Instead of asking, "How does this fit what we already know?"
Scientists asked:
"What if our assumption is wrong?"
Personal Relationships
Misunderstandings often happen because people assume they know what someone meant.
Taking time to question those assumptions can prevent unnecessary conflict.
Other Classic Riddles That Use the Same Trick
This puzzle belongs to a category of riddles that rely on misleading assumptions.
Here are a few famous examples.
The Doctor Riddle
A boy and his father are in a car accident.
The father dies.
The boy is rushed to the hospital.
The doctor sees him and says:
"I can't operate on him. He's my son."
How is this possible?
The answer: The doctor is the boy's mother.
Many people mistakenly assume the doctor is male.
The Egg Riddle
If a rooster lays an egg on the roof of a barn, which side does the egg roll down?
The answer:
Roosters don't lay eggs.
