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        general >> psychology >> A man in the desert
        
(Message started by: novabeast on Sep 21^st, 2005, 9:11am)

Title: A man in the desert
Post by novabeast on Sep 21^st, 2005, 9:11am

Has anyone heard of a riddle like this?

There is a man in the desert. He is laying face down, and has a backpack on.
How did he die?
Answer: His parachute didn't open.

This riddle was presented by my psy 240 instructor.
I can't see the logic in it. For one thing, jumpers wear their packs on the front.

Is it possible that it is incomplete, or phrased incorrectly?
Does anyone know where it origionated?
Thanks

Title: Re: A man in the desert
Post by Neelesh on Sep 21^st, 2005, 10:20am

These type of riddles usually go under the name of "lateral thinking" where a situation is given and we have to predict the incidence with help of Yes/No type of questions. The parachute problem is one of the typical lateral thinking problems.

I remember solving this puzzle long back. But as far as technical details of parachute wearing are concerned, I have no idea.

It can also happen that due to wind or due to the faller's incorrect efforts of opening the parachute, the parachute bag got turned from front to back?

Title: Re: A man in the desert
Post by towr on Sep 21^st, 2005, 2:30pm

on 09/21/05 at 09:11:26, novabeast wrote:

For one thing, jumpers wear their packs on the front.

?! Since when?

Title: Re: A man in the desert
Post by AkumAPRIME on Nov 30^th, 2005, 9:54am

I wore my parachute in back. If you mean a pack to hold stuff, that would go in front, but I didnt use a pack. All I wore was a backpack like device carrying my parachute, which was on my back. That's what this riddle is referring to.

note: do not let OP go parachuting without a pro around.