

Spoiler:

Shortly after she got away from the cab, she looked back, to see the cab driver talking with some other customer

The Unseen Walker

Spoiler:

This man was dead, and walking around as a ghost, and since only very few people can see ghosts, nobody saw him, and some ghosts (so I've heard) only see what they wants to see, so he didn't see any people, since he didn't want to see them

Anthony and Cleopatra

Spoiler:

Anthony and Cleopatra has been dead for a long time, but modern scientists has "repaired" their bodies, so they look normal. Anthony and Cleopatra was "objects" at an exhibition (?), where they should look like, if an fight has been going on between them (therefore the broken bowl).

Five Men

Spoiler:

The fifth man was already walking faster than the other men, so he didn't have to speed up, and he was also wearing a rainsuit (?), so he couldn't get wet

The Grateful Prisoner

Spoiler:

During his time in prison, a plague was going around. This plague killed 50% of those who ate any food, or drank water, while this plague killed 100% of those who got drunk during the time of the plague

Sure, the others are more logic, but I hate logic explanations

[Adagio]

Originally posted by Velociryx
ADG gets the prize for the most intriguing answer!

Now, if I'd just know what "intriguing" means

[Thoth]

Originally posted by Velociryx
Here goes:

Easy
The Silent Cabbie

Spoiler:

She had told him her destination verbally.

The Unseen Walker

Spoiler:

he used the sewer system.

Historical
The Grateful Prisoner

Spoiler:

He was the only survivor of a volcanic eruption. I can't remember the name of the volcano or the island though.

[DuncanK]

How has the meaning of lateral thinking been established here? Does it just mean if we are for the war or not? Or does it mean if we are tolerant of other peoples idea? Or what?

[Wraith]

--"Big C, and Cold Wizard: Yep. Correct answer! Good work!"

Interesting. But there were so many possibilities for that one. Most doughnuts pulled in parking lots along the way, or most cheesesteaks consumed, etc.
And having owned a Ford, I'd have to agree with the previous most breakdowns one.

Anyone willing to post the exact method to get the quote text set for the spoilers? I'm too lazy to experiment tonight.

I've got answers for all but the historical one. I suck at those.

Wraith
unziprip;touch;finger;mount;fsck;more;yes;umount;sleep

[Wraith]

Heh. My laziness lost a fight for once.

--"The Silent Cabbie"

Spoiler:

As has already been mentioned, she told him where to go and that's where she ended up.

--"The Unseen Walker"

Spoiler:

He was a subway worker on the way home. So he took the maintenance trolley home.

--"Anthony and Cleopatra"

Spoiler:

Another one that's been answered. They were fish whose bowl had been broken. The butler's cat did it.

--"Five Men"

Spoiler:

Four of them were carrying the fifth in a palanquin

--"The Grateful Prisoner"

Spoiler:

As I said, I suck at these, but a quick Google revealed this:
On May 8, 1902 Saint-Pierre, the largest town in the French West Indies and the commercial capital of Martinique was completely destroyed by a volcanic eruption from Mount Pellee, the highest of the three mountains in the French Colony. All ships in the harbor was destroyed. All of the inhabitants, except one, a Mr. Cyparis, who was jailed for drunkenness, were lost. According to the 1901 census, Saint-Pierre's population was 23,400!

Oh, and those links I mentioned before? My mistake. Those were critical thinking links. I still can't find any good lateral thinking links.

Wraith
I am the Imp of the Perverse - Knowing this won't help you, either.