Story about communication: If you know the rules of the game you can win

On a long flight from Los Angeles to New York, a woman settled into her seat, hoping to catch some rest. She had a long journey ahead and was eager to close her eyes, letting the soft hum of the airplane lull her into a peaceful nap. Beside her sat a lawyer, a man who loved a challenge and relished in his ability to outwit others. Noticing that his seatmate was about to doze off, he leaned toward her with a friendly smile and said, “I have a fun game we could play.” The woman, feeling the exhaustion from her travels, shook her head politely. She simply wanted to rest. “No, thank you,” she conveyed with a gentle expression before turning to face the window. But the lawyer was not easily dissuaded. He was eager for some entertainment and saw an opportunity to show off his intelligence. “The game is really simple,” he explained. “I ask you a question, and if you don’t know the answer, you pay me five dollars. Then you ask me a question, and if I don’t know the answer, I’ll pay you five dollars as well.” The woman sighed softly, still uninterested. “I appreciate the offer, but I really just want to rest,” she thought to herself as she closed her eyes. Not willing to give up just yet, the lawyer sweetened the deal. “Alright,” he proposed, “let’s make it more interesting. If you don’t know the answer, you give me five dollars. But if I don’t know the answer, I’ll give you five hundred dollars.” At this, the woman opened her eyes. She knew that the lawyer wouldn’t stop pestering her unless she agreed to play. Besides, with stakes like these, she figured she had little to lose. With a nod, she accepted the challenge.

The lawyer wasted no time. “What’s the exact distance from the Earth to the moon?” he asked confidently, convinced that he had her stumped. The woman, without hesitation, reached into her purse, retrieved a five-dollar bill, and handed it to him. She wasn’t interested in proving herself in this game, she simply wanted it to end quickly. Now it was her turn. She thought for a moment, then asked, “What goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?” The lawyer paused, his brow furrowing. It was an odd question. He had never heard of such a thing. Determined to find the answer, he pulled out his laptop and searched through his extensive digital library. He scoured online databases, checked scientific resources, and even sent messages to colleagues. Time ticked away, and still, he found nothing. Frustrated but unwilling to admit defeat, he expanded his search. He emailed experts, posted the question in online forums, and sent text messages to friends who were just as intelligent as he was. An hour passed, and yet, he was no closer to an answer. Finally, he sighed in resignation. He had to admit that he did not know. Reaching into his wallet, he pulled out five hundred dollars and handed it to the woman. The woman, smiling softly, accepted the money, placed it into her purse, and turned back toward the window to resume her nap.

But the lawyer could not let it go. He nudged her awake once more, his curiosity burning. “Wait a minute,” he said. “I have to know what’s the answer to your question?” The woman, still without a word, reached into her purse, took out another five-dollar bill, and handed it to him before closing her eyes once more. As the lawyer sat there, stunned, he realized what had just happened. The woman had outwitted him, not by knowing more, but by knowing when not to engage in a battle of wits. She had turned his own game against him, and in the end, she walked away not only wealthier but also well-rested.