The Most Obvious Factor

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Here's a little riddle, for which I give full credit to Issac Asimov. The following is a story a parapsychologist named Eldridge Coleman relayed to a group of people who doubted the validity of his profession. It seemingly contradicts the known laws of physics and time. What is the one obvious factor that explains this story without breaking any laws of science?

 

There was a poor, unattractive, totally unremarkable girl working the counter at a five-and-dime in New York City. She wasn't very good at her job, she was clumsy with money and she suffered from frequent headaches that caused her to lie in the backroom and mumble to herself. She would have been fired if not for her exceptional talent at spotting shoplifters. She had a gift for senseing a shoplifter before they stole something. The stores losses to shoplifting were cut to zero, and she was brought to this parapsychologist to find out how she did it.

 

Now she could only see bad things, something that scared her and it was one day that she sensed something that topped everything else: She went into a fit, and started mouthing the words "Eldrige" "Fire" and "Golden Gate". Sure enough, when it was checked into a fire had broken out 15 minutes later in San Francisco in a tenement 10 minutes form the Golden Gate Bridge. And one of the children who died was named Eldridge.

 

What is the easiest way to explain what happened without defying any laws of science?

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Its how the movie was scripted

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Its how the movie was scripted

No.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

The next three shoplifters she was going to catch were "Eldrige" "Fire" and "Golden Gate."

 

And BTW: Does the destruction of San Francisco really qualify as a bad thing? I may have take issue with that...

[The Czech Republic 0]

Does it have to do with the difference in time zones?

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

The next three shoplifters she was going to catch were "Eldrige" "Fire" and "Golden Gate."

 

And BTW: Does the destruction of San Francisco really qualify as a bad thing? I may have take issue with that...

No.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Does it have to do with the difference in time zones?

No. Not obvious enough.

[The Czech Republic 0]

It must have something to do with something deceptive about the time

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

It must have something to do with something deceptive about the time

Don't be so sure.

[The Czech Republic 0]

It must be a conspiracy then.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

It must be a conspiracy then.

Nope.

 

A transcontinental conspiricy that involves killing eight people just to impress one lowly professor of parapsychology?

[eiker_ir 0]

it was a coincidence? i got nothing

[The Czech Republic 0]

Is she a wizard?

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

it was a coincidence? i got nothing

Nope.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Is she a wizard?

What is the easiest way to explain what happened without defying any laws of science?

[NYU 0]

She was telling her parapsychologist, whose name was Eldridge, to fire someone who's nickname was "Golden Gate." Golden Gate was standing right near her, so she felt she had to mouth the words instead of saying them out loud. The incident in San Francisco was just a coincidence.

 

"Eldridge, fire 'Golden Gate'"

 

Thank you. Now where's my prize?

[The Czech Republic 0]

The hell kind of nickname is Golden Gate?

[NYU 0]

The hell kind of nickname is the Czech Republic?

 

 

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

She was telling her parapsychologist, whose name was Eldridge, to fire someone who's nickname was "Golden Gate." Golden Gate was standing right near her, so she felt she had to mouth the words instead of saying them out loud. The incident in San Francisco was just a coincidence.

 

"Eldridge, fire 'Golden Gate'"

 

Thank you. Now where's my prize?

No.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

The girl's got a relative living in San Fran, and the 2 of them planned the entire thing.

[Sandman9000 0]

Her name is Eldridge, and she set the fire herself.

[Guest Choken One]

makes sense i guess...it's gotta be something unusual but common that we wouldn't think of

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Her name is Eldridge, and she set the fire herself.

1) Funny name for a girl

2) She got from NYC to San Fran in under 15 minutes?

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

She gave me $15 to toss the match. Case closed.

[Nighthawk 0]

The easiest way to explain it without defying the laws of science is that Eldridge Coleman lied.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

I thought my explanation of it being a scripted movie sequence was easy and didn't defy the laws of science

[Der Kommissar 0]

Perhaps, Eldridge was the Eldridge's son, and he mentioned to her that he lived in San Fran. near the Golden Gate bridge?

 

I have also noticed that the words start with are e, f, and g, though I can't figure out if that has any connection to it.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

The easiest way to explain it without defying the laws of science is that Eldridge Coleman lied.

Exactly.

 

The point?

 

That even supposedly rational people will overlook the obvious when presented with the prospect of the unbelieveable.

 

I never said prove this story was true... just to explain it's existance.

[The Electrifyer 0]

What is Eldridge Coleman's profession anyways?

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

What is Eldridge Coleman's profession anyways?

Parapsychologist