20
$\begingroup$

We're found in vans, in bags, on bikes,
Most everywhere that people dwell.
Dogs may hate us, but we bring
Important tidings, good or bad.

We're found in books, in maps, online,
Most everywhere that info dwells.
China may hate us, but we're here:
Even in this riddle, you know.

What are we?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
1

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
26
$\begingroup$

I'm guessing the answer is:

Letters?

We're found in vans, in bags, on bikes,

Postal vans, postmen carry bags and ride bikes, and all of these have letters

Most everywhere that people dwell.

And postal services are present in most populated areas

Dogs may hate us, but we bring

Dogs chasing postmen is a long-running trope

Important tidings, good or bad.

Letters carry news (e.g. in the past, news of a child being born, or a death)

We're found in books, in maps, online,

Letters of the alphabet

Most everywhere that info dwells.

A lot of information is written down with letters (most, because some information is pictorial)

China may hate us, but we're here:

Chinese writing uses logograms, which are pictorial representations of words (similar to Egyptian hieroglyphics); these are not letters

Edit - @Apep pointed out in the comments that this probably refers to China banning the letter 'N', which does fit the riddle much better.

Even in this riddle, you know.

Letters make up this riddle

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • 4
    $\begingroup$ Well, that was fast. Good job! (Too easy?) $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Mar 15, 2018 at 13:18
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Thank you, @Randal'Thor . For me it was lines 3-4 that gave an opening, and then the rest came together. Before I feel too proud, I should remind myself I only solved a hint to an actual puzzle, one that has me stumped! :-) $\endgroup$
    – Phylyp
    Mar 15, 2018 at 13:20
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Randal'Thor My initial thought was "words" or "newspapers", so already pretty close. $\endgroup$
    – mbomb007
    Mar 15, 2018 at 16:25
6
$\begingroup$

Postman, I would say for the first block

We're found in vans, in bags, on bikes,

Most everywhere that people dwell.

Dogs may hate us, but we bring

Obvious until here

Important tidings, good or bad.

Can be good like a letter from your grandma or some bad like a payment reminder

We're found in books, in maps, online,

books: e.g. phone book maps: on city maps/guides the post office is normally marked and there you can find postman´s
online: you can track your package/ your postman online

Most everywhere that info dwells.

China may hate us, but we're here:

I thought first about drones because China wants to be innovative... But then I found some articles about an ongoing problem with post man´s stealing export packages. Mostly because the packages are nearly never tracked.

Even in this riddle, you know.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ You're very close! The correct answer is something related to what you said, which also fits the second verse. $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Mar 15, 2018 at 13:18
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Randal'Thor I was anyway to slow :) But nice and not too hard $\endgroup$
    – Doomenik
    Mar 15, 2018 at 13:19
3
$\begingroup$

The riddle was answered but I still want to post my thoughts on this.
The answer (could be):

Chains?

We're found in vans

Tire chains for vans or chain of command in vanguard

In bags

Ladies' purse often includes decorative chain

On bikes

Well, this one is obvious

Most everywhere that people dwell

Might sound inaccurate, but most of mechanical engineering's projects include chains

Dogs may hate us

Chain leash

But we bring important tidings, good or bad

Tryed to figure this out and the only solution that came up was chain letters?

We're found in books

As pictures perhaps? It doesn't specify they're found in every book

In maps

There is whole section in topology referring to chain maps

Online

A lot of pictures of chains around the Internet

Most everywhere that info dwells

Could be a chain (as sequence) of letters perhaps?..

China may hate us, but we're here:
Even in this riddle, you know.

For a second I thought the reason China hates it because China is an anagramm for chain and that would explain the last line, but it sounds inaccurate.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ You mean you still wanted to post your chain of thoughts? $\endgroup$
    – sampathsris
    Mar 16, 2018 at 4:43
  • $\begingroup$ @Krumia Aha, good one :) $\endgroup$
    – AntiDrondert
    Mar 16, 2018 at 6:43
2
$\begingroup$

Working backwards from the question that this questions is a hint for, this seems to fit most of it, at least:

Keys

We're found in vans, in bags, on bikes,

car keys, keys in purses, keys to bike locks

Most everywhere that people dwell.

house keys

Dogs may hate us, but we bring
Important tidings, good or bad.

???

We're found in books, in maps,

The key on a map or diagram or in a technical book is a list of the symbols or abbreviations used and their meanings

online, Most everywhere that info dwells.

Encryption Keys

China may hate us, but we're here:

In 2015, China passed a National Security Law, which included a provision to give police the authority to demand companies let them bypass encryption

Even in this riddle, you know.

All riddles have keys to their understanding.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
4
  • $\begingroup$ Good answer, which actually fits most of the clues - but the correct answer has already been posted. $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Mar 17, 2018 at 12:25
  • $\begingroup$ @Randal'Thor So, why has it not been selected as the "Correct Answer?" Is there more to it or something? $\endgroup$
    – Chowzen
    Mar 17, 2018 at 12:28
  • $\begingroup$ I always wait a while to accept answers. Don't read too much into it. $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Mar 17, 2018 at 12:34
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Randal'Thor (Case in point why that practice maybe isn't the best practice. People generally look for the checkmark to know if a puzzle has been solved, rather than reading every comment on every answer to find if one is noted as being correct.) $\endgroup$
    – Rubio ♦
    Mar 17, 2018 at 15:25

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.