# Fictional events that eventually become reality? (Read the OP.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 19, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077 "2025-07-19T13:20:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/82 "2025-07-22T03:23:32Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > In a manner similar perhaps to Frontierland wasn’t solely about Davy Crockett. Also- believe it or not- Zorro. And there was the MarkTwain and the Columbia. And native Americans. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/83 "2025-07-22T14:45:53Z")
After the movie ‘The Godfather’ came out, real mobsters liked it so much that they embraced the language and mannerisms of the fictional characters. > **[With ‘The Godfather,’ Art Imitated Mafia Life. And Vice Versa. (Published 2022)](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/movies/godfather-mafia.html)** > > Federal wiretaps and Mob insiders suggest that many real-life wiseguys turned to the 1972 film for inspiration, validation and cues on how to speak and act and dress. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/84 "2025-07-22T16:22:46Z")
In the 1930s, police reported gangsters dressing like Edward G. Robinson in _Little Caesar_. Mobster Joe Gallo wore black shirts and white neckties because he loved Richard Widmark’s character in _Kiss of Death_. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/85 "2025-07-23T15:50:38Z")
Speaking of Samuel L. Jackson, the movie “ **Snakes on a Plane** ” was only made because the internet thought it hilarious to have Mr. Jackson saying “I’m sick of these mother f#cking snakes on this mother f\*cking plane”. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/86 "2025-07-23T15:54:07Z")
When would he have occasion to say that if not in the movie? ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/87 "2025-07-23T16:21:36Z")
In case I’m not being whoshed: Bolding added. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakes\_on\_a\_Plane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakes_on_a_Plane) > Taking advantage of the Internet buzz for what had been a minor film in their 2006 line-up, **New Line Cinema ordered five days of additional shooting** in early March 2006 ([principal photography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal_photography) had wrapped in September 2005).[[16]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakes_on_a_Plane#cite_note-FanFrenzy-16) While re-shoots normally imply problems with a film, **the producers opted to add new scenes** to the film to change the [MPAA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPAA) rating [from PG-13 to R](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPAA_film_rating_system) **and bring it in line with growing fan expectations**. T**he most notable addition was a revision of a catchphrase from the film that was parodied on the Internet by fans of the film, capitalizing on Jackson’s typically foul-mouthed and violent film persona: “Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking plane!”.[[6]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakes_on_a_Plane#cite_note-EWKickAsp-6)** So the catchpahrase was added to the movie after the internet made a meme out of it, not the other way around. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2025, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/88 "2025-07-23T16:37:54Z")
The shuttle was named _Enterprise_ after Trekfans bombarded NASA with a letter-writing campaign urging it to do so. Gene Roddenberry and most of the senior actors from the series attended the rollout ceremony, at which the theme from _ **Star Trek TOS** _ was played by an orchestra. [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/The_Shuttle_Enterprise_-_GPN-2000-001363.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/The_Shuttle_Enterprise_-_GPN-2000-001363.jpg) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/rKud6LngorQ/maxresdefault.jpg "SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM ORBITER 101 / ENTERPRISE ROLLOUT CEREMONY SEPTEMBER 17-18, 1976 59044") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKud6LngorQ) ---
**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:** [July 23, 2025, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/89 "2025-07-23T16:48:37Z")
The nuclear carrier _Enterprise_ (CVN-65) was commissioned on 25 November 1961. Its namesake (CV-6) was a _Yorktown_-class carrier launched on 3 October 1936, and it served throughout WWII. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/90 "2025-07-23T17:21:50Z")
Okay; it had sounded like the catchphrase preceded the conception of the movie, which clearly can’t be the case. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/91 "2025-07-23T19:09:02Z")
Probably because I poorly worded my first response, on reread I did make it sound that way. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/93 "2025-07-23T19:32:56Z")
_Apropos_ to nothing, the first _Enterprise_ was originally named _George_. I just think it would be amusing to call a spaceship _George_. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/94 "2025-07-23T19:34:22Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The nuclear carrier _Enterprise_ (CVN-65) was commissioned on 25 November 1961. Its namesake (CV-6) was a _Yorktown_-class carrier launched on 3 October 1936, and it served throughout WWII. The CVN was the 8th USN ship by that name the first being a sloop in 1776. So, the Star Trek ship was named after the USN ships. > [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1021238/2): > > But ok. It was named for a short lived sci-fi show with bad acting. It’s a good PR move for NASA. > What came first? The US Navy ships since 1775, or the cancelled space show? Three seasons is not short. And Nimoy was nominated three times for an Emmy. Also winning two Hugos and several other awards. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/98 "2025-07-23T19:50:23Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > _Apropos_ to nothing, the first _Enterprise_ was originally named _George_. I just think it would be amusing to call a spaceship _George_. Why not? Hershel wanted to name the planet Uranus “George” > **[Why did Herschel name his planet Uranus?](https://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question42.html)** ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/100 "2025-07-23T20:02:34Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1021238/2): > > But ok. It was named for a short lived sci-fi show with bad acting. It’s a good PR move for NASA. > What came first? The US Navy ships since 1775, or the cancelled space show? But the point is, the Government wasn’t going to name it Enterprise until [after Star Trek fans made it an issue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Enterprise#Service). > Construction began on _Enterprise_ on June 4, 1974.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Enterprise#cite_note-tech-1) Designated OV-101, it was originally planned to be named _Constitution_ and unveiled on [Constitution Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Day_(United_States)), September 17, 1976. Fans of [_Star Trek_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Original_Series) asked [US President](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States) [Gerald Ford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford), through a letter-writing campaign, to name the orbiter after the television show’s fictional starship, [USS _Enterprise_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(NCC-1701)). > > In an official memo, White House advisors cited “hundreds of thousands of letters” from [Trekkies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trekkie), “one of the most dedicated constituencies in the country”, as a reason for giving the shuttle the name.[[11]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Enterprise#cite_note-popsci1-11) Although Ford did not publicly mention the campaign, the president said that he was “partial to the name” _Enterprise_, and directed NASA officials to change the name Yes, “Enterprise” was a name used before by the US Navy, which is why it was used in Star Trek, but the point remains: without the Trekkies, the Shuttle would have been named something else. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/101 "2025-07-23T20:04:53Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > _Apropos_ to nothing, the first _Enterprise_ was originally named _George_. I just think it would be amusing to call a spaceship _George_. But can you hug it and squeeze it? ---
**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:** [July 23, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/102 "2025-07-23T20:09:10Z")
Gene Roddenberry always considered Starfleet to be an allegory to the British Royal Navy of the 18th and 19th centuries. Yes, they were called into service during times of war, but their primary tasks were exploration, spreading British influence throughout the world through diplomacy, and expanding and protecting trade. In the last instance, they acted mainly as a worldwide police force to ensure freedom of the seas. The favored term for describing Starfleet has always been “semimilitary.” ---
**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:** [July 23, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/104 "2025-07-23T20:16:57Z")
_Georgium Sidis_, or George’s Star, in honor of King George III. Though my Latin isn’t good enough to explain how “sidis” differs from “stella” or “astrum.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/105 "2025-07-23T20:17:33Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Gene Roddenberry always considered Starfleet to be an allegory to the British Royal Navy of the 18th and 19th centuries. Yes, they were called into service during times of war, but their primary tasks were exploration, spreading British influence throughout the world through diplomacy, and expanding and protecting trade. Yep, Darwin sailed on the HMS Beagle an armed naval “brig/sloop”. The HMS Endeavour was also a warship. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/108 "2025-07-23T20:29:55Z")
[A Brief (Real-World) History of Famous Vessels Named Enterprise - Nerdist](https://nerdist.com/article/a-brief-real-world-history-of-famous-vessels-named-enterprise/) ---
**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:** [July 23, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077/111 "2025-07-23T20:40:49Z")
[The Legacy of Ships Named Enterprise \> The Sextant \> Article View](https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/Recent/Article-View/Article/2686585/the-legacy-of-ships-named-enterprise/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-events-that-eventually-become-reality-read-the-op/1021077.md?page=6)