Recently, someone posted the following riddle on the message board: "Two fathers and two sons went fishing. Each of them caught a fish. When they got home, there was [sic] only three fish. Why?" It was promptly answered with "They were grandfather, father, and son. So the father is both a father and a son, allowing for two of each." To get answer 1, which is "probably" what the author had in mind, you have to happen upon the same line of reasoning as the author AND stop at the right point, because if you extend the line of reasoning too far you get a different answer. 1. Grandfather, father, and son each catch a fish, as the previous answer suggest. The father is both father and son, hence two fathers and two sons. But that opens the following can of worms: the grandfather is also a son. So that's actually two fathers and _three_ sons. And if you allow more than two sons, you allow more than two fathers. 2. Three brothers, all married, all with children, go fishing but leave their wives and kids behind. There are at least two fathers and sons, right? Hang on to your hats, then, as we try this: 3. Two brothers, both married, both with children, go fishing but leave their sons home, only bringing the wives and daughters. Each of them catch a fish, and their extensive families catch some too. But they are a ways from home, so they stop, have a campfire, cook and eat all but the three biggest fish, which get taken home to be stuffed and mounted. Or going back to simpler, 4. Grandfather, father, and daughter go fishing. Two fathers, two sons. When did they catch that fish? 5. Grandfather and father go fishing, leaving all their other relatives behind to talk about their bachelor days. They each catch a fish. They walk home, and discover that yesterday's catch of two fish has been partially eaten by the relatives they left home. The father sighs, and adds their two new fish to the one remaining fish at home. But wait, these are fish. What's related to fish? Why, cats, of course. 6. Two fathers, and their two sons, go fishing in the stream behind their back yard. They catch four fish. Their cat sneaks up, grabs one in its teeth, and runs away with it. Later, the cat gets sick and throws up on their bed. What if there aren't any fish in the river? 7. Two fathers, and their two sons, go fishing. They catch nothing, but their previous overfishing has angered the river spirit who turns the fathers and one son into fish. The remaining son, on his first ever fishing trip, takes them home and says "Mommy, look what I found!" Sometimes, three isn't three. 8. Two fathers, and their two sons, go fishing. They each catch a fish. When they get home, the barbarian counts the fish and, holding up four fingers, proudly says "Three!" Sometimes people are smart, and keeping everything isn't the smartest plan. 9. Two fathers and their two sons go fishing. They catch three fish. One son notices an emerald in the river, just before a fish swallows it. They jump in and catch the fish. A pack of Gem Monks come around the bend, saying "Give me your gems!" The quick-thinking father says "This fish just ate a gem. Here, it's all yours!" and throws it into the river. The Gem Monks go wading after it and the fishers run away with their three fish. Who says they lived happily ever after? 10. Two fathers and their two sons go fishing. On the way back, they are attacked by hobgoblins and one is killed. He and his fish is still in Darteem's realm. Actually, who says they lived at all? 11. A necromancer sends the animated skeletons of two fathers and their two sons to go fishing. Not being terribly bright, the skeletons drop one fish on the way home. And if fish don't go to Darteem's realm... 12. Two fathers and their two sons go fishing. On the way back, they are attacked by a ranger who don't like people raping the wilderness and one fails to run fast enough. He is in Darteem's realm, his fish was taken by the ranger. Of course, who says they made it there? 13. Two fathers and their two sons go fishing. On the way, one father dies of hunger. The remaining three catch one fish each. On the way back, they meet the first father, recently returned from Darteem's realm. He tells them that Darteem let him go fishing in a river in his realm, but he couldn't keep what he caught there. Two things are certain in life. In Galenese lands, some things are more certain than others. 14. Two brothers, both married, both with children, go fishing with their families and catch 16 fish. As they finish fishing, they're found by a forrester who reminds them that fishing is not permitted on these lands... but for a suitable encouragement, say five fish, the whole incident could be forgotten. Crossing a river while going back to their home, the bridge guards greet them with "There is a tax of 1 in 10 for crossing this bridge. I'll take that fish." Going along the road home, they are stopped by a tax collector, who demands a quarter of their fish as thier lord's tax. They hide one, and turn over two of their remaining nine. At the city wall, the three guards smell the fish and hint that they could demand to see their license to transport fish... and get handed a fish each to keep them quiet. They head home. On the way, they bump into an unnamed person who demands they pay him for "protection" in the city, and hand him a fish as partial payment. Finally, they get home, where their establishment is stormed by the city watch (for dealing in illegal fish). They, and all their stuff, get thoroughly searched. Inventory includes "Three fish." Don't try to tell me I can't count. The jailer had that fish for dinner. Of course, bribery, corruption and tax evasion aren't the only things which run rampant in some places. 15. Husband and wife go fishing, with their two sons. They all catch a fish. The husband slips, falls into the river with his fish, and drowns. The game warden lets go of the rope he used to pull the father into the river and goes to the delighted wife, who introduces the children to "their real father." The warden catches a fish too. But it would be improper for the warden to move in with the wife yet, so he and his fish don't actually enter the wife's home. Whew. OK, OK, simplify. 16. Someone wasn't hungry and threw his back. Is that you final answer? Here's the real one: 17. Grandfather, father, and son go fishing. A swamp troll eats them all, making the whole question moot.