h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Methinks I have read far too much of the works of one David Eddings. There are always plentiful of thee's and thou's in his works.

Hm, I think something I was replying to on another thread should have gone on this thread, so I'll mention it here, where it is more relevant.

Normally the 'one always tells the truth and the other always lies' story is told by an impartial observer who tells you this is the fact, but (yes, I watched 'Labyrinth' a few days back ) here's an interesting thing about the Labyrinth version of it: the two in question actually give you that fact. Now this doesn't change anything if the one who throws tht hypothesis up to you is the one who tells the truth, but if it's the one who always lies, the whole thing is null and void, and in fact, then the premise that they 'always lie' actually comes into question too.

, or

Are YOU telling the truth???

HP,
»--.

Now, that is something that I had not thought of before. BUt it does make for an interesting train of thought, as you so rightly put forth.

BUt if you want to go by semantics, the story about the guy that was prosecuted could have been really boring too, if they had just killed him off in another way. There are many possible ways of executing people. Poison would have been a possible solution in his case.

Me, lie?

, or

Hi everybody!

Merry Cristmas and a happy new year!!!

HP
»--.

And to you too, HP

, or

Merry X-mas to ya'll too.

I'll see ya'l after the X-mas holidays!!

The first question was in the movie "Labyrinth," but it wasn't with door handles. The door handles came later. This one was asked by two creatures with two heads each. Also, I think the question about being hanged or beheaded was in one of the "Zork" games.

They were playing cards, not doorhandles!

You might like A934463.

They were sort of a cross between door handles and door knockers. I must of watched that movie 50 times with the kids. "I hit something;yes,no?"

Going back to the orginal question at the top of the page.

This is a common riddle. The circumstances change, guards, angels etc etc but the answer is always the same.

Ask this question to either person

What direcetion would your colleage tell me is the correct way to go?

Then go in the opposite direction.

The thing about the question you ask is that you are not asking that person what direction they would tell you, but what their colleague would tell you.

The logic is

a) the liar will tell you the wrong way because if you were to ask the truthful one 'What is the correct way?' he would tell you the correct way, the liar has to tell a lie.

b) the truthful one would tell you the wrong way because that is direction the liar would tell you (see a above), so he is telling the truth.

Hope this explains the problem, if not find a brick wall and bang your head on it until it stops hurting.

everthing i say is a lie

This reminds me of an episode in yu gi oh where the brothers paradox gave a similiar riddle. I sure wish i knew what yugi asked. i think there was a way to prove they were both lying or something like that.