Our Seventy-Fourth Brain Drainer:
Braced by Wooden Supports, the Australian Outdoor Bathroom Was Called a Stake-Backed Outhouse.

Gladys Seeyuh, and old friend who used to be the head greeter at Walmart until they ran out of heads, sends along this gem from the airport, where she reports that her business is really taking off!

I had to meet an Australian, an American and a South African at the airport. One of them was called Bruce, and I identified him immediately, despite never having met any of them before and despite the fact that none of the three was wearing any name tag or other form of identification.

HOW?

Joyce Cook from Wausa Says:

Who called him Bruce? I assume that someone (was it you?) called him Bruce, and that Bruce answered, and that is how you knew which one he was.

Vicki Winterlin from Omaha Nation Says:

The person was able to identify Bruce because the other two travelers were women. He was the only man.

Jennifer Trenhaile from Emerson-Hubbard Says:

The puzzle does not specify any gender on the people she is picking up at the airport. I am guessing that 2 were female and one was male, that is how she knew which one was Bruce.

Dave Friedli from Omaha Nation Says:

Bruce was the only male in the group.

Angie Burnight from South Sioux City Says:

Dear Ol’ Professor,
Bruce was identified because he was the only male of the three.

What the Professor Says:

Although Joyce offered a completely acceptable answer based on the information available, we well may ask if there is another plausible solution. (We pause at this moment in the narrative so that you may ask. Go On! ASK!) Thank you.

And of course, Vicki, Jennifer, Dave, and Angie offer one!

As for the problem, did you approach it with a gender bias? Of course the reason Gladys identified Bruce immediately was simply that the American and the South African were ... ready for this? ... women!

Make sense?

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