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Alt.Brain.Teasers FAQ
Welcome to the Alt.brain.teasers Frequently Asked Questions. Alt.brain.teasers is a newsgroup with a good-humoured structure, which can be characterised by its informal discussions and replies, often on a first-name basis. There are no strict rules. However, there are some unwritten rules (conveniently written out for you below) which are just a matter of common courtesy between the visitors to the newsgroup.
This FAQ is maintained by Jan Merolant.
+ Gry puzzle + 12 coins weighing puzzle + Monty Hall + Probability that both are girls? + Fork in the road, truth/lies + Einstein's logic puzzle + Three children, age product of 36 + 17 Minute bridge crossing + The five Hats + The Missing Pound/Dollar + Gas, Water & Electricity + Light Bulbs + Count the number of 'F's + Language Equations Welcome to the Alt.brain.teasers Frequently Asked Questions. Alt.brain.teasers is a newsgroup with a good-humoured structure, which can be characterised by its informal discussions and replies, often on a first-name basis. There are no strict rules. However, there are some unwritten rules (conveniently written out for you below) which are just a matter of common courtesy between the visitors to the newsgroup. If you have an original puzzle and you want others to try it, it is a good idea to post it here. But if you read or hear a puzzle you would like to post, it's best to read the FAQ (www.creativepuzzels.nl/faq.htm) first: o Do not post binary files (pictures) or MIME attachments. Many of the news-readers used by the newsgroup readers cannot read binary files or make a real mess of them. Also HTML posting should be avoided. In other words plain text only! o Read the newsgroup for a week or so, to familiarise yourself with the workings of this newsgroup. o When you reply to posted puzzles, always quote the initial puzzle or question so others can follow what it is you're commenting on. o When posting a solution to a puzzle, it's greatly appreciated if you insert 15 blank lines between the quoted question and your answer. This is done to make sure that other readers do not accidentally see the solution before they have a chance to try the puzzle themselves. o Before replying to a post you should check to see if the entry has been cross-posted. It is a good thing to delete those newsgroups that have no bearing on the puzzle posted. o If someone starts a flamewar, it is best to ignore that post all together rather than reply to it - even if you think, he/she needs putting straight. Such posters are immune to your complaints, and even thrive on them. o If you are new in the wonderful world of newsgroups, it is best to also read news.announce.newusers which outlines some general newsgroup manners and tradition. o If you're looking for a solution to a puzzle, you could visit the alt.brain.teasers Archive at www.creativepuzzels.nl. The Archive has a search engine which allows you to enter search strings to find a specific puzzle in the Archive pages. Sometimes you may want to use a drawing to explain a question or an answer. Since the posting of binaries is not allowed, you have to add an ASCII drawing. To help with that Carl Ginnow, a fellow puzzler, wrote a simple but very cool ASCII-editor, which you can use if you like. You can find it at www.microprizes.com/public/TextDraw.htm In 1999/03/18, Paul J. Hider, a regular puzzler at "alt.brain.teasers", tired of reading the same old puzzles again and again, proposed to give HADDOCK as answer to all oldies. This in the hope that new posters would read the newsgroup for a few weeks before posting a puzzle that is very old, and thus boring for the regulars. This has now grown into a sport. When an unsuspecting newbie posts an oldie, he or she gets a haddock slammed. Don't get mad about it, because it's not personal. It's just a harmless fish, unlike the sharks you might receive in other NGs (not at news:rec.puzzles) - they can bite your head off. Note that "the Haddocking" is alt.brain.teasers specific and that at rec.puzzles they have their own way of letting people know the error of their ways, although I have seen people there use haddock too, just for the halibut. Other puzzle groups are: Dutch Italian French German To read the puzzles, that often have been posted, goto: Alt.brain.teasers FAQ in HTML at www.creativepuzzels.nl/faq.htm Alt.brain.teasers Archive: Creative Puzzles www.creativepuzzels.nl Archive van classic and original puzzles posted on alt.brain.teasers. ABT-FAQ, established, 14 Oct 1999 This FAQ list is maintained by Jan Merolant, j a n m e r o l a n t @ h o m e . n l (no spaces) and will be posted monthly. Comments are appreciated!
Last-modified: Jan 2004
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