| Author | Message | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 138 Registered: 4-2009 |
Most days I push the button, but nothing happens. The I in the puzzle statement is me, Yabblesmacker. This is something which really does happen to me. | ||
| Logician (Logician)
New member Username: Logician Post Number: 500 Registered: 6-2003 |
So some days when you push the button, something does happen? Or do you press the button on most days, and nothing ever happens when you push the button? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 139 Registered: 4-2009 |
So some days when you push the button, something does happen? yes Or do you press the button on most days, and nothing ever happens when you push the button? no | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 140 Registered: 4-2009 |
Maybe I should have phrased it: "Most days, when I push the button, nothing happens." | ||
| Logician (Logician)
New member Username: Logician Post Number: 501 Registered: 6-2003 |
Do you press this button every day? Will everyone / most people have a button (or have access to a button) just like this one? Is it in your home? Car? At work? In a public place? Do you expect the thing to happen every time you push the button? Or is it mostly out of habit? Is there a predictable divide between "most days" when it doesn't work, and "some days" when it does work? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 141 Registered: 4-2009 |
Do you press this button every day? no Will everyone / most people have a button (or have access to a button) just like this one? not exactly the same, but similar yes Is it in your home? this Car? At work? In a public place? Do you expect the thing to happen every time you push the button? no Or is it mostly out of habit? not this Is there a predictable divide between "most days" when it doesn't work, and "some days" when it does work? yes, but slight FA | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 1934 Registered: 1-2007 |
When you push the button do you know in advance wether anything is going to happen? Do you need to press the button? Or is it for your own amusement/entertainment? Does the day of the week or the date of the month or year have any bearing on whether something will happen? Does the weather or seasons have any bearing? Is the button on an electrical device? would it help to discover where in you house you press the button? if so bedroom? Kitchen? living/sitting room? bathroom? garage? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 143 Registered: 4-2009 |
When you push the button do you know in advance wether anything is going to happen? yes. Do you need to press the button? yesish Or is it for your own amusement/entertainment? no Does the day of the week or the date of the month or year have any bearing on whether something will happen? no Does the weather or seasons have any bearing? no Is the button on an electrical device? yes would it help to discover where in you house you press the button? yesish if so bedroom? this. Kitchen? living/sitting room? bathroom? garage? | ||
| Kalira (Kalira)
New member Username: Kalira Post Number: 187 Registered: 2-2009 |
Does the statement "nothing happens" mean that something could/should happen but it doesn't? or that a lack of something happens (e.g. something gets turned off)? That may not have made much sense, but what I'm getting at is this: is the button on a clock? specifically an alarm clock? is it the snooze button? which you press to stop the noise coming from the alarm? thereby causing "nothing" (silence) to happen? If all that is wrong, is the button on a computer? a light? a television? a phone? a game system? a VCR? DVD player? CD player? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 144 Registered: 4-2009 |
Does the statement "nothing happens" mean that something could/should happen but it doesn't? this is closest or that a lack of something happens (e.g. something gets turned off)? no That may not have made much sense, but what I'm getting at is this: is the button on a clock? specifically an alarm clock? is it the snooze button? which you press to stop the noise coming from the alarm? thereby causing "nothing" (silence) to happen? no to all, nice idea though. If all that is wrong, is the button on a computer? a light? this. a television? a phone? a game system? a VCR? DVD player? CD player? | ||
| Bolapara (Bolapara)
New member Username: Bolapara Post Number: 800 Registered: 12-2008 |
Is there usually a working light bulb in the light? Power plants relevant? Religion relevant? Is the humidity of the room the reason why nothing happens on most days? Other appliances relevant? Did you usually pay your electric bill on time? Is the light and button actually in a house- ie not in a video or computer game? Is there only one button/switch for this light? Is the light plugged in on most days? Is it a flashlight? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 149 Registered: 4-2009 |
Is there usually a working light bulb in the light? yes Power plants relevant? no Religion relevant? no Is the humidity of the room the reason why nothing happens on most days? no Other appliances relevant? yes Did you usually pay your electric bill on time? yes Is the light and button actually in a house yes - ie not in a video or computer game? no Is there only one button/switch for this light? yope Is the light plugged in on most days? yes Is it a flashlight? no | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 1941 Registered: 1-2007 |
Id there some sort of masterswitch that if in the off position means pushing the light switch useless? Or is it one of those funny light switches that have two switches and one has to be in the on position for the other switch to work? | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 219 Registered: 3-2009 |
Following up on Peter365's post, could it be a ceiling fan with a light and a pull chain switch? When the chain switch is "off", the wall switch does not turn on the light. Anything like this? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 153 Registered: 4-2009 |
Id there some sort of masterswitch that if in the off position means pushing the light switch useless? yes pretty much Or is it one of those funny light switches that have two switches and one has to be in the on position for the other switch to work? no Following up on Peter365's post, could it be a ceiling fan with a light and a pull chain switch? When the chain switch is "off", the wall switch does not turn on the light. Anything like this? fraid not | ||
| Kalira (Kalira)
New member Username: Kalira Post Number: 190 Registered: 2-2009 |
Do you push the button when the master switch is in the off position? Does this relate to your coming back to the room later in the day? Do you push the button so that the light will turn on when you flip the switch? when you come back? at night? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 154 Registered: 4-2009 |
Do you push the button when the master switch is in the off position? yes Does this relate to your coming back to the room later in the day? no Do you push the button so that the light will turn on when you flip the switch? no when you come back? no at night? no The "master switch" is something fairly straightforward and normal. I wouldn't ever call it a master switch, although it does work in the same way. | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 1944 Registered: 1-2007 |
Is it a fuse box? or trip switch? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 155 Registered: 4-2009 |
Is it a fuse box? or trip switch? neither I think (can you clarify meaning of trip switch?) Think about a smaller scale. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 397 Registered: 6-2008 |
When you push the button and nothing happens, is it because: you forget that the other switch is off? you want to test if the switch is off? you want to convince someone else that you are turning the light on/off? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 1945 Registered: 1-2007 |
Here's a wild guess. We're talking about a lamp as opposed to a light which is plugged into double adapter which in turn is plugged into a wall socket. The wall socket has an on/off switch. You also have connected the the adapter a charger for lets say a mobile phone. You only have the switch on the wall socket in the on position when you've been charging your phone. So when you push the on/off button on the lamp it only comes on if you've been charging your phone? p.s. you may call a trip switch a circuit breaker. It basically automatically disconnects the electrical supply in the instance of a fault or power surge to protect the fuse box and electrical appliances from damage | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 156 Registered: 4-2009 |
When you push the button and nothing happens, is it because: you forget that the other switch is off? you want to test if the switch is off? you want to convince someone else that you are turning the light on/off? no to all | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 157 Registered: 4-2009 |
Here's a wild guess. We're talking about a lamp as opposed to a light yes which is plugged into double adapter which in turn is plugged into a wall socket. yes The wall socket has an on/off switch. yes You also have connected the the adapter a charger for lets say a mobile phone. but no You only have the switch on the wall socket in the on position when you've been charging your phone. no So when you push the on/off button on the lamp it only comes on if you've been charging your phone? no. This solution wouldn't be quite right if it was something other than a mobile phone either. p.s. you may call a trip switch a circuit breaker. It basically automatically disconnects the electrical supply in the instance of a fault or power surge to protect the fuse box and electrical appliances from damage ah I see. No, it's not this This solution wasn't entirely right but got a lot closer! | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 1951 Registered: 1-2007 |
So is there a specific reason why on some occasions the switch on the wall socket is in the off position? and the reason is because some other electrical appliance is plugged into it and sometimes not? Is the other appliance something you use everyday? Would most people have one in their bedroom or would it appear unusual? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 1952 Registered: 1-2007 |
Oh another wild guess. You have a pc plugged into the other plug so your lamp only comes on when you've been on the Lateral puzzle forum on your pc? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 159 Registered: 4-2009 |
So is there a specific reason why on some occasions the switch on the wall socket is in the off position? yesish and the reason is because some other electrical appliance is plugged into it and sometimes not? yesish Is the other appliance something you use everyday? Would most people have one in their bedroom or would it appear unusual? see below Oh another wild guess. You have a pc plugged into the other plug yes! so your lamp only comes on when you've been on the Lateral puzzle forum on your pc? This isn't the reason why nothing happens when I press the lamp switch. I did say this earlier so it's more of a reminder than a hint, but I actually know whether something is going to happen before I press the switch. So why do I do it? | ||
| Scytale (Scytale)
New member Username: Scytale Post Number: 6 Registered: 6-2009 |
do you switch the computer on/off at the wall? you need to turn the lamp on with both switches, and usually push the button on the lamp before flipping the switch on the wall? | ||
| Scytale (Scytale)
New member Username: Scytale Post Number: 7 Registered: 6-2009 |
The lamp is only used for some of the time the computer is being used? The lamp is switched off while the computer continues to be used? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 1957 Registered: 1-2007 |
Is it too simple to say that you know that nothing will happen because your screensaver on your PC is not on and you are one of those consciencious people who always plugs out their pc when not using it? So no screensaver means computer is plugged out and therefore so is the lamp? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 163 Registered: 4-2009 |
do you switch the computer on/off at the wall? yope - I do but I shut it down/start it up with buttons on the computer as well. you need to turn the lamp on with both switches, and usually push the button on the lamp before flipping the switch on the wall? Not quite, but definitely OTRT. Getting quite close. The lamp is only used for some of the time the computer is being used? yesish The lamp is switched off while the computer continues to be used? noish Is it too simple to say that you know that nothing will happen because your screensaver on your PC is not on and you are one of those consciencious people who always plugs out their pc when not using it? So no screensaver means computer is plugged out and therefore so is the lamp? no - nothing to do with looking at the computer | ||
| Scytale (Scytale)
New member Username: Scytale Post Number: 8 Registered: 6-2009 |
Are the actions of another person relevant? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 165 Registered: 4-2009 |
Are the actions of another person relevant? no | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 196 Registered: 4-2009 |
Recap: The button I push is the switch of a lamp. The lamp is plugged into an adapter. Also plugged into the adapter is my pc (actually a laptop, but it could work with a desktop too). I shut the computer down both at the computer and at the wall. Sometimes something does happen when I push the button. I always know whether something will happen before I push it. So why do I do it? Clue: The closest guess was Scytale's "you need to turn the lamp on with both switches, and usually push the button on the lamp before flipping the switch on the wall?" but think of the opposite. | ||
| Sugarshane (Sugarshane)
New member Username: Sugarshane Post Number: 122 Registered: 7-2009 |
does it have to do with-you hitting the button before you hit the switch? or hitting the switch before you hit the button? like you know if you hit the switch and the button hasn't been pressed the light won't come on or vice versa? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 256 Registered: 4-2009 |
Ok for these questions (and future ones) I will assume that 'button' is the one on the lamp and 'switch' is the one at the wall. does it have to do with-you hitting the button before you hit the switch? no or hitting the switch before you hit the button? YES. like you know if you hit the switch and the button hasn't been pressed the light won't come on or vice versa? not really either of these though. HINT: There is another relevant switch involved. | ||
| Sugarshane (Sugarshane)
New member Username: Sugarshane Post Number: 137 Registered: 7-2009 |
so theres a switch on the lamp? and on the wall? button on the cpu? is there another switch? power/spike bar? switch to a breaker? | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 265 Registered: 4-2009 |
so theres a switch on the lamp? yes and on the wall? yes button on the cpu? this isn't the other switch I'm thinking of is there another switch? yes power/spike bar? switch to a breaker? neither of these | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 301 Registered: 4-2009 |
I am going on holiday, but feel free to ask more questions while I am gone! | ||
| Yabblesmacker (Yabblesmacker)
New member Username: Yabblesmacker Post Number: 307 Registered: 4-2009 |
I'm spoiling this one because it really isn't going anywhere. ***SPOILER*** The button is the switch on my bedside lamp (near my computer). Often I will be on my computer late into the evening, with my lamp on and not my main light on. When I finally decide to go to bed, I always walk over and turn the lamp off at the wall. Before doing this, however, I turn my main bedroom light on. But the wall switch and the bedroom light switch are on the other side of the room from my lamp. If I switched the lamp off before going to the wall socket I would have to walk over in darkness. So instead I switch it off at the wall, turn the main light on and then come back to switch it off at the switch. So as it's already off at the wall, nothing happens. Sorry it didn't really go anywhere, I'll try to do better for my next one! |
