MENSA and the Waitress
Jan 29, 2015 02:34:36 #
Some years ago, there was a Mensa convention in San Francisco. Mensa, as you know, is a national organization for people who have an IQ of 140 or higher.
Several of the Mensa members went out for lunch at a local cafe. When they sat down, one of them discovered that their salt shaker contained pepper, and their pepper shaker was full of salt. How could they swap the contents of the two bottles without spilling any, and using only the implements at hand? Clearly -- this was a job for Mensa minds.
The group debated the problem and presented ideas and finally, came up with a brilliant solution involving a napkin, a straw, and an empty saucer.
They called the waitress over, ready to dazzle her with their solution.
"Ma'am," they said, "we couldn't help but notice that the pepper shaker contains salt and the salt shaker -- "
But before they could finish, .......... the waitress interrupted. "Oh -- sorry about that." She leaned over the table, unscrewed the caps of both bottles and switched them.
There was dead silence at the Mensa table.
Several of the Mensa members went out for lunch at a local cafe. When they sat down, one of them discovered that their salt shaker contained pepper, and their pepper shaker was full of salt. How could they swap the contents of the two bottles without spilling any, and using only the implements at hand? Clearly -- this was a job for Mensa minds.
The group debated the problem and presented ideas and finally, came up with a brilliant solution involving a napkin, a straw, and an empty saucer.
They called the waitress over, ready to dazzle her with their solution.
"Ma'am," they said, "we couldn't help but notice that the pepper shaker contains salt and the salt shaker -- "
But before they could finish, .......... the waitress interrupted. "Oh -- sorry about that." She leaned over the table, unscrewed the caps of both bottles and switched them.
There was dead silence at the Mensa table.
Jan 29, 2015 02:57:47 #
Jan 29, 2015 02:58:35 #
Jan 29, 2015 03:14:10 #
I have no idea if it's true or not, but I kind of doubt it. However my father was a member of MENSA and I have seen him over analyze problems that actually had simple solutions on some occasions, so who knows maybe it is true. ...... Coot
PaulG wrote:
Amazing by the way. Is it true?
Jan 29, 2015 03:27:31 #
As I was reading the post it came to my mind that just switching the caps would be the solution.
Jan 29, 2015 04:28:08 #
I guess you would never be accepted into MENSA. ....... Coot
GARGLEBLASTER wrote:
As I was reading the post it came to my mind that just switching the caps would be the solution.
Jan 29, 2015 07:02:51 #
Probably not true, but a nice example of how Mensa social groups love challenges and especially coming up with "out of the box" solutions.
If the waitress had asked why they didn't see the obvious solution that was in front of them, someone from the group would have undoubtably pointed out that the task was not to fix the problem of the mixed up caps, but was, "How they could swap the contents of the two bottles without spilling any, and using only the implements at hand?"
Kind of goes back to the old admonition of, "Be sure to read the directions carefully before trying to solve the problem".
If the waitress had asked why they didn't see the obvious solution that was in front of them, someone from the group would have undoubtably pointed out that the task was not to fix the problem of the mixed up caps, but was, "How they could swap the contents of the two bottles without spilling any, and using only the implements at hand?"
Kind of goes back to the old admonition of, "Be sure to read the directions carefully before trying to solve the problem".
Jan 29, 2015 07:10:28 #
Lazy Old Coot wrote:
I have no idea if it's true or not, but I kind of doubt it. However my father was a member of MENSA and I have seen him over analyze problems that actually had simple solutions on some occasions, so who knows maybe it is true. ...... Coot
I was a member for about 10 years and was the president of our regional group for 2 years. Your dad sounds like he was a typical Mensan. I'd hear so many stories about how Mensans would get lost in strange cities because they would "over analyze" all the nuances contained in road and directional signs.
Jan 30, 2015 07:44:42 #
Took my wife to a Starbucks recently, she's in a wheelchair, and I asked one of the waitresses if they had disabled toilets. She went away for a minute or so, came back and said, "No, all of ours work!".
Jan 30, 2015 07:47:24 #
Jan 30, 2015 08:21:15 #
Jan 30, 2015 09:51:13 #
jamitjim73
Loc: Franklin,Tn.
GARGLEBLASTER wrote:
As I was reading the post it came to my mind that just switching the caps would be the solution.
Me too.
Jan 30, 2015 09:54:19 #
RogueStorm wrote:
Took my wife to a Starbucks recently, she's in a wheelchair, and I asked one of the waitresses if they had disabled toilets. She went away for a minute or so, came back and said, "No, all of ours work!".
It sounds as if she did answer your question accurately. Now if you had asked if she had toilets for the disabled she would look foolish with her answer.
I know what you are saying and agree, if she had seen your wife in the wheelchair she should have been able to figure out your meaning.
Dennis
Jan 30, 2015 10:40:10 #
RogueStorm wrote:
Took my wife to a Starbucks recently, she's in a wheelchair, and I asked one of the waitresses if they had disabled toilets. She went away for a minute or so, came back and said, "No, all of ours work!".
Ok. Here it is.... You said 'disabled toilets', not 'toilets for the disabled'. So the girl took what you said literally and answered you correctly. But it was funny. :-D
Jan 30, 2015 10:44:06 #
GARGLEBLASTER wrote:
As I was reading the post it came to my mind that just switching the caps would be the solution.
You had no way of knowing if the shakers had a screw on top or
filled from the base. :hunf:
Don't touch guns Gargle; you are bound to "Blast" your foot off.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.