Lateral Thinking

[shakey pete]

What is Lateral Thinking

[davkel]

to think cr8ivly inspirational outside of the box

[ludwig]

Example of lateral thinking puzzle..
When the British army first introduced metal helmets, the number of soldiers requiring treatment for head injury rose sharply. Why was this?

[warpig3]

They thought the helmets would protect them better and stuck their heads over the parapet more? Dont know!

Come on Ludwig, spill the beans!

[stewey]

The metal helmets were probably introduced because warfare had become a little more 'violent'. Therefore, injuries to the head, and elsewhere, would increase anyway.

[tell-me-more]

Perhaps because before their introduction, they'd have just been dead, hence no need to treat any head injuries.

[stewey]

Also, the number of men in involved in the fighting increased; therefore, the number of injuries increased.

[heathfield]

Ludwig's question is discussed here. An interesting observation is...Was the increase in injuries after the introduction of steel helmets due to an increase in the number of troops at the front line?

'Lateral Thinking' has always been around. (Think how the punch-lines of so many jokes depend on it !). But Edward de Bono was the one credited with applying the name to the process. Have a look here