Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

MEMBER & GUEST INTERACTION SECTION => HUMOR IS A FUNNY THING => Topic started by: BjornBee on November 23, 2008, 01:44:48 pm

Title: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 23, 2008, 01:44:48 pm
This one is a classic, and is a great one for the kids at home. It does not involve arms in boxes, suicide, or guns.  ;) Many can get this through simple reasoning, and is sometimes solved rather quickly.

As always, if you know the answer from playing this before, please let others play out the game.

Please ask single, yes or no questions. You need to come up with the explanation that tells the story as to why the circumstances happen the way they do.


Every day, a man living on the 40th floor, leaves to go to work by using the elevator. When he leaves, he goes all the way to the first floor, then departs the building. But upon arriving back home, he enters the elevator, goes to the twentieth floor, gets out, and takes the stairs for the last twenty floors. Why?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: charmd2 on November 23, 2008, 03:18:23 pm
I know this one. :) 

So I'll be good. 
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: beemaster on November 23, 2008, 03:39:32 pm
I want to suggest that we do as Bjorn lightly mentioned in the prior post, we can collaborate info - like dectives sharing notes. Here is what I observe, and Bjorn if any math needs correcting, please fix - thanks.

First thing to come to my mind, he walked or sprinted the last 20+ flights as his nighty gym work, but the math don't add up - he comes home, goes to the 12th floor (wonder if there is a 13? floor twist) but 12 floors plus 20 which he climbs or runs wont make him to his floor? he still have 7 floors to go.

Does the building have a thirteens floor and if so, can the UP elevator make it to the fortieth floor? I assume it must, or he couldn't have gotten on it earlier that morning.

SO, my one question after a few observations. Is he clastrophic (I suffer panic disorder and know what panic is like) becuse a DOWN ELEVATOR can typically go down faster than it will UP, did he have a limit to the time he COULD STAND BEING IN AN ELEVAOR??

That is as dective as I get, HELP!!!!! Lets get this one together.

Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Kathyp on November 23, 2008, 07:03:08 pm
 :'(  i know this one also.
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 23, 2008, 08:54:06 pm
 :-X Thank you for those that know this one.

Beemaster, No, he is not claustrophobic.

And Yes, the elevator does go all the way to the 40th floor.
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: buzzbee on November 23, 2008, 09:21:37 pm
Does he deliver newspapers?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: 1reb on November 23, 2008, 09:24:09 pm
good another one
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: 1reb on November 23, 2008, 09:26:54 pm
is he a window washer?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: 1reb on November 23, 2008, 10:14:24 pm

Every day, a man living on the 40th floor, leaves to go to work by using the elevator. When he leaves, he goes all the way to the first floor, then departs the building. But upon arriving back home, he enters the elevator, goes to the twentieth floor, gets out, and takes the stairs for the last twenty floors. Why?
i know  i know  the answer to why
it
is
Why not  :evil: :evil:
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 23, 2008, 10:43:19 pm
Does he deliver newspapers?

No, but I like the thinking.. ;)
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 23, 2008, 10:43:44 pm
is he a window washer?

No
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: 1reb on November 23, 2008, 10:53:59 pm
does he have a girlfriend on every floor from 20 - 40 ?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 24, 2008, 08:12:03 am
does he have a girlfriend on every floor from 20 - 40 ?

Hey! This is not about me... :-D It' about someone else... :'(

I like your thinking.... :evil:
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: beemaster on November 24, 2008, 09:28:46 am
You said to ask important questions... Does SYMBOLICALLY the 20th to the 40th have a special meaning to him? If I were allowed a followup, I'd ask what's so special about 20th thru 40th when RETURNING, which I assume is going up. Is that the case, or does the importance of only climbing "up" the issue or is the climbing DOWN from 40th to 20th every come into his daily routine?

Answer anyone you feel like, something I'm close on please (if that is the case) and I'll have to share the puzzles I mde for a young member of the forum - who enjoys riddles. I made several multiparters, some involving morse code, scrabbled sentences, all this (rated T for Tough) and he is and eigth grader now - been doing this almost 3 school seasons. I travel the world and make you think out of the box with my THOUGH riddles I make ( all online in html) so you can just click on them - I need  to check the filenames. I'm proud of Buzzbee Jr. for ALWAYS answering tough puzzles, definitely aimed at a 11th to 12th grader.

There I regress  :'(
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 24, 2008, 11:14:24 am
Beemaster,

No, there is no symbolic meaning. And the stairs whether going up or down are the same. And he never walks down the stairs.
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: buzzbee on November 24, 2008, 06:38:13 pm
Did all the buttons work?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 24, 2008, 07:17:02 pm
Did all the buttons work?

Yes
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Bee-Bop on November 24, 2008, 07:39:22 pm
He got off on the first floor in the morning:
On his return,did he enter on the first floor also ?

Bee-Bop
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 24, 2008, 07:41:24 pm
He got off on the first floor in the morning:
On his return,did he enter on the first floor also ?

Bee-Bop

Yes
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: 1reb on November 24, 2008, 10:35:58 pm
does he work for the hotel?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Scadsobees on November 24, 2008, 10:44:58 pm
Boy, and here I thought this thread would be shorter than the other two... :roll:

Are there ever other people on the elevator?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 25, 2008, 12:13:51 am
does he work for the hotel?

No
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 25, 2008, 12:14:42 am
Boy, and here I thought this thread would be shorter than the other two... :roll:

Are there ever other people on the elevator?

Yes
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: 1reb on November 25, 2008, 12:46:30 am
his wife told him to
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 25, 2008, 08:35:54 am
his wife told him to

Somewhere in my mind, back in the darkest corner, there is a reply, but it's just way too early this morning..... :evil:
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: beemaster on November 25, 2008, 11:19:05 am
Does he stop at the twentieth for OTHER REASONS then walking to the 40th each day? I'm suggesting like a split up family where x-fife and kids are on 20 - I guess the QUESTION IS: WHY THE 20TH FLOOR? Is that two big of a question. or don't that matter?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 25, 2008, 11:24:52 am
Beemaster,
For other reason (like he had to do something)....No.

Why the twentieth floor is a good question. That's one of the things of what your trying to find out... :-D
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Melilem on November 25, 2008, 11:25:03 am
Ok I have to ask outriggt to get it out of the way, does he do it for excercise?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 25, 2008, 11:25:47 am
Ok I have to ask outriggt to get it out of the way, does he do it for excercise?

No
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Melilem on November 25, 2008, 11:25:53 am
is he afraid of heights?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Melilem on November 25, 2008, 11:26:59 am
does he get motion sickness?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 25, 2008, 11:27:33 am
is he afraid of heights?

No
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 25, 2008, 11:27:50 am
does he get motion sickness?

No
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Melilem on November 25, 2008, 11:29:17 am
Does the elevator go faster down than up (or vice versa)?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Melilem on November 25, 2008, 11:31:27 am
and- last question, does he work in the building he lives in?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 25, 2008, 11:31:41 am
Does the elevator go faster down than up (or vice versa)?

No
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 25, 2008, 11:32:05 am
and- last question, does he work in the building he lives in?

No
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Scadsobees on November 25, 2008, 05:24:52 pm
Does he do anything different if there are people on the elevator with him?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 25, 2008, 05:36:13 pm
Does he do anything different if there are people on the elevator with him?

Unique question. It depends. It may change the outcome or it may remain the same. Hmmmm.....ok, I would say that it changes something.... :-D
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Melilem on November 25, 2008, 06:53:04 pm
Does he take the stairs because it takes longer?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: TwT on November 25, 2008, 08:39:40 pm
I would have to say he is a complete idiot for not taking the elevator all the way up, he was doing this so you could ask us this question :-P , or he might be superstitious.
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: 1reb on November 25, 2008, 08:57:18 pm
does the floors above 20 need a special key and he lost his key?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: 1reb on November 25, 2008, 11:33:48 pm
I would have to say he is a complete idiot for not taking the elevator all the way up.
I agree
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: buzzbee on November 25, 2008, 11:36:37 pm
Is he the height of a child?
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: beemaster on November 26, 2008, 04:33:19 am
Good question Ken!

Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 26, 2008, 09:21:16 am
Does he take the stairs because it takes longer?

No
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 26, 2008, 09:22:28 am
I would have to say he is a complete idiot for not taking the elevator all the way up, he was doing this so you could ask us this question :-P , or he might be superstitious.

No  :-P
No  :-P
and.........No!  :-P  :-P  :-P  :-P
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 26, 2008, 09:23:26 am
does the floors above 20 need a special key and he lost his key?

No
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 26, 2008, 09:25:06 am
Is he the height of a child?

As  a famous beekeeper once said...."It depends"  :-D

How big of a child you talking about? Have you seen kids nowadays.  :shock:

The answer.... Yes.

Are you going to put it together...  :-D
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: PerryBee on November 26, 2008, 09:51:59 am
This person is vertically challenged and cannot reach any of the buttons above the twentieth? :-D
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Keith13 on November 26, 2008, 09:55:07 am
This person is vertically challenged and cannot reach any of the buttons above the twentieth? :-D

I think someone is close here ;)

Keith
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: beemaster on November 26, 2008, 10:46:21 am
because of being PC in the answer Perrybee sounds on the money with "The midget could only reach the button for the 20th floor, no higher! I believe we have a winner, although if it were me, I'd get a little collaapsable rod with me for such occations. I'd climb those 20 floors once, but shame on me if I don't have a reach rod for my SECOND trip back to the lobby!!! Good answer, good luck.

Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: BjornBee on November 26, 2008, 02:00:20 pm
This person is vertically challenged and cannot reach any of the buttons above the twentieth? :-D

Correct!

This had me stumped when I first heard it. It actually is fun to see the same thought patterns for many people as they try to figure it out. But the answer is so basic.

I have used this for young children, and many times they will solve it much sooner than adults. I think it's due to them visualizing what happens in the elevator, and their heads are not filled with so many side distraction like asking about girlfriends, evil intentions, etc. They just solve it on basic practical matters.

I once had a group so stumped, I had to draw a picture of the elevator buttons, and asked them to explain what would happen if he was going down or up. And it took them just as long to finally figure out that there was more than pushing two buttons. Like Charades, I had to actually go through the motions, before a light bulb had gone off.
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Kathyp on November 26, 2008, 02:21:23 pm
lateral thinking takes practice and requires that people think outside their comfort zone.  keep going.  it's fun.

 my brother and i used to do these all the time.  now he does that numbers puzzle thing and that just makes my eyes cross  :(
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Brian D. Bray on November 26, 2008, 02:43:38 pm
lateral thinking takes practice and requires that people think outside their comfort zone.  keep going.  it's fun.

 my brother and i used to do these all the time.  now he does that numbers puzzle thing and that just makes my eyes cross  :(

Long Live Sudoku!  The ones I like are where they interlace severl puzzles at once...5 entertwined Sudokus are a ton of fun.  Once you get good at it use a pen.  I switched to Sudoku because the normal crosswords were getting to predictable with the limited options for clues.  I mean there's only so many choices for a clue of "Large flightless bird" and the answer is automatic given the number of spaces.
With Sudoku you are challenged just not in recall, but in spacial relationship and logic.
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: PerryBee on November 26, 2008, 03:47:56 pm
Credit must go to Buzzbee, he asked the first question about height and I just crossed the t's and dotted the i"s.
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: Greg Peck on November 26, 2008, 05:35:03 pm
I mentioned the riddle to a guy at work who told me the answer so I did not participate in this one. It was still fun watching were things were going.
Title: Re: Twenty questions part 3
Post by: 1reb on November 26, 2008, 11:51:11 pm
next?