Ship of Fools: Circus: lateral thinking game:

Thread: Circus: lateral thinking game: Board: Limbo / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

I don't know how many people here have played lateral thinking games before but the idea is that one person gives a cryptic statement and the the others ask yes or no questions to try to figure out what is going on.

Perhaps if this thread goes on very long, the person who solves the puzzle would like to start a new thread for the next puzzle? Otherwise these can get hard to join, but I'll leave that up to the hosts.

So, come ask questions to figure out what's going on. Anyone can ask questions and I'll try to check in regularly to answer them.

She said "Murderer!" So, he started to arrive to class on time.

[ 21. February 2010, 07:18: Message edited by: Alan Cresswell ]

Posted by Della (# 12190) on :

Had he been killing time?

Posted by Dal Segno (# 14673) on :

2. Was she his teacher?

3. Was she his mother?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Della:
Had he been killing time?

Nice! But no, not literally at least.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

It was a language class, he'd missed the bit on pronunciation and was murdering the language, so turned up on time the next week and started to get it right?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Dal Segno:
2. Was she his teacher?

3. Was she his mother?

No and no.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
It was a language class, he'd missed the bit on pronunciation and was murdering the language, so turned up on time the next week and started to get it right?

That's delightful -- and quite probably better than my solution.

Posted by Bullfrog. (# 11014) on :

Was he the murderer?

Posted by EtymologicalEvangelical (# 15091) on :

Was 'she' an alarm clock?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bullfrog.:
Was he the murderer?

No!

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by EtymologicalEvangelical:
Was 'she' an alarm clock?

I like it, but no. They are both humans.

Posted by wilson (# 37) on :

Did he hear her correctly?

Posted by EtymologicalEvangelical (# 15091) on :

Were he and she classmates?

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :

Was she accusing someone of having committed murder?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
Did he hear her correctly?

Yes.

Posted by Bullfrog. (# 11014) on :

Was the shout "Murderer!" exclaimed in the context of an actual murder attempt?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by EtymologicalEvangelical:
Were he and she classmates?

Not relevantly so.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
Was she accusing someone of having committed murder?

No! (good question)

(And thus, Bullfrog, the answer to yours is also no.)

[ 06. February 2010, 03:44: Message edited by: Gwai ]

Posted by Bullfrog. (# 11014) on :

Did the statement "Murderer!" occur in a classroom?

If so...

Were the students in this class under the age of 18?

[ 06. February 2010, 03:48: Message edited by: Bullfrog. ]

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

Was she answering a question?

Posted by Herrick (# 15226) on :

Is Drama (as a subject) involved?

Posted by EtymologicalEvangelical (# 15091) on :

Was the word "murderer!" a cue in a drama?

Posted by Master Tubby Bear (# 9739) on :

Had she just witnessed the death metal band Murderer play a private gig in the first lesson of the day at school, and he thought that there might be further death metal bands lined up for further private gigs in the first lesson of the day at school on subsequent days?

Posted by EtymologicalEvangelical (# 15091) on :

Sorry, let me just rewrite my last question a bit more clearly:

Was the word "murderer!" a cue in a drama for him to arrive to class on time (in other words, the 'class' was a scene in the drama)?

Posted by Master Tubby Bear (# 9739) on :

... and let me guess again if that's OK

Was this some bizarre parallel gothic universe where all the eponymous clocks are called not "cuckoo" clocks and have little birds in that pop out and warble on the hour, but "Murderer" clocks and have little figures of Lizzie Borden's mother in that pop out and accuse their offspring of matricide?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

Okay, I've been trying to post in separate posts to save people back reading to see what I'm referring to, but I have to run and don't have time to fight the flood monitor, so starting with Bullfrog:

No, and to answer your other question, only slightly relevantly yes

No

No

Lol, MTB, but no

That's clearer, but still no

And again, LOL but no.

Posted by Nunzia (# 4766) on :

Did she blurt it out while reading the newspaper,and did he overhear her and ask for an explanation?

And was the article about s young man who had dropped out of school, and being unable to find a job with no skills, turned to crime and bad that same young man killed someone during a robbery and did he (the student) resolve then and there to get to school on time, and buckle down snd study in order to avoid that same sad fate?

Posted by EtymologicalEvangelical (# 15091) on :

Were he and she playing a game?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Nunzia:
Did she blurt it out while reading the newspaper,and did he overhear her and ask for an explanation?

And was the article about s young man who had dropped out of school, and being unable to find a job with no skills, turned to crime and bad that same young man killed someone during a robbery and did he (the student) resolve then and there to get to school on time, and buckle down snd study in order to avoid that same sad fate?

Good thought but no and no.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by EtymologicalEvangelical:
Were he and she playing a game?

Posted by Bullfrog. (# 11014) on :

Did the formerly-tardy individual still live with his or her parents at the time of the question?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

No, and that is quite relevant.

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

Was the word "Murderer" said by a judge to a young delinquent before pronouncing his sentence to a Young Offender's Institute, which then meant that he was taken to classes from his cell - i.e. unable to be late any more?

Posted by pimple (# 10635) on :

Visiting parents, boy dropped in to pub for a couple of pints on the way. Lunch is ruined.

"Murderer!" Yells mum. "I know, you. I could murder a pint you say. Only you murdered half a dozen - and your parents' day".

?

Posted by EtymologicalEvangelical (# 15091) on :

He used to dawdle to school by himself and arrive late, whereas all the other students would either walk together or ride together on the bus and therefore arrive on time. But one day he heard the news that a convict had escaped from the local prison. He found out about this from his sister who was watching this on the TV news in another room at home, and he overhead her shout in disgust "murderer!" Apparently this escaped convict had killed a child who had been walking by himself to school. Fearing that this convict 'on the loose' would attack him while he dawdled to school late, the lazy student decided from then on to travel to school on time with the other students. Is this right?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

Just to warn everyone, this isn't something that one person will be able to solve alone. It'll take quite a few questions before someone will be in a place that they can solve. (Comment not directed at anyone in particular.)

quote:
Originally posted by Smudgie:
Was the word "Murderer" said by a judge to a young delinquent before pronouncing his sentence to a Young Offender's Institute, which then meant that he was taken to classes from his cell - i.e. unable to be late any more?

I like that reason for non-tardiness, but no.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
Visiting parents, boy dropped in to pub for a couple of pints on the way. Lunch is ruined.

"Murderer!" Yells mum. "I know, you. I could murder a pint you say. Only you murdered half a dozen - and your parents' day".

?

There are metaphors in this, but not that one.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by EtymologicalEvangelical:
He used to dawdle to school by himself and arrive late,

mostly true

quote:
whereas all the other students would either walk together or ride together on the bus and therefore arrive on time. But one day he heard the news that a convict had escaped from the local prison. He found out about this from his sister who was watching this on the TV news in another room at home, and he overhead her shout in disgust "murderer!" Apparently this escaped convict had killed a child who had been walking by himself to school. Fearing that this convict 'on the loose' would attack him while he dawdled to school late, the lazy student decided from then on to travel to school on time with the other students. Is this right?

No to the rest.

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :

Is he a teacher?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

No, so to save anyone having to ask, I will add that he is a student.

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

Did he ask his teacher whether she had any previous convictions, and when she found out she was a murderer, he decided he'd better not mess her around any more?

Posted by EtymologicalEvangelical (# 15091) on :

This is a bit of a crazy question, but...

Was his name actually "Murderer"?

Posted by Nunzia (# 4766) on :

Did his parents start bringing him to school?

Posted by Nunzia (# 4766) on :

..and/or was "murderer" a word in a spelling bee?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Smudgie:
Did he ask his teacher whether she had any previous convictions, and when she found out she was a murderer, he decided he'd better not mess her around any more?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by EtymologicalEvangelical:
This is a bit of a crazy question, but...

Was his name actually "Murderer"?

No, but not a crazy question at all. Lateral thinking puzzles love to pull dirty tricks. But no, no one is named murderer this time.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Nunzia:
Did his parents start bringing him to school?

No and a bit of a false assumption

quote:
Originally posted by Nunzia:..and/or was "murderer" a word in a spelling bee?[/QB]

Posted by Nunzia (# 4766) on :

OK, one more and I'll let someone else play..

Is he a human being?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

Yes, he is. (Don't feel you have to quit. This is rather a team game.)

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

Is the class in question a school class? A university class? Not an education type class at all? (I'm British, remember, so at a natural disadvantage! [Biased]

)

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Was the word 'murderer' a cue that he had to start arriving on time? (Rather like some teachers have a code word 'soldiers' which, when said, means the children have to stand still and quiet.)

Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :

Was it a game in which the late comer gets cast as the murderer? For example, a staged "Cluedo?"

Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :

Or, had the Oracle predicted that the next/last person to arrive would be - the Murderer?

Should have added this to previous post.

(This is even better than the albatross sandwich.)

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :

I think it needs to be a literature class that is doing "who dunnits?" the last word of which is "murderer", so in order to not miss any more such crucial parts of the literature he starts turning up on time.

Jengie

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Smudgie:
Is the class in question a school class? A university class? Not an education type class at all? (I'm British, remember, so at a natural disadvantage! )

The class in question is a university class and that is relevant, at least somewhat.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Was the word 'murderer' a cue that he had to start arriving on time? (Rather like some teachers have a code word 'soldiers' which, when said, means the children have to stand still and quiet.)

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by jacobsen:
Was it a game in which the late comer gets cast as the murderer? For example, a staged "Cluedo?"

quote:
Originally posted by jacobsen:
Or, had the Oracle predicted that the next/last person to arrive would be - the Murderer?

Should have added this to previous post.

quote:
Originally posted by jacobsen:
(This is even better than the albatross sandwich.)

Thank you! And for anyone who wants a slight hint (if you don't skip the rest of this post):You probably won't find out why he was called a murderer if you only ask about him. Remember there are two people in this puzzle. Both matter.

Posted by EtymologicalEvangelical (# 15091) on :

He's a student living on a campus at a university (so not living with his parents), and he is often late for class. In order to encourage the students to get to class on time the university have devised a system to shame and punish those students who were late. Anyone who was late was punished by being given the tag of a type of criminal. If someone was only a few minutes late he would be called a 'thief' and given a lighter punishment (e.g. weed the garden) and someone who was much later was called a 'murderer' and got a stiffer punishment (such as, cleaning the toilets in the living quarters). So our student is sauntering to class twenty minutes late and another student (a female) has a megaphone in her hand, and as he approaches the classroom she says "murderer!". And so he learns his lesson and is never late again! Is my theory completely cuckoo or not?

(Probably wrong, because I can't see where the metaphors are).

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
I think it needs to be a literature class that is doing "who dunnits?" the last word of which is "murderer", so in order to not miss any more such crucial parts of the literature he starts turning up on time.

Jengie

I like it, but no.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by EtymologicalEvangelical:
He's a student living on a campus at a university (so not living with his parents), and he is often late for class.

Yes!

quote:
Originally posted by EtymologicalEvangelical:
In order to encourage the students to get to class on time the university have devised a system to shame and punish those students who were late. Anyone who was late was punished by being given the tag of a type of criminal. If someone was only a few minutes late he would be called a 'thief' and given a lighter punishment (e.g. weed the garden) and someone who was much later was called a 'murderer' and got a stiffer punishment (such as, cleaning the toilets in the living quarters). So our student is sauntering to class twenty minutes late and another student (a female) has a megaphone in her hand, and as he approaches the classroom she says "murderer!". And so he learns his lesson and is never late again! Is my theory completely cuckoo or not?

(Probably wrong, because I can't see where the metaphors are).

But this part though not completely cuckoo is not right either.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Is the word 'murderer' part of a reward for turning up on time, eg. the fun part of the lecture right at the beginning which the students miss if they are late?

Posted by Masha (# 10098) on :

Is it because he's been 'killing time' on his way to lectures?

I'm sorry...I'll go face the wall in the corner...

[ 08. February 2010, 18:32: Message edited by: Masha ]

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:

quote:
Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
I think it needs to be a literature class that is doing "who dunnits?" the last word of which is "murderer", so in order to not miss any more such crucial parts of the literature he starts turning up on time.
I like it, but no.

Pity. I was just wondering if they might be studying Macbeth that term, and trying out the scenes, and he, having been cast as one of the Murderers, was missing his cue. But from what you've said it doesn't sound like it.

OK, wild guess time. She's hired him as a hitman for some unknown reason to bump off someone else in the class. Maybe she wants to be top of the class and is busy eliminating all the brighter students or something. Except that he isn't that keen on the role so he turns up late deliberately to miss his chance. By saying "Murderer" she then reminds him that she's paid him in advance to do this and he'd better get on with the job. So he turns up on time in future to have more chance of assassinating the other students/a teacher known for marking particularly strictly before the class gets under way?

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Is the student studying criminology (or something related to that subject)?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Is the word 'murderer' part of a reward for turning up on time, eg. the fun part of the lecture right at the beginning which the students miss if they are late?

, but no

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Masha:
Is it because he's been 'killing time' on his way to lectures?

I'm sorry...I'll go face the wall in the corner...

In a way

, but probably no would be a more helpful answer.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Is the student studying criminology (or something related to that subject)?

Not relevant what the student is studying.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:

quote:
Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
I think it needs to be a literature class that is doing "who dunnits?" the last word of which is "murderer", so in order to not miss any more such crucial parts of the literature he starts turning up on time.
I like it, but no.
Pity. I was just wondering if they might be studying Macbeth that term, and trying out the scenes, and he, having been cast as one of the Murderers, was missing his cue. But from what you've said it doesn't sound like it.

OK, wild guess time. She's hired him as a hitman for some unknown reason to bump off someone else in the class. Maybe she wants to be top of the class and is busy eliminating all the brighter students or something. Except that he isn't that keen on the role so he turns up late deliberately to miss his chance. By saying "Murderer" she then reminds him that she's paid him in advance to do this and he'd better get on with the job. So he turns up on time in future to have more chance of assassinating the other students/a teacher known for marking particularly strictly before the class gets under way?

Oops, almost missed one! No to the wild guess, but thanks for posting it. These are a lot of fun to read.

Posted by EtymologicalEvangelical (# 15091) on :

He has just started at university and he is late for his first class. The only way he can get to his faculty is by walking along the biology department corridor. Just five minutes after his class begins the biology class start to dissect animals, and he is an extremely squeamish young man. The biology laboratory keeps its doors open in the corridor. While he is ambling down the corridor through the biology department he hears one of the students say "murderer!" in a loud but slightly joking voice and immediately he stops and turns round and sees what this student is talking about. She and her fellow students are standing looking at the corpse of some poor animal they have just killed and started to dissect. The lazy and squeamish young man is horrified and is about to throw up, and he says to himself, "there is no way I am going to see something like that again. I better make sure I get to class on time from now on before these biology students start doing their experiments."

Right?

(OK, I know you said that she did not say this in a classroom, but maybe a laboratory is not the same as a classroom?)

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

It could have been a laboratory, but it wasn't.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Is it at all significant that the person saying 'Murderer' is of a different sex than the person who starts arriving on time?

Posted by wilson (# 37) on :

I have two theories, let's try the simple one first:

'She' is the class teacher and she's taking the attendance register. She's just read out the name of a pupil whose surname is Murderer.

'He' being a pupil whose name is before this in the alphabet realises he's late and decides to arrive on time in future.

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

The late student hears "Murderer" as "Murder her", kills the teacher, is arrested and gets locked up for life (or worse) ... so is never late again.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Is it at all significant that the person saying 'Murderer' is of a different sex than the person who starts arriving on time?

YES, that was a hint.
(A possibility for attraction was necessary, so it would have worked fine for two gay/lesbians, but that would be harder probably.)

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
I have two theories, let's try the simple one first:

'She' is the class teacher

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
and she's taking the attendance register.

Thus no

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
She's just read out the name of a pupil whose surname is Murderer.

No one named Murderer in this one.

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
'He' being a pupil whose name is before this in the alphabet realises he's late and decides to arrive on time in future.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
The late student hears "Murderer" as "Murder her", kills the teacher, is arrested and gets locked up for life (or worse) ... so is never late again.

There is a wrong assumption here, so no.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:
YES, that was a hint.
(A possibility for attraction was necessary, so it would have worked fine for two gay/lesbians, but that would be harder probably.)

Are we talking heavy emotional involvement - her point of view being "OMG he's late, he must have been run over by a bus or something, I'll die if I don't see him again" and telling him when he does finally turn up that he's directly responsible for her premature death through worry?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
Are we talking heavy emotional involvement

When? I can't actually answer this question as written.

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
- her point of view being "OMG he's late, he must have been run over by a bus or something, I'll die if I don't see him again" and telling him when he does finally turn up that he's directly responsible for her premature death through worry?

No to this part.

[ 09. February 2010, 18:17: Message edited by: Gwai ]

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
Are we talking heavy emotional involvement
When? I can't actually answer this question as written.

Between the two characters at the time when he enters the room late.

But I think that's just been ruled out. So...

They're living together. It was a heavy relationship now under some strain. She leaves for class before he does, he stays behind for some reason and is late. She doesn't trust him. He wants to reassure her/allay her suspicions so turns up on time instead of late. ?

Or... she's the murderer, not him and is taunting him?

I'll stop there for now.

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :

1. Are they blood relatives?

2. Have they had sexual relations in the past?

3. Has anybody actually died (that her statement is about)?

4. Are either or both of them idiots (always important to establish this in these kinds of problem)?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
So...

They're living together. It was a heavy relationship now under some strain.

Yes! This is exactly what's going on at the beginning of the story.

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
She leaves for class before he does, he stays behind for some reason and is late. She doesn't trust him. He wants to reassure her/allay her suspicions so turns up on time instead of late. ?

This part, however is off base. (Note: if say a part in quotes is wrong, it is all wrong. If some is right and some is wrong I will separate them.)

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
Or... she's the murderer, not him and is taunting him?

I'll stop there for now.

Not this

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
1. Are they blood relatives?

quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
2. Have they had sexual relations in the past?

Yes

quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
3. Has anybody actually died (that her statement is about)?

NO! (good question)

quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
4. Are either or both of them idiots (always important to establish this in these kinds of problem)?

Both a bit foolish perhaps though him more than her. Not a particularly probable situation, really, but my real life isn't nearly this dramatic.

Posted by churchgeek (# 5557) on :

Had she been smearing his reputation before he arrived?

Is she actually in his class?

[ 09. February 2010, 20:25: Message edited by: churchgeek ]

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by churchgeek:
Had she been smearing his reputation before he arrived?

No, because

quote:
Originally posted by churchgeek:
Is she actually in his class?

Good question; no!

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:

quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
3. Has anybody actually died (that her statement is about)?
NO! (good question)

Does this answer include animals? e.g. did she used to own a pet? Is she a vegetarian or vegan?

Have they just broken up?

Was he late to class because he was sleeping in because he was with her?

Or because he was staying the night at her place which was further from the class room?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
Does this answer include animals? e.g. did she used to own a pet? Is she a vegetarian or vegan?

No animals died in the making of this puzzle. In other words, what she eats for dinner is not relevant and neither are pets

quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
Have they just broken up?

When?

quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
Was he late to class because he was sleeping in because he was with her?

YES!

quote:
Originally posted by Dafyd:
Or because he was staying the night at her place which was further from the class room?

This too. (Either would work)

Posted by wilson (# 37) on :

OK, so I'm going to try to summarize what we've learnt so far:

There's this couple in a relationship which may be going through a rough patch.

He stays over at her place which causes him to be late for class.

She - for reasons unknown at this point - says "Murderer" to him one day (morning?) and he then decides to end the relationship - which means he's on time for class from then on.

Is that correct so far?

Oh and we know that no humans or animals have actually died.

Assuming that's basically correct then we're looking for the reason why she would call him a murderer?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
OK, so I'm going to try to summarize what we've learnt so far:

Thank you. That's helpful.

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
There's this couple in a relationship which may be going through a rough patch.

Correct

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
He stays over at her place which causes him to be late for class.

Correct

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
She - for reasons unknown at this point - says "Murderer" to him one day (morning?)

Irrelevant what time of day but yes

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
and he then decides to end the relationship - which means he's on time for class from then on.

There's one event missing in the chronology, but correct.

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
Is that correct so far?

Oh and we know that no humans or animals have actually died.

Yes (to both)

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
Assuming that's basically correct then we're looking for the reason why she would call him a murderer?

mostly correct

Posted by Bullfrog. (# 11014) on :

Is the one who said "Murderer!" the girlfriend?

Was her accusation of "Murderer!" the final straw in the relationship?

Or, for that matter, was she actually accusing him of being a murderer?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bullfrog.:
Is the one who said "Murderer!" the girlfriend?

Yes

quote:
Originally posted by Bullfrog.:
her accusation of "Murderer!" the final straw in the relationship?

yes, but

quote:
Originally posted by Bullfrog.:
, for that matter, was she actually accusing him of being a murderer?

this! She was not accusing him of being a murderer!

Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :

1) Was her saying "Murderer" actually an accusation?

2) Did he understand her correctly?

3) Was she referring to some unmentioned third person in some way?

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Is she talking about herself when she says 'Murderer'?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
1) Was her saying "Murderer" actually an accusation?

If I understand you correctly, then no. She was not actually intending to accuse anyone of murder.

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
2) Did he understand her correctly?

Well, he was correct about what word came out of her mouth.

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
3) Was she referring to some unmentioned third person in some way?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Is she talking about herself when she says 'Murderer'?

Yes.

(But understand that yes in context of the post I just made or I will have directly misled you and I mustn't do that.)

Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :

Was she describing herself as "Murderer" (e.g. her profession)?

Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :

Was "Murderer" the answer to a question?

Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :

Has she "murdered" the relationship by finishing with him? And is she referring to herself when she uses the word?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
Was she describing herself as "Murderer" (e.g. her profession)?

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
Was "Murderer" the answer to a question?

No

[ 10. February 2010, 18:13: Message edited by: Gwai ]

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by jacobsen:
Has she "murdered" the relationship by finishing with him?

Well, that's not what she meant by it.

quote:
Originally posted by jacobsen:
And is she referring to herself when she uses the word?

Mostly. (See my answer to Chorister for more information.)

Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :

quote:
Well, he was correct about what word came out of her mouth.

So did he misunderstand her meaning?

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

Was it actually "Murderer" or was she French and did she say "Merde" and something else incomprehensible - "horreur" perhaps? - at the sight of her now detestable ex?

(Trans - "oh crap, it's that horror again")

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:

quote:
Well, he was correct about what word came out of her mouth.
So did he misunderstand her meaning?

Yes!

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
Was it actually "Murderer" or was she French and did she say "Merde" and something else incomprehensible - "horreur" perhaps? - at the sight of her now detestable ex?

(Trans - "oh crap, it's that horror again")

She did actually say "Murderer."(In English, meaning the noun form of the verb to murder.) However, she did not say it about our male character.

Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :

he heard 'murderer' as 'move down there'? Assuming teacher had an odd speech impediment

Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :

1) Did he think she was accusing someone of being a murderer, or at least calling someone a murderer?

2) Did he realize she was talking about herself?

3) Did he break off the relationship because she said "Murderer?"

4) Did he break off the relationship only because he misunderstood her?

5) Is the missing event in wilson's chronology important?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by fletcher christian:
he heard 'murderer' as 'move down there'? Assuming teacher had an odd speech impediment

No. He knew she said murderer!

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
1) Did he think she was accusing someone of being a murderer, or at least calling someone a murderer?

Yes!

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
) Did he realize she was talking about herself?

No!

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
3) Did he break off the relationship because she said "Murderer?"

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
4) Did he break off the relationship only because he misunderstood her?

wrong assumption here, so no

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
5) Is the missing event in wilson's chronology important?

yes

Posted by Bullfrog. (# 11014) on :

Were there crows involved?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bullfrog.:
Were there crows involved?

lol, no. Like it though.

Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :

they were standing up in the classroom playing a game where the murderer has to wink at people to kill them and one person is assigned as the detective to see if they can spot the person doing the winking - she cries 'murderer' when she spots him winking and so he has to sit cos he's out of the game?

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Was she speaking English, or another language?

Posted by Bullfrog. (# 11014) on :

Did she break up with him?

And the obvious follow up: Did he break up with her?

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Has she had an abortion?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by fletcher christian:
they were standing up in the classroom playing a game where the murderer has to wink at people to kill them and one person is assigned as the detective to see if they can spot the person doing the winking - she cries 'murderer' when she spots him winking and so he has to sit cos he's out of the game?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Was she speaking English, or another language?

English only.

Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :

can we get a clue please?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bullfrog.:
Did she break up with him?

Yes

quote:
Originally posted by Bullfrog.:
And the obvious follow up: Did he break up with her?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Has she had an abortion?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by fletcher christian:
can we get a clue please?

Look at my 2-10 response to wilson's chronology and focus on the two holes.

However, I also realize I misinformed you there. I didn't notice until just now that wilson said "he decided to end the relationship." That should have been marked as a no. He did not decide to end the relationship.

And fletcher christian, if you don't like the clue from the first paragraph, I apologize for the pun in the solution.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:

quote:
Well, he was correct about what word came out of her mouth.
So did he misunderstand her meaning?

Yes! But there are so many ways to interpret that yes, so I will clarify: He knew that she was using the noun form of to murder, but he made a false assumption about why she meant by it.

Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :

1) Was "Murderer" her answer to a question?

2) Do we need to figure out the conversation that led up to her saying "Murderer?"

3) Did the missing/unknown event between her saying "Murderer" and the break-up happen because of her saying "Murderer?"

4) Is the missing event something she did?

5) Is the missing event something he did?

6) Is the second "hole" from wilson's chronology the fact that we are still looking for the reason why?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
1) Was "Murderer" her answer to a question?

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
2) Do we need to figure out the conversation that led up to her saying "Murderer?"

sort of. (sorry for the unclear answer. Re-word or ask related questions to perhaps find questions I can answer.)

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
3) Did the missing/unknown event between her saying "Murderer" and the break-up happen because of her saying "Murderer?"

Yes

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
4) Is the missing event something she did?

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
5) Is the missing event something he did?

Yes

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
6) Is the second "hole" from wilson's chronology the fact that we are still looking for the reason why?

Yes

Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :

1) Did he do what he did immediately after hearing her say "Murderer" or only after some time had passed?

1) Did she break up with him because of what he did as a result of her saying "Murderer?"

2) Did she know he heard her say "Murderer?"

3) If she did know, did she realize he misunderstood her?

4) If she did not know, where they even in the same place?

5) Is the location where all these things took place important?

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Did he think she said 'Murder 'er' and then did so, thus causing the break-up?

Posted by pimple (# 10635) on :

Has something been literally lost in translation? Are we in a language laboratory?

Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :

did he drown her kitten?

Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :

oh wait, I've got it. He said, 'If you break up with me, I will shoot this puppy in the head.' She breaks up with him, puppy dies, she shouts 'muderer!'. He sits.

Posted by pimple (# 10635) on :

Please ignore my previous post - I'm now up to speed with all three pages (got new mouse!)

So we need to know more about the lady.

1. Was the misunderstanding hers, as well as his?

2. Did she want the relationship to continue?

3. Cart before horse! We haven't actually established there was a relationship - just attraction. So.

4. Was the regular attendance an attempt to continue the status quo?

5. Or restore the status quo ante?

6. Did the regular attendance that followed her remark please her?

7. Was there any significant age diffrence between the two of them?

Posted by pimple (# 10635) on :

Can I be greedy and have three more please?

8. Was "Murderer!" said in jest?

9. Was it said in response to something he did?

10. Was it said to correct something he said?

Posted by Jay-Emm (# 11411) on :

Was there an external reason for the poor attendance (say a sick pet) that ceased to have an effect after the (event that caused the) exclaimation?

Posted by Loveheart (# 12249) on :

Arriving late on this myself... [Razz]

Should he have turned up at all on that particular occasion?

If he had arrived on time would she still have said the same thing?

Did arriving late cause an event to happen?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
1) Did he do what he did immediately after hearing her say "Murderer" or only after some time had passed?

Immediately

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
1) Did she break up with him because of what he did as a result of her saying "Murderer?"

Yes though we can presume their relationship was strained before hand and that they indubitably had an argument about his actions that caused more anger.

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
2) Did she know he heard her say "Murderer?"

Yes

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
3) If she did know, did she realize he misunderstood her?

No!

4) If she did not know, where they even in the same place?[/QB][/QUOTE]Since she did know he heard her, I will presume this question is un-asked.

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
5) Is the location where all these things took place important?

To an extent, definitely

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Did he think she said 'Murder 'er' and then did so, thus causing the break-up?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
Has something been literally lost in translation? Are we in a language laboratory?

no and no

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by fletcher christian:
did he drown her kitten?

quote:
Originally posted by fletcher christian:
oh wait, I've got it. He said, 'If you break up with me, I will shoot this puppy in the head.' She breaks up with him, puppy dies, she shouts 'muderer!'. He sits.

lol, but no

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
Please ignore my previous post - I'm now up to speed with all three pages (got new mouse!)

Ah, well too late to ignore. I didn't read this one until I'd answered the ones above it -- that way I don't get distracted and skip any.

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
So we need to know more about the lady.

1. Was the misunderstanding hers, as well as his?

No. She just said murderer and he misunderstood it.

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
2. Did she want the relationship to continue?

Before he misunderstood her saying "murderer" maybe but not afterwards she didn't.

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
3. Cart before horse! We haven't actually established there was a relationship - just attraction. So.

True, but in this case it's safe. There was a relationship.

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
4. Was the regular attendance an attempt to continue the status quo?

attendance where?

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
5. Or restore the status quo ante?

still confused about whose attending what. Attending his g/f's house or class, for instance.

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
6. Did the regular attendance that followed her remark please her?

huh?

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
7. Was there any significant age diffrence between the two of them?

None relevant unless we need an excuse for his immaturity. Which we might ...

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
Can I be greedy and have three more please?

Definitely [Biased]

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
8. Was "Murderer!" said in jest?

YES!

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
9. Was it said in response to something he did?

Not particularly

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
10. Was it said to correct something he said?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Jay-Emm:
Was there an external reason for the poor attendance (say a sick pet) that ceased to have an effect after the (event that caused the) exclaimation?

I think someone established that the reason for his repeated tardiness was his staying at his girlfriend's house. Either sleeping in too long or she lived too far away for an easy commute.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Loveheart:
Arriving late on this myself...

Should he have turned up at all on that particular occasion?

If he had arrived on time would she still have said the same thing?

Did arriving late cause an event to happen?

I think we've confused you slightly. He arrived late to class when he was dating her and not afterwards.

(And welcome to you and all the newcomers. Trying not to make this exclusive to those who started at the beginning. I'll do a summation later today, in fact, to gather the facts.)

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :

Was she on the phone to someone else when she said "murderer"?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by kingsfold:
Was she on the phone to someone else when she said "murderer"?

She was not on the phone to someone else, no.

Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :

Was she talking to him when she said "Murderer?"

Were they in the same place at the time?

Or were they talking on the phone to each other? And did he hang up on her?

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Did he confess?(she was in jest but he took her seriously).

[ 12. February 2010, 21:34: Message edited by: Chorister ]

Posted by pimple (# 10635) on :

IS there a well-known saying associated with the solution - something like "procrastination is the thief of time", for instance?

Posted by pimple (# 10635) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:
I don't know how many people here have played lateral thinking games before but the idea is that one person gives a cryptic statement and the the others ask yes or no questions to try to figure out what is going on.

Perhaps if this thread goes on very long, the person who solves the puzzle would like to start a new thread for the next puzzle? Otherwise these can get hard to join, but I'll leave that up to the hosts.

So, come ask questions to figure out what's going on. Anyone can ask questions and I'll try to check in regularly to answer them.

She said "Murderer!" So, he started to arrive to class on time.

To clarify some of my questions, I took "he started to arrive on class on time" to mean that he began to attend classes regularly. I wasn't meaning by that to imply that he had been truanting.

Posted by pimple (# 10635) on :

Is the subject being studied in class relevant?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
Was she talking to him when she said "Murderer?"

Noish

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
Were they in the same place at the time?

No!

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
Or were they talking on the phone to each other?

Yes

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
And did he hang up on her?

yes!

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Did he confess?(she was in jest but he took her seriously).

I like it a lot, but no.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
To clarify some of my questions, I took "he started to arrive on class on time" to mean that he began to attend classes regularly. I wasn't meaning by that to imply that he had been truanting.

Ah. She probably didn't ever find out that he started attending class in a more timely fashion.

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
Is the subject being studied in class relevant?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
IS there a well-known saying associated with the solution - something like "procrastination is the thief of time", for instance?

Yes!

Posted by MiceElf (# 4389) on :

Did he start a thread and twenty people lost the will to live, so she rang to let him know and called him a murderer in jest... so then he killed her in a fit of pique, but as he now had to move back home to his parents house he had no reason to be late for class?

Posted by pimple (# 10635) on :

Was the saying a biblical one?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

No, though that would fit the Ship.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

So, here's an attempt at a summation of what you all know so far. Let me know if I say anything wrong:

A guy and a girl are dating. They are talking on the phone and for some unknown reason she says "Murderer!" She does intend to use the English noun form to murder, but no one human or animal has died. She is making some sort of unknown reference. However, her boyfriend mis-understands and reacts in some unknown way that causes her to break up with him. From henceforth, he finds it easier to get to his morning class on time.

Posted by Bullfrog. (# 11014) on :

Was the cry "Murderer" a reference to a story?

Would the locations from which he and she were calling each other be relevant to this game?

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Did he hang up just because she said 'murderer' or for some other reason?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bullfrog.:
Was the cry "Murderer" a reference to a story?

Yes, for a not particularly narrow definition of story.

quote:
Originally posted by Bullfrog.:
Would the locations from which he and she were calling each other be relevant to this game?

His is irrelevant, but hers is relevant.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Did he hang up just because she said 'murderer' or for some other reason?

Yes, in other words, if she has not said "murderer", he would have stayed on the phone.

Posted by pimple (# 10635) on :

OK. How's about:

Things aren't going fast enough for lover-boy so he decides to enlist the aid of that old metaphysical seducer (and, paradoxically, puritan) Andrew Marvell. Unfortunately his memory, or his digital expertise, or both, fail him, and what he textx is this:

quote:
Had we but whirled enough in thyme
This coyness, lady, were no crime...

She's tickled pink by this and texts back:

quote:
You mean, if only that Pizzaland had had a dancing licence?

But his mobile isn't enabled for smileys, so he calls her up and asks "What's with al the funny punctuation hon? What does - - - mean?

"Murderer!" she says. He thinks she's taking the p*ss and accusing him of murdering Marvell's English, makes some huffy remark and rings off. End of beautiful romance. Beginning of serious (Oh boy is he serious!) study.

Are we getting close?

Posted by Bullfrog. (# 11014) on :

Was she in her domicile at the time of the call?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

Pimple: Right general direction definitely.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bullfrog.:
Was she in her domicile at the time of the call?

Yes. But you will need a greater level of locative precision for that to be helpful.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Was she calling from her bedroom?

Did he say 'Say you love me, or your teddy gets it?'

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Was she calling from her bedroom?

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Did he say 'Say you love me, or your teddy gets it?'

lol, no

Posted by Nunzia (# 4766) on :

Was she calling from the bathroom?

Was a DIY pregnancy test involved?

Posted by pimple (# 10635) on :

In your summary you say that no one person (or animal IIRC) was killed.

Might there be multiple (metaphorical) deaths involved?

Three bears? A hive of bees? The Duke of York's tenthousand men? Humanity in toto?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Nunzia:
Was she calling from the bathroom?

quote:
Originally posted by Nunzia:
Was a DIY pregnancy test involved?

Good idea! But no.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by pimple:
In your summary you say that no one person (or animal IIRC) was killed.

Might there be multiple (metaphorical) deaths involved?

Three bears? A hive of bees? The Duke of York's tenthousand men? Humanity in toto?

That should have been a hint. I like it. But no.

Posted by Nunzia (# 4766) on :

Was she in the garden? And during her conversation did she see her next-door neighbor whip out his chainsaw, and start hacking away at a tree or bush?

And did she laughingly shriek "Murderer!" at her neighbor? And did her boyfriend, hearing this and the chainsaw noise in the background, infer that she was in danger, and did he then rush over and attack the neighbor?

And did she conclude that this was random mad violence on his part, and refuse to listen to his desperate explanations and send him forever from her heart and bed?

And, if so, wasn't he really better off without her?

Posted by Nunzia (# 4766) on :

Or, better yet, had be been partaking of some substance that caused him to misinterpret what she said?

OK, I'm done now. I really am.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Nunzia:
Was she in the garden? And during her conversation did she see her next-door neighbor whip out his chainsaw, and start hacking away at a tree or bush?
And did she laughingly shriek "Murderer!" at her neighbor?

quote:
Originally posted by Nunzia:
And did her boyfriend, hearing this and the chainsaw noise in the background, infer that she was in danger,

YES! Well, not the chainsaw noise, but yes to the rest

quote:
Originally posted by Nunzia:
and did he then rush over and attack the neighbor?

And did she conclude that this was random mad violence on his part, and refuse to listen to his desperate explanations and send him forever from her heart and bed?

And, if so, wasn't he really better off without her?
Or, better yet, had be been partaking of some substance that caused him to misinterpret what she said?

OK, I'm done now. I really am.

Posted by Bullfrog. (# 11014) on :

So, was she play-acting or otherwise being dishonest in her cry of "Murderer!"?

Was she intentionally being deceitful?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bullfrog.:
So, was she play-acting or otherwise being dishonest in her cry of "Murderer!"?

quote:
Originally posted by Bullfrog.:
Was she intentionally being deceitful?

Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :

Did she joke with him that she was pregnant?

Posted by wilson (# 37) on :

Was she doing a crossword and the answer to the clue was "MURDERER"?

When she realised this she exclaimed it and he misunderstood thinking she was in danger. He rushed over there only to discover his mistake. He was annoyed at her because he was embarrassed and also because she had been focussed on the crossword whilst talking to him on the phone. This led to an argument which led to the break-up.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by fletcher christian:
Did she joke with him that she was pregnant?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
Was she doing a crossword and the answer to the clue was "MURDERER"?

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
[QB0When she realised this she exclaimed it and he misunderstood thinking she was in danger. He rushed over there only to discover his mistake.[/QB]

No. He did not rush over there upon deciding she was in danger.

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
He was annoyed at her because he was embarrassed and also because she had been focussed on the crossword whilst talking to him on the phone. This led to an argument which led to the break-up.

It's even worse than this.

Posted by wilson (# 37) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
When she realised this she exclaimed it and he misunderstood thinking she was in danger. He rushed over there only to discover his mistake.
No. He did not rush over there upon deciding she was in danger.

Is that why she broke up with him? his apparent lack of concern?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:

quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
When she realised this she exclaimed it and he misunderstood thinking she was in danger. He rushed over there only to discover his mistake.
No. He did not rush over there upon deciding she was in danger.
Is that why she broke up with him?

quote:
Originally posted by wilson:
his apparent lack of concern?

He did not show a lack of concern.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Did he laugh when she said 'murderer'?

Posted by Nunzia (# 4766) on :

Was she calling from the kitchen?

And following from the "no one animal was killed" clue, were there multiple animals, say shrimp, in there with her?

[ 15. February 2010, 20:21: Message edited by: Nunzia ]

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Did he laugh when she said 'murderer'?

No (but she probably should have)

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Nunzia:
Was she calling from the kitchen?

Yes

quote:
Originally posted by Nunzia:
And following from the "no one animal was killed" clue, were there multiple animals, say shrimp, in there with her?

No

[ 15. February 2010, 21:10: Message edited by: Gwai ]

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Was someone using a food processor in the kitchen?

Or an electric carving knife?

[ 16. February 2010, 19:53: Message edited by: Chorister ]

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

Was this about a plant growing in a pot in the kitchen whose leaves/fruit/root had been ruthlessly plucked, leaving it in a state where it was unlikely to recover?

Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :

So is the well-known saying taken from a well-known story? Perhaps from Shakespeare? Or maybe from a nursery rhyme? Was she jesting about herself "murdering" some food or dish she was working on in the kitchen? Like maybe an egg that she dropped?

Did she break up with him for something he did other than hanging up the phone on her (so there is some other subsequent event we need to identify)? Did he show too much concern? Did he call the police?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Was someone using a food processor in the kitchen?

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Or an electric carving knife?

These make too much sense.

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
Was this about a plant growing in a pot in the kitchen whose leaves/fruit/root had been ruthlessly plucked, leaving it in a state where it was unlikely to recover?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
So is the well-known saying taken from a well-known story?

Yes..

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
Perhaps from Shakespeare?

YES!

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
Or maybe from a nursery rhyme?

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
Was she jesting about herself "murdering" some food or dish she was working on in the kitchen? Like maybe an egg that she dropped?

quote:
Originally posted by W Hyatt:
[QBDid she break up with him for something he did other than hanging up the phone on her (so there is some other subsequent event we need to identify)? Did he show too much concern? Did he call the police? [/QB]

Yes!

Nice job, W Hyatt

Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :

quote:

quote:
Perhaps from Shakespeare?
YES!

From Macbeth? As in "Out, damned spot!"?

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

And he's got it! I'm surprised that you got it so fast from that, but that's it. Good job!

She said "Murderer!" So, he started to arrive to class on time.

To sum up: Boyfriend the tardy was on the phone to his girlfriend. They have been together a while and live together, but their relationship has been troubled recently. As they are talking, she has been doing dishes. One particular spot just won't come out and as she washes over and over at that one spot of chicken blood, she thinks of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's monologue. (Lady Macbeth, a murderer, is feeling guilty about her crimes and while sleepwalking thinks there is still actual blood on her hands. She scrubs at her hand saying among other things "Out, damned spot!) So, the girlfriend exclaims "Murderer!" Her boyfriend freaks out thinks there is a killer in the room with her, so he hangs up and calls the police. After the police have gone, the girlfriend is mad as a hatter. The boyfriend and girlfriend fight and break up. Henceforth, the boyfriend sleeps at his own apartment and has no trouble getting to class on time.

If we're going to do another one, the puzzle is yours to make up, W Hyatt. Thanks for a fun time, all. I hope I didn't drive you too crazy!

Posted by W Hyatt (# 14250) on :

quote:
If we're going to do another one, the puzzle is yours to make up, W Hyatt.

Yikes - the pressure! I hope others feel free to start one. My wife teaches these as "stories with holes" to her elementary school students so I know a few classic ones, but I can't count on being able to respond regularly. If no one else comes up with one I can give one a try, but I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to respond often enough to keep the interest going.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Thanks to Gwai for a thoroughly enjoyable game, one of the best on the Circus for quite a while (in my humble opinion, of course.) I'll therefore close this thread - but if anyone would like to take a little while to think of an equally good question and begin a new thread at some point in the future, I think there would be several shipmates willing to play again.

Chorister, Host

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