Riddle help needed

[Tuscan]

A famous man gets up one morning, has a shave and puts on his glasses. He then looks in the mirror and sees a face with a beard and no glasses. How is this? (I don't know the answer btw)

[rja211077]

his is not the face (or the only face) in the mirror - i.e. he could be looking at the mirror at an angle or someone else could be stood behind him

[Tuscan]

Ahhh but of course. This seems like the answer but I'm just wondering why the questioner emphasized the 'famous man' in the question.

[mikewith]

Or: The famous man is Sweeny Todd (the Demon Barber of Fleet Street). He was shaving someone else.

[geofbob]

Because the "mirror" he looks in is the Daily Mirror, with a photo of someone else.

[Tuscan]

Hang on, this is beginning to seem a bit too easy as geofbob's answer is also technically correct. I heard this question on the radio (obviously missed the answer) and the questioner mentioned that he'd been inundated with answers but all were incorrect. He also emphasized the 'famous man' part so I'm still slightly baffled. I'm going to email them just to ease my mind (and sleeping). Watch this space and cheers for the good work so far.

[apricot]

He has a shave but when he looks in the mirror he only has a beard so presumably he could have shaved his upper lip or his head. Some lateral thinking required here.

[shybearuk]

Or he could be looking into the mirror and seeing the face of his clock reflected with him

[shybearuk]

Scrap that, I've just woken up and misread the question.*blush*

[Tuscan]

After reconsidering the question, I'm beginning to think that his reflection had a beard and no glasses as this would explain the many incorrect answers he received. Anyway, I've emailed him but he isn't back on air until Monday so I'll have to wait 'til then. It's ok shybear btw, I appreciate your eagerness :)

[geofbob]

I'm sticking by my Daily Mirror answer, and indeed will offer a further gloss on the matter. I think the question should say that after shaving etc he looks in the mirror and sees HIMSELF with beard etc. The answer then is that he sees a photo of himself when young, when he had a beard but no glasses - this then explains the reference to a famous man.

[Tuscan]

You are indeed correct sir. Just had word back that this is answer. It didn't help that I couldn't remember the precise wording of the question.

[Quizmonster]

Click http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17
782 for a web-page that backs Geof's two responses re the 'Daily Mirror'.

However, this riddle works only if presented in speech...in conversation or on the radio, for example. It does not truly work here in print. Why? Because in print the word 'mirror' would have to be presented using a capital letter, if it is the title of a newspaper. That, of course, would give the game away instantly. Despite the tendency to employ lower case letters and avoid capitals when using computers, it is still not right for proper names. (At least in my book!) So - as a spoken riddle - go for 'Daily Mirror' and old photograph of himself, as Geof says.

[Quizmonster]

Aw for goodness' sake! I was typing my response above at exactly the same moment as the correct answer was being provided. Appearing after it makes it look somewhat pathetic! Sorry...I'll have to try to make my answers shorter. Had I done so here, I might have got it in on time.

[Tuscan]

Don't worry about it Quizmonster. I'd much rather someone took their time in delivering a detailed reply than a few brief words hastily tapped out - it's a sign of someone who takes a pride in their work.

[geofbob]

Sorry to give myself a pat on the back, but I actually worked it out without knowing the answer. I'm not usually so good at "lateral thinking", but must be getting better in my old age! I also agree with Quizmonster that for those of us who still use "correct" capitalisation the small "m" for mirror makes this an awkward riddle to pose in writing.

[incitatus]

just to be contrary- this could also be a famous buddhist or duncan goodhew- it never says he is shaving his face, he could be shaving his head.

[Lennon]

Just to add my contribution to a very interesting fact - I noticed that when talking about the picture in the paper, that everyone talks of it as being a picture of when he was young. It could also be a picture taken yesterday as he's only just had a shave that morning! Pedantic I know, as it could be either, but I just wanted to mention it! :) well done geof for working it out and for all the detailed answers.

[Lennon]

sorry, meant to put 'add my contribution to an interesting thread'.....I'm very tired! :)

[firefly]

Another variant would be if it was very early in the morning and still dark. He puts on his glasses and then takes them off in order to use them as a mirror. Still doesn't explain why he's famous though.

[Tuscan]

I agree with previous comments that the question needs some tweaking. I think it's better when delivered to a small group of friends who are able to ask questions to which you can reply yes,no or irrelevant e.g Does he shave his face? Is it Duncan Goodhew wearing reflective sunglasses? :)