# Retired tropes of yesteryear **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324 "2022-04-23T18:11:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/201 "2022-05-07T16:15:16Z")
You’re trapped in an elevator overnight with a case of wine. Where do you pee? _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/201))_ ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/202 "2022-05-07T16:17:04Z")
I’m sure the human bladder has a bigger capacity than a regular wine bottle, so I’d be wary to pee into one. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/203 "2022-05-07T16:22:21Z")
Since alcohol is a diuretic (i.e. extracts some of their existing body water) and they probably had partially full bladders to start, the total volume of urine would exceed the volume of wine they drank. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/204 "2022-05-07T17:45:17Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The “Trapped in an Elevator” trope was once used ro resolve a cliffhanger in _ **Dallas** _. It gave JR and Bobby an opportunity to air their differences and reach an understanding while they drank a whole case of wine overnight. > > Of course, this raised the obvious question of how they were going to relieve themselves until help arrived in the morning. The writers solved it very cleverly by having Bobby force open the doors as soon as the elevator stopped moving, which gave them the entire shaft to pee into. The book “Report to the Commissioner” had a scene with the hero and bad guy were trapped in an elevator. They ended up peeing in their pants. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2022, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/205 "2022-05-07T17:47:45Z")
Better than when Brian and Stewie were locked in a bank vault overnight. Yeccch! 🤢🤮 Still, I can’t imagine any of the Ewings peeing in their pants. They can afford to have someone clean up after them. **Fun Fact:** One of the Mercury astronauts (Alan Shepard, I think) had to request permission to pee in his spacesuit when his launch was delayed. In those early metallic suits, no provision was made for bodily functions, something that was rectified later. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/206 "2022-05-07T18:11:17Z")
I remember that bit from the movie The Right Stuff. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/207 "2022-05-07T20:10:04Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > Also, Mister Roberts Fulminate of mercury! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/208 "2022-05-07T20:48:39Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > We have a landline, but with multiple cordless phones, and I don’t think you can listen into a call on one handset from another. But I’ve never even tried. We still have our landline (with extension), and you _can_ listen to the other extension. But it’s pretty obvious when you pick up, so it’s not very stealthy. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/209 "2022-05-07T22:55:49Z")
I know it’s possible with standard corded phones, I was speaking about our [cordless phones](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage.jsp?id=pcat17071&st=best+buy+cordless+phones+panasonic). And I just checked, and they do let a second phone join the call. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/210 "2022-05-07T23:40:06Z")
Yeah, I was talking about cordless phones, too…since that’s what you mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2022, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/211 "2022-05-08T01:28:22Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > You’re trapped in an elevator overnight with a case of wine. Where do you pee? Other. I don’t drink…wine. So I won’t have an empty. I might pee on the floor as a “thank you” to the people that caused me to be trapped in their elevator that long. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2022, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/212 "2022-05-08T01:38:08Z")
Naw. Half liter at most. So a 750ml bottle will be fine. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2022, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/213 "2022-05-08T03:15:56Z")
In this case, size matters. (I’m talking about the spout here.) Peeing on the floor is just … gross! 🤢 ---
**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:** [May 9, 2022, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/214 "2022-05-09T12:32:19Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I’m sure the human bladder has a bigger capacity than a regular wine bottle, so I’d be wary to pee into one. The human bladder holds about a pint of liquid, as I recall from various sources. Unless you’re drinking your wine out of a mini-bottle or a mini-box, a wine bottle ought to be more than adequate. [Incontinence (Urinary & Bowel): Types, Causes, Treatments](https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/picture-of-the-bladder#:~:text=The%20bladder%20stores%20urine%2C%20allowing,bladder%20is%20400%2D600%20mL). That says 400-600 ml. A pint is 473 ml ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/215 "2022-05-09T13:32:09Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Naw. Half liter at most. So a 750ml bottle will be fine. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > The human bladder holds about a pint of liquid, as I recall from various sources. Unless you’re drinking your wine out of a mini-bottle or a mini-box, a wine bottle ought to be more than adequate. > > [The Bladder (Human Anatomy): Function, Picture, Location, Definition](https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/picture-of-the-bladder#:~:text=The%20bladder%20stores%20urine%2C%20allowing,bladder%20is%20400%2D600%20mL). > > That says 400-600 ml. A pint is 473 ml Color me surprised. I could have sworn that I’ve peed much more than half a liter in one go, especially after having had some beers. But of course I’ve never measured. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2022, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/216 "2022-05-09T14:41:25Z")
I’m often surprised, interested and amused at the digressions and side paths that a thread can take, and this one is no exception. From “Retired tropes” to closing in on a couple dozen posts on the pros, cons and feasibility of peeing in empty wine bottles when trapped in an elevator. Bravo! 👏 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/217 "2022-05-09T23:56:17Z")
Is is possible for a woman to pee into a wine bottle without a funnel? It’s a test I won’t be making any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2022, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/218 "2022-05-10T00:30:51Z")
Sorry to disrupt the discussion of peeing into bottles, but getting back to the OP, what about the one where a character has to complete some long, difficult task, finally finishes, only to have someone say “Why didn’t you just [use some much easier/faster method]?” That one goes back to Laurel and Hardy’s famous “piano movers” sketch, if not earlier. But I can’t recall seeing that gag recently. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/219 "2022-05-11T19:28:27Z")
Just encountered one in the wild. Was watching 1999s Big Daddy and there was a plot point where Adam Sandler and his son argue about what TV program to watch since there’s only one TV in the house. I remember this would be an entire episode plot for a sitcom, almost always “One person wants to watch a super important sports event (usually the Super Bowl) but someone else keeps monopolizing the TV to watch something else”. All in the Family, Full House, and Family Matters all did this. I really forget when having multiple TVs in the house became a norm in fiction. In my current life I literally have more HDTVs in my house than people to watch them, not even counting my 2 separate computer monitors and all the phones/tablets. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324/220 "2022-05-11T19:31:07Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I really forget when having multiple TVs in the house became a norm in fiction. Back to the Future had the point about Marty’s 1985 family having two TVs, and Lorraine’s 1955 family saying “no one has two TVs”. On the other hand, I bet the Simpsons still only have the one TV, and it is probably still a CRT. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-tropes-of-yesteryear/963324.md?page=12)