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        riddles >> what happened >> Fancy shoes
        
(Message started by: Iceman on Nov 6^th, 2006, 8:39am)

Title: Fancy shoes
Post by Iceman on Nov 6^th, 2006, 8:39am

the riddle was deleted

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by SMQ on Nov 6^th, 2006, 8:53am

[edit][edit 2]~~Since Iceman has chosen to delete the original text of the riddle, I'm reproducing it here from memory.~~ Iceman has indicated that he believes this riddle to be of lesser quality than his usual work and has deleted the original. Because I feel strongly that public discussions, once begun, should not be stifled for the sake of mere vanity, I have attempted to reproduce the riddle from memory in the hidden text below. Please consider this an attempt at preserving the historical record only, and not as a reflection on the usual quality of Iceman's riddles.[/edit 2] I believe I have the essential points of the riddle correct, but I'm afraid my retelling lacks that certain Iceman flair.

---===---=== * * * ===---===---

[hide]Jim wakes up in the morning and while dressing, having had a long night before, groggily puts on the first pair of shoes he lays hands on. He is well dressed and in perfect health on his way to work that morning, and carrying nothing except his cell phone. When he arrives at work he enters an elevator and, due to the crowded conditions, stands quite close to the panel of floor buttons, facing them. At that time his wife calls him on his cell phone. She is shopping and has found some hiking boots she believes he would like, but needs to know what color to get. She knows that all of his other footware is either black or brown -- the only two colors he likes -- and asks which he would prefer. When he says he doesn't know, she asks what color shoes he is wearing now. Jim leans his head forward, but is still unable to tell his wife the color of his shoes. Why?[/hide]

---===---=== * * * ===---===---

My unaltered answers follow below.[/edit]

[hide]He grabbed one shoe of each color?[/hide]

[hide]He's standing too close to the door to lower his head far enough to see his shoes?[/hide]

[hide]He bumped his head on the door and blurred his vision?[/hide]

I guess being in good health would rule out my first thought which was: [hide]he couldn't see his feet past his gigantic gut.[/hide]

--SMQ

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Sameer on Nov 6^th, 2006, 9:37am

Or maybe he cannot put into words the actual color of shoes which is a hybrid of red+magenta+purple+brown ;)

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by towr on Nov 6^th, 2006, 11:43am

[hide]He might have trampled through a pool of mud, which is now covering his shoes and makes it impossible to see the color[/hide]

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Whiskey Tango Foxtrot on Nov 6^th, 2006, 12:56pm

[hide]Maybe he is wearing scrub booties.[/hide]

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Grimbal on Nov 6^th, 2006, 2:40pm

"he has a cellular phone on him and nothing else" would rule out that he is wearing any shoes. Wouldn't it?

Else, maybe he sees that he is wearing fine red italian shoes. The only person he knows wearing this kind of shoes is a gigolo he has seen hanging around the bar around the corner a few times already. He is so taken aback by the implications that he forgot what the question was and says "I don't know".

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Michael_Dagg on Nov 6^th, 2006, 4:32pm

[hide]There are so many people crowded into the elevator
that he can't see his shoes because one or
more back-sides obscure his view?

[/hide]

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by roricka on Nov 6^th, 2006, 6:10pm

He grabbed a couple of hot shoes for his camera;

He grabbed a couple of card dealer shoes;

He's wearing rubbers;

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by roricka on Nov 7^th, 2006, 7:11am

[hide]But that can't be right. The puzzle explicitly states he is in good health. Nobody with a gut that big can be in good health[/hide]

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by roricka on Nov 7^th, 2006, 7:53am

Well, I know I'm a newbie here, but with all due respect, this kind of "situational puzzle" really ought to have a solution where you go "Ah!" when you hear the solution. To have the solution ignore so many of the (apparently false) clues is not very "satisfying!"

Sorry -- just my green $.02 worth! :-/

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Iceman on Nov 7^th, 2006, 8:57am

I welcome critique, :) but I'm vain too, just a bit. ::) Unflattering riddles are bad for my image, so I've deleted all of my posts in this topic, except for this one. Naturally, I recommend that moderators delete this topic altogether, because there is nothing to see, literally.

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by SMQ on Nov 7^th, 2006, 9:03am

[edit]
---===---=== * * * ===---===---
One of Iceman's deleted posts, between the first two of roricka above, confirmed my suggestion -- [hide]that the man was so overweight as to be unable to see his shoes in the crowded elevator[/hide] -- as the intended answer.
---===---=== * * * ===---===---
[/edit]

Oh, sure -- I finally get one of your riddles right and you go and delete it. :P

--SMQ

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Sameer on Nov 7^th, 2006, 9:51am

Uh? Why did you delete the riddle? Frankly lateral thinking puzzles have many correct answers. So whilst all our answers are "plausible" ::) what we try to do is get to author's original answer!!! If you have even read some lateral thinking books some of the answers won't even make sense because they will put an element that is not even defined within the intended question. That is what lateral thinking is all about, thinking outside the box, using your imagination

Edit: By the way this comment was directed to Rorika... no offense to anyone but people here like to have a good healthy discussion... even on topics we have already discussed while ago.. ;D

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Iceman on Nov 7^th, 2006, 11:42am

http://www.geocities.com/alien624837/iceman3.gif

I am a man: I know what I know, and I do what I do.

If someone has a problem with it, why don't we step outside!

http://www.geocities.com/alien624837/iceman2.jpg

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Icarus on Nov 7^th, 2006, 3:33pm

Dagnabit! Tell me what the solution was, first! I have my curiousity, and now all I can tell is that apparently SMQ got the answer right. But he gave 3 possible solutions, and I don't know which one was intended.

Don't pique our curiousity, then deny to satisfy it!

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Sameer on Nov 7^th, 2006, 4:31pm

I think the intended answer was the man had huge gut.. hey is huge gut != healthy ??? He can still be in perfect health.. just lot of fat around his belly ;)

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by cchris on Nov 7^th, 2006, 7:57pm

Well I never got to see it..

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by SMQ on Nov 8^th, 2006, 5:42am

on 11/07/06 at 11:42:31, Iceman wrote:

I know what I know, and I do what I do.

Be that as it may, I cannot help but feel your action was ... unsporting. Accordingly, since a moderator has shown no inclination to delete the entire thread, I have modified my posts above to reflect both the original riddle and the intended answer.

If you really feel a need to step outside, you should know that I'm from Michigan -- cold doesn't bother me, Iceman.

--SMQ

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Iceman on Nov 8^th, 2006, 8:29am

Since moderators wont delete this topic, let me say that stampeding rhinos are in perfect health.

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by towr on Nov 8^th, 2006, 8:47am

I didn't know I was supposed to the delete the thread. Unless it's spam I usually don't delete things unless asked. Also, I didn't notice it was asked..

Still, it ought to require some consensus. So.. All in favour of deletion raise your hand.

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by SMQ on Nov 8^th, 2006, 8:52am

* pointedly keeps hands firmly in pockets

--SMQ

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Iceman on Nov 8^th, 2006, 9:00am

Both of my hands are in the air.

SMQ, you better take your hands out of your pockets, or I will catch a plane for Michigan. I am not kidding. :P

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by roricka on Nov 8^th, 2006, 9:23am

A fat man walks onto an airplane ramp with his hands firmly in his pockets. The guard at the gate asks for his cell phone. He nods twice, then cries with only one eye. The guard spits on his sock, but doesn't take his nose off the shoehorn. The fat man stumbles up the ramp, as the captain says welcome offboard.

What happened?

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Sameer on Nov 8^th, 2006, 9:43am

I keep my hands in my sweatshirt... i stayed in Wisconsin for some years so cold doesn't affect me that much either....

uh btw roricka is that a new riddle or sarcasm.. i can't tell ;)

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Iceman on Nov 8^th, 2006, 11:54am

I never asked for a favor before. And after two years of being a member here, two years, I ask you to do this one simple thing for me: to delete this topic. I ask you to raise your hands. But no, you have to be extra. You have to compete with a riddler, who has put his heart, and his soul, into this board. And not even that, you make smart remarks about ice, even though you know that is very important subject to me. So I start to ask myself, what did I do wrong? Have I done something wrong? I have posted about 50 riddles, and some of them were good, so was that my big mistake? Are 50 riddles the reason you won't raise your hands? I never, ever asked you to do anything for me, not one thing. And then I ask you to raise your hands. But you have the nerve to spite me. Is this how you treat people who were born on North Pole? Enjoy, because you have won. You have managed to break my sword. You have broken one thing that cannot be broken. You have broken......... Icecalibur. The only way to put it back together is to admit, that you were selfish, greedy, and mean. I wont my Icecalibur back. Quick, I think I see a siren in the lake! This is your last chance to repent, and give me back my Icecalibur.

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by roricka on Nov 8^th, 2006, 1:00pm

sarcasm

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Whiskey Tango Foxtrot on Nov 8^th, 2006, 1:10pm

Icecalibur would be an awesome nick by the way. Just in case anyone is looking for one.

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Michael_Dagg on Nov 8^th, 2006, 1:19pm

I thought, at least previously, that Iceman was immune to Earthly
poison but of course responsive to our popular Spirits.

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by SMQ on Nov 8^th, 2006, 1:35pm

You know, Iceman, a couple hours ago I wouldn't have minded very much if this thread were removed or not, but if you're going to take a stand here so am I. So, for the record, my objection has nothing to do with the fact that I happened to be the first to guess the answer, and everything to do with the fact that you seem to be acting like a petulant snot to protect your admitted vanity.

You may have created this riddle, but by placing it here -- a public forum -- you necessarily relinquished some control over it. To then delete the riddle simply because you decided you didn't like the answer you were looking for -- after it had begun to generate some discussion -- is a disservice to the community.

I'm sorry it wasn't one of your best, but had you simply moved on and posted other riddles of your usual quality this one would have been soon forgotten. By first deleting it, and then agruing about it, you've turned it into something more -- an issue. And as an issue, I feel very strongly that words, once freely given to the community, should not be erased simply because you (or I, or anyone else) now wish to change your mind. Correcting simple errors, or attempting to delete a post before anyone has (hopefully) read it is one thing; attempting to stifle a discussion -- even one which you initiated -- is quite another, and something which bothers me deeply. I'm sorry if that appears "selfish, greedy, and mean;" that was never my intent.

I will not "raise my hand" in support of something I find ethically objectionable; however, as a token of my respect for your work -- if not for your present attitude -- I will, as a favor, hide my remembered text of the original riddle, and change my vote from an "against" to an abstention.

* abstains from the showing of hands

--SMQ

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Iceman on Nov 8^th, 2006, 3:48pm

Because of your abstention, Icecalibur swings again! 8)

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Sameer on Nov 8^th, 2006, 5:25pm

LOL, somehow I find this thread very funny and relaxing, no offense ;D

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Icecalibur on Nov 8^th, 2006, 7:32pm

Woo-hoo! ;D

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Sameer on Nov 8^th, 2006, 8:05pm

Who's the n00b now! ;)

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Whiskey Tango Foxtrot on Nov 8^th, 2006, 9:10pm

I like this Icecalibur.

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by jollytall on Nov 8^th, 2006, 11:26pm

Dear Iceman,

I really liked your post in one of the earlier threads when you had lost your previous alias with its post based ranking. While I felt sorry for an Uberpuzzler loosing the well deserved, - but otherwise we all know not too seriously taken, - ranking, I also thought you had a posting that was funny, showing sarcasm in the form of overreacting how much you had been offended.
So I was glad when you could get your ranking back (though I miss a bit the flying spaceship, and I would have personally preferred reinstating the alias too). I was also glad to see that many new riddles appear from you, some being totally new as well (Iceman's quiz series).

Reading this riddle (I still remember it, despite the fact that it has been deleted), I found it not bad at all. Surely we had some that I personally liked more, but for me it was definitely not below any quality line. I can also imagine that some liked it even more. Just to underline how good it was, let me remind you that Hollywood made a whole movie around it (The Nutty Professor with Eddie Murphy, being glad when thanks to a new medicine he could see what was under his belly, although he did not focus on his shoes if remember correctly).

And then I got confused. The rest of the story I do not understand ever since. Please, assure me that all the rest of this thread is only part of the ongoing sarcastic, let's-shake-up-the-forum-with-something-new approach and you do not think it at all seriously.
If it is so, then I lay back and join Sameer in enjoying every bit of it. Should it not be the case, then please let us know what we humble recently joined members could do to give your old mood back (I do not think deleting the thread would do the trick).

Thanks,

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Iceman on Nov 9^th, 2006, 4:02am

As you can see, Icecalibur is an enchanted sword that can talk. We are a cool duo. 8)

on 11/08/06 at 23:26:17, jollytall wrote:

Please, assure me that all the rest of this thread is only part of the ongoing sarcastic, let's-shake-up-the-forum-with-something-new approach and you do not think it at all seriously.

That is the case. There are so many kids on this forum, so sometimes I want to play with them.

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by SMQ on Nov 9^th, 2006, 5:35am

on 11/09/06 at 04:02:38, Iceman wrote:

That is the case.

:o...>:(...:-[...and I bought that last rant hook, line, and fracking sinker, you little sh*t -- I hope everyone enjoyed the show. I'm here all week, folks; try the veal! ::)

* makes a mental note not to take himself or Iceman quite so seriously in the future. :)

No hard feelings, though. Besides, I know something that you do not know: I am not left-handed. :-* ;D

--SMQ

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Whiskey Tango Foxtrot on Nov 9^th, 2006, 5:39am

on 11/09/06 at 05:35:49, SMQ wrote:

No hard feelings, though. Besides, I know something that you do not know: I am not left-handed. :-* ;D

Good reference to a good book.

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by jollytall on Nov 9^th, 2006, 6:56am

Anyway, it is a relief to know.
My heart is already warming up. I hope yours is not, or you would melt and then you need another nick again :-).

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by cchris on Nov 9^th, 2006, 10:26am

This whole discussion, it's like Tuesdays with Morrie except you actually wish it would die.

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Sameer on Nov 9^th, 2006, 10:36am

on 11/09/06 at 05:39:30, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot wrote:

Good reference to a good book.

Which book? I am curious, 'cos I am left-handed.

on 11/09/06 at 04:02:38, Iceman wrote:

That is the case. There are so many kids on this forum, so sometimes I want to play with them.

That doesn't sound very right to me... :P

Title: Re: Fancy shoes
Post by Whiskey Tango Foxtrot on Nov 9^th, 2006, 6:11pm

on 11/09/06 at 10:36:11, Sameer wrote:

Which book? I am curious, 'cos I am left-handed.

The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern (spelling?) That scene is classic and the movie does it excellently. The book is actually written by a different author entirely. His name is William Goldman.

Quote:

That doesn't sound very right to me... :P

Hahaha