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Title: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by amy on Sep 19th, 2002, 1:40am :D what unusual natural phenomen is capable of speaking in any language? Before Mt. Everest was discovered what was the highest mountain on earth? Forward i am heavy, backward i am not. what am i? How many bricks does it take to complete a house made of brick? How many times can you subtract the number 5 from 25? If you have it, you want to share it, if you share it, you don't have it. what is it? The more you have it, the less you see, what is it? The more you take, the more you leave behind, what are they? what can go up a chimney down, but can't go down a chimney up? could you please submit answers at all_that_shimmers@lycos.com //Moved from Easy Forum by Icarus |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Chronos on Sep 19th, 2002, 11:16am Quote:
And as a hint, the answers for the brick house one and the 25-5 one are both based on the same concept. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by James Fingas on Sep 19th, 2002, 11:32am The one which had me going for the longest was "The more you take, the more you leave behind". I came up with some non-satisfying but possibly correct answers, until I found what I believe the be the "right" answer (or at least one the puzzler should have thought of). The "right" answer stinks. Thanks for the hint Chronos! I would also like to point out that if you look at the question that way, there are two possible answers. It depends on the way the house is built. I suppose there's also the pathalogical case of the zero square-foot house made of zero bricks. Hmm... |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Pietro K.C. on Sep 19th, 2002, 12:00pm How many times can you subtract 5 from 25? At first I thought: 'So, they think they're gonna get me! Obviously, it's not 5, since nowhere it is said that we must remain in the positive integers. So the answer is an infinite number of times! Gosh, I'm so smart!' But then I thought, 'Hey! Once you subtract 5, you're left with 20, which is no longer 25! So the answer is: only once. Gosh, I'm REALLY smart!' I think this was the intended answer, if it has to do with the brick thing. But then something occurred to me: what keeps you from doing the 25-5=20 operation over and over? I think the number of times you can subtract 5 from 25 is only limited by your lifespan, and the time you devote to such a (noble?) activity. If the human race got together in a collective effort to subtract 5 from 25, we could conceivably do it jillions of times! So let's get going! Pass this message on to your friends! :) |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Brett Danaher on Sep 25th, 2002, 6:29am You followed my exact train of thought on that one, Pietro! (that should scare you). I definitely agree with you. But I don't see how the 25-5 one relates to brick house. I mean, I suppose if you lay one brick, you have a complete brick house, for like an ant who lives inside the pores in the brick. Since that is ridiculous, I have no idea how brick house relates to 25-5, whichever solution is right. Now also, I'd have to say that Mt. Everest has always been the highest mountain, even before it was discovered. But I guess that was obvious. I really like the forward heavy one, it was easy but clever. A few of the rest I'm still working on. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Pietro K.C. on Sep 25th, 2002, 7:01am How many bricks does it take to COMPLETE a brick house? Just one... regardless of how many bricks it took to build it. :) The forward-backward one I still haven't got! And the answer to "the more you take, the more you leave behind"? Is it "a shower"? |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by wowbagger on Sep 25th, 2002, 7:14am My answer to "the more you take..." is not "a shower". I'm still stuck with the chimney thing, but that could be a language problem. At least I hope so. ;) on 09/25/02 at 06:29:08, Brett Danaher wrote:
Well, to me it's obvious that Chomolungma (Mt. Everest) hasn't always been the highest mountain, as the Himalayas are only about 600 000 years old. :) |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by jeremiahsmith on Sep 25th, 2002, 10:16am Highlight: The chimney thing...that's an umbrella. When the umbrella is up, it's spread out and won't fit into most chimneys, going either up or down. When it's down, it's thin, and it can go through the chimney. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by wowbagger on Sep 25th, 2002, 11:42am Thanks, Jeremiah. I'm sure I wouldn't have thought about that unless I'd come across the terms "up" and "down" in connection with this thing. And that may well have taken a while. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Pietro K.C. on Sep 27th, 2002, 8:18pm The answer to "the more you take, the more you leave behind" ... it can be almost anything! It could be a walk (you leave the road behind when you take a walk), or a dump! And the "forward-backward, heavy-not heavy" thing? Is it the last wagon in a train? Is it carrying something up a slope? Is it the wind? Is it the reading on an analog scale? You know, the little arrow that indicates the weight of something? Aaaaarrrrghhhh!!! |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Jonathan_the_Red on Oct 1st, 2002, 5:30pm on 09/27/02 at 20:18:13, Pietro K.C. wrote:
Backward I am not, Pietro. Backward I am not. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by chris newby on Oct 5th, 2002, 12:37pm on the more you take the more you leave behind thing it is footsteps. for the forward i am heavy backward i am not it is a ton. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Nebelis on Oct 18th, 2002, 6:44pm For the what unusual natural phenomenon thingy I think I know what it is...an echo? the backward forward riddle...just read it over and over till you get it...and about the have it share it well shhh that one is a secret. |
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Title: Re: i have a riddle for u Post by derek on Oct 21st, 2002, 12:42pm :'( HOW LONG A CHINESE MAN? |
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Title: Re: i have a riddle for u Post by James Fingas on Sep 23rd, 2003, 8:21am on 10/21/02 at 12:42:37, derek wrote:
I'd say he is. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by wowbagger on Sep 23rd, 2003, 8:26am I don't know whether this is old hat, but speaking of Chinese: How do you call a Chinese woman who has only one leg? |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Ouroboros on Sep 24th, 2003, 5:22pm doesn't matter. if she only has a leg, she can't hear you. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Speaker on Sep 24th, 2003, 7:19pm Here is an oldy. Whats a henway? |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Icarus on Sep 24th, 2003, 8:23pm 'bout 5 pounds. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by wowbagger on Sep 25th, 2003, 3:31am on 09/24/03 at 17:22:45, Ouroboros wrote:
Not what I had in mind, but nice answer, in a way. I won't argue about the applicability of the term "woman" to a leg... ;) |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Icarus on Sep 25th, 2003, 4:47pm on 09/25/03 at 03:31:56, wowbagger wrote:
Another Sluggy episode (http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=000804) |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Ouroboros on Sep 25th, 2003, 4:56pm on 09/25/03 at 03:31:56, wowbagger wrote:
I'm curious, how much more needs to be added to the leg so that the term woman becomes applicable? :) |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by wowbagger on Sep 26th, 2003, 3:32am That's strange, I've already read that episode, Icarus, but I didn't remember it, despite the obvious connection. on 09/25/03 at 16:56:29, Ouroboros wrote:
That probably depends on where your preferences lie. ;) I won't go into details, because I'm not an expert on this matter. ::) |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Icarus on Sep 26th, 2003, 3:30pm on 09/26/03 at 03:32:55, wowbagger wrote:
I suppose it depends on how twisted your mind is. Pardon me now, I have to go kill my brother in hopes of seeing that gal I met at Dad's funeral again! ;) |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by maryl on Sep 26th, 2003, 5:33pm on 09/25/03 at 16:56:29, Ouroboros wrote:
Wowbagger, now you're being naughty. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Speaker on Sep 26th, 2003, 5:51pm Back to the original, question. Can't you just bang the leg on a drum or something until the lady turns around. Maybe you could throw it at her. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by maryl on Sep 26th, 2003, 6:00pm Well I would say on a cell phone, definitely; one she keeps in one of her pockets. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Speaker on Sep 26th, 2003, 6:07pm Maybe the leg is wearing a shoe, and maybe the shoe is a shoe-phone, the same kind of shoe-phone used by spys all over the world. So, just call her on the shoe-phone. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Speaker on Sep 26th, 2003, 6:11pm Here is a link. http://www.cia.gov/spy_fi/item15.html |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Ouroboros on Sep 26th, 2003, 7:15pm I was only half-joking when I asked at which point would a bodypart merit the label "woman" or "man". I really would like to know what the participants of this forum (all of whom seem to be incredibly intelligent) think about the ultimate "what am I" puzzle. How has each one of you learned to cope with the inevitable realization that in things that are truly important, pure analytics, no matter how beautiful, will never provide an answer? |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Speaker on Sep 26th, 2003, 7:34pm Well, you only need a single strand of DNA to determine gender. Am I correct in reading the rest of your post that you want a solution to the question: "What is the answer?" ??? Or, maybe "What is answer?" ::) Or, maybe "What answer?" >:( |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Ouroboros on Sep 26th, 2003, 8:28pm hmm.. good point about dna.. but the ultimate "what am i" puzzle i'm talking about is the question "who am i" that every intelligent person asks him/herself at one point in their life.. I know that "there is no answer" to this question.. I'm just curious as to how different people cope with the realization that there are things out there that are simply not "knowable", there are limits to cognition/deduction/analysis.. I personally have started to distrust reason/logic a lot more since my realization of its inherent limitations.. Sorry for hyjacking this thread into a completely improper metaphysical/existentialist realm.. but I think all the solvable puzzles here have been solved. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Speaker on Sep 26th, 2003, 8:46pm Sometimes, we have riddles that are hard to answer, and some that are easy. Other riddles have more than one acceptable answer, except there may be some argument about which answer is best or most acceptable. Maybe your question is one of these. There are many answers, some involving mysticism, or religion, or philosophy. Others based on simpler themes (like Popeye's I am what I am) or even more simple "I am not." Anyway, the person who asks the question usually has the final word on whether the answer is "RIGHT" or not. So it is in the situation you pose. The person asking the question is the only one who can determine if the answer is correct. Although as in this forum, people have been known to accept an alternative answer as more relevant. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by maryl on Sep 27th, 2003, 9:57am on 09/26/03 at 20:28:11, Ouroboros wrote:
Very Interesting question, I have several things I could contribute on this issue. I will tell you there is an old proverb that states: "He who thinks he's wise knows nothing as he ought to know."-- We will never have all the answers, but we can share each others knowledge and discern for ourselves what is true. And in order to do that you have to believe in something which will give you faith in the dark times. We all have our own free will which enables us to be who we are. I think Life is one big puzzle. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Icarus on Sep 27th, 2003, 7:09pm on 09/26/03 at 20:28:11, Ouroboros wrote:
There is an answer & I know it. I am me. Where do I fit in this universe? Right here, right now. If a tree falls in the forest and no-one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Yes - sound is not defined by hearing. How many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Find your nearest philosopher who asks these sorts of questions and look on his/her head. Count how many dancing angels you see. Otherwise, I say: as many who want to! Quote:
I deal with it by not holding unrealistic expectations. Cognition/deduction/analysis are tools. They solve many problems (more than you probably think). They are limited, but this is okay. Everything is limited. I don't distrust my hammer just because it can't saw boards or turn screws worth a darn. I use it to hammer things, and when I come to a job for which a hammer is inappropriate, I look for something else. And if no screwdriver is available, well - you CAN hammer that screw in. It's a truly horrible thing to do, but when there's nothing else, you do what you have to do. (Okay - I've hammered this simile into a pulp!) The important thing is to realize exactly where the limitations are. This is key to the scientific method: Science can never conclusively demonstrate anything. It can give you a vast amount of evidence, but you cannot definitely prove by science that the sun will rise tomorrow. This is the difference between those who truly understand science, and those who treat it as a religion. The former are always willing to consider that established theory is wrong. The latter hold it to be sacrosant. If you have fallen into the second camp, then I am glad to hear you are finally beginning to doubt. Quote:
If amy ever returns, you can apologize to her. For the rest of us, you have a right to be heard. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Ouroboros on Sep 28th, 2003, 8:38am on 09/27/03 at 19:09:32, Icarus wrote:
Surely, you realize that your answer is only a way of not giving an answer. A glorified strong-man no-nonsense euphemism for the honest "I don't know". on 09/27/03 at 19:09:32, Icarus wrote:
I'm afraid things are a little bit more complicated than that. I haven't simply started distrusting my hammer because I have come upon a screw. I have started to distrust the entire worldview in which I have a hammer and am trying to pummel some sense into my world. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by maryl on Sep 28th, 2003, 9:05am Well, in my case, I hand it over to someone else much bigger than I, who tells me to take it one day at a time; but in order to do that you have to trust in the One you hand it over to. If you continually focus on this screwed up world you will never be able to see beyond the garbage. You need to focus higher as a little child believes in his father to provide him with all he needs. I can't say much more without preaching. I always believed that if you had a problem, you should go to the source, don't bother with the middleman. Sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Icarus on Sep 28th, 2003, 8:44pm on 09/28/03 at 08:38:18, Ouroboros wrote:
If you believe that, then you don't understand my answer. My point is: I know myself. I know who I am. Quote:
Well, it that has been your approach, then it is good that you have stared to distrust it! Analytical thought is a tool. As with any tool, you use it with care. Respect & understand your tools and they serve you well. But it sounds like you were trusting far too much in your intellect. Some of the wisest people I have ever met were of limited intelligence. Wisdom does not imply intelligence, nor does intelligence imply wisdom. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by aero_guy on Sep 29th, 2003, 11:44am As the old carpenter's saying goes: "Take care of your tools and they will take care of you." |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by usdragonfly on Feb 6th, 2004, 3:10am an unusual natural phenomenon that is capable of speaking in any language is love? |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by evergreena3 on Feb 9th, 2004, 7:15am Here are my answers. Please let me know if I'm way off base here. I still don't know #6, but I do think I got the bonus one right! 1) what unusual natural phenomen is capable of speaking in any language? Echo 2) Before Mt. Everest was discovered what was the highest mountain on earth? Mt. Everest 3) Forward i am heavy, backward i am not. what am i? ton 4) How many bricks does it take to complete a house made of brick? one 5) How many times can you subtract the number 5 from 25? one 6) If you have it, you want to share it, if you share it, you don't have it. what is it? ????? 7) The more you have it, the less you see, what is it? My answer is glaucoma. 8) The more you take, the more you leave behind, what are they? Footsteps 9) what can go up a chimney down, but can't go down a chimney up? Umbrella 10) Bonus - What do you call a Chinese woman with one leg? IRENE (as in, "I rene dis way, I rene dat way.") |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by John_Gaughan on Feb 9th, 2004, 7:30am on 02/09/04 at 07:15:48, evergreena3 wrote:
It is a secret. |
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Title: Re: i have riddles for you. lots and lots Post by Noke Lieu on Mar 24th, 2004, 10:46pm John, I was expecting more of you ::). What about virginity? I mean, you can sharea secret from someone else. I mean, most extra-marital-affairs are secret, right? As far as I know, most affairs involve at least 2 people... |
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Title: Re: evergreena3 Post by lussus on Mar 26th, 2004, 5:08am With regard to : The more you have it, the less you see. I at first thought of Glaucoma, and River Blindness, and catarcts, but I had the feeling there was a better answer. What about ignorance? |
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