TALK STORY

Thinking Outside of the Box

POSTED BY: CONNORFLYNN
UPDATED: Tuesday, December 7, 2004 08:28
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 3418
PAGE 1 of 1

Friday, December 3, 2004 4:57 AM

CONNORFLYNN


I liked this story and thought I'd share:)

------------------------------------------------

Many years ago in a small village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender.
The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.
He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter.
Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter.

He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag.
Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.

1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.

2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.

3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.

Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?

Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:

1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.

2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.

3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.


Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.

What would you recommend to the Girl to do?

Well, here is what she did ....

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.

MORAL OF THE STORY:
Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think.


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, December 3, 2004 7:12 AM

HONORBOUND


I've seen similar solutions to playing a cheat at "Full Card Money". You know the one... "Find the Queen. Where's the Queen. Only one card is the Queen."... You put your hand over one card and say it's the Queen. Turn the others over to prove they are not the Queen and thus the remaining one must be the Queen. (Even though in actuality is under the table in the palm of the cheater.)



A kind word turneth away wrath, but not as well as superior firepower

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, December 3, 2004 7:32 AM

DIETCOKE


That is great! Thanks!

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, December 3, 2004 8:40 AM

HERO


I don't understand. Is the pebble the box or is it the ground? If the pebbles are in the box and the people out of the box, aint the both thinking outside the box? If so, then shouldn't they be thinking inside the box? Where is this box? How many pebbles does it hold? Or are they in the box and the pebbles out of the box and did the father go into debt buying the box and where's the mother and why is the black pebble the "bad" pebble, was the moneylender colorblind, should the father be jailed because the girl cheated, is cheating outside the box, how come its good to be outside the box in stories like this but if in Iraq a bomb falls "outside the box" hitting a school then thats a bad thing, and isn't the box at fault somehow anyway?

H

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, December 3, 2004 9:05 AM

MANIACNUMBERONE


the pebble is a pebble
the ground is the ground
the box is your perception of the solutions to a problem.
going "outside the box" is using your ability to extend your problem-solving skills beyond the norm.
And your humor is greatly appreciated

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, December 3, 2004 9:23 AM

HERO


Quote:

Originally posted by ManiacNumberOne:
And your humor is greatly appreciated



Yeah, but is it outside the box?

H

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, December 3, 2004 9:50 AM

INEVITABLEBETRAYAL


Quote:

Originally posted by Hero:
I don't understand. Is the pebble the box or is it the ground? If the pebbles are in the box and the people out of the box, aint the both thinking outside the box? If so, then shouldn't they be thinking inside the box? Where is this box? How many pebbles does it hold? Or are they in the box and the pebbles out of the box and did the father go into debt buying the box and where's the mother and why is the black pebble the "bad" pebble, was the moneylender colorblind, should the father be jailed because the girl cheated, is cheating outside the box, how come its good to be outside the box in stories like this but if in Iraq a bomb falls "outside the box" hitting a school then thats a bad thing, and isn't the box at fault somehow anyway?

H



Funniest ever.


_______________________________________________
I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, December 4, 2004 7:00 AM

CYBERSNARK


*puts Hero in the box*

*locks it*

*drops it into the Pacific*




-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, December 4, 2004 8:23 AM

DARKJESTER


Hero wrote:
Quote:

I don't understand. Is the pebble the box or is it the ground? If the pebbles are in the box and the people out of the box, aint the both thinking outside the box? If so, then shouldn't they be thinking inside the box? Where is this box? How many pebbles does it hold? Or are they in the box and the pebbles out of the box and did the father go into debt buying the box and where's the mother and why is the black pebble the "bad" pebble, was the moneylender colorblind, should the father be jailed because the girl cheated, is cheating outside the box, how come its good to be outside the box in stories like this but if in Iraq a bomb falls "outside the box" hitting a school then thats a bad thing, and isn't the box at fault somehow anyway?



Sorry Hero, I guess you have to be smarter than the box of rocks to figure it out.....

Funny as hell, Hero! Thanks!

MAL "You only gotta scare him."
JAYNE "Pain is scary..."

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, December 4, 2004 12:27 PM

SIGMANUNKI


@Hero:
There is no pebble.

----
"Canada being mad at you is like Mr. Rogers throwing a brick through your window." -Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, December 5, 2004 6:05 AM

HEB


Quote:

Originally posted by Cybersnark:
*puts Hero in the box*

*locks it*

*drops it into the Pacific*




-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.



Yeah but if you put Hero in a box we wont know whether he is dead or alive.

...................
Well, my sister's a ship... we had a
complicated childhood
.................
I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, December 5, 2004 9:29 AM

FIREFLEW


Quote:

Originally posted by heb:
Quote:

Originally posted by Cybersnark:
*puts Hero in the box*

*locks it*

*drops it into the Pacific*




-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.



Yeah but if you put Hero in a box we wont know whether he is dead or alive.

...................
Well, my sister's a ship... we had a
complicated childhood
.................
I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.




Well, either option is possible until the box is opened and it is confirmed.

The more you know
___________________________________
Jayne: "Know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I beat you with till you understand who's in command."

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, December 5, 2004 9:48 AM

HEB


Quote:

Originally posted by Fireflew:
Quote:

Originally posted by heb:
Quote:

Originally posted by Cybersnark:
*puts Hero in the box*

*locks it*

*drops it into the Pacific*




-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.



Yeah but if you put Hero in a box we wont know whether he is dead or alive.

...................
Well, my sister's a ship... we had a
complicated childhood
.................
I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.




Well, either option is possible until the box is opened and it is confirmed.

The more you know
___________________________________
Jayne: "Know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I beat you with till you understand who's in command."



You mean he's neither dead [ior alive?!

...................
Well, my sister's a ship... we had a
complicated childhood
.................
I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, December 5, 2004 12:02 PM

GROUNDED


So you're saying Hero doesn't count as an observer? Poor guy :(

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, December 5, 2004 4:12 PM

HEB


I guess he'll know, which is the important thing.

...................
Well, my sister's a ship... we had a
complicated childhood
.................
I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, December 6, 2004 3:42 PM

MALICIOUS


Quote:

Originally posted by Cybersnark:
*puts Hero in the box*

*locks it*

*drops it into the Pacific*




Don't worry, he'll be fine! Wesley will find him.

Also, has anyone considered the possibility that the box does not wish to be thought outside OF?

Mal-licious

Co-Holder of the Red Bell from Hell

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, December 7, 2004 8:28 AM

HERO


Quote:

Originally posted by heb:
Quote:

Originally posted by Cybersnark:
*puts Hero in the box*

*locks it*

*drops it into the Pacific*




-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.



Yeah but if you put Hero in a box we wont know whether he is dead or alive.



But there is no box in the story. Just like there is no hero. And I have a real problem when there is no Hero, in or out of the box.

Thinking outside the box I think the story should end thus:

The girl resigned to her fate moved to pick the black pebble. Then, out of the previously unmentioned box leaped a man known only as Hero. Striking the pebbles from the hand of the man he said "With such impiety pervading the human race, and the State threatened with destruction, what relief did God devise?...I myself was the instrument He choose...Thus beginning at the remote Ocean of Britain, where the sun sinks beneath the horizon in obedience to the law of nature, with God's help I banished and eliminated every form of evil then prevailing, in the hope that the human race, enlightened through me, might be recalled to a proper observance of God's Holy Laws!" With that he grabbed the girl and together they entered the box forever escaping the cruel and ignorant world.

Now thats a story and its out of the box and in the box.

H

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

YOUR OPTIONS

NEW POSTS TODAY

USERPOST DATE

OTHER TOPICS

DISCUSSIONS
Canada Getting It's 1st Total Solar Eclipse In 40 Years
Wed, March 6, 2024 19:49 - 1 posts
What Song Are You Listening To, California Dreamin'
Thu, February 29, 2024 07:48 - 148 posts
S.I. go Bye Bye?
Tue, January 23, 2024 14:29 - 13 posts
EMMYS ratings tank
Sun, January 21, 2024 02:21 - 9 posts
What happened to music?
Thu, January 18, 2024 21:13 - 61 posts
ESPN stole Emmys for 13 years
Tue, January 16, 2024 21:01 - 4 posts
Your essential top ten music albums.
Fri, January 12, 2024 12:45 - 31 posts
Fukushima Nuclear Reactor Status
Tue, September 12, 2023 09:30 - 128 posts
SpaceX
Wed, August 23, 2023 13:07 - 7 posts
Special Branch XIII: Soulless
Mon, August 21, 2023 16:59 - 30 posts
Hollywood star whackers, Dave Chapelle: 'I was paid $50-million by for gay sex'
Sat, August 19, 2023 05:49 - 19 posts
Marvel comics continues the long march to destroying an industry. ( Get work, go broke )
Thu, August 10, 2023 13:36 - 5 posts

FFF.NET SOCIAL