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Minichan

Topic: Merrin here. The solution to the horse/fly lateral thinking problem.

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc started this discussion 1 month ago #131,781

Hello friends! As some of you may remember I had promised to give the solution to the horse/fly lateral thinking problem on Christmas Eve, so I'm setting up this thread in advance.

Several people have PMed me to clarify if Christmas in Russia is January 6th or 7th. The answer is January 7th, so expect the solution in this thread on January 6th.

Until then feel free to keep on trying to puzzle it out yourselves, or ask me for more clues.

Have a fantastic holiday season everyone! And for those of you who celebrate the Catholic Christmas tomorrow, I wish you a very merry one indeed! πŸŽ„πŸŽ…

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 5 minutes later[^] [v] #1,408,660

Knew he'd flake

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 3 minutes later, 9 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,661

Can you still buy those in England? They were a childhood favourite.

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) double-posted this 1 month ago, 49 seconds later, 10 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,662

If you weren't careful they'd crumble everywhere.

boof joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 34 minutes later, 45 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,665

@previous (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)
as mentioned in this fine tune by Death by Chocolate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0VLCpZqiwo

(Edited 2 minutes later.)

Anonymous D joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 14 minutes later, 59 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,670

@OP

> Hello friends! As some of you may remember I had promised to give the solution to the horse/fly lateral thinking problem on Christmas Eve, so I'm setting up this thread in advance.
>
> Several people have PMed me to clarify if Christmas in Russia is January 6th or 7th. The answer is January 7th, so expect the solution in this thread on January 6th.
>
> Until then feel free to keep on trying to puzzle it out yourselves, or ask me for more clues.
>
> Have a fantastic holiday season everyone! And for those of you who celebrate the Catholic Christmas tomorrow, I wish you a very merry one indeed! πŸŽ„πŸŽ…

the best kind troll. as old as the first computer bug maybe even older. bravo for the dedication and merry new holiday christmas years to you πŸŽ„

Anonymous E joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 20 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,682

I'd like another clue please!

Anonymous F joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 45 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,695

Today is Christmas Eve, you berk.

Anonymous H joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 18 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,699

@OPedo

> Several people have PMed me to clarify if Christmas in Russia is January 6th or 7th. The answer is January 7th, so expect the solution in this thread on January 6th.

Nobody PMd you faggot

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 44 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,707

@1,408,682 (E)

> I'd like another clue please!

Certainly! I'll be back on here after the 25th. Busy time for priests needless to say ✝️

Anonymous N joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 1 hour later, 4 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,723

@previous (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)
When you come back, I've got a question for you.

Green !!bO/s3MBcD joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 12 hours later, 16 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,774

@OP
That is January 6th 2026 right?

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 13 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,830

@previous (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)

What do you think will happen?

Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 14 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,913

@previous (Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU)
The only logical thing that can happen is the solution is provided when you have been told it will. Unless, of course, there is some new reason for delay...

Anonymous H replied with this 1 month ago, 3 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,914

@previous (Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU)
He'll claim someone PMd him and asked for an extension on solving it, just so he can drag it out longer.

Green !!bO/s3MBcD replied with this 1 month ago, 6 hours later, 2 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,940

@1,408,913 (Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU)
He didn't specify the Christmas Eve of which year though, just January 6th so he can say January 6th 2027 lol

Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU replied with this 1 month ago, 3 hours later, 2 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,973

@1,408,914 (H)
Well if someone does ask for an extension it would be incredibly rude not to grant it.
@previous (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)
January 6 2027 feels very close. You are more optimistic than I.

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 19 hours later, 3 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,119

I'm back, friends! I trust everyone had a delightful Catholic Christmas.

@1,408,774 (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)

> That is January 6th 2026 right?

What is? The 960th anniversary of the coronation of King Harold? The 71st birthday of beloved comedian and actor Rowan Atkinson? 5 years since MAGA's storming of the Bastille? If yes, then yes!

@1,408,913 (Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU)

> The only logical thing that can happen is the solution is provided when you have been told it will.

This.

> Unless, of course, there is some new reason for delay...

This too. The Bible frequently reminds us of life's unpredictability.

@1,408,940 (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)

> He didn't specify the Christmas Eve of which year though, just January 6th so he can say January 6th 2027 lol

I hardly think the people here are going to need another full year to finally solve this thing! I don't share your pessimism in their lateral thinking abilities.

@previous (Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU)

> Well if someone does ask for an extension it would be incredibly rude not to grant it.

And this too. I don't understand the hostility some folk have on here towards accommodating a well-meaning request.

Have a blessed evening, all. And keep your thinking caps on. There's still time to solve the riddle!

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) double-posted this 1 month ago, 15 minutes later, 3 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,125

And again about Flakes, I remembered that if your estate had an upmarket ice cream van the guy would stick half a Flake in your 99. Those of us on council estates tended not to get that, we'd get some Aldi knock-off version. Still cost 99p though.

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) triple-posted this 1 month ago, 2 minutes later, 3 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,126

Feel free to use this thread to reminisce about your ice cream men and their wares while we wait to see if anyone comes up with the solution to the horse/fly problem before 6pm (GMT) January 6th.

Anonymous Z-2 joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 3 hours later, 3 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,188

@1,408,940 (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)
@1,408,973 (Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU)
Dave will delete this topic when it doesn't go his way.

Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU replied with this 1 month ago, 1 minute later, 3 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,189

@previous (Z-2)
That would be regrettable.

Anonymous Z-7 joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 6 hours later, 3 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,251

Would you please delay releasing the answer? I bought a supercomputer cluster made out of 1024 PlayStation 4 and have turned it into an AI machine. I did this solely to find the answer for the brain teaser.

Thanks!

Anonymous Z-5 joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 16 minutes later, 3 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,253

@previous (Z-7)
Nah it's too soon I will figure it out in 17 hours

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 2 hours later, 3 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,257

@1,409,251 (Z-7)

> Would you please delay releasing the answer? I bought a supercomputer cluster made out of 1024 PlayStation 4 and have turned it into an AI machine. I did this solely to find the answer for the brain teaser.
>
> Thanks!

With respect, a supercomputer or AI will not help you. People here have already tried using the latter, with farcical results. What's needed to solve this riddle is not computational power but rather lateral thinking. It's like that time in the 60s when NASA spent 30,000 dollars trying to design a pen that could write in space, while the Soviets simply took a pencil. Solving the horse/fly problem depends on HOW you think. Not how powerful your computer is. I've said before that the solution is so elegant in its simplicity that even a child could, in theory, solve it.

So no, I'm sorry but I won't delay giving the answer for that reason, because a supercomputer will not help you. You just have to think laterally.

King Kimble from Kenya joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 12 hours later, 4 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,308

Think laterally like Dave does and the answer is simple. Kind of like how he thought when he posted pictures of beautiful areas of Russia.

(Edited 18 minutes later by a moderator.)

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 1 hour later, 4 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,322

@1,409,257 (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)

Pencils leave graphite floating around which shorts electric systems in spaceships.

Anonymous Z-10 joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 49 minutes later, 4 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,327

@1,409,257 (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)

> It's like that time in the 60s when NASA spent 30,000 dollars trying to design a pen that could write in space, while the Soviets simply took a pencil.

That's an urban legend that was debunked by American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts. Both sides used space pens.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Pen

Anonymous Z-11 joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 4 hours later, 4 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,358

@1,409,308 (King Kimble from Kenya)
There are no beautiful parts of Russia.

Anonymous Z-12 joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 10 hours later, 4 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,418

@1,408,665 (boof)
what the london look am i watching? I get the distinct feeling this is one of them really out there yahoo groups fetishes that can slide by age locks due to how fuckin esoteric it is.

(Edited 2 minutes later.)

Green !!bO/s3MBcD replied with this 1 month ago, 2 days later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,760

Ok, I think I've got it. It's so simple but it has to be the answer. The horse is on a plane. It's not the fly that flies back out, it's the horse. The horse is gone because it's flying on a plane.

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 1 hour later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,764

Fly is blind

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 3 hours later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,794

@1,409,760 (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)

> Ok, I think I've got it. It's so simple but it has to be the answer. The horse is on a plane. It's not the fly that flies back out, it's the horse. The horse is gone because it's flying on a plane.

As deliberately (I hope) silly as this is, there's a detail of it that is actually not a million miles away from being on the right lines.

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 44 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,798

@previous (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)

The fly flew out

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 4 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,799

@previous (Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU)
Of what?

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 42 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,800

@previous (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)

There

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 5 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,803

@previous (Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU)
There?

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) double-posted this 1 month ago, 23 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,806

There There is Radiohead's 2nd best song by the way.

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 31 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,810

@1,409,803 (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)

That's the one

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 14 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,811

@previous (Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU)
One is Metallica's 3rd best song by the way.

Green !!bO/s3MBcD replied with this 1 month ago, 50 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,819

@1,409,794 (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)
Another few days and I'll have this cracked!

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 14 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,827

@previous (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)
Good luck!

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 2 hours later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,848

@1,409,811 (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)

So, is the riddle solved?

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 12 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,852

@previous (Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU)

> So

Despite its colossal success, only Peter Gabriel's 4th best album.

> is the riddle solved?

Green's working on it. Wish him luck!

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) double-posted this 1 month ago, 38 seconds later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,853

Green being REM's 6th best album.

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 26 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,856

I think it's definately that the fly flew out

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 2 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,857

@previous (Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU)

> the fly

A top ten U2 track for sure.

> flew out

Of what?

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 1 minute later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,859

@previous (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)

It flew out of the horse

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 1 minute later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,860

@previous (Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU)
This part is correct.

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 1 hour later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,873

@previous (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)

That's a wrap, ladies and gentlemen!

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 6 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,875

@previous (Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU)

> ladies and gentlemen

Probably the most accurate of the many "Best of George Michael" compilations out there.

Green !!bO/s3MBcD replied with this 1 month ago, 1 hour later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,880

Does it have anything to do with. the phrase "I heard it from the horse's mouth"?

Green !!bO/s3MBcD double-posted this 1 month ago, 47 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,881

Is the horse in quicksand. When the fly flies out the horse has fully sunk?

Anonymous E replied with this 1 month ago, 10 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,882

Wait, what was the original riddle again?

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 7 hours later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,911

@1,409,880 (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)

> Does it have anything to do with. the phrase "I heard it from the horse's mouth"?

No, there's no element of idioms or aphorisms involved.

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) double-posted this 1 month ago, 3 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,913

@1,409,881 (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)

> Is the horse in quicksand. When the fly flies out the horse has fully sunk?

An object sinks into quicksand at a speed of 0.6 to 2.5 cm per second. Thus, nowhere near fast enough to be "moments later".

Keep trying though! I like the way you think.

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) triple-posted this 1 month ago, 4 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,914

@1,409,882 (E)

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) quadruple-posted this 1 month ago, 2 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,915

Still the most popular thread ever made over at Nonce Central πŸ˜‚

Anonymous Z-24 joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 42 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,916

@1,409,914 (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)
@previous (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)
I have images disabled.

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 19 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,918

@previous (Z-24)
Good for you!

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 43 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,921

@1,409,881 (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)

The answer is that the fly flew out.

Green !!bO/s3MBcD replied with this 1 month ago, 51 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,924

@previous (Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU)
But that's literally what happened, not laterally.

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 7 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,925

@previous (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)
Oatmeal F*cker is not very bright πŸ˜‰

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 3 hours later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,940

@1,409,924 (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)

That's the lateral part, you're expecting a non-literal answer so you fail to take it into account that it simply asks you what happened

(Edited 13 seconds later.)

Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc (OP) replied with this 1 month ago, 7 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,942

Watching Oatmeal F*cker desperately flail has proven to be one of the ancillary delights of the horse/fly lateral thinking problem πŸ˜‰

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 1 month ago, 36 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,943

@previous (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)

You can tell I've solved it with how desperately defensive Father Dim has suddenly become.

Killer Lettuce🌹 !HonkUK.BIE joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 46 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,945

I figured it out a while ago. The answer is that the real horse was the fun times we all had together pondering this question. That's what Dave is doing here.

tteh !MemesToDNA replied with this 1 month ago, 4 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,946

@previous (Killer Lettuce🌹 !HonkUK.BIE)
But that means the horse (fun times) disappear. The real answer is even more lateral.

Green !!bO/s3MBcD replied with this 1 month ago, 2 hours later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,967

Is the the horse being eaten? Also I want to take the opportunity to thank Father Dave for this invigorating puzzle! I didn't think laterally before but this problem has caused me to think outside the box!

boof replied with this 1 month ago, 5 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,971

*ahem* The "horse" is the constellation Equuleus. The fly is at a latitude such that Equuleus is at the horizon. The rotation of the Earth itself hid the horse from view.

Black dude on the internet joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 2 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,972

Horses can’t fly, unless you put them on a cargo plane.

Green !!bO/s3MBcD replied with this 1 month ago, 2 hours later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,997

Did the fly lay eggs in the horse's mouth?

Green !!bO/s3MBcD double-posted this 1 month ago, 3 days later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,410,674

I give up.

Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU replied with this 1 month ago, 3 hours later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,410,682

Whatever else happens, I am relieved that today is the day we finally get the answer to the riddle!

Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU replied with this 4 weeks ago, 9 hours later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,410,778

@previous (Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU)

The day is now over, and we have not had an answer to the riddle. Father Deception has fooled you all again!

Anonymous Z-5 replied with this 4 weeks ago, 6 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,410,783

Can I have a few more days to figure it out?

Anonymous Z-30 joined in and replied with this 4 weeks ago, 3 hours later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,410,812

@1,410,682 (Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU)
Are you sure it's today?

Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU replied with this 4 weeks ago, 8 hours later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,410,927

@1,410,778 (Oatmeal Fucker !BYUc1TwJMU)
@previous (Z-30)
No man knows the day or hour.

Killer Lettuce🌹 !HonkUK.BIE replied with this 4 weeks ago, 5 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,410,930

I think I've solved it. Dave himself is the horse, for he is gone whenever a solution to the riddle is promised. The fly is, I don't know, our excitement to get the answer or something.

That's lateral thinking, right?

Green !!bO/s3MBcD replied with this 4 weeks ago, 17 minutes later, 1 week after the original post[^] [v] #1,410,931

@previous (Killer Lettuce🌹 !HonkUK.BIE)
The answer is that Dave posted a riddle with multiple solutions. That's it, that's what happened.

Anonymous Z-31 joined in and replied with this 4 weeks ago, 13 hours later, 2 weeks after the original post[^] [v] #1,411,067

@1,409,942 (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)
That reminds me of a random song name.

Gaz from Lewisham replied with this 3 weeks ago, 3 days later, 2 weeks after the original post[^] [v] #1,411,857

Anonymous Z-32 joined in and replied with this 3 weeks ago, 21 hours later, 2 weeks after the original post[^] [v] #1,411,990

@previous (Gaz from Lewisham)
Your image was deleted. Has Father Dave returned?

Anonymous Z-33 joined in and replied with this 2 weeks ago, 3 days later, 3 weeks after the original post[^] [v] #1,412,523

@1,409,942 (Father Dave !RsSxeehGwc)
Did you rage quit?

Anonymous M joined in and replied with this 2 weeks ago, 13 minutes later, 3 weeks after the original post[^] [v] #1,412,525

@1,410,931 (Green !!bO/s3MBcD)

> The answer is that Dave posted a riddle with multiple solutions. That's it, that's what happened.

Then when he set a date for the answer as always he didn't give it. But I believe his big mistake that brought on loads of butthurt was...Instead of giving some kind of answer he started another puzzle thread looking for answers. Right after that he disappeared. Sounds like he might have pushed his luck a little. He's still here but he will only post anon now.

Anonymous Z-34 joined in and replied with this 2 weeks ago, 5 days later, 3 weeks after the original post[^] [v] #1,413,532

Dave's a fag
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