wu :: forums - Print Page


    
      
        wu :: forums
        (http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        riddles >> what happened >> Long Lost Uncle
        
(Message started by: Sir Col on Feb 23^rd, 2007, 12:06am)

Title: Long Lost Uncle
Post by Sir Col on Feb 23^rd, 2007, 12:06am

Quote:

I bumped into my long lost uncle in the street. I'd never met him, seen his picture, or heard him described, yet I recognised him immediately. How?

I was presented with this riddle yesterday. Has anyone heard it before and know the expected answer? I suspect that the "answer" is [hide]he's his father's identical twin[/hide], but I believe that answer is flawed because "I'd never ... heard him described". Any thoughts?

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by JiNbOtAk on Feb 23^rd, 2007, 1:34am

I've heard his unique voice over the phone countless time, and I just know its him.. :P

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by Grimbal on Feb 23^rd, 2007, 8:02am

Maybe he has never seen the uncle, but you know the aunt very well.

Maybe he is driving that ancient car that used to belong to grampa, but didn't end up in the family.

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by Whiskey Tango Foxtrot on Feb 23^rd, 2007, 8:05am

Or he was wearing a name tag or ID card.

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by cchris on Feb 26^th, 2007, 2:28pm

Identical twins, separated at birth works.

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by Icarus on Feb 26^th, 2007, 3:11pm

I have to agree with Sir Col. If I saw someone who looked just like my father, I would think first "what a coincidence!", not "You must be an uncle I've never heard any suggestion of before!" And if the person had heard that there was a long-lost identical twin uncle - In my opinion, that is tantamount to a description.

At best it would be an acceptable answer IMO if the person had heard that he had a long-lost uncle, but was not told that the uncle was his father's identical twin.

But I recall hearing this one before, and the answer then was "He was with my aunt, who I did know."

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by cchris on Feb 26^th, 2007, 5:25pm

So why would Aunt Sally lie about never being married?

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by Icarus on Feb 26^th, 2007, 6:08pm

It doesn't say that you didn't know you had an uncle. Just that you'd never been given a description. This is why I would accept the identical twin idea only as long as the person had not been told they are identical. Your father telling you "I have an identical twin" is equivalent to "I have a brother who looks just like me". I.e., it includes a description. "I have a brother", on the other hand, at most indicates there might be a family resemblance.

So if you only knew that your father had a brother, and you see this guy who looks just like your father, then I suppose that would make you fairly certain this must be the brother. However, this seems like a far-fetched example.

On the other hand, having recently heard that your well-behaved Aunt Bessie just got married again, and then running into her kissing some gentleman would be lead to a high degree of certainty IMO that the fellow being kissed was your new uncle.

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by SWF on Feb 26^th, 2007, 7:09pm

You have seen him before (perhaps across the room at a family gathering, or through binoculars because you weren't invited to the family reunion) but have not met him.

Or, you are deaf and have not heard him described but know of him though reading, lip reading, or sign languange.

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by JiNbOtAk on Feb 26^th, 2007, 8:02pm

You : ( walking down a street, looking at a man who slightly resembles your father )
Man : Hey boy !! I'm your long lost uncle !!
You : Oh, so you're my long lost uncle, whom I've never met, nor heard any description about. How are you ?

Could happen.. ;D

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by cchris on Feb 27^th, 2007, 4:36am

Well, you get the premise. Your father and uncle are separated at birth, though identical twins. You see someone who looks exactly like him, but you never heard anything about your father having a twin. I'd assume more coincidence, but if it happened to be in the same town your father was born in (and a small town at that), hey, why not? Doesn't mention anything about walking up to the guy.

-edit- well bumping into. Maybe it was like "oh, sorry. wait, is your last name....?"

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by Iceman on Mar 8^th, 2007, 9:28am

He had a T-shirt with an inscription saying: 'I am your long lost uncle!'

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by Grimbal on Mar 8^th, 2007, 9:31am

On the flea market he saw an old urn which he remembers was on his grandparents chimney and somehow disappeared when they passed away and the house was cleared.

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by Iceman on Mar 8^th, 2007, 10:07am

He has seen his reflection in the lake, right before his uncle punched his lights out. 8)

Title: Re: Long Lost Uncle
Post by Archae on Mar 31^st, 2007, 10:45am

Maybe the subject of the riddle is going to find his long lost uncle, having recently found some information regarding the uncle's whereabouts and current living situation - then that allows for the case that he meets the uncle on a dead-end street with only one house on it in the middle of nowhere. Of course, one could argue that he couldn't be sure that the person was in fact the uncle; but then we could bring in family ressemblance, or any information about the uncle that does not include physical description (i.e. he lives alone, etc). Then, when they meet on the street, the subject can be sure that it is indeed the uncle.