Riddle is 'impossible' if you can't find answer 'staring you in face'
Brainteasers are a brillian way to keep your mind active. Research has shown they can be beneficial for your mental fitness in a number of ways as they can require critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
They have the potential to improve cognitive abilities when completed regularly – but that isn't the only bonus. They're also highly entertaining and can help to ward off boredom. So if you're in need of a brain boost or a bit of fun today, why not give this tricky riddle a go?
The question was posed during an episode of Lateral with Tom Scott, which is a comedy panel game podcast about strange questions that have even stranger answers.
In a clip of the podcast shared on TikTok, host Tom Scott asked his panellists: "Massachusetts' New England merch only names Irish cities. Why is this ironic?"
The statement left many people completely baffled – especially as the US state has nothing to do with Irish cities. Therefore, they wouldn't sell merch there.
So to get the solution, you must look a little bit closer. Tom revealed the exact wording of the statement was very important.
And if you need some extra help, try looking a bit closer at the words themselves rather than getting caught up in the meaning of sentence.
Have you worked out the "impossible" riddle yet? Don't scroll any further if you haven't, as we're about to give you the answer.
Answer
The statement is a mnemonic, a phrase used to help you remember important information or how to spell tricky words.
Think "Never Eat Shredded Wheat" to remember compass directions, "Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain" to recall the colours of the rainbow or "My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets" for the solar system.
"Massachusetts' New England Merch Only Names Irish Cities" is also a mnemonic – and it spells the word mnemonic!
Even with that explanation, some were still confused. They took to the comments section to share their thoughts.
One riddler said: "I can't handle the confusion." Another added: "I would actually hang up the call."
And another confessed: "I love this podcast, I hated this question. Not because it's a bad question, I just had loading screen brain the whole time."
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