Riddle: brothers and sisters I have none but this mans father is my fathers son.

N

nutty nut

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Just recently a few of us agreed to disagree (in the pub actually) on the answer to a riddle. Its an old one which Im sure some of you have heard before but I would appreciate your answers.

A man picks up a photo and looking at it he says - brothers and sisters I have none but this mans father is my fathers son.

Who is in the photo?
 
Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

Just separate it into 2 halves


When I have no siblings; my fathers son = me

So this mans father = me


Hence he was talking about his son who is a man.
 
Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

Lets say my name is Pat & my fathers name is Tony.

I am looking at a picture of myself. I say to others then that this mans father (Pats Father Tony -my father in other words), is my fathers son (Tony's son Pat - which is me), because I have no siblings.

So the person is looking at a picture of himself.

ninsaga (or Pat in this case)
 
Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

Say it's Pats son Bob in the picture.

Pat says: Bobs father (Pat-me) is my fathers (Tony) son (Pat)
 
Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

ninsaga said:
Lets say my name is Pat & my fathers name is Tony.

I am looking at a picture of myself. I say to others then that this mans father (Pats Father Tony -my father in other words), is my fathers son (Tony's son Pat - which is me), because I have no siblings.

So the person is looking at a picture of himself.

ninsaga (or Pat in this case)
Click to expand...

You're saying that "My Father (Tony) is my fathers (Tony) son" - that can't be possible.
 
Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

:eek: Edit: Oops! changed my mind

He's looking at his own son.
 
Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

Ah this old chestnut. Its being resurfacing for years and I've never ever heard anyone being convinced by another party that their answer is wrong.
So just to be different I'm not saying what my answer is!

(post crossed with Caveat's - I stand corrected!)
 
Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

LexLuthor said:
Ah this old chestnut. Its being resurfacing for years and I've never ever heard anyone being convinced by another party that their answer is wrong.
So just to be different I'm not saying what my answer is!

(post crossed with Caveat's - I stand corrected!)
Click to expand...

It has to be his son. As Cahir pointed out he can't be his own father.
 
Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

Cahir said:
You're saying that "My Father (Tony) is my fathers (Tony) son" - that can't be possible.
Click to expand...
I'm not so sure ...... ever heard of the song "I'm My Own Grandpa" by Willie Nelson (and a host of others)? Either someone has a serious disorder here or it's hero-worship of the ego gone ape. On a more serious note ....... you're looking into the crib at your son, you don't have any siblings. your son's father (you) is your father's son (you). But the question being asked is ..... who is in the photo/crib! Not you but your son. QED
 
Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

Purple said:
It has to be his son. As Cahir pointed out he can't be his own father.
Click to expand...

Also, why have the preamble "brother and sisters I have none" if it wasn't relevant?

It's relevant because if he did have a brother then that could also be the answer - in the sense that it opens up the nephew aspect.
 
Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

Caveat said:
Also, why have the preamble "brother and sisters I have none" if it wasn't relevant?

It's relevant because if he did have a brother then that could also be the answer - in the sense that it opens up the nephew aspect.
Click to expand...
Exactly.
Now stop taking this thread seriously in case someone see you.
 
Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

Definitely its his son in the photo!

The "mans father" is himself, so the person in the photo hes lookin at is his son!
 
Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

Hmm, I still think its himself.

This bit is the key ..

"... is my fathers son."

Lets say the observers father is 'Jack'.
The observer is 'Tom'

The person-in-the-picture has a father who is the son of 'Jack'. ie himself, 'Tom'.


Now where's the solpadine ..
 
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Re: Settle an argument on a riddle

Actually ... it is his son ... the solpadine worked !!

The pictured guy has a father who is the son of my father 'me'. So it must be son of 'me'.
 
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