# "Demolition Man" - were the 3 seashells in the potty ever explained? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 15, 2001, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demolition-man-were-the-3-seashells-in-the-potty-ever-explained/68931 "2001-06-15T14:15:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demolition-man-were-the-3-seashells-in-the-potty-ever-explained/68931/1 "2001-06-15T14:15:33Z")
In the movie _Demolition Man_, Stallone’s character expresses confusion over the lack of TP in the bathroom. Some other character goes on to chide Stallone for “not knowing how to use the three seashells!” So what’s that? The movie just leaves it hanging, as some kind of a gag. I think it’s even repeated later on. I know it wasn’t crucial to the plot or anything, but still – I like all my T’s crossed in cinema. Now, wasn’t _Demolition Man_ based on a comic book series? Maybe there was also a movie novel commissioned for _Demolition Man_? Does ANY alternate source explain WHAT exactly the “3 seashells” were & HOW exactly they were used? ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2001, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demolition-man-were-the-3-seashells-in-the-potty-ever-explained/68931/2 "2001-06-16T05:51:24Z")
It’s what’s known in the moviemaking biz as a McGuffin, like Pulp Fiction’s briefcase, although not as “mystical”. > [@](#): > > … a McGuffin is a term for the device or plot element that catches the viewer’s attention or drives the logic of the plot, especially in suspense films. According to Hitchcock, the McGuffin can be ignored as soon as it has served its purpose. In other words, the “3 seashells” bit serves to show the audience just how funny it is that Stallone doesn’t understand any of the modern conveniences, like future-sex, only more practical 🙂 . The function of the three seashells is actually irrelevant. However, if you want a possible explanation … try comparing it to a modern Japanese toilet - spray, wash, and dry. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2001, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demolition-man-were-the-3-seashells-in-the-potty-ever-explained/68931/3 "2001-06-16T09:35:31Z")
I’ve always assumed that the 3 seashells were used to… uh… “scoop”… along the inner sides of your buttcheeks… Or maybe they were used to magnetically remove the excess poop from your butt, and were simply shaped like seashells… 'cuz seashells are purdy. ---
**Author:** ![Naski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Naski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naski)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2001, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demolition-man-were-the-3-seashells-in-the-potty-ever-explained/68931/4 "2001-06-16T10:38:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by evilhanz \* > \*\*It’s what’s known in the moviemaking biz as a McGuffin, like Pulp Fiction’s briefcase, \*\* I always tough that the briefcase contained Marsellus Wallace’s soul, but that could be a load of crap. It does make the flock of segulls boy a minion for the devil though (and with that haircut what else could he be?). Nask ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2001, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demolition-man-were-the-3-seashells-in-the-potty-ever-explained/68931/5 "2001-06-16T10:49:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bordelond \* > **…how to use the three seashells…** Ever see that package of three corncobs sold at tourist traps in the South? ---
**Author:** ![RoboDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@RoboDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoboDude)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2001, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demolition-man-were-the-3-seashells-in-the-potty-ever-explained/68931/6 "2001-06-16T16:55:42Z")
If they could program him to like to knit while he was in cryo-stasis, wouldn’t it have made sense to give him the knowledge he would need to live in their society? Maybe they were planning to, but they hadn’t gotten to that part when they woke him up. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demolition-man-were-the-3-seashells-in-the-potty-ever-explained/68931/7 "2001-08-05T21:14:21Z")
For some strange reason, I’ve been thinking the three-seashells custom was derived from some historical New-England custom. I haven’t been able to corroborate this through Google, though. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demolition-man-were-the-3-seashells-in-the-potty-ever-explained/68931/8 "2001-08-05T21:24:18Z")
[http://www.goski.com/rswi/zermatt/1hot.htm](http://www.goski.com/rswi/zermatt/1hot.htm) has a reference to this, but doens’t explain. Look for George Borrelli’s entry under “Lodging”. Other than that, my Google search turned up a lot of stuff about people decorating their bathrooms with seashells, seashell-patterned things, & seashell-shaped things. Weird.