# Stupid decisions made by a character in a book or movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-decisions-made-by-a-character-in-a-book-or-movie/462794 "2008-09-09T16:16:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-decisions-made-by-a-character-in-a-book-or-movie/462794/81 "2008-09-15T20:57:41Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > I means he told her attackers she’d be home alone because he’d be away on errands at the time. > > Cohabiting on the same farm with the mentally challenged man that raped her. But did he know (or should he reasonably have known) that they intended he violence (of whatever stripe)? ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-decisions-made-by-a-character-in-a-book-or-movie/462794/82 "2008-09-15T21:25:59Z")
I’m sure there are zillions for Star Wars. But one that’s always mystified me since I first saw the movie. “Rather than attack the thermal exhaust port from the top, let’s skim down this super-long trench filled with laser cannon and little room to maneuver should ships get behind us?” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-decisions-made-by-a-character-in-a-book-or-movie/462794/83 "2008-09-16T01:54:34Z")
> [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > Or better yet have the hero say “You’re not worth it…but fuck it.” and blow the villain away. Whehter you’re a fan of 24 or not, the episode where Jack kills Nina in cold blood while she’s mortally wounded and helpless is probably what most of us would do if given the chance to the person that \*murdered your wife and has been a constant source of threat and danger since then. \* I’d suggest that you could get your wish if you watched _Sidehackers_ [(AKA _Five the Hard Way_, apparently)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061671/), but, not to put too fine a point on it, it wouldn’t be worth it. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-decisions-made-by-a-character-in-a-book-or-movie/462794/84 "2008-09-16T02:00:56Z")
Dangit, my response was supposed to be to **Scumpup**. > [@Scumpup](#): > > Every hero in every action movie who had the villain at his mercy, then turned away saying “you’re not worth it” or something similar instead of killing him. The villain, of course, makes one last failed attempt to kill the hero at that point. Just once, just once, I’d like to see the hero catch a bullet in the back of the skull for doing that and the villain go on to triumph. Sometimes stupid should be lethal. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-decisions-made-by-a-character-in-a-book-or-movie/462794/85 "2008-09-16T03:57:21Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > I’m sure there are zillions for Star Wars. But one that’s always mystified me since I first saw the movie. > > “Rather than attack the thermal exhaust port from the top, let’s skim down this super-long trench filled with laser cannon and little room to maneuver should ships get behind us?” But you need that approach for the torpedo laser thingies. Also, you would risk targeting from more and bigger guns at altitude… You can close distance on turrents much faster on a tube horizon, as well as use the tube to your own advantage and cover … they miss and they hit their own deathstar. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-decisions-made-by-a-character-in-a-book-or-movie/462794/86 "2008-09-16T04:07:45Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > But you need that approach for the torpedo laser thingies. Also, you would risk targeting from more and bigger guns at altitude… You can close distance on turrents much faster on a tube horizon, as well as use the tube to your own advantage and cover … they miss and they hit their own deathstar. Anyway, it’s not impossible. Luke used to bullseye womp rats in his T-16 back home, they’re not much bigger than two meters. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-decisions-made-by-a-character-in-a-book-or-movie/462794/87 "2008-09-16T04:39:05Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > My favorite: Poltergeist. > > The family has just saved the daughter from the demon inside the TV - you know, the whole pulling the rope through the ceiling thing. > > They’ve decided to move out of the house IMMEDIATELY. > > But… not before Dad goes out somewhere, Mom puts the two kids to bed **in the same room where the daughter disappeared once before** , and then goes to take a bath to relax. > > I mean, seriously, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot??? Hey, didn’t you hear the medium? “This house is clean.” What else could possibly go wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-decisions-made-by-a-character-in-a-book-or-movie/462794/88 "2008-09-16T06:34:14Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > I’m sure there are zillions for Star Wars. But one that’s always mystified me since I first saw the movie. > > “Rather than attack the thermal exhaust port from the top, let’s skim down this super-long trench filled with laser cannon and little room to maneuver should ships get behind us?” My theory is that the trench meant that they could approach the Death Star from whichever angle had the least point defenses or worst sensor coverage, and then fly below the fire arcs of the heaviest gun batteries to their target. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-decisions-made-by-a-character-in-a-book-or-movie/462794/89 "2008-09-16T06:43:26Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I’d suggest that you could get your wish if you watched _Sidehackers_ [(AKA _Five the Hard Way_, apparently)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061671/), but, not to put too fine a point on it, it wouldn’t be worth it. Seen it…on MST3K. I can’t count MST3K movies because well…they usually involve \*\*\*deep hurting. \*\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-decisions-made-by-a-character-in-a-book-or-movie/462794/90 "2008-09-16T17:09:11Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > But did he know (or should he reasonably have known) that they intended he violence (of whatever stripe)? Yes. The farmhand promised the father of the raped woman that it wouldn’t happen again, not as in ‘I messed up’ but as in ‘she is now under my protection’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-decisions-made-by-a-character-in-a-book-or-movie/462794.md?page=4)