Sunday, November 16, 2008

Riddle #31: The Phone Call

Here's the latest riddle. I'm thinking this one may be a bit harder and may require some questions and answers, but you never know. Here goes:

A man is having problems sleeping. He makes a phone call, says nothing, hangs up, and after that he is able to sleep. Why?

NOTE: The answer to the riddle has been guessed. To read it, see the comments section.

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Lateral Thinking Puzzlers by Paul Sloane has lots of classic riddles, clues and answers. Click here to order it.

22 comments:

  1. Does the operator's voice lull him
    to sleep?

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  2. Is it his psychiatrist?

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  3. No, the operator's voice does not lull him to sleep.

    No, it is not his psychiatrist.

    Any other guesses or questions?

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  4. He phoned his banker/broker and used their automatic account service to check on his account, not needing to utter a word. The news was good enough to let him sleep.

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  5. Was he afraid his clock was wrong or not working, and called somewhere that gives the time in an automated fashion, and when he learned that his clock was right he could relax and sleep?

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  6. Here are a couple yes/no q's:
    Did he get a busy signal?
    Is he having trouble sleeping b/c he's worried?
    Gina

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  7. No. He didn't phone his banker or broker or anything like that. Good thought, though.

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  8. No, it didn't have anything to do with his clock.

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  9. Hollands,

    No, he didn't get a busy signal.
    No, he wasn't worried. He couldn't sleep for a different reason.

    Good questions. Any more "yes" or "no" questions?

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  10. Is the man in his own bed? Is he at a hotel?

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  11. Washington Bacon,

    No, he is not in his own bed.
    Yes, he is in a hotel.

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  12. Well, Washington's Bacon, I will tell you this: The person he called did not request a wake-up call.

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  13. Was his phone ringing off and on from a wake-up service, and his call to them cancelled the request so he could go back to sleep?

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  14. Did he use touch-tones instead of speaking during his phone call?

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  15. Is he a guest at the hotel?
    Does he work at the hotel?

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  16. Good questions, Anonymous.

    No, he did not use touch tones on his phone.
    Yes, he is a guest in the hotel.
    No, he does not work at the hotel.

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  17. Is someone snoring in the room next door loudly, and he calls them to wake them up so they stop snoring? Then he is able to sleep because it is quiet?

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  18. Yes, yes, Anon, that is correct! Good job!

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  19. Now, I suppose that means I've got to come up with another riddle tonight! LOL.

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