17
$\begingroup$

I work in quite an unusual office. Everybody who works here has a colour for their surname! It’s a bit like that old board game Cluedo, except nobody has been murdered. Still, there is a bit of a mystery to be solved around here. There’s been a lot of gossip around the water cooler about a “love triangle” in the office. Apparently one of my colleagues really likes somebody in the office, but sadly the object of their affections likes somebody else instead!

One of my workmates reckoned they figured it all out, yet wouldn’t tell me anything. But when I was at the office shredder last night I found what was left of their notes. It didn’t take me long to piece it back together.

enter image description here

Can you piece the shredded notes back together and figure out:

  • Who likes who?

  • Who am I?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
3
  • 4
    $\begingroup$ Given the title, there was a prime opportunity here to ask us to find "The New Order" $\endgroup$
    – Lord Farquaad
    Sep 13, 2018 at 20:15
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ For those who don't get the comment above: youtube.com/watch?v=GvmupCCh6uM (I saw them playing this live a few months later in Helsinki.) $\endgroup$
    – Glorfindel
    Sep 14, 2018 at 6:59
  • $\begingroup$ @LordFarquaad Exactly! You have to put the pieces into a new order. $\endgroup$
    – Astralbee
    Sep 14, 2018 at 7:42

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
14
$\begingroup$

I think the order is

1,8,5,7,4,2,3,6.

So,

Harry Green has blue eyes, likes green hair.
Olivia White likes Brown hair, has brown eyes.
George Brown has black hair, likes grey eyes.
Emily Black has green hair, likes black hair.
Jack Grey likes black coffee, has white hair.

So, the love triangle is

Harry likes Emily, who likes George.

You are probably

Jack Grey, who by liking black coffee on his desk stays out of the madness of intra-office romance.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
6
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ You could also switch 3 and 8, the "triangle features" are the same. I wonder if that means something or if it's just coincidence. $\endgroup$
    – Christoph
    Sep 13, 2018 at 16:10
  • 4
    $\begingroup$ Good point @Christoph though I have it this way because I feel that grey is an acceptable eye colour whereas white is not. $\endgroup$
    – El-Guest
    Sep 13, 2018 at 16:11
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ you could also switch the 3rd, 4th and 5th with the 6th, 7th, 8th. Good job! $\endgroup$
    – SteveV
    Sep 13, 2018 at 16:16
  • $\begingroup$ Well done! And very quick too. I left it a while to give opportunity for some other answers. $\endgroup$
    – Astralbee
    Sep 13, 2018 at 19:44
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Christoph There are two possible orders that give the same "right" answer. ROT13: (Gurer ner gjb "frgf" juvpu vapyhqr n ireo, n pbybhe, naq n abha. Fb ybat nf lbh trg rnpu frg evtug, vg qbrfa'g znggre juvpu jnl ebhaq gur frgf tb.) $\endgroup$
    – Astralbee
    Sep 14, 2018 at 7:54
5
$\begingroup$

Completely inspired by El-Guest's answer, but with a subtle (but I think correct) tweak

I actually think it is:

Harry Green likes blue eyes, has green hair.
Olivia White has brown hair, likes brown eyes.
George Brown likes black hair, has grey eyes.
Emily Black likes green hair, has black hair.
Jack Grey has black coffee, likes white hair.

Making the love triangle:

George likes Emily, Emily likes Harry

You are:

Jack because you HAVE black coffee in the picture (subtle difference from El-Guest's answer

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
6
  • $\begingroup$ He likes the black coffee on his desk, I believe I said. Great answer though!! :) $\endgroup$
    – El-Guest
    Sep 13, 2018 at 16:25
  • $\begingroup$ Yup! The subtle difference is ROT13(yvxrf if. unf). I guess we'll find out the correct answer (either your answer or my answer inspired by you) :-) $\endgroup$
    – eye_am_groot
    Sep 13, 2018 at 16:27
  • $\begingroup$ Good luck to you! I think that we’re both referencing the fact that he has the object on the table though. That said, the actual non-pedantic difference in your solution (switching the order) does provide a second completely valid solution to the problem. $\endgroup$
    – El-Guest
    Sep 13, 2018 at 16:30
  • $\begingroup$ You too! Yup, completely agree! $\endgroup$
    – eye_am_groot
    Sep 13, 2018 at 16:32
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @Astralbee Have you seen Daenerys Targaryen? $\endgroup$
    – kaine
    Sep 13, 2018 at 20:11
4
$\begingroup$

oh, i came up with slightly different solution than @El-Guest: order:

1,8,2,7,4,5,3,6

so

Harry Green likes blue eyes, has green hair.
Olivia White has Brown hair, likes brown eyes.
George Brown likes black hair, has grey eyes.
Emily Black likes green hair, has black hair.
Jack Grey has black coffee, likes white hair.

So, the love triangle is

George likes Emily but Emily likes Harry

And

you are still Jack Grey

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Another +1 for a great attempt, not quite the order intended. Jack might appreciate an older woman, but white hair?? $\endgroup$
    – Astralbee
    Sep 13, 2018 at 19:48
3
$\begingroup$

Judging by the coffee on your table, you're Jack :-)

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Well done for spotting the coffee. $\endgroup$
    – Astralbee
    Sep 13, 2018 at 19:48
1
$\begingroup$

You are Jack White who found out that Harry Green likes Emily Black who likes George Grey.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ Can you explain how you came to this conclusion, and use spoiler tags in your answer? $\endgroup$
    – Herb
    Sep 13, 2018 at 21:03

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.