# If there really is a fire in a crowded theater ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 23, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508 "2011-04-23T22:01:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/1 "2011-04-23T22:01:13Z")
If there really is a fire in a crowded theater shouting “Fire!” probably isn’t indicated. What is one supposed to do? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/2 "2011-04-23T22:09:12Z")
Pull the fire alarm? Or, yell fire. Since no one actually does that, I think it would be pretty effective. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/3 "2011-04-23T22:28:10Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/4 "2011-04-23T22:48:00Z")
Walk to the nearest door, then yell fire. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/5 "2011-04-24T01:28:12Z")
Walk to the nearest exist and shout, “Walk to the nearest exit.” If no one responds shout, “Get out of here! There’s a fire in the theater!” ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/6 "2011-04-24T01:40:32Z")
The phrase “Yelling ‘Fire’ in a crowded theatre” is used to describe situations where there is no danger and a person deliberately causes a panic. It’s from a Supreme Court decision where it’s used as an example of legally restrictable speech. If there’s actually a fire, you’d probably want to let everyone know, though yelling “Fire!” isn’t exactly right; you’d do better to stand up and announce “Everyone proceed to the rear exits-- there’s a fire backstage.” Unless the fire’s in the lobby, when you’d indicate other exits, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/7 "2011-04-24T01:47:31Z")
May I have your attention, May I have your attention. There has been an emergency reported in the building. Please go to the nearest exit and exit the building. Please use the satirs, do not use the elevators. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/8 "2011-04-24T01:49:14Z")
From the wiki article on [Shouting fire in a crowded theatre](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shouting_fire_in_a_crowded_theater): > [@](#): > > “Shouting fire in a crowded theater” is a popular metaphor and frequent misquoting of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.'s opinion in the United States Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States in 1919. The misquote fails to mention falsely shouting fire to highlight that speech which is merely dangerous and false which can be distinguished from truthful but also dangerous. [my underlining] ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/9 "2011-04-24T01:51:24Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > May I have your attention, May I have your attention. There has been an emergency reported in the building. Please go to the nearest exit and exit the building. Please use the **satirs,** do not use the elevators. This is no time for sex! The building is on fire! ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/10 "2011-04-24T05:53:46Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > May I have your attention, May I have your attention. There has been an emergency reported in the building. Please go to the nearest exit and exit the building. Please use the satirs, do not use the elevators. > [@runner pat](#): > > This is no time for sex! The building is on fire! Maybe that’s why it’s on fire. Oh baby. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/11 "2011-04-24T08:58:30Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > May I have your attention, May I have your attention. There has been an emergency reported in the building. Please go to the nearest exit and exit the building. Please use the satirs, do not use the elevators. You forgot: “This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.” ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/12 "2011-04-25T17:56:14Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > You forgot: “This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.” It is if they’re using the satirs. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/13 "2011-04-25T18:09:01Z")
If there is a fire in a crowded theater, anyone not using their cell phone will recognize the danger. Get up quietly and walk out. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-really-is-a-fire-in-a-crowded-theater/579508/14 "2011-04-25T19:44:07Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > It is if they’re using the satirs. 🙂 **Outstanding!** Grinning like this :D, I applaud you.