Official Trivia/Riddles/Lateral Thinking Thread

[red_war_machine]

the guard of an open prison was given strict orders not to allow any prisoner to leave the prison without release papers, or to allow any visitor into the prison without written permission from the governor. The guard watched over a bridge which was the only way into or out of the prison. He knew it would take between 9 and 10 minutes for anyone to get across the bridge, and so patrolled the area every five minutes.

Despite this, a prisoner made a successful escape. How?
Um, it was just a guess. But I'll say that the prisoner waited until a visitor came, knocked him out, took his papers and switched places? And while the guard was making his rounds (I can't pinpoint a time), but when the guard couldn't get a look at the prisoner/visitor, he escaped.

Argh, you're all so close. But wrong, still. He couldn't have done that because it's a prison... would be too difficult.

That's one hell of a bridge with no support beams that takes 9-10 minutes to cross. Hehe.

Oh, shush. It was magic.

[SapphirePhoenix]

Do I have to mention timing in the answer (Yes/no)?

[Regus]

He silently murdered the gaurd and ran for his life?

[red_war_machine]

Do I have to mention timing in the answer (Yes/no)?

Yeeeeeeeeeeees.

[Calliander]

If a bridge takes 9-10 minutes to cross, that's probably walking distance, if it's running, it's probably half that or less. If it takes 9-10 minutes to cross running, there's no way the guard could see more than halfway down the bridge.

[SapphirePhoenix]

OMG - The prisoner runs OUT of the prison, OPEN prison!...halfway (takes 5 minutes)!? And since he doesn't have papers, they won't let him back IN!!? Something like that? 0_0 I mean, they won't let him out without papers and won't let him back in without them??

[red_war_machine]

If a bridge takes 9-10 minutes to cross, that's probably walking distance, if it's running, it's probably half that or less. If it takes 9-10 minutes to cross running, there's no way the guard could see more than halfway down the bridge.

Yeah, you could. If it's a long, open bridge? Besides, there have to be cameras etc. on the bridge, so he can stop any potential escapees when they make a run for it.

You're all thinking too complicated. There's a loophole in the system; it's much simpler than you think.

[Takumi]

At five minutes during his break a visitor was halfway across the bridge when a prisoner was coming from the opposite way. He punked him, took the clothes and pass and left while the visitor was dressed as a prisoner and was forced to run into the prison. I'm so wrong.

[red_war_machine]

OMG - The prisoner runs OUT of the prison...halfway?!!? And since he doesn't have papers, they won't let him back IN!!?

So close as to make no difference. CORRECT!

He waits for the guard to leave, and goes across the bridge for just under five minutes. Then he turns back, and walks towards the prison. Then gets kicked out cos he has no papers.

Sapphire's turn.

[Takumi]

Wait I got it, the guard had ONE eye and was picking an APPLE while the prisoner jumped abroad and landed in the desert naked. unfortunately he was dead and had no belly button so he shipped off to Hull City where his imagination brought him back to life but then thunder killed him again all while the priest ran off with the fake coins.

takumi +1