6
$\begingroup$

Please look further only if you're 18+ and not of a sensitive disposition.

ascii-art-troubles

The puzzle consists only of the image above. If it doesn't look sharp enough, you can click on it to enlarge it. There's no catch or clue in the image itself, it's really just a screenshot of some ASCII text (and line-drawing characters) to prevent distortions due to font rendering.

Minor hints I've given out in comments:

  • The first three text-only boxes are part of the puzzle and your solution must take them into account.

  • If the fifth picture depicted a honeymoon, that would not invalidate the puzzle.

  • "US" on the hoover from the sixth picture indicates "not British English".

  • In the the eighth (second to last) picture I did not intend to draw necessarily a "bun in the oven", i.e. a pregnancy, though that would fit nicely in the narrative without spoiling the puzzle. The figure's age and sex are unimportant.

  • The answer is not "I'm pregnant", though it may look like it.

Hints:

  • write them down, find what's repeating everywhere

  • the seventh box shows instructions for using a protective device, which in an informal setting may be called as the material it is made of

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
2
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Congrats You are pregnant! $\endgroup$
    – Preet
    Jan 23, 2018 at 1:22
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Preet It may look like it, but no. I know many men try... $\endgroup$
    – ngn
    Jan 23, 2018 at 1:28

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
7
+50
$\begingroup$

I was single, now ...

... I'm double.

How is the message hidden in the ASCII art?

Each scene describes a word that has a double letter. The double letters spell out the answer. In particular:

• ASCII
• A double apostrophe ''
• a comma
• a wedding
• a hooker
• a vacuum cleaner
• a rubber
• a belly
• beer

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
4
  • $\begingroup$ " is a double ' :) $\endgroup$
    – ngn
    Jan 28, 2018 at 15:36
  • $\begingroup$ Okay, I didn't see that. :( I've added it to the explanation. $\endgroup$
    – M Oehm
    Jan 28, 2018 at 15:41
  • $\begingroup$ Anyhow, well done! $\endgroup$
    – ngn
    Jan 28, 2018 at 15:43
  • $\begingroup$ Oh, I liked the twist with the double quote. I just didn't get it. $\endgroup$
    – M Oehm
    Jan 28, 2018 at 16:07
2
$\begingroup$

Caution: NSFW language ahead

I was single, now...

Met up (with someone)
Hooked up (the image represents the classic hooker solicitation pose)
Sucked up (vacuum cleaner, not sure what the US represents)
Screwed up (the image represents sex)
Grew up (it looks like the stick figure grew in height and width)
Drunk up (that's a beer mug)

In summary, I think the picture says something along the lines of:

I was single, now I'm single and drunk.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ You found an impressive unintended pattern with those "up" phrases! But I'm afraid it doesn't explain the first three, text-only boxes. "US" represents "not British English". $\endgroup$
    – ngn
    Jan 23, 2018 at 4:17
  • $\begingroup$ @ngn ah, I didn't realize those first 3 boxes were also clues to be solved, I (wrongly) assumed they were part of the setup. $\endgroup$
    – Phylyp
    Jan 23, 2018 at 4:21
1
$\begingroup$

I was single, then came marriage, honeymoon, housework, sex, and finally either a bun in the oven and champagne, or too much beer and a pot belly. Hard to tell which.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ too long; not enough coincidences to make a consistent theory; "honeymoon" is wrong and right at the same time; buns don't have handles; +1 for an optimistic view on my life :) $\endgroup$
    – ngn
    Jan 23, 2018 at 1:18
  • $\begingroup$ The 'bun in the oven' statement was for the second-last picture, with a large belly and an arrow pointing to it, not the beer mug. $\endgroup$
    – Phylyp
    Jan 23, 2018 at 1:55
  • $\begingroup$ oh, sorry... still, "bun" is not what I had in mind $\endgroup$
    – ngn
    Jan 23, 2018 at 1:58

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.