Mission Impossible

[Westmarcher]

A man and his son were on a tour of an atomic power plant. In the control room, the boy asked if he could see the controls for the reactor core. The head physicist said yes, and explained how the controls worked. After the boy left, the head physicist turned to an assistant and said, "That was my son." How could that be?

[getagrip]

A man and his son were on a tour of an atomic power plant. In the control room, the boy asked if he could see the controls for the reactor core. The head physicist said yes, and explained how the controls worked. After the boy left, the head physicist turned to an assistant and said, "That was my son." How could that be?

She was his mum

[paulr]

A man and his son were on a tour of an atomic power plant. In the control room, the boy asked if he could see the controls for the reactor core. The head physicist said yes, and explained how the controls worked. After the boy left, the head physicist turned to an assistant and said, "That was my son." How could that be?

Shall I give everyone a clue? The answer would be obvious if it wasn't for our gender stereotypes  

[FierceKitty]

That might have caught us twenty years ago. 

[paulr]

That might have caught us twenty years ago. 

The sad thing is that it still catches a lot of people 

I have seen people struggle with it when told the answer

[FierceKitty]

Mmm, I suppose you're right. How discouraging.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

See my previous comment on females and hi-tech kit.....

IanS

[fsn]

... or of course, it could be the child's other dad

... or the step dad and a biological dad

... or the scientist was a sperm doner

[paulr]

... or of course, it could be the child's other dad

... or the step dad and a biological dad

... or the scientist was a sperm doner

I would suggest Occam's razor but I'm not sure if it would be safe to suggest anything that sharp to fsn

[getagrip]

Could be Leon; maybe he had a spare clone lying around

[Westmarcher]

First prize to Getagrip. Next ...

Three kids from Bristol went for a walk. About a mile into the walk, they came to a deep, wide river. There was no bridge. They didn't have a boat or raft, or any materials to make one. None of them could swim. How did they get across?

[getagrip]

The river's frozen; they walked across

[fsn]

Either St Francis carried them across, or the water was frozen.

[Fenton]

... or of course, it could be the child's other dad

... or the step dad and a biological dad

... or the scientist was a sperm doner

Or the DNA from a third parent

[Fenton]

...

Three kids from Bristol went for a walk. About a mile into the walk, they came to a deep, wide river. There was no bridge. They didn't have a boat or raft, or any materials to make one. None of them could swim. How did they get across?

The 3 kids were lost and there names were Robin Hood, Little John and Will Scarlet and they met Friar Tuck who they fought and defeated and made him carry them across

[Hertsblue]

First prize to Getagrip. Next ...

Three kids from Bristol went for a walk. About a mile into the walk, they came to a deep, wide river. There was no bridge. They didn't have a boat or raft, or any materials to make one. None of them could swim. How did they get across?

They hired Brunel to tunnel under it?

[Westmarcher]

They hired Brunel to tunnel under it but, being a show-off (like Getagrip) Brunel decided he would start building a bridge. Meanwhile, St Francis came along and, disguised as a friar, and in an uncharacteristically (surely that word is impossible in Scrabble) grumpy mood, challenged the 3 children to a fight (coincidentally called Robin Hood, Little John, etc.) because of a misunderstanding over DNA and something unrelated (get it, eh?). While this was all happening, the river froze over and, St Francis, realising what a grump he had been, conceded defeat and carried the children over to the other side of the frozen river. So, by an incredible coincidence (second one), you are all correct. Huzzah! 

[Fenton]

You didnt mention whether St Francis was wearing  ice skates ( this is not an excuse for everyone to start fish puns again BE SERIOUS PLEASE!)  or not to help get across the river otherwise your whole solution just falls apart

[fsn]

I know! They were from Norfolk and walked across on their webbed feet?

[getagrip]

I know! They were from Norfolk and walked across on their webbed feet?

Whilst navigating with their middle, and only, eye

Right, that's enough frivolity; this is a SERIOUS forum.