I am thin and frail.
Scratching my head can kill me.
When abused, I can also kill you.
Usually, I'm helpful.
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asked Feb 19, 2015 at 2:42
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$\begingroup$ Usually riddles rhyme. $\endgroup$– Tyler DurdenCommented Feb 19, 2015 at 14:44
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14$\begingroup$ I was gonna say "a cat", but cats are never helpful. $\endgroup$– istrasciCommented Feb 19, 2015 at 16:51
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1$\begingroup$ @TylerDurden Why must it rhyme? There are plenty of riddles that don't. Even more so when translating riddles from a different language. $\endgroup$– FreeAsInBeerCommented Feb 20, 2015 at 13:54
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1$\begingroup$ All I know is what I read in The Hobbit. $\endgroup$– Tyler DurdenCommented Feb 20, 2015 at 15:55
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1$\begingroup$ @FollowMyProposals: Well, kills it with relaxation. $\endgroup$– istrasciCommented Mar 19, 2015 at 1:57
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7 Answers
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Answer:
You are a match -
My body is thin and frail:
Matches are thin. Wooden matches are easy to snap, paper matches are even easier to bend.
Scratching my head can kill me:
When a match is scratched (on the striker for a safety match or on any dry frictional surface for an old-fashioned light-anywhere match) it burns, after which it is 'dead' - i.e can't be lit again.
When abused, I can also kill you:
We are all taught as children how it is dangerous "to play with matches". Fires can kill...
Usually, I'm helpful:
Of course - helpful for lighting a useful fire, or a cancer stick etc...
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Will this also qualify as an answer?
Pencil
Scratching head can kill me
Sharpening a pencil rescues it length and it becomes useless after a while i.e. dead ... Also a dull pencil is of no use till sharpened again
Abuse
Poking the pencil in wrong place can lead to death
Helpful
Used to express thoughts and ideas ... Transfer knowledge
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$\begingroup$ Good lateral thinking :) Could do with some beefing out like the other answer, though. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 19, 2015 at 7:25
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4$\begingroup$ @dewi added explanation ... @ others I know you are protective of the community, but please don't go down voting because you don't agree ...at least leave a comment to why you down vote $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 19, 2015 at 7:29
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2$\begingroup$ Strongly agree - commentless downvoting is poor form. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 19, 2015 at 8:34
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3$\begingroup$ "death by pencil seems to be more unlikely" - I guess you didn't see that scene in The Dark Knight where the Joker makes a pencil disappear through a henchmans eye and into his brain ... :) $\endgroup$– MashtonCommented Feb 19, 2015 at 10:27
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2$\begingroup$ One could also argue that a person in power could abuse their power using a pencil and call for the execution of innocents/you? $\endgroup$– EliasCommented Feb 19, 2015 at 14:44
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The real answer is glaringly obvious:
condom
I am thin and frail.
Ever used a cheap one?
Scratching my head can kill me.
How do you think I got my kid?
When abused, I can also kill you.
How do you think I got my syphilis?
Usually, I'm helpful.
Usually...
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$\begingroup$ This has to be the correct answer :) $\endgroup$– Rohinb97Commented Feb 20, 2015 at 5:41
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2$\begingroup$ Yes, this is a clever answer too. lol $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 21, 2015 at 4:01
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This is my first guess at the answer
Mercury Thermometer
My body is thin and frail:
Glass body is very fragile to being broken from children
Scratching my head can kill me:
Has a head that if scrated would break the glass making it no longer work properly
When abused, I can also kill you:
Mercury poisoning!
Usually, I'm helpful:
Taking temperature for everyone
Let me know what you think
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$\begingroup$ That is a good reasoning. I like it! Not the best one, but it is a good answer! Keep up the nice work! $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 19, 2015 at 18:15
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My first thought was that you are a:
Video tape
My body is thin and frail:
The tape is very thin.
Scratching my head can kill me:
If you scratch the head in the video player, it can rip the tape.
When abused, I can also kill you:
You could probably pull the tape out and strangle yourself with it if you were really unlucky...
Usually, I'm helpful:
At keeping kids entertained.
I admit that my answer works best for the head-scratching part, the rest of it is a little bit stretched...
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1$\begingroup$ Although I don't think this is the answer, +1 for a creative solution $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 19, 2015 at 13:42
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$\begingroup$ @Jon - lol, clearly not the answer - a different one has been accepted already! $\endgroup$– AndyTCommented Feb 19, 2015 at 13:44
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Is it
A needle
Because-
Sharp tip, if scratched becomes blunt and useless, Thin too
It can kill
It is helpful
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My first thought was
A spider
I am thin and frail.
Most certainly.
Scratching my head can kill me.
From what I gather, if you stroke a spider's head, they "go bald". I presume enough of this can kill them.
When abused, I can also kill you.
Spiders can be deadly.
Usually, I'm helpful.
House spiders are especially helpful at killing house flies.
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$\begingroup$ I'm not sure about the thin and frail part. $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 18, 2015 at 23:38