[CoffeeBean] Thinking In-Side The Box

[CoffeeBean]

Every day, right around lunchtime and just before dinner, Ansel hears his name called by a different person. He then writes his name on a piece of paper and narrowly avoids death within minutes of when his name is called. Why?

[trebor]

Ansel = he? = his?

Is Ansel a HAM? He hears his name called by a different person, as in the person Ansel hears is not the same person each time? Or “different person” as in “a person who is not Ansel, but the same person each time”?

Is Ansel’s name relevant? Is the person intending to call out Ansel’s name specifically? Are they saying another word, of which his name is part? (ie, ancillary?)

Relevant Ansel’s job? The other person’s? Is Ansel doing something particularly dangerous? Is the other person?

Narrowly avoids death IRL? In a game?

[CoffeeBean]

Ansel = he? = his? Yes

Is Ansel a HAM? Yes He hears his name called by a different person, as in the person Ansel hears is not the same person each time? This, yes
Or “different person” as in “a person who is not Ansel, but the same person each time”?

Is Ansel’s name relevant? No besides identifying him Is the person intending to call out Ansel’s name specifically? Yes
Are they saying another word, of which his name is part? (ie, ancillary?) No

Relevant Ansel’s job? Yes The other person’s? No Is Ansel doing something particularly dangerous? Possibly, yes Is the other person? No

Narrowly avoids death IRL? In a game? Yes-ish to both of these

[klondike mary]

To be a little clearer, may we say 'the midday meal' and 'the evening meal'? Thanks!
Does this mean he has his name called twice a day?
Does he hear his name called directly, or via some other means, e.g. phone, computer, etc?
Is it relevant that he writes his name, rather than typing it, for example?
Geographical location relevant? Location in general (e.g. indoors or out, office/home, etc)?

[CoffeeBean]

To be a little clearer, may we say 'the midday meal' and 'the evening meal'? Thanks! Sure
Does this mean he has his name called twice a day? Yes
Does he hear his name called directly, or via some other means, e.g. phone, computer, etc? It is called directly
Is it relevant that he writes his name, rather than typing it, for example? Yes
Geographical location relevant? Not this, but...Location in general (e.g. indoors or out, office/home, etc)? ...this is relevant, yes

[GalFisk]

Death by: cold? Exposure? Heat? Fire? Explosion? Electrocution? Firearm? Projectile? Sharp force? Blunt? Blood loss? Impact? Fall? Crash? Asphyxiation? Strangulation? Hanging? Drowning? Poisoning? Venom? Animal attack? Infection? Illness? Radiation? War? Execution? Murder? Accident? Crime? Negligence? Suicide? Narrowly avoids: is he near the cause of death in space? In time? Is his plae swapped with someone else? Does anyone die? Get hurt?

[CoffeeBean]

Death by: cold? Exposure? Heat? Fire? Explosion? This, as a secondary possibility Electrocution? Firearm? Projectile? Sharp force? Blunt? Mostly this Blood loss? Impact? This too Fall? Crash? Of a sort, yes Asphyxiation? Strangulation? Hanging? Drowning? Poisoning? Venom? Animal attack? Infection? Illness? Radiation? War? Execution? Murder? Accident? Crime? This is also involved (but possible FA) Negligence? Also this Suicide? Narrowly avoids: is he near the cause of death in space? In time? Both Is his place swapped with someone else? No
Does anyone die? Get hurt? No

[trebor]

Does Ansel work in food service? Food processing/packaging? Does he work in a factory? With heavy machinery? Does he work construction? Does this occur in the 21st century?

[GalFisk]

Is a vehicle involved? Something falling? Would the explosion, if it happened, be caused by leaking fuel? A ruputuring pressurized container? An explosive? Did the thing that could've caused his death happen, but he wasn't in that plae at that time?

[CoffeeBean]

Does Ansel work in food service? Food processing/packaging? Does he work in a factory? With heavy machinery? Does he work construction? None of these
Does this occur in the 21st century? I actually witnessed it in the early 1990's, I'm not sure if this exact thing is still being done but things very much like it are done in other places

Is a vehicle involved? Yes Something falling? Yes Would the explosion, if it happened, be caused by leaking fuel? A rupturing pressurized container? An explosive? This, of a sort
Did the thing that could've caused his death happen, but he wasn't in that place at that time? He was in the place at the time, but explore further

[JenBurdoo]

Is Ansel in a prison? On a street? Near a train track? Does someone else die in Ansel's place? Each time? Would Ansel die if he did not write his name? Does anyone relevantly read what Ansel writes?

Is Ansel driving? Does he hear any sort of alarm?

[CoffeeBean]

Is Ansel in a prison? On a street? Near a train track? No to all
Does someone else die in Ansel's place? Each time? No, not at any time
Would Ansel die if he did not write his name? No (good q)
Does anyone relevantly read what Ansel writes? No, probably not
Is Ansel driving? Does he hear any sort of alarm? No to both

[JenBurdoo]

Is Ansel ever actually in danger of death from a relevant threat? Would the threat be present if Ansel was not? Could this story happen to anyone, not just Ansel?

When Ansel's name is called, does he answer it? Could another's name be called if Ansel were not present?

Is Ansel a photographer or artist?

[CoffeeBean]

Is Ansel ever actually in danger of death from a relevant threat? Yes...but... Would the threat be present if Ansel was not? Rephrase this (good q)
Could this story happen to anyone, not just Ansel? No, not just to anyone

When Ansel's name is called, does he answer it? Yes, he does Could another's name be called if Ansel were not present? Not just anyone's, no

Is Ansel a photographer or artist? No

[trebor]

Is Ansel writing his name in a work log, punching the clock for meal breaks?

Does he work outdoors? Are there multiple vehicles involved? Are the vehicles normal road vehicles? Are they bigger than the average car? Are they semi trucks? Bigger than that? Are they land vehicles?

Is the object that would fall a natural resource? (For some reason I’m thinking of logging trucks and lumber.)

[CoffeeBean]

Is Ansel writing his name in a work log, punching the clock for meal breaks? No

Does he work outdoors? Yes Are there multiple vehicles involved? Yes Are the vehicles normal road vehicles? No
Are they bigger than the average car? This applies to one of the vehicles, yes Are they semi trucks? No Bigger than that? No
Are they land vehicles? Yes

Is the object that would fall a natural resource? (For some reason I’m thinking of logging trucks and lumber.) No

[CoffeeBean]

RECAP #1

Ansel hears his name called daily close to the time of mid-day and evening meals. He answers when his name is called.
A different person calls Ansel's name each time, and each person intentionally calls Ansel's name.
Ansel works outdoors and his job is relevant.
Ansel avoids death both in real life and in a game (with an "ish" to this).
Ansel does something that is possibly dangerous.
If Ansel were to die, it would be primarily by blunt force and impact, secondarily from an explosion.
Ansel doesn't drive a vehicle or hear any alarms.
Nobody ever dies in place of Ansel.
More than one vehicle is relevant.
I witnessed this exact event in the early 1990's. I'm not sure if it still is done today but is not at all limited to one location or time.

[markobr]

If Ansel would die, would he die because of an intentional killing?

Does this happen in a military setting? Intelligence service? Law enforcement? Other governmental institutions? Production or trade of arms? Explosives? Industrial espionage relevant?

[CoffeeBean]

If Ansel would die, would he die because of an intentional killing? No

Does this happen in a military setting? Intelligence service? Law enforcement? Other governmental institutions? Production or trade of arms? Explosives? Industrial espionage relevant? No to all

[Mimino]

Does the one who calls Ansel's name want to get Ansel's attention? want Ansel to come over? to give something? to pick up something? to answer a question? to notify Ansel about something?
Is there a relevant conversation between the caller and Ansel? if so: is it related to Ansel's job? to the caller's job? are Ansel and the caller co-workers? is the caller maybe Ansel's boss? who tells him that now is time for lunch break?
Does Ansel get food delivered to his place? Is the box from the title a lunch box? or pizza box?
Does Ansel write his name on a bill? (i.e. sign it)

[CoffeeBean]

Does the one who calls Ansel's name want to get Ansel's attention? To some degree, yes want Ansel to come over? To some degree, yes
to give something? to pick up something? to answer a question? No to these to notify Ansel about something? Yes but there's an FA here
Is there a relevant conversation between the caller and Ansel? No if so: is it related to Ansel's job? to the caller's job? Neither
are Ansel and the caller co-workers? No is the caller maybe Ansel's boss? who tells him that now is time for lunch break? No to these
Does Ansel get food delivered to his place? Is the box from the title a lunch box? or pizza box? No to these
Does Ansel write his name on a bill? (i.e. sign it) Ansel does sign something but it's not this kind of thing

[CoffeeBean]

RECAP 2

If Ansel were to die, it wouldn't be intentional
Neither government, law enforcement or military are involved
The person who calls Ansel's name wants to get his attention and wants him to come to a certain place
Ansel does not have a relevant conversation with the person who calls his name
Ansel signs his name on something but it's not a bill, and he's not getting food or anything delivered to him

[trebor]

Does the name-caller work with Ansel? Do they exchange anything with each other? If so, money? Information? A physical object?

Is Ansel’s job performed in a city? At a certain time of year? Is it a physical labour type of job? Does he work with parks/rec? Groundskeeper? Carpentry? Construction? Does he work in sports somehow? Entertainment? Agriculture? Does his work involve boats? Does Ansel stay on land while he’s working?

Is Ansel signing for a package? Shipment? To show acknowledge that his company has received something?

[CoffeeBean]

Does the name-caller work with Ansel? No
Do they exchange anything with each other? NoIf so, money? Information? A physical object?

Is Ansel’s job performed in a city? Yes At a certain time of year? Yes-ish
Is it a physical labour type of job? No Does he work with parks/rec? Groundskeeper? Carpentry? Construction? Does he work in sports somehow? Entertainment? This Agriculture? Does his work involve boats?
Does Ansel stay on land while he’s working? Yes

Is Ansel signing for a package? Shipment? To show acknowledge that his company has received something? No to all

[Sundowner]

Is Ansel on his job when his name is called?
Is Ansel an artist? an actor? a stuntman? a professional athlete?
Are Ansel's signatures required as proof that he was in a particular place, at a particular time?

[CoffeeBean]

Is Ansel on his job when his name is called? Yes
Is Ansel an artist? an actor? a stuntman? This, yes a professional athlete?
Are Ansel's signatures required No, it isn't, but explore as proof that he was in a particular place, at a particular time? No, not because of this

[trebor]

Required for insurance?

[CoffeeBean]

Required for insurance? Can you be more specific, I think you are OTRT...

[trebor]

Life insurance? Injury insurance? Insurance related to the risks of the stunts? Is he acknowledging that he’s aware of the risks? Or disclaiming the producers of liability should something go wrong?

[CoffeeBean]

Life insurance? Injury insurance? Insurance related to the risks of the stunts? Yes, at least it seems that way
Is he acknowledging that he’s aware of the risks? Yes, at least it seems that way
Or disclaiming the producers of liability should something go wrong? Yes, at least it seems that way...
All these q's are good and OTRT, explore something else about the situation...

[trebor]

It seems that way, huh? Is there some kind of subterfuge afoot?

[Mimino]

Is the fact that he avoids death related to his signatures? or is it merely part of his job as a stuntman? and would also happen if he had not signed these papers?
Is there some sort of con going on? if so: Is Ansel the victim? part of the scheme?

[CoffeeBean]

It seems that way, huh? Is there some kind of subterfuge afoot? Yes, indeed

Is the fact that he avoids death related to his signatures? Indirectly, yes or is it merely part of his job as a stuntman? It is this also and would also happen if he had not signed these papers? It probably would, yes, but there's an aspect of the situation that hasn't yet been explore that will help answer this question more fully
Is there some sort of con going on? Yes, although "con" isn't exactly how most people would refer to the situation if so: Is Ansel the victim? part of the scheme? Yes, he's part on the "con"

[Sundowner]

Relevant that each time a different person is calling Ansel? Do these people all know of each other?
Should it appear as if Ansel was signing off insurance documents? or disclaimers?
Relevant what sort of stunts Ansel is performing? were they actually less dangerous than Ansel claimed?

[CoffeeBean]

Relevant that each time a different person is calling Ansel? Yes Do these people all know of each other? No - good question
Should it appear as if Ansel was signing off insurance documents? or disclaimers? Yes, that is what anyone watching him is supposed to think
Relevant what sort of stunts Ansel is performing? One aspect of them is relevant, yes, you don't have to know the exact nature of the stunts. It has been discovered that the stunts involve vehicles and explosions, this is mostly what is important. There is one other aspect of the stunts that is related to another major part of the solution.
were they actually less dangerous than Ansel claimed? The stunts were dangerous, at least had the potential to be dangerous, and Ansel never makes any claims about it.

[GalFisk]

Are the stunts for a movie/movies? Are they being filmed? Is him signing things being filmed? does he narrowly avoid death by performing a skillful stunt? By not taking part in a stunt? Is a magic trick relevant?

[Mimino]

Is Ansel actually signing something? documents? checks?
Are the people who call his name part of the scheme? or victims?
Is this related to the cars they use in the stunts? are the name-callers selling the cars to the film company?
As it should appear as if he is signing insurance documents: does he actually not have an insurance? does he have multiple insurances (on the expenses of the film company)? (I'm just activating my criminal mind ..)

[CoffeeBean]

Are the stunts for a movie/movies? No, but...(OTRT) Are they being filmed? No
Is him signing things being filmed? No
does he narrowly avoid death by performing a skillful stunt? Yes
By not taking part in a stunt? Is a magic trick relevant? No to these

Is Ansel actually signing something? documents? Yes, he signs a document checks?
Are the people who call his name part of the scheme? No or victims? Well not really "victims", but they are not part of the scheme
Is this related to the cars they use in the stunts? Yes are the name-callers selling the cars to the film company? No and FA
As it should appear as if he is signing insurance documents: does he actually not have an insurance? Oh it's certain that he does does he have multiple insurances (on the expenses of the film company)? (I'm just activating my criminal mind ..) No, this kind of thing is not involved, and there is no film company involved

[trebor]

Is this part of a live performance? Such as a monster truck rally? A play? A circus? A magic show? A stunt show?

[CoffeeBean]

Is this part of a live performance? Yes
Such as a monster truck rally? A play? A sort of this, and...A circus? A magic show? A stunt show?...primarily this.

[trebor]

Are the name-callers audience members? Is this part of a gag? Practical joke? Is the name-caller being set up? Is the audience?

[GalFisk]

Could people seeing several shows catch on to what's going on? Relevant why his name is called? Are any other names relevantly called? Relevant what his stunt is? Are there other stunts? By other people? Relevant?

[CoffeeBean]

Are the name-callers audience members? Yes
Is this part of a gag? Some degree of that is involved, yes Practical joke? No
Is the name-caller being set up? Not really Is the audience? To some degree, yes

Could people seeing several shows catch on to what's going on? Oh yes, actually everyone should have caught on at a certain point of the very first show that they see
Relevant why his name is called? Yes Are any other names relevantly called? Yes
Relevant what his stunt is? It's not necessary to know all of the details of the stunt, here's what is relevant about it:
Vehicles are involved
Explosions are involved
There is a potential for him to die while performing the stunts

There is one other relevant aspect about the stunts that he does...
Are there other stunts? Yes By other people? Yes (but other people are relevant)
Relevant? Something about the other stunts is relevant, yes

[trebor]

The other relevant aspect of his stunt: height? Liquid? Weaponry being fired? Stage fighting? Speed?

[CoffeeBean]

The other relevant aspect of his stunt: height? Liquid? Weaponry being fired? Stage fighting? This is somewhat relevant but isn't primary Speed? Again not primarily relevant

[trebor]

Is a prop the other relevant part of the stunt? (Like the boulder in the live Indiana Jones stunt show at Disney World?) Is some animatronic thing relevant? A set piece? The audience itself? Another performer? Fire?

Does this somehow also involve getting the audience? the audience member who calls his name? to sign insurance? Does Ansel look like he's signing insurance on behalf of either the audience as a whole? or the particular audience member?

[CoffeeBean]

Is a prop the other relevant part of the stunt? (Like the boulder in the live Indiana Jones stunt show at Disney World?) Props are relevant but there is a more relevant thing (see below) Is some animatronic thing relevant? No A set piece? This is relevant, but mostly...
The audience itself? ...not the whole audience, but... Another performer? ...THIS is primarily relevant. Fire? This is also involved

Does this somehow also involve getting the audience? Yes the audience member who calls his name? This person is "gotten" to a degree, yes to sign insurance? Certain audience members do have to sign insurance waiver forms, yes
Does Ansel look like he's signing insurance YES on behalf of either the audience as a whole? or the particular audience member? No, Ansel only appears to be signing insurance for one person...

[trebor]

Does he appear to be signing the insurance for himself? For the other performer?

[Mimino]

Is Ansel performing the same stunts every time? in the same location? but for different audience? Are the audience mostly people who never have been to this show before? or on the contrary: is it people repeatedly watching this show? relevant?
Is the name-caller from the audience the other performer? is he part of the show? does Ansel pick one audience member beforehand and agrees with him that he comes up and calls Ansel's name?
Does Ansel sign anything legally relevant? or is it just giving the appearance?
Does the name caller still have any other part in the show besides just coming up and calling Ansel's name? does he give Ansel the document to sign? does he take the signed document from Ansel? is he appearing in the show after that?

[CoffeeBean]

Does he appear to be signing the insurance for himself? Yes For the other performer? No
Is Ansel performing the same stunts every time? in the same location? but for different audience? Yes to all of these
Are the audience mostly people who never have been to this show before? Yes
or on the contrary: is it people repeatedly watching this show? relevant? It is likely that very few people would watch the show more than one time, and this is relevant
Is the name-caller from the audience the other performer? One of the others, yes is he part of the show? Yes, but explore
does Ansel pick one audience member beforehand No and agrees with him that he comes up and calls Ansel's name? No, but the way Ansel's name is chosen is relevant (and there is a clue in the puzzle's title)
Does Ansel sign anything legally relevant? or is it just giving the appearance? Probably not, but there's a reason that Ansel must give the appearance that he's signing a legal document
Does the name caller still have any other part in the show besides just coming up and calling Ansel's name? Yes - a relevant one
does he give Ansel the document to sign? No does he take the signed document from Ansel? No is he appearing in the show after that? Yes

Good set of questions

[GalFisk]

Relevant why people don't see the show more than once? Do they not want to? Are they not allowed to? Does it cost a lot to see? Is it seen by very few people? Is it pointless to see it more than once? Is a trick or spoiler revealed at the end, making seeing it again less interesting?

[CoffeeBean]

Relevant why people don't see the show more than once? Do they not want to? It's not extremely relevant but one thing about it might help you - most of the people who see it likely don't feel the need to see it again (like the way people feel about some movies). See below *
Are they not allowed to? A person could see the show as many times as they'd like to, but something else must be done in order for them to do it more than a few times Does it cost a lot to see? No
Is it seen by very few people? I would say that several thousand people saw it
Is it pointless to see it more than once? * Most people would say this, yes
Is a trick or spoiler revealed Yes, but it's not... at the end, ...it's revealed about mid-way through the show, and it's directly related to Ansel making seeing it again less interesting? The "trick' that is revealed is one of the things that would make seeing it more than once not as interesting, as well as two other things about the show.

[GalFisk]

Does Ansel have a twin? Stunt double? Is he a stunt double?

[CoffeeBean]

Does Ansel have a twin? Stunt double? Is he a stunt double? No to these, Ansel is a stunt man

[CoffeeBean]

RECAP #3

Ansel is a stunt man that appears in a certain live performance show twice a day. At each show, Ansel's name is called out by a different person, always by someone who is a member of the audience.
The show takes place at a relevant location. Thousands of people saw the show, and it's very likely that most people who saw it would not feel the need to see it more than once.
Ansel performs dangerous stunts involving vehicles and explosions.
Prior to participating in the show, Ansel signs something that people think is an insurance waiver (to release the makers of the show from liability if he gets injured), but it is not necessary for him to do this. Other audience members have to sign actual (real) insurance waiver forms at each show. These other audience members also perform in the show with Ansel.
About midway through the show, nearly everyone in the audience realizes that they have been "tricked" to some degree, and this is directly related to and involving Ansel.

Nearly done, all that really left is discovering exactly how the puzzle's title relates to the events.

[trebor]

Is there a relevant box? Is an audience member out inside a box? (Or cage, etc.) Is escaping from a box relevant? Is escaping from a vehicle relevant? Is a vehicle inside a box? Is a box inside a vehicle? Is the box? the vehicle? submersed in water? Is the box exploded at some point in the show? Do a box and Ansel’s vehicle(s) have physical contact with each other?

Does this take place at a theme park? Are the vehicles modern vehicles? Are they from (or repros of things from) prior to the Industrial Revolution?

Is the hyphenation of in-side relevant? Does something go from being in to being beside something?

[Doriana]

Does an audience member draw Ansel's name from a box?

[CoffeeBean]

Is there a relevant box? Yes Is an audience member out inside a box? (Or cage, etc.) No
Is escaping from a box relevant? Is escaping from a vehicle relevant? Is a vehicle inside a box? Is a box inside a vehicle? Is the box? the vehicle? submersed in water? Is the box exploded at some point in the show? Do a box and Ansel’s vehicle(s) have physical contact with each other? No to all

Does this take place at a theme park? Yes Are the vehicles modern vehicles? Yes
Are they from (or repros of things from) prior to the Industrial Revolution? No

Is the hyphenation of in-side relevant? No Does something go from being in to being beside something? No

Does an audience member draw Ansel's name from a box? YES

**** SPOILER ****

Ansel works at a theme park as a stunt man for a 10-minute live action outdoor show that promotes the Batman movies. At each show, two audience members are chosen by the host for a role in the show. The host then says they need to get one more person for a more dangerous role and this will be a name drawn from a box. So one of the audience members draws the name (it's always Ansel's name) of the "random" audience member, and Ansel is called to join the other volunteers. All 3 volunteers are given insurance forms to sign. During the show, the host explains to the audience that they will re-enact a chase scene from the Batman movies and the volunteers will be involved. The scene starts with all 3 volunteers standing on a street corner, and the Joker comes running out of a nearby building and jumps into a car and drives away. The host tells the crowd that Batman is on the way, and tells the volunteers to run to safety. Ansel tells the other 2 where to go, then he starts to run in another direction. As he is crossing the street, the Joker's car and the Batmobile come speeding towards him. He dives out of the way just in time to avoid being run over by the Joker's car, which then smashes into a stack of barrels and sets off an explosion. It's at this point that the audience (at least anyone over age 10) realizes that Ansel isn't just a random person from the audience whose name was drawn from a box.

Nice job! This puzzle is based on a show that I saw at a local theme park about 30 years ago shortly after one of the 'Batman' movies came to theaters.