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Scott is an expert outdoorsman, pursuing his dream by living in the remote Alaskan wilderness. Scott has everything he needs, and would prefer to remain a recluse, yet he will have to leave his home in four years. Why?

Clues

Was something going to happen that would destroy Scott's home?

No

Did Scott need to return to civilisation in order to buy food or clothing?

No

Would Scott have been in danger if he ignored the four-year deadline?

Yes

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    $\begingroup$ Doesn't the accepted answer contradict "Scott has everything he needs"? I read that as being "Scott has all supplies necessary to survive indefinitely" (except his eventual natural death, of course - he's not immortal), not just "all he needs today". Lacking the necessary replacement batteries for his pacemaker certainly suggests that he's lacking necessary survival supplies. $\endgroup$
    – Tim S.
    Commented Oct 25, 2014 at 21:07
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    $\begingroup$ @TimS. yes and no. You can have a replacement, but actually replacing it requires help. (Big spoilers in the link. Little spoilers in next sentence.) No one has yet performed this on themselves, so it's not really a question of supplies. $\endgroup$
    – Dacio
    Commented Oct 26, 2014 at 5:40
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    $\begingroup$ What do you mean by "leave his home"? I wouldn't expect someone who's pursuing their dream of being an outdoorsman to spend all their time between four walls... $\endgroup$
    – Peter Taylor
    Commented Oct 27, 2014 at 18:01
  • $\begingroup$ @Dacio but if he needs someone to re-install his pacemaker, he doesn't have everything he needs. $\endgroup$
    – TheRubberDuck
    Commented Nov 3, 2014 at 16:27
  • $\begingroup$ @EnvisionAndDevelop that's part of my point. He may have everything, but he doesn't have everyone he needs. (foreveralone.jpg) $\endgroup$
    – Dacio
    Commented Nov 11, 2014 at 19:25

3 Answers 3

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Scott has a pacemaker. It runs on batteries.

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  • $\begingroup$ How did you get that so quickly? $\endgroup$
    – Beta Decay
    Commented Oct 25, 2014 at 15:48
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    $\begingroup$ I don't know. It was the first thing that came to my mind. $\endgroup$
    – Florian F
    Commented Oct 25, 2014 at 16:12
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    $\begingroup$ @BetaDecay Couldn't this be replaced by other medical procedures that occur on a time frame? "His heart was replaced six years ago and needs to be checked every ten years", etc. I'd say puzzles like this are better when there's an answer, not "What's the answer I'm thinking of?" $\endgroup$
    – Set Big O
    Commented Oct 27, 2014 at 18:41
  • $\begingroup$ @Geobits Okay, I'll keep that in mind $\endgroup$
    – Beta Decay
    Commented Oct 27, 2014 at 18:56
  • $\begingroup$ How did I think of it? I think it was your user name. It made me think of smoke detectors that work with radioactive material. And they need battery replacement. $\endgroup$
    – Florian F
    Commented May 27, 2020 at 6:45
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The man who violently killed Scott's wife and attempted to kill Scott is currently incarcerated in a Baltimore correctional facility. In four years, Scott will need to leave Alaska to testify at this man's parole hearing, lest the man be released and come after him.

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  • $\begingroup$ Very very specific, but I suppose that's what lateral thinking is about afterall. $\endgroup$
    – Neil
    Commented Oct 29, 2014 at 17:08
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He's an athlete in the Winter Olympics? I can't see that as dangerous, though.

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  • $\begingroup$ Would it be possible for you to edit this answer to explain how you reached this conclusion given the information in the question? $\endgroup$
    – user20
    Commented Jan 26, 2015 at 17:09
  • $\begingroup$ @Emrakul - I used the combination of Alaska (cold) + 4 years + outdoorsman (athlete) and guessed. $\endgroup$
    – wbogacz
    Commented Jan 26, 2015 at 18:04

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