# Dumb things in movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433 "2016-02-28T21:21:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![slipster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@slipster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slipster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/121 "2016-03-03T22:40:53Z")
When a story about a character in the film makes the paper it is a banner headline on the top of the front page, no matter how obscure the character is or how trifling, in the great scheme of things, the event is. At the beginning of the classic B-Movie The Ghost of the Monster George Macready, a popular small town doctor, is gravely ill and the headline in the town paper is something such as BELOVED DOCTOR SICK. This while World War II was raging. The convention hasn’t changed since. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/122 "2016-03-03T22:54:23Z")
> [@slipster](#): > > BELOVED DOCTOR SICK. This while World War II was raging. Ever live in a small town? Aside from ones like JAPS BOMB PEARL HARBOR, ALLIES LAND IN NORMANDY, and HITLER DEAD!, I’ll bet the vast majority of headlines in that period were about locals. The reasoning is roughly “This must be the most important place on Earth, 'cause The Dear Lord put us here!” ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/123 "2016-03-03T23:59:48Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Guy gets the drop on another guy, pointing an automatic handgun at him. Guy makes a move and the guy with the gun cocks his automatic dramatically. It’s either a dramatic effect edit, or the guy with the gun had a chambered round with the hammer down, which, for most automatics, would render it useless in a confrontation with someone else carrying a weapon. The list is endless, I know, and most people don’t know the difference. The rest of us just have to grit our teeth. 🙂 my Sauer 38H has a cock/decock button … [URL=“[http://boards.straightdope.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/](http://boards.straightdope.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/)”] ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/124 "2016-03-04T00:14:33Z")
When the first actor is talking on the phone (old style, like wired), and the person on the other end of the line hangs up on the first one before a formal end to the conversation, and the first one looks into the phone receiver/handpiece. Expecting what? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/125 "2016-03-04T01:07:56Z")
Oh, and going back to the original topic of dinosaur vocalizations, rather than their classification… Most bird sounds require the syrinx, which hadn’t evolved in pre-avians. So they wouldn’t be singing, or even crowing. Hissing is definitely the most likely for Theropods. (Some other dinosaurs, like Parasaurolophus, may have made more interesting sounds…but non-avian Theropods lacked any kind of vocal structure, so far as we know.) ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/126 "2016-03-04T01:12:15Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Oh, and going back to the original topic of dinosaur vocalizations, rather than their classification… > > Most bird sounds require the syrinx, which hadn’t evolved in pre-avians. So they wouldn’t be singing, or even crowing. Hissing is definitely the most likely for Theropods. (Some other dinosaurs, like Parasaurolophus, may have made more interesting sounds…but non-avian Theropods lacked any kind of vocal structure, so far as we know.) I’ll bet it was quite a hiss, though; can you imagine something that big hissing? ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/127 "2016-03-04T01:32:36Z")
In mining, when you enter a cave or a tunnel without a hard hat, safety boots, and a cap lamp, you don’t need a safety inspector or a foreman to chew you out. Only the really folhardy will go in without those three items. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/128 "2016-03-04T02:02:06Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Generally, you have to be registered, ie, licensed, to carry, but the gun itself doesn’t have to be. You can carry any gun you own. Hawaii and DC require registration of all firearms and NY requires registration of all handguns. So do all the Territories. A number of states have a registration requirement for some classes of handguns and/or keep a registry of sales by serial number and purchaser. Some _cities_ require registration by local ordinance. AFAICT even then in virtually all of those you may carry any gun that is registered in your name. ---
**Author:** ![from\_a\_to\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5fc32e/32.png) [@from\_a\_to\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/from_a_to_z)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/129 "2016-03-04T04:41:26Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Bad guy gets kicked square in the cajones, but is able to get up and chase the good guy within 30 seconds. Ain’t happening, people. > [@Nava](#): > > Why would being hit in the furniture hurt? > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I have no idea, but I assure you that it does. I expect that if any of us were kicked in the drawers we’d be down for a spell. Left unexplained is what exactly the bad guy was doing in someone’s drawers. (Nora Charles: “I read where you were shot 5 times in the tabloids.” Nick Charles: “It’s not true. He didn’t come anywhere **near** my tabloids.”) ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/130 "2016-03-04T05:37:39Z")
> [@from\_a\_to\_z](#): > > I expect that if any of us were kicked in the drawers we’d be down for a spell. Left unexplained is what exactly the bad guy was doing in someone’s drawers. (Nora Charles: “I read where you were shot 5 times in the tabloids.” Nick Charles: “It’s not true. He didn’t come anywhere **near** my tabloids.”) Actually I’m going to be contrary on that point… One time I was playing soccer and a defender tried to blast the ball clear but instead it hit me square in the 'nads. But I saw I had a clear path to goal so I just sprinted along, and scored. Only then did I drop down on all fours for a while with the familiar intense groin pain. I saw a couple of players roll their eyes, incredulous that such a delayed reaction could happen. But it did. True story. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/131 "2016-03-04T14:38:45Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > Space guns that: > > a)mildly injure victims (good guy gets shot and immediately grunts ‘Aaargh! My arm!’ through gritted teeth. Of course, they are instantly fatal to bad guys, so I guess that’s good). > b) fire coloured beams so slowly they can be seen and avoided in real time. > > Seriously, they are lesss effective than a mid 1800s pistol. Twice the size, twice as shiny - less than half as potent. Thank you. Also, how can they miss? Cameras now can track subjects very well, some can even track the closest eye. Space guns, however, need to be aimed with scopes that have useless symbols running around. > [@Nava](#): > > Why would being hit in the furniture hurt? > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I have no idea, but I assure you that it does. **Nava** , no entendieron el chiste. “Cajones” means drawers in Spanish. “Cojones” means testicles. English-speakers pronounce both the same kuh-HOE-ness. > [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > About every 10 years or so, I get an opportunity to make that joke. Well played, sir; well played. * * * Space robots that can’t speak. I’m talking to you Star Wars’ R2D2 and friends ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/132 "2016-03-04T15:07:39Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > And ancient battles (up to the 17th century at least) were apparently fought by mobs of men charging into each other with no formation, no command structure, or no discipline beyond mass brawling. While in uniform. Even the barbarians all wear identical fur skirts. > [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > “Cajones” means drawers in Spanish. But, and this is important, furniture drawers, not the underwear type. If they were the underwear type it might still hurt to be hit in them. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/133 "2016-03-04T15:22:51Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Why would being hit in the furniture hurt? Now, how many movies have we seen in which anybody wears furniture? (Cross-eyed emoticon goes here.) ---
**Author:** ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/134 "2016-03-04T15:44:46Z")
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… Missing Rearview Mirror. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/135 "2016-03-04T16:37:33Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Now, how many movies have we seen in which anybody wears furniture? (Cross-eyed emoticon goes here.) What about that movie about the Ottoman empire? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/136 "2016-03-04T17:20:20Z")
They would chaise people around. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/137 "2016-03-04T17:42:56Z")
Now THAT must have been awkward. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/138 "2016-03-05T02:51:12Z")
Now I want to make “getting hit in the furniture” a new SDMB catchphrase… ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/139 "2016-03-05T03:43:42Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Also, death row in Indiana is in Indianapolis (Terre Haute is even further away), which is about 5 1/2 hours from downtown Chicago. I believe that death row for men is in Michigan City (northern Indiana, not terribly far from Chicago). Women’s death row is in Indianapolis. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Lebodnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@Mr.Lebodnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Lebodnik)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433/141 "2016-03-05T06:36:48Z")
Some dumb things in movies/tv shows I’ve noticed: - Police stations and hospitals are usually as dark as a medieval dungeon. - People never lock their front doors when they go out. - People never say “hello” or “good-bye” when using a phone. - Nobody thinks twice about coming in from outdoors and then lying on the bed with their shoes on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-in-movies/747433.md?page=8)