The Sewer Lid Question

August 10, 2008 By Peter

At one time, Microsoft employers asked prospective employees questions like, “Why are sewer lids round?” The idea was not so much to see if a candidate knew the answer, but to see how he or she would go about developing an answer.

I have used the sewer lid question in creativity training sessions. The results have ranged from enlightening to appalling. Some participants brim with suggestions, others stare in blank disinterest. There are many reasonable answers to whey sewer lids are round, some more fitting than others. But all creative people begin formulating suggestions immediately, fluently, and with gusto.

After a set up like that, how can you not begin to offer answers?

Peter Lloyd writes Right Brain Workouts for IdeaConnection.


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Reader Comments


I do some weightlifting at least twice a week, weightlifting is a very good exercise and it keeps the shape of my chest and shoulder muscles in very good form.``
Posted by Maya Bailey on April 26, 2010

Since round is psychologically a more friendly shape than any straight edged shape, it eases the stress of lowering yourself into a sewer. You would think they would paint them yellow with big smiley faces too.
Posted by Jonathan on September 23, 2008

Victor,

If only I hadn't heard that one. Can't you think of any others? Your co-comments aren't doing any better, except for Erik.

Peter
Posted by Peter on August 13, 2008

Silly! Because the holes they go in are round!
Posted by Victor on August 13, 2008

Erik,

Finally, someone takes the question seriously.

We're just beginning to scratch the surface.

Thanks, Erik.
Posted by Peter on August 12, 2008

Aside from not falling into the hole itself, you can also roll them instead of carrying them and a round cover will have less material, costing less, than a similarly sized square cover.
Posted by Erik Sherman on August 12, 2008

Gregg,

Sure. And that way the horizontal bar is halfway to your chest when you start. Cheater!
Posted by Peter on August 12, 2008

Sewer lids are round because they then become great weight lifting equipment once stolen. My high school football team used to steal sewer lids and use them to set up their at home weight lifting gyms.
Posted by Gregg Fraley on August 11, 2008

Jim,

Your deep, esoteric knowledge is surpassed only by the quiet subtlty and scatological impropriety of your insight.
Posted by Peter on August 11, 2008

Alan,

How could I be so insensitive. I work for the INclusion Network. No sooner than I get used to saying "people with visual impairment" etc., you catch me. Unlike those who balk at corrective language, I embrace it.

Of course, I didn't write "manwhole." But I did write "creative people," which I think is just fine. It's a compliment, after all. No one is diminished by being called creative. To go down that path we'd have to substitute "people who are happy" in place of every "happy people."

Nevertheless I, like you, regret the appellation "creative," as if some of us have been endowed with a unique gift. We're all creative.

Now, back on topic, what about the sewer lids?
Posted by Peter on August 11, 2008

although common knowledge tells us that sewer lids are round in order that they may never fall into their respective hole, the truth is quite the contrary.

the first references to sewer lid design considerations pop up in Indonesian manuscripts around the turn of the 12th century. as transcribed, the emperor keyle keyle kam baat sought balance and harmony in all things throughout his kingdom of approximately 123,000 subjects. he was not pleased with the form language of the current sewer lid (designed by his first wife, nag nag a laat). a contest was held.

meek and tenderfooted qwam genla tep tep of the eastern villages approcahed the king on july 7th, 1143 (meng twan do 112 in the ancient indo-crotesian dynasty). in his design proposal, he revealed that the cirlce was simultaneously singularly and infinitely sided; one event infinitely repeated and contributing to the whole.

one action with infinite effects.
one moment repeated in perpetuity, unable to stop under the momentum of its own natural forces...

much like pooping.

he won a goat, and 6 and a half chickens.
Posted by create360 on August 11, 2008

Peter

Yes questions why MANHOLE COVERS (peoplehole covers today) ARE ROUND, why does Crayola put wrappers and names of the colors on crayons used by children who can not read can help discover who in an audience, group, meeting are

divergent thinkers
open to using their creativity

I have learned since studying with Paul Torrance and working with many people at CPSI not to differentiate people as

creative people
not creative people

I prefer to use the terms

people who use their creativity
people who have been convinced that they are not creative
people who are willing to reawaken, expand, enrich their creative thinking skills , abilities and knowledge of creative thinking processes and tools.
Posted by WanderingAlan on August 11, 2008

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