A man is trapped in a cage and wants to escape but doesn't, even when given the keys. Why?











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Note: I have invented this puzzle myself as far as I know. I'm certainly not aware of having read it anywhere else. I have no idea whether it will be hard or easy.





A man is imprisoned in a strong steel cage with a steel floor. The cage is open at the top but the vertical bars are greased and cunningly designed and no matter how hard he tries he will never be able to escape that way. He has no access to tools nor anything he can make tools from. Every day he has access to adequate food, water, bedding and toilet facilities but none of these can be used to break out of his prison.



Outside the cell is another similar cell that encloses it. It has no facilities.
Outside that is a yet larger cell enclosing that one. It has no facilities.
This goes on like Russian dolls for some time.



The man can see the outside world through all the bars. He knows that if he can escape from the cages he will be released.



One day the guard throws him a key-ring with keys to all the doors of all the cages and departs. The man desperately wants to escape.



Instead he stays in the inner cage for a long time before leaving. Later he ventures into the next cage but soon returns to the inner cage and stays there for a long time. Then he ventures to the next cage but returns once more to the inner cage. He repeats this as many times as there are cages.



Finally he walks free and never returns to the cages again. On the way out he takes out his wallet and pays the guard a substantial amount of money. He is safe and free for the rest of his life.



What is going on?





Note - The cages are plainly built with unclimbable bars and are roughly cube-shaped. If the cages weren't there, the man could easily walk to where the guard is in 15 minutes or less.










share|improve this question
























  • Is this an actual man in a situation that may happen in real life? I would hate for the answer to be that the man represents some fictional character (or worse, something that's not even alive), or that the man represents a board game piece.
    – Display name
    6 hours ago










  • Would the story tag fit this?
    – Hugh
    5 hours ago










  • It seems like professional wrestling going on in the steel Cage.. WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).. Is it kind of punished to that man or what?
    – CR241
    5 hours ago












  • @Displayname - a 15 minute walk is pretty far, and the cages are roughly cubic which would imply the bars of the outermost cage are ridiculously tall... this doesn't sound like a structure that can exist in real life :-)
    – deep thought
    3 hours ago















up vote
6
down vote

favorite












Note: I have invented this puzzle myself as far as I know. I'm certainly not aware of having read it anywhere else. I have no idea whether it will be hard or easy.





A man is imprisoned in a strong steel cage with a steel floor. The cage is open at the top but the vertical bars are greased and cunningly designed and no matter how hard he tries he will never be able to escape that way. He has no access to tools nor anything he can make tools from. Every day he has access to adequate food, water, bedding and toilet facilities but none of these can be used to break out of his prison.



Outside the cell is another similar cell that encloses it. It has no facilities.
Outside that is a yet larger cell enclosing that one. It has no facilities.
This goes on like Russian dolls for some time.



The man can see the outside world through all the bars. He knows that if he can escape from the cages he will be released.



One day the guard throws him a key-ring with keys to all the doors of all the cages and departs. The man desperately wants to escape.



Instead he stays in the inner cage for a long time before leaving. Later he ventures into the next cage but soon returns to the inner cage and stays there for a long time. Then he ventures to the next cage but returns once more to the inner cage. He repeats this as many times as there are cages.



Finally he walks free and never returns to the cages again. On the way out he takes out his wallet and pays the guard a substantial amount of money. He is safe and free for the rest of his life.



What is going on?





Note - The cages are plainly built with unclimbable bars and are roughly cube-shaped. If the cages weren't there, the man could easily walk to where the guard is in 15 minutes or less.










share|improve this question
























  • Is this an actual man in a situation that may happen in real life? I would hate for the answer to be that the man represents some fictional character (or worse, something that's not even alive), or that the man represents a board game piece.
    – Display name
    6 hours ago










  • Would the story tag fit this?
    – Hugh
    5 hours ago










  • It seems like professional wrestling going on in the steel Cage.. WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).. Is it kind of punished to that man or what?
    – CR241
    5 hours ago












  • @Displayname - a 15 minute walk is pretty far, and the cages are roughly cubic which would imply the bars of the outermost cage are ridiculously tall... this doesn't sound like a structure that can exist in real life :-)
    – deep thought
    3 hours ago













up vote
6
down vote

favorite









up vote
6
down vote

favorite











Note: I have invented this puzzle myself as far as I know. I'm certainly not aware of having read it anywhere else. I have no idea whether it will be hard or easy.





A man is imprisoned in a strong steel cage with a steel floor. The cage is open at the top but the vertical bars are greased and cunningly designed and no matter how hard he tries he will never be able to escape that way. He has no access to tools nor anything he can make tools from. Every day he has access to adequate food, water, bedding and toilet facilities but none of these can be used to break out of his prison.



Outside the cell is another similar cell that encloses it. It has no facilities.
Outside that is a yet larger cell enclosing that one. It has no facilities.
This goes on like Russian dolls for some time.



The man can see the outside world through all the bars. He knows that if he can escape from the cages he will be released.



One day the guard throws him a key-ring with keys to all the doors of all the cages and departs. The man desperately wants to escape.



Instead he stays in the inner cage for a long time before leaving. Later he ventures into the next cage but soon returns to the inner cage and stays there for a long time. Then he ventures to the next cage but returns once more to the inner cage. He repeats this as many times as there are cages.



Finally he walks free and never returns to the cages again. On the way out he takes out his wallet and pays the guard a substantial amount of money. He is safe and free for the rest of his life.



What is going on?





Note - The cages are plainly built with unclimbable bars and are roughly cube-shaped. If the cages weren't there, the man could easily walk to where the guard is in 15 minutes or less.










share|improve this question















Note: I have invented this puzzle myself as far as I know. I'm certainly not aware of having read it anywhere else. I have no idea whether it will be hard or easy.





A man is imprisoned in a strong steel cage with a steel floor. The cage is open at the top but the vertical bars are greased and cunningly designed and no matter how hard he tries he will never be able to escape that way. He has no access to tools nor anything he can make tools from. Every day he has access to adequate food, water, bedding and toilet facilities but none of these can be used to break out of his prison.



Outside the cell is another similar cell that encloses it. It has no facilities.
Outside that is a yet larger cell enclosing that one. It has no facilities.
This goes on like Russian dolls for some time.



The man can see the outside world through all the bars. He knows that if he can escape from the cages he will be released.



One day the guard throws him a key-ring with keys to all the doors of all the cages and departs. The man desperately wants to escape.



Instead he stays in the inner cage for a long time before leaving. Later he ventures into the next cage but soon returns to the inner cage and stays there for a long time. Then he ventures to the next cage but returns once more to the inner cage. He repeats this as many times as there are cages.



Finally he walks free and never returns to the cages again. On the way out he takes out his wallet and pays the guard a substantial amount of money. He is safe and free for the rest of his life.



What is going on?





Note - The cages are plainly built with unclimbable bars and are roughly cube-shaped. If the cages weren't there, the man could easily walk to where the guard is in 15 minutes or less.







situation






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 6 hours ago

























asked 7 hours ago









chasly from UK

2,8651147




2,8651147












  • Is this an actual man in a situation that may happen in real life? I would hate for the answer to be that the man represents some fictional character (or worse, something that's not even alive), or that the man represents a board game piece.
    – Display name
    6 hours ago










  • Would the story tag fit this?
    – Hugh
    5 hours ago










  • It seems like professional wrestling going on in the steel Cage.. WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).. Is it kind of punished to that man or what?
    – CR241
    5 hours ago












  • @Displayname - a 15 minute walk is pretty far, and the cages are roughly cubic which would imply the bars of the outermost cage are ridiculously tall... this doesn't sound like a structure that can exist in real life :-)
    – deep thought
    3 hours ago


















  • Is this an actual man in a situation that may happen in real life? I would hate for the answer to be that the man represents some fictional character (or worse, something that's not even alive), or that the man represents a board game piece.
    – Display name
    6 hours ago










  • Would the story tag fit this?
    – Hugh
    5 hours ago










  • It seems like professional wrestling going on in the steel Cage.. WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).. Is it kind of punished to that man or what?
    – CR241
    5 hours ago












  • @Displayname - a 15 minute walk is pretty far, and the cages are roughly cubic which would imply the bars of the outermost cage are ridiculously tall... this doesn't sound like a structure that can exist in real life :-)
    – deep thought
    3 hours ago
















Is this an actual man in a situation that may happen in real life? I would hate for the answer to be that the man represents some fictional character (or worse, something that's not even alive), or that the man represents a board game piece.
– Display name
6 hours ago




Is this an actual man in a situation that may happen in real life? I would hate for the answer to be that the man represents some fictional character (or worse, something that's not even alive), or that the man represents a board game piece.
– Display name
6 hours ago












Would the story tag fit this?
– Hugh
5 hours ago




Would the story tag fit this?
– Hugh
5 hours ago












It seems like professional wrestling going on in the steel Cage.. WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).. Is it kind of punished to that man or what?
– CR241
5 hours ago






It seems like professional wrestling going on in the steel Cage.. WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).. Is it kind of punished to that man or what?
– CR241
5 hours ago














@Displayname - a 15 minute walk is pretty far, and the cages are roughly cubic which would imply the bars of the outermost cage are ridiculously tall... this doesn't sound like a structure that can exist in real life :-)
– deep thought
3 hours ago




@Displayname - a 15 minute walk is pretty far, and the cages are roughly cubic which would imply the bars of the outermost cage are ridiculously tall... this doesn't sound like a structure that can exist in real life :-)
– deep thought
3 hours ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
3
down vote













This looks like




He's in a zoo of some kind. There are some kind of predators in every next cage, which would be happy to meet him (but the feeling is not mutual). They are distracted periodically (for example, for feeding) but will rush back to him while he's fiddling with the next lock. So he has to open one door, wait for the animals to get distracted, open the next door, rush back to take shelter in his original cage, wait, repeat.







share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    0
    down vote













    This feels a bit underconstrained, but one possible solution is:




    The locks are on a timer, only opening several hours after the key is used (or only at a certain time of day/week). The reason the man returns to the center cage every time is that the outer cages have no facilities and thus the central cage is the most comfortable place to wait while waiting for the the next lock to be openable.







    share|improve this answer




























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      Perhaps




      There are guards who patrol the area in shifts, and the prisoner does not want to risk being caught, so he only tries to unlock one cage in between shift rotations.







      share|improve this answer





















        Your Answer





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        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes








        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes








        up vote
        3
        down vote













        This looks like




        He's in a zoo of some kind. There are some kind of predators in every next cage, which would be happy to meet him (but the feeling is not mutual). They are distracted periodically (for example, for feeding) but will rush back to him while he's fiddling with the next lock. So he has to open one door, wait for the animals to get distracted, open the next door, rush back to take shelter in his original cage, wait, repeat.







        share|improve this answer

























          up vote
          3
          down vote













          This looks like




          He's in a zoo of some kind. There are some kind of predators in every next cage, which would be happy to meet him (but the feeling is not mutual). They are distracted periodically (for example, for feeding) but will rush back to him while he's fiddling with the next lock. So he has to open one door, wait for the animals to get distracted, open the next door, rush back to take shelter in his original cage, wait, repeat.







          share|improve this answer























            up vote
            3
            down vote










            up vote
            3
            down vote









            This looks like




            He's in a zoo of some kind. There are some kind of predators in every next cage, which would be happy to meet him (but the feeling is not mutual). They are distracted periodically (for example, for feeding) but will rush back to him while he's fiddling with the next lock. So he has to open one door, wait for the animals to get distracted, open the next door, rush back to take shelter in his original cage, wait, repeat.







            share|improve this answer












            This looks like




            He's in a zoo of some kind. There are some kind of predators in every next cage, which would be happy to meet him (but the feeling is not mutual). They are distracted periodically (for example, for feeding) but will rush back to him while he's fiddling with the next lock. So he has to open one door, wait for the animals to get distracted, open the next door, rush back to take shelter in his original cage, wait, repeat.








            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 3 hours ago









            Mariia Mykhailova

            1,237220




            1,237220






















                up vote
                0
                down vote













                This feels a bit underconstrained, but one possible solution is:




                The locks are on a timer, only opening several hours after the key is used (or only at a certain time of day/week). The reason the man returns to the center cage every time is that the outer cages have no facilities and thus the central cage is the most comfortable place to wait while waiting for the the next lock to be openable.







                share|improve this answer

























                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote













                  This feels a bit underconstrained, but one possible solution is:




                  The locks are on a timer, only opening several hours after the key is used (or only at a certain time of day/week). The reason the man returns to the center cage every time is that the outer cages have no facilities and thus the central cage is the most comfortable place to wait while waiting for the the next lock to be openable.







                  share|improve this answer























                    up vote
                    0
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    0
                    down vote









                    This feels a bit underconstrained, but one possible solution is:




                    The locks are on a timer, only opening several hours after the key is used (or only at a certain time of day/week). The reason the man returns to the center cage every time is that the outer cages have no facilities and thus the central cage is the most comfortable place to wait while waiting for the the next lock to be openable.







                    share|improve this answer












                    This feels a bit underconstrained, but one possible solution is:




                    The locks are on a timer, only opening several hours after the key is used (or only at a certain time of day/week). The reason the man returns to the center cage every time is that the outer cages have no facilities and thus the central cage is the most comfortable place to wait while waiting for the the next lock to be openable.








                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered 2 hours ago









                    Harfatum

                    7639




                    7639






















                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote













                        Perhaps




                        There are guards who patrol the area in shifts, and the prisoner does not want to risk being caught, so he only tries to unlock one cage in between shift rotations.







                        share|improve this answer

























                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote













                          Perhaps




                          There are guards who patrol the area in shifts, and the prisoner does not want to risk being caught, so he only tries to unlock one cage in between shift rotations.







                          share|improve this answer























                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote









                            Perhaps




                            There are guards who patrol the area in shifts, and the prisoner does not want to risk being caught, so he only tries to unlock one cage in between shift rotations.







                            share|improve this answer












                            Perhaps




                            There are guards who patrol the area in shifts, and the prisoner does not want to risk being caught, so he only tries to unlock one cage in between shift rotations.








                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 49 mins ago









                            1848

                            1,789116




                            1,789116






























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