Answer the Riddle -- How True!

Ninja Turtles Cartoon Fan · 12-05-2002, 09:07 AM

For my 400th post, I wanted to do something a little different. Below is an e-mail I received and then sent to other people I knew. It really made me stop and think, and I'd have to say that if there was ever a "Forward" you would send to someone, this would be it.

I was surprised, to say the least, at how my friends have responded to it. They have all liked it, too.

So now I pass it on to you, the members of the Technodrome forums.

I hope you like it.

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

Can you answer this riddle?

Here is a pretty neat little thing from Paul Harvey. See if you can guess
the riddle at the end.

Paul Harvey writes:

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I’d like better.

I’d really like for them to know about hand-me-down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.

And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old
dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And
it’s all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but
when he/she wants to crawl under the covers with you because he/she is
scared, I hope you let him/her.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag
along, I hope you’ll let him/her.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live
in a town where you can do it safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don’t ask your
driver to drop you two blocks away so you won’t be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a
boy/girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory
soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove, and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don’t care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don’t like it. And if a
friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he/she is not your
friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your
neighbor’s window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hanukkah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you – tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it’s the only way to appreciate life.

Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I’m here for you. And if I die
before you do, I’ll go to heaven and wait for you.

Send this to all of your friends. We secure our friends, not by accepting
favors, but by doing them.

Paul Harvey RIDDLE:

When asked this riddle, 80% of kindergarten kids got the answer, compared to 17% of Stanford University seniors.

What is greater than God, more evil than the devil, the poor have it, the
rich need it, and if you eat it, you will die?

**azure turtle** · 12-09-2002, 12:04 AM

I like riddles. Too bad my brain is too fried to think this one through... Maybe I'll take a shot at it after finals. Bah, lucky Kindergartners don't have to worry about stuff like that.

**HorseTechie** · 12-09-2002, 11:32 AM

Wow.. this post is really cool. Kinda reminds me of the "Wear Sunscreen" speech spoken to HS graduates.

But my closests guess is a deadly virus or bacteria (like botulism or the things they create for chemical warfare). *shrug*

Sparvid · 12-09-2002, 04:12 PM

Gaaaah! I give up!

*searches around for the answer...*

GAAAAAAH! Of course!!

No, I'm not going to say it here...

Ninja Turtles Cartoon Fan · 12-09-2002, 10:35 PM

If no one here can figure out the answer, I will let everyone know what it is. Once you figure it out, you'll wonder why it was so hard.

And that's the key! Try not to think too deeply about it.

"See, dudes, I told you!" - Michaelangelo, from "Atlantis Awakes"

Sparvid · 12-10-2002, 04:14 AM

I think it would be easier if you read just one of the questions, and go from there...

**HorseTechie** · 12-10-2002, 06:42 AM

*a friend finally enlightens her with the answer* Oooooh... heh, of course. Duh!

**Machias Banshee** · 12-10-2002, 08:18 AM

Ah! I got it!!!

Wow....that's neat...awesome post, Dude!

**azure turtle** · 12-10-2002, 06:26 PM

*still trying to think like a Kindergartner*
Ack...

**Kali** · 12-10-2002, 07:10 PM

Don't worry, Azure, I haven't gotten it either. Course, I'm not really trying.

**Machias Banshee** · 12-10-2002, 09:44 PM

heh, just look at each question one at a time...

you guys are smart, you'll get it.

**Kali** · 12-10-2002, 09:57 PM

I know I've heard this riddle before, and I know I've heard the answer, I just can't remember it. But I'm pretty sure I'm gonna think it's stupid.

tasuki · 12-11-2002, 09:28 AM

I don't get hte if you eat it you'll die part. Is that part serious, does it have some hiden meaning? Is it some kind of thing that you think you can eat when you see it or smell it? Can you even do that?........AAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! I'm confused. I've heard this one before, too. What happened to my memory?!

**Machias Banshee** · 12-11-2002, 10:00 AM

*sits back grinning, glad she figured it out*

think outside the box....

tekcop · 12-11-2002, 10:08 AM

ow... my brain hurts...

Ninja Turtles Cartoon Fan · 12-11-2002, 01:58 PM

I know you guys can figure it out! Try not to think so hard.

"Maybe that new hairdo is pulling your brain too tight." - Raphael, from "April Foolish"

~~Tokka-B~~ · 12-11-2002, 02:29 PM

Got it

Greed · 12-11-2002, 02:41 PM

Peace o' cake

**Kali** · 12-11-2002, 08:18 PM

Nope, I'm just not getting it. Can someone please PM me the answer?

*Nickokapo* · 12-11-2002, 08:19 PM

I would if i knew it, but i don't...
Bleh, i still can't figure out what it is...maybe i should cheat by using a search engine to find the answer

Edit: Found the answer in a site

never thought it'd be that...Well i pmed you the answer, so delete the pm if you want to find out for yourself

12-05-2002, 09:07 AM	#1
Ninja Turtles Cartoon Fan Stone Warrior Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: USA Posts: 835	Answer the Riddle -- How True! For my 400th post, I wanted to do something a little different. Below is an e-mail I received and then sent to other people I knew. It really made me stop and think, and I'd have to say that if there was ever a "Forward" you would send to someone, this would be it. I was surprised, to say the least, at how my friends have responded to it. They have all liked it, too. So now I pass it on to you, the members of the Technodrome forums. I hope you like it. ------------------------ Can you answer this riddle? Here is a pretty neat little thing from Paul Harvey. See if you can guess the riddle at the end. Paul Harvey writes: We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I’d like better. I’d really like for them to know about hand-me-down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would. I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated. I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen. It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep. I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in. I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it’s all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he/she wants to crawl under the covers with you because he/she is scared, I hope you let him/her. When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you’ll let him/her. I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely. On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don’t ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won’t be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom. If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one. I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head. I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy/girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like. May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove, and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole. I don’t care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don’t like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he/she is not your friend. I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle. May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays. I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor’s window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hanukkah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand. These things I wish for you – tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it’s the only way to appreciate life. Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I’m here for you. And if I die before you do, I’ll go to heaven and wait for you. Send this to all of your friends. We secure our friends, not by accepting favors, but by doing them. Paul Harvey RIDDLE: When asked this riddle, 80% of kindergarten kids got the answer, compared to 17% of Stanford University seniors. What is greater than God, more evil than the devil, the poor have it, the rich need it, and if you eat it, you will die?

12-09-2002, 12:04 AM	#2
azure turtle Mango Lovin' Mutant Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 9,453	I like riddles. Too bad my brain is too fried to think this one through... Maybe I'll take a shot at it after finals. Bah, lucky Kindergartners don't have to worry about stuff like that. __________________ "God, I love being a turtle!" Want to meet the only blue ninja turtle in existence? Come visit me at my Lair!

12-10-2002, 06:26 PM	#9
azure turtle Mango Lovin' Mutant Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 9,453	still trying to think like a Kindergartner Ack... __________________ "God, I love being a turtle!" Want to meet the only blue ninja turtle in existence? Come visit me at my Lair!

12-11-2002, 02:41 PM	#18
Greed Stone Warrior Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicago, ILL Posts: 931	Peace o' cake __________________ Why? Because they're blacker than the blackest black times infinity. (Formerly known as Slash89, go ahead think back you know me.)

12-11-2002, 08:19 PM	#20
Nickokapo Emperor Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Argentina Posts: 5,800	I would if i knew it, but i don't... Bleh, i still can't figure out what it is...maybe i should cheat by using a search engine to find the answer Edit: Found the answer in a site never thought it'd be that...Well i pmed you the answer, so delete the pm if you want to find out for yourself __________________

12-09-2002, 11:32 AM	#3
HorseTechie Inactive Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Midwest Posts: 5,677	Wow.. this post is really cool. Kinda reminds me of the "Wear Sunscreen" speech spoken to HS graduates. But my closests guess is a deadly virus or bacteria (like botulism or the things they create for chemical warfare). shrug

12-09-2002, 04:12 PM	#4
Sparvid Stone Warrior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Östersund, Sweden Posts: 860	Gaaaah! I give up! searches around for the answer... GAAAAAAH! Of course!! No, I'm not going to say it here...

12-09-2002, 10:35 PM	#5
Ninja Turtles Cartoon Fan Stone Warrior Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: USA Posts: 835	If no one here can figure out the answer, I will let everyone know what it is. Once you figure it out, you'll wonder why it was so hard. And that's the key! Try not to think too deeply about it. "See, dudes, I told you!" - Michaelangelo, from "Atlantis Awakes"

12-10-2002, 04:14 AM	#6
Sparvid Stone Warrior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Östersund, Sweden Posts: 860	I think it would be easier if you read just one of the questions, and go from there...

12-10-2002, 06:42 AM	#7
HorseTechie Inactive Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Midwest Posts: 5,677	a friend finally enlightens her with the answer Oooooh... heh, of course. Duh!

12-10-2002, 08:18 AM	#8
Machias Banshee Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 17,163	Ah! I got it!!! Wow....that's neat...awesome post, Dude!

12-10-2002, 07:10 PM	#10
Kali Inactive Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California! Posts: 11,101	Don't worry, Azure, I haven't gotten it either. Course, I'm not really trying.

12-10-2002, 09:44 PM	#11
Machias Banshee Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 17,163	heh, just look at each question one at a time... you guys are smart, you'll get it.

12-10-2002, 09:57 PM	#12
Kali Inactive Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California! Posts: 11,101	I know I've heard this riddle before, and I know I've heard the answer, I just can't remember it. But I'm pretty sure I'm gonna think it's stupid.

12-11-2002, 09:28 AM	#13
tasuki Thug Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: I'm lost. Posts: 97	I don't get hte if you eat it you'll die part. Is that part serious, does it have some hiden meaning? Is it some kind of thing that you think you can eat when you see it or smell it? Can you even do that?........AAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! I'm confused. I've heard this one before, too. What happened to my memory?!

12-11-2002, 10:00 AM	#14
Machias Banshee Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 17,163	sits back grinning, glad she figured it out think outside the box....

12-11-2002, 10:08 AM	#15
tekcop Hench Mutant Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 334	ow... my brain hurts...

12-11-2002, 01:58 PM	#16
Ninja Turtles Cartoon Fan Stone Warrior Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: USA Posts: 835	I know you guys can figure it out! Try not to think so hard. "Maybe that new hairdo is pulling your brain too tight." - Raphael, from "April Foolish"

12-11-2002, 02:29 PM	#17
~~Tokka-B~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lost Sewer Posts: 1,829	Got it

12-11-2002, 08:18 PM	#19
Kali Inactive Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California! Posts: 11,101	Nope, I'm just not getting it. Can someone please PM me the answer?