A man falls down a well. It's hundreds of feet deep and smooth on all sides. There is no way he can climb up to get out and there are no windows or doors he can use. He looks in his pockets and realizes all he has are a pack of cigarettes and some matches. How does he get out?

As this is posted in Philosophy I assume any hypothetical solution is allowed, however weird and based on chances.

Or do you really want a valid and logical solution ?

:)

Hi, t_trinidad_t!

If the well is hundreds of feet deep and he fell into it from the opening at the top, then he's probably dead.

Or, is there something that you've left out of your question, please?

Thanks!

I remember a very similar question from when I was a kid, I don't know if the same answer applies, but I'll give it anyway!

(Oh, and it doesn't matter what's in his pocket, or what he finds down the well, he can use anything he can break for his escape!)

All he has to do is take out one of the matches.
He then breaks the match in half.
He puts the two halves back together again.
Two half equal one whole.
He puts this (w)hole up against the wall of the well...
And he climbs out of it!

Tadaaaaaa!

An engineer, an experimental physicist, a theoretical physicist, and a philosopher were hiking through the hills of Scotland. Cresting the top of one hill, they see, on top of the next, a black sheep. The engineer says: "What do you know, the sheep in Scotland are black." "Well, *some* of the sheep in Scotland are black," replies the experimental physicist. The theoretical physicist considers this for a moment and says "Well, at least one of the sheep in Scotland is black." "Well," the philosopher responds, "on one side, anyway."

Is it one of those old wells with a rope and a bucket tied to the end!? Then he can just climb the rope or something?

Well the well is a metaphor for being addicted to nicotene

The way for him to get out of the "well" is to not smoke the ciggarettes at all

And he will get out of the "well"

Trinidad, please tell us the answer.

More than a month has passed...

Huntersbar has the correct answer In my opinion. These are 'lateral thinking' questions and there are many of them. I remember having fun with them while backpacking through Europe.

Here's more: http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/8295/lateral1.html

Thanks, karma. Lateral thinking is great, but if that's the answer it's just silly. I get the play on words, but wouldn't a hole/"whole" in a deep well just get him into more dirt? Perhaps that would work better if he was in a room. What's the point in being in a well then? And what's with the rest of the descriptions? And the cigarettes are distractions? I'm not buying it. :P I'm really, really hoping there's a better answer.

If you're going to post a riddle, you should also come back to give us the answer...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by linnealand

thanks, karma. lateral thinking is great, but if that's the answer it's just silly. i get the play on words, but wouldn't a hole/"whole" in a deep well just get him into more dirt? perhaps that would work better if he was in a room. what's the point in being in a well then? and what's with the rest of the descriptions? and the cigarettes are distractions? i'm not buying it. :P i'm really, really hoping there's a better answer.

if you're going to post a riddle, you should also come back to give us the answer...

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It could be the OP was looking for us to answer and didn't know either

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ZoeMarie

it could be the OP was looking for us to answer and didn't know either

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If that's true, I would hope he would have said so. If he has the answer now, he should come back! I hate unanswered riddles... :P

via US government economic bailout.

Sorry, my "pi$$y filter" is turned off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kp2171

via US government economic bailout.

sorry, my "pi$$y filter" is turned off.

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Now that's an answer I'm comfortable with. I'm sticking to it.

If it is a well, wouldn't there be water at the bottom, and if people saw smoke rising out of the well, considering where there is a watering hole there are people, after the man lit his cigarette the smoke coming from water would seem illogical and therefore people would come to the well to see what was up, thus they would become his rescuers.

Hello:

There are lots of dry wells. MY guy, had just eaten a meal of ham hocks and beans... All he has to do is light his farts, and he'll blast his way out.

excon