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Topic: There was a man... (Read 1696 times) |
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maryl
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There was a man who was born before his father, killed his mother, and married his sister.
Yet, there was nothing wrong with what he had done. Why?
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harpanet
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #1 on: Jul 27th, 2003, 5:02am » |
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His father was present at his birth, therefore he was born before his eyes. Unfortunately his mother died during child-birth. The (young) nursing sister took it upon herself to be a family friend after this tragedy. As he grew older he became more attached to her and eventually married her.
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| « Last Edit: Jul 27th, 2003, 5:03am by harpanet » |
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maryl
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The first two answers are correct but the last doesn't fit.
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BNC
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #3 on: Jul 27th, 2003, 8:45am » |
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He had an older sister. He was a priest, so he merried her (to her chosen husdband).
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How about supercalifragilisticexpialidociouspuzzler [Towr, 2007]
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turtler7
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #4 on: Aug 20th, 2003, 3:22pm » |
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no. He was a twin born that was attached to his sister. Marrige is the union(joining) of a man and women. He is man she is women and so they can be said to be married.
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wowbagger
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #5 on: Aug 21st, 2003, 1:22am » |
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on Aug 20th, 2003, 3:22pm, turtler7 wrote:| Marrige is the union(joining) of a man and women. He is man she is women and so they can be said to be married. |
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That's a very loose interpretation of marriage. Actually, I tend to go as far as calling it just wrong. 
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turtler7
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #6 on: Aug 21st, 2003, 6:02am » |
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This is quoting directly from websters new world dictionary.
"Marrige...Any close or intimate union.."
I did not read all the varriations of the defination only that complete one. But that would fit the riddle. So his father was there when he was born his mother died giving birth and he was attached(close union ) to his sister.
Might not be what ya wanted but it does fit.
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wowbagger
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #7 on: Aug 21st, 2003, 6:26am » |
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This is quoting directly from OALD:
mar*riage noun
1 [C] the legal relationship between a husband and wife: a good / happy marriage; All of her children's marriages ended in divorce.; an arranged marriage (= one in which the parents choose a husband or wife for their child); She has two children by a previous marriage.; This is his second marriage.-see also mixed
2 [U] the state of being married: They don't believe in marriage.; My parents are celebrating 30 years of marriage.
3 [C] the ceremony in which two people become husband and wife: Their marriage took place in a local church. Wedding is more common in this meaning.
Seriously, I've never heard or read "marriage" used in a way that differs from the definitions I quoted.
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| « Last Edit: Aug 21st, 2003, 6:32am by wowbagger » |
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Sir Col
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #8 on: Aug 21st, 2003, 7:11am » |
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Just to add my opinion...
Actually, the word marriage is taken (originally) from the Latin, maritus, which literally means, to be joined. It is quite acceptable to talk about a 'marriage of ideas', but the common notion of marriage refers to a union of two people. It must be appreciated that, generally, dictionary 'definitions' do not truly define a word. They usaully provide contexts and usage of words rather than its meaning/etymology; I believe that there is a difference.
I'm afraid that I'm with turtler7 on this one. In lateral problems like this, were we allow for loose interpretation anyway, his solution fits. For example, we've all accepted the statements, 'kills his mother' or 'before his father', without questioning their technicalities. In lateral problems, common notions don't work – after all, they're not literal problems.
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| « Last Edit: Aug 21st, 2003, 7:16am by Sir Col » |
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turtler7
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #9 on: Aug 21st, 2003, 7:28am » |
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"I'm afraid that I'm with turtler7 on this one."
What would u be implying there? 
yeah I normally wouldnt use that defination of marrige but as these problems use twists and multiple meanings of words quite commonly I will use it here.
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wowbagger
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #10 on: Aug 21st, 2003, 7:31am » |
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on Aug 21st, 2003, 7:11am, Sir Col wrote:Just to add my opinion...
Actually, the word marriage is taken (originally) from the Latin, maritus, which literally means, to be joined. It is quite acceptable to talk about a 'marriage of ideas', but the common notion of marriage refers to a union of two people. It must be appreciated that, generally, dictionary 'definitions' do not truly define a word. They usaully provide contexts and usage of words rather than its meaning/etymology; I believe that there is a difference. |
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Thanks for sharing your opinion. This is just one of the many good things about this forum: I can learn more about how people use language. While I don't always agree, it is interesting.
Actually, I've already encountered worse problems with dictionary definitions (with respect to scientific stuff, see the OALD entry for kilogram).
I can only hope that you don't suggest we always check the etymology of the words involved in these lateral thinking riddles? 
Quote:| I'm afraid that I'm with turtler7 on this one. In lateral problems like this, were we allow for loose interpretation anyway, his solution fits. For example, we've all accepted the statements, 'kills his mother' or 'before his father', without questioning their technicalities. |
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Ok, so my interpretation of "marriage" was probably too restricted for a riddle as this.
Quote:| In lateral problems, common notions don't work – after all, they're not literal problems. |
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wowbagger
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #11 on: Aug 21st, 2003, 7:32am » |
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on Aug 21st, 2003, 7:28am, turtler7 wrote:"I'm afraid that I'm with turtler7 on this one."
What would u be implying there?
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turtler7
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #12 on: Aug 21st, 2003, 7:36am » |
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hehe i know what he meant lol
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Sir Col
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #13 on: Aug 21st, 2003, 7:45am » |
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Ack, it looks like I've fallen afoul of twisted meanings.
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Icarus
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #14 on: Aug 23rd, 2003, 6:56pm » |
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Another problem with turtler7's answer: Cojoined twins are by necessity identical - otherwise their immune systems would be attacking each other. This means their genetic make-up is the same. It is therefore impossible for them to be of opposite sexes.
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I wonder: Which is larger
When their digits are reversed? " - Anonymous
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turtler7
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Re: There was a man...
« Reply #15 on: Aug 24th, 2003, 5:31am » |
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he has sex change later so became a man then?
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