Monday, January 12, 2009

Riddle #39: What am I?

This riddle was written by my daughter Carmen. It's a little different from the lateral thinking type riddles I usually post. Here it is:

When I am born, I create destruction for my parent and everyone I meet. I die when everyone I have met believes that I don't exist. What am I?

The correct answer has been guessed. To read it, see the comments section.
Lateral Thinking Puzzlers by Paul Sloane has lots of classic riddles, clues and answers. Click here to order it.
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5 comments:

  1. Ancient Greek PhilosopherJanuary 12, 2009 at 10:11 AM

    Is it fear? Anxiety?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Old Fashioned LiberalJanuary 12, 2009 at 7:02 PM

    Don't worry about the suspicious-sounding poster name. It's only Evan!

    I think that the answer to the riddle is "A lie." The parent, the teller of the lie, commits a sin. The receivers of the lie are deprived of the truth. Once everyone recognizes the false statement as a lie (in other words, they know that what it says is not true and does not exist), however, it ceases to be a lie and ceases to cause harm.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Marcia CJanuary 12, 2009 at 7:20 PM

    Ancient Greek Philosopher -- That is a very good answer, and I can see how it would work, but it's not the one Carmen had in mind.

    Old Fashioned Liberal -- You are correct!

    I may have another one of Carmen's riddles next week.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ancient Greek PhilosopherJanuary 12, 2009 at 9:32 PM

    I can see I'm going to have some
    more competition from now on. :-)

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete

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