Did They Once Say "Over and Out"?

My friends in the military tell me how you NEVER say “over and out”. Basically, you say “over” like a period indicating the end of your thought, but you are awaiting a reply AND “out” to acknowledge message received and indicate the absolute end of the verbal transmission, kinda like “goodbye” on the phone. Thus, “over and out” is not proper radio talk.

So, why do so many TV shows and movies, no matter how well researched, make this same mistake time and time again? Especially a show like MAS*H with all its advisors…

Did the military used to say “over and out”?

  • Jinx :confused:

Because they’re shows, and they think that’s what people expect to hear. Same thing with every TV wedding having the “speak now, or forever hold your piece” line, which is rare in actual weddings.

According to my father, who was active in WWII, all you said was “Out.”

That is all. :smiley:

I remember this peeving my Dad, who was an Army officer in the 60s/70s. He said that no-one ever says “over and out” it’s nonsense. I guess script writers seldom spend any time in the military but plenty of time watching old films.

Yes, holding your piece in a wedding is frowned upon. :stuck_out_tongue:

Um, is it possibly because they’re created by idiots?

When was the last time you saw some glassware in a “chemistry” scene set up as if it could actually do anything?

There are lots of examples of this.

Another funny one is scenes in a submarine, with the sonar constantly pinging away. In real life, you’d never do this, as you’d instantly give away your position to the enemy.

Also, bomb timers never have digital readouts telling you when they’re going to explode. They’re either crude mechanical timers, or electronic timers that have no LED’s attached to them.

Yeah! And why are they all filled with blue “tampon water”?

Hey, I did a chemistry degree, and every reaction had to involve blue and pink solutions, and a handful of dry ice chips thrown into very beaker to make the cool bubbling/smoking effect. They just don’t work otherwise :rolleyes:

What if it’s a shotgun wedding?