# Obvious things about a creative work you realize after the millionth time (OPEN SPOILERS POSSIBLE) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117 "2009-07-24T13:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 349
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6967 "2026-03-17T18:16:33Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Ford was sick with the flu Dysentery. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6968 "2026-03-17T18:17:43Z")
Ooof – even worse. ---
**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:** [March 17, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6969 "2026-03-17T18:23:19Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > IIRC there were only two Nitpick nitpick – Three, according to Internet sources (and my memory) ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6970 "2026-03-17T23:30:20Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > From what I’ve read, it _was_ supposed to be a bullwhip vs. scimitar fight but Ford was sick with the flu that day and didn’t feel up to it. He told Spielberg, “Look, he’s not that stupid, he’s rescuing his girlfriend, and he’s yet to use the pistol he carries.” The quote I’ve seen from Ford is, “Why don’t we just shoot the fucker?” Whether accurate or not, it made me laugh. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6971 "2026-03-17T23:44:01Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Nitpick nitpick – Three, according to Internet sources (and my memory) I guess. It’s been years since I saw the movie and I couldn’t be arsed to actually look it up. Back on topic. In the opening minutes of _Men in Black_ when (still) Edwards is chasing “The Perp” and jumps from an overpass onto a two-decker tour bus, the passengers are all Japanese – or at least Asian – and start snapping pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6972 "2026-03-31T18:02:20Z")
I re-watched _Don’t Look Up_ last night (DiCaprio, Lawrence, Streep) and I didn’t get this point at the end until last night. At one point the tech-guy, Isherwell, goes up one side of DiCaprio’s character and down the other, telling him he knows everything about him from the 4 million data points he’s collected, laying him low with, “I don’t remember how you’ll die, but I know this … you’ll die alone.” At the end when the comet hits and blows up the earth, DiCaprio is with everyone he cares about - his wife and kids, the space guy, his student and her boyfriend, who all prayed for them. But Streep does get eaten by a Brontoroc. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6973 "2026-03-31T18:21:24Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > But Streep does get eaten by a Brontoroc. Well, she gets eaten, but do we really know what that animal was called? I think he was just half-assing it. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6974 "2026-03-31T18:31:26Z")
It was kind of self-fulfilling. Isherwell does say, “I guess that’s a Bronteroc.” Hell, they can call them whatever they want at that point. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6975 "2026-04-06T20:31:33Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > > [@Turek](#): > > > > There’s a scene were Ramsey (Gene Hackman) is demanding the aptly-named Weps (Viggo Mortensen) to open the safe that contains a launch key (I think). > > I wasn’t in the Navy but I’m pretty sure “Weps” isn’t a name it’s a title. Short for Weapons Officer. I was in the Navy, and while the name indeed comes from the title of that officer with that job, it also becomes their _de facto_ nickname for the duration of the assignment. There are actually three department heads on a U.S. submarine: “WEPS” = Weapons Officer “NAV” = Navigation Officer aka Navigator “ENG” (pronounced like the first syllable of engineer) = Engineering Officer aka the [Chief] Engineer Above them you have: CO = Commanding Officer XO = Executive Officer Below them you have division officers, senior enlisted, and the crew. I was an engineering division officer on a sub, and while I could still tell you the actual names of the CO, XO, and Engineer on my boat, I have no earthly recollection of the actual names for the Navigator or Weapons Officer. They were just “NAV” and “WEPS”. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6976 "2026-04-06T22:27:51Z")
> [@robby](#): > > I was an engineering division officer on a sub, and while I could still tell you the actual names of the CO, XO, and Engineer on my boat, I have no earthly recollection of the actual names for the Navigator or Weapons Officer. They were just “NAV” and “WEPS”. You had an ENG and not a CHENG? What about a COB? I was a carrier sailor and we had the CO, XO, CHENG, and BOSS (Air Boss). I don’t remember having a COB and I worked the Chief’s Mess for my galley rotation. But then again, we weren’t a boat (even though a lot of us called the old gal that). ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6977 "2026-04-06T22:31:54Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > > [@robby](#): > > > > I was an engineering division officer on a sub, and while I could still tell you the actual names of the CO, XO, and Engineer on my boat, I have no earthly recollection of the actual names for the Navigator or Weapons Officer. They were just “NAV” and “WEPS”. > > You had an ENG and not a CHENG? What about a COB? > > I was a carrier sailor and we had the CO, XO, CHENG, and BOSS (Air Boss). I don’t remember having a COB and I worked the Chief’s Mess for my galley rotation. But then again, we weren’t a boat (even though a lot of us called the old gal that). Correct, we had an ENG instead of a CHENG. The latter is a surface fleet term, in my experience. And yes, we also had a COB (Chief of the Boat), the senior enlisted sailor on board. But no Air Boss. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6978 "2026-04-06T22:35:20Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Correct, we had an ENG instead of a CHENG. The latter is a surface fleet term, in my experience. Good to know. Thanks! I was honest-to-God was surprised when I met CHENG and he wasn’t of Asian descent. 🤦‍♂️ I was so very, very young then. Didn’t fall for Fallopian Tube or a bucket of jet wash. I was green, but not stupid. ETA: Interesting fact: When an aircraft carrier is conducting flight ops, the Boss tells the CO where to steer the ship to ensure wind across deck. I assume with some politeness, but our Boss could be kind of…curt when you caught him in the wrong mood. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6979 "2026-04-06T22:38:35Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > …Didn’t fall for Fallopian Tube or a bucket of jet wash. I was green, but not stupid. How about “relative bearing grease” or a “coil of shoreline.” 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6980 "2026-04-06T22:42:35Z")
Brings back memories. I would say, “Of course, Petty Officer Dingbat.” and go hang out down in the Chief’s Mess and get free candy and sodas. After an hour or two, I’d come back and tell them I went all over the ship and couldn’t find it. 🙂 They never figured it out. I finally gave it up to my senior PO when I got my crow tacked on (Chief knew because he caught me in the mess one time - but he never ratted me out. Good Chief to have). You probably couldn’t get away with that on that on a sub though. Carriers are BIG. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6981 "2026-04-07T00:33:30Z")
> [@robby](#): > > “ENG” (pronounced like the first syllable of engineer) En? (I think I know what you mean, but it wouldn’t be the Straight Dope if we didn’t nitpick) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6982 "2026-04-07T00:58:53Z")
> [@robby](#): > > I have no earthly recollection of the actual names for the Navigator or Weapons Officer. Sulu and Chekov. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6983 "2026-04-07T04:33:16Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > [@robby](#): > > > > “ENG” (pronounced like the first syllable of engineer) > > En? > > (I think I know what you mean, but it wouldn’t be the Straight Dope if we didn’t nitpick) Pronounced like ENJ. IPA: /ɛndʒ/ Whereas I believe CHENG (Chief Engineer) is pronounced “chang”. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6984 "2026-04-16T10:40:02Z")
I was well into my teens before I realized **Tennessee Tuxedo and his _TALES_** was an oh-so-clever pun on “tails.” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6985 "2026-04-17T18:27:57Z")
In _Breaking Bad_, Walter and Skylar’s house has just one bathroom, which is only accessible from the master bedroom. Makes you (well, me, at least) wonder if Junior ever needed to go piss at 2am and just decided to use the kitchen sink so he wouldn’t catch his parents slapping bellies. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6986 "2026-04-17T20:35:54Z")
That whole interior set didn’t make a lot of sense. Both of the kids bedrooms had windows, so were they looking into the garage? The lack of a second bathroom bugged me when I was watching the show. Did they really know in season one that they needed Hank to use the master bath in that pivotal scene? Couldn’t they have at least made it a Jack and Jill bathroom? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=348) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=350)