# Stuff people never do in films. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 12, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013 "2005-04-12T20:40:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/21 "2005-04-13T00:40:32Z")
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > Think of all the scenes with people in phone booths looking up a number. But when they find it, they always rip the page out of the phonebook. Who does that??? ---
**Author:** ![MrsMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@MrsMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrsMonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/22 "2005-04-13T00:43:49Z")
> [@singular1](#): > > One thing that drives me nuts - they don’t close > the freakin’ _door_! I hate seeing someone come in to a house or apartment and just leave the damn door hanging open, and it seems like they do that in half the movies I see anymore. Totally agree! That’s driven me nuts for as long as I can remember!!! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/23 "2005-04-13T01:13:22Z")
Being pregnant! Unless the pregnancy/birth is a major plot point. Not only is the leading lady not pregnant, but nobody she encounters–friends, coworkers, neighbors–just happens to be visibly pregnant. _Fargo_ is notable for violating this convention. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/24 "2005-04-13T01:26:14Z")
> [@Agrippina](#): > > In **A Clockwork Orange** , there’s a shot of Alex going to the bathroom. And he’s eating a sandwich while doing so. I’m not sure if that’s very wise, but neither is participating in ultra-violence. Are you sure about that? I know that movie pretty well and I can’t recall that scene. I remember him walking back to bed from the bathroom when he sees Mr. Deltoid in another room, but I don’t remember a sandwich being in the bathroom with him. I also recall later when he’s in the bathroom but he’s in the tub, and there’s no sandwich in that scene. There _is_ a pissing scene in **Panic Room**. I remember thinking “Huh. Jodie Foster pissing.” Of course, most everything in this thread I’ll accept in a movie rather than waste my time seeing it. Who wants to watch a character get out his wallet, pay for the cab, wait for his change, etc? Or wait for the bus? Or look for parking? Or light a cigarette, shake his lighter, walk to the store, buy another one, then light the cigarette? If you leave all that in, you’ve got **Brown Bunny**. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/25 "2005-04-13T01:30:51Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > Are you sure about that? I know that movie pretty well and I can’t recall that scene. I remember him walking back to bed from the bathroom when he sees Mr. Deltoid in another room, but I don’t remember a sandwich being in the bathroom with him. I also recall later when he’s in the bathroom but he’s in the tub, and there’s no sandwich in that scene. > > There _is_ a pissing scene in **Panic Room**. I remember thinking “Huh. Jodie Foster pissing.” > Of course, most everything in this thread I’ll accept in a movie rather than waste my time seeing it. Who wants to watch a character get out his wallet, pay for the cab, wait for his change, etc? Or wait for the bus? Or look for parking? Or light a cigarette, shake his lighter, walk to the store, buy another one, then light the cigarette? If you leave all that in, you’ve got **Brown Bunny**. Yes, but in the _Brown Bunny_ you’ve also got an oral sex scene as well. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/26 "2005-04-13T01:37:17Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Yes, but in the _Brown Bunny_ you’ve also got an oral sex scene as well. I’ll save you the price of admission: :o “Oh-ahhhh!” :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/27 "2005-04-13T02:33:57Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > And their cigarrettes light first time, Every time. Not in Four Rooms. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/28 "2005-04-13T02:37:41Z")
> [@TV time](#): > > I would be willing to bet there is a website dealing with just this. [You have but to Google, my child, and it is so.](http://www.patches.net/page/pml/intro.htm) (Home page is work-safe but mentions adult content.) ---
**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:** [April 13, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/29 "2005-04-13T02:38:19Z")
When people in movies finish a phone call, they _never_ say goodbye. I didn’t believe it when someone told me about it years ago, but it’s true. Keep an eye out next time you watch a movie. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/30 "2005-04-13T02:45:54Z")
Nobody ever turns on the TV or the radio while it’s in the middle of another program or in the middle of the program or program segment they actually want to see or listen to. For example, the exact news story they want to see or hear will _always_ start at the _exact_ moment the TV or radio is turned on. ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/31 "2005-04-13T02:52:06Z")
> [@Ghanima](#): > > Yawning. Zoning-out-staring. Picking their nose. Blowing their nose. Having allergies. Having their period. That period thing drives me nuts, especially in movies where a woman is in some kind of situation where she’s on the run with no purse, etc. All those survival movies make me nervous. Not only is she miles from the nearest tampax, she’s got a hot guy hanging around all the time. Next thing you know they’re going to be having sex and ??? Even if she is lucky enough to not be menstruating, surely she wishes for a little rinse before joe handsome makes his move. I always figure that’s why there’s so much sexual tension and she resists him for so long. ---
**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 13, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/32 "2005-04-13T03:01:00Z")
Another thing about the movies is that in any group of people in a movie everyone will have a unique first and last name. You virtually never run across a situation where two characters are both coincidentally named Tom for example. ---
**Author:** ![BigDummy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@BigDummy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDummy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/33 "2005-04-13T03:05:09Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > Being pregnant! Unless the pregnancy/birth is a major plot point. Not only is the leading lady not pregnant, but nobody she encounters–friends, coworkers, neighbors–just happens to be visibly pregnant. **50 First Dates** , Maya Rudolph’s character is only in one scene, and she’s pregnant. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/34 "2005-04-13T03:27:05Z")
> [@Ghanima](#): > > Yawning. Zoning-out-staring. Picking their nose. Blowing their nose. Having allergies. Having their period. iirc, _Lost in Translation_ has the first two. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/35 "2005-04-13T04:44:27Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > Are you sure about that? I know that movie pretty well and I can’t recall that scene. I remember him walking back to bed from the bathroom when he sees Mr. Deltoid in another room, but I don’t remember a sandwich being in the bathroom with him. I also recall later when he’s in the bathroom but he’s in the tub, and there’s no sandwich in that scene. When Alex comes back from his night of ultraviolence early in the movie, there’s a brief shot of him peeing before he settles into his bedroom. I don’t remember a sammitch being present though. (In the scene you’re thinking of, he’s walking from his bedroom, not the bathroom.) ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/36 "2005-04-13T04:51:56Z")
Oh yeah … forgot to reply to thread. Just for once, I’d like to see a movie character using a computer make a typing error. You never, ever, ever see it! ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/37 "2005-04-13T05:31:13Z")
> [@Podkayne](#): > > But when they find it, they always rip the page out of the phonebook. Who does that??? Everyone, apparently. I can say that I honestly have not seen a phone book at a pay phone that has had the pages for Taxi left intact, since perhaps the 1960s. Gee, it’s not like anybody else would wonder what the number for a taxi is. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/38 "2005-04-13T09:40:43Z")
> [@Podkayne](#): > > But when they find it, they always rip the page out of the phonebook. Who does that??? I knew this would be the reply. As soon as I read the other post I was thinking of Back to the Future, where Marty rips the page out and he’s reading it in front of the cafe owner. Isn’t the owner bothered that someone just defaced their property! ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/39 "2005-04-13T09:45:27Z")
Stuff _computers_ never do in films… be quiet. Why oh why do filmmakers insist on portraying computers as beep-happy? Even stealth devices beep! What is going on? A computer needs to make stupid noises otherwise it doesn’t work??? ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013/40 "2005-04-13T11:13:02Z")
People in movies never finish restaurant meals. They take a couple of bites, and then it’s time to go. When they go, if it’s in a diner or café, they leave money on the table that they assume will cover the bill (and hopefully the tip), and walk out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-people-never-do-in-films/299013.md?page=3)