Maybe it was just legacy from my department (and this was 20+ years ago -- I think things like these are probably less accepted now). Funny story, a year or so

Maybe it was just legacy from my department (and this was 20+ years ago -- I think things like these are probably less accepted now). Funny story, a year or so after my quals I was at a conference and talking about it (at a lunch table, not a presentation). I was saying with one of these questions I answered it correctly and explained why what they were asking wouldn't work. One of the senior professors at the table chuckled and said that he was one of the committee members for one of the members of my committee and how my committee member fell hook, line, and sinker for one of these questions and wrapped himself in circles during quals.