Aliens have taken you aboard their ship. You will be asked to make a statement. If the statement is true you will be blasted into atoms. If it is false you will be ejected into space. One statement can get you out alive. What is it and how does it spare you?

I also originally came up with the classic answer of "this statement is false," which, as Bryan noted, is equivalent to saying "I will be ejected into space." I also thought of stating an opinion, or posing a question, something that could not be proven true or false, although 'statement' by definition rules out a question, and what if the aliens have some sort of consensus about the validity of your opinion? Toast.

For a more creative approach, how about saying, "I have a bomb strapped to me that will destroy you all if I am blasted into atoms, but it will not destroy you if I am ejected into space." Then they can ponder your bluff, and if they believe you, then they may just decide not to blast you after all. If they think your statement is false, they may be enticed to reconsider your ejection as well.

Yeah, it's a stretch...but I couldn't just say the same thing as everyone else!

=)

Posted by DJ on 2003-03-20 08:53:11