The Riddler Speaks - Casefile #0104 (Patreon)

EDWARD: Toriteaturtle asks: Hello dear Edward! I'm terribly sorry to bother you but I needed an answer over a rather pressing matter between a friend and I. A few days ago my friend interrupted me while I was having a good time solving Einstein's Riddle and decided to have a go herself. I soon figured out the correct answer but my friend gave up and took a wild guess and happened to get it right. She then said how proud she was to figure it out, but I claimed that she cheated as she guessed lucky. So in your opinion, did she cheat?

Hm. Well, the answer is rather simple to me: your friend did not cheat. However, your friend also did not solve the riddle. You see, this all boils down to semantics one of my favourite branches of linguistics. Riddles are like mathematical equations. There's a formula that must be followed in order for it to make any semblance of sense to the one who attempts to solve it. Sometimes you get lucky, and manage to guess the answer; but if you can't explain how you got the answer, then you haven't solved anything. And when the riddle's created by THE Albert Einstein, (chuckles) you better be able to show your notes. So I can say with a great deal of certainty that your friend is not a cheater, Tori. Those are the ones who are googling Einstein's Riddle at this very moment to see the answer. Your friend was merely lucky. F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that nothing is as obnoxious as other people's luck. And while it may be frustrating that your friend is relishing in her skill at random chance, just remember that luck never lasts.