By Kevin Hwang, James Douberley, Nathan Fung, Hubert Hwang, and Henry Wong
Answer: TEAR DUCT

After solving the Sadness memory puzzles, solvers are presented with the following answers (in alphabetical order):

  • HORSES
  • HOW GREAT
  • INCREDIBLY STUPID
  • ISLAND OF OPPORTUNITY
  • NECESSARY
  • PARTICIPATE
  • SUPERIORS
  • VISION

As suggested by the flavor text (“Hang in there”), the answers are all words or phrases that can be found in the captions of the Despair, Inc. catalog of Demotivators®. Each word or phrase occurs in exactly one Demotivator, and serves to uniquely identify it. Each Demotivator has a unique, sequential length, providing an ordering.

Additionally, the puzzle title on each individual puzzle page is surrounded by one or more blue borders, which is distinct from other memory puzzles. The number of borders provides an index into the name of the Demotivator:

Answer Demotivator Caption Index Letter
NECESSARY WORTH Just because you’re NECESSARY doesn’t mean you’re important. 4 T
HORSES WISHES If wishes were HORSES then dreamers would ride. But they’re much more like cattle, so best grab a shovel. 5 E
ISLAND OF OPPORTUNITY HAZARDS There is an ISLAND OF OPPORTUNITY in the middle of every difficulty. Miss that, though, and you’re pretty much doomed. 2 A
HOW GREAT PROBLEMS No matter HOW GREAT and destructive your problems may seem now, remember, you’ve probably only seen the tip of them. 2 R
INCREDIBLY STUPID TRADITION Just because you’ve always done it that way doesn’t mean it’s not INCREDIBLY STUPID. 4 D
PARTICIPATE CORRUPTION I want either less corruption or more opportunity to PARTICIPATE in it. 5 U
VISION ACHIEVEMENT You can do anything you set your mind to when you have VISION, determination, and an endless supply of expendable labor. 2 C
SUPERIORS INTIMIDATION No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. But you’d be a fool to withhold that from your SUPERIORS. 3 T

Reading the letters in order tells how to get through the piping and back in the Control Room; all Sadness has to do is TEAR DUCT.

Shortly after solving this puzzle, each team is visited by Sadness.