# things that only work on tv **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 8, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900 "2016-10-08T01:25:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/41 "2016-10-09T05:05:36Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Also, car keys in the sun visor. Who the hell does that? And if the keys aren’t there you just hot-wire it. It’s really easy. I’ve seen them do it on TV. You just reach under the dash by the steering wheel until you feel a couple wires. Yank on them real hard and you’ll end up with exactly two wire ends with the insulation off on each of them. Touch them together and they’ll spark twice then immediately start the car. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/42 "2016-10-09T14:25:18Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Not only that, after they knock the guy out, they take their sweet time doing whatever it is they need to do, as if the guy they knocked out is taking a 4 hour nap. On the original _ **Mission: Impossible** _, they could knock someone out with a drug and know almost to the second how long he’d be out. In the meantime, they’d get on with their business (planting bugs, photographing documents, recovering stolen plutonium) and exit the scene just before the bad guy came out of it. ---
**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:** [October 9, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/43 "2016-10-09T14:28:20Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Me (totally regaining my disbelief): Bwha? Hey, it was a hunch! Had to be, had to be! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/44 "2016-10-09T14:39:51Z")
Grrr! > [@](#): > > Also, car keys in the sun visor. Who the hell does that? Actually, I have a friend who does. He has a whole bunch of very old but still driveable cars which he insures for a pittance (anything over twenty years old has a “collectible” rate, or something like that) for people to borrow. On those cars, he’ll frequently leave the keys under the sun visor and tell the friend requesting a car, “Take the Toyota, keys are under the visor.” Mind you, he doesn’t do this with the cars he uses for his personal/family use. Also, this has been pretty much SOP with a number of mechanics I’ve used when they expect us to pick up your car after they have fixed it. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/45 "2016-10-09T14:57:50Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > “Men being able to somehow maintain a perfectly groomed five o’clock shadow of stubble, 24/7” > The Don Johnson Syndrome. No one did it better. > > Dennis I had a great-uncle who virtually always had a 2- or 3-day growth of stubble. He never grew a beard, but I may have twice in 20 years seen him actually clean-shaven. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/46 "2016-10-09T14:59:55Z")
Five minutes of practice at something that you have never tried before makes you able to win a contest. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/47 "2016-10-09T15:04:56Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Well, depending on your definition of “related,” that pretty much cinches it. How? There is only one gun of each caliber in all of Hawaii? ---
**Author:** ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/48 "2016-10-09T15:41:26Z")
People that guess the correct password in a minute. And it’s always something that makes sense, like a name or number sequence. It’s never complex like: P+99X44? “Wait, wasn’t his daughter’s dog named **Fluffy**? Try that!!!” “It worked!!” ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/49 "2016-10-09T15:45:53Z")
Big one is hacking. Apparently it only takes 5 seconds of random keyboarding to break into any computer and maybe another 10 seconds to gain access to top secret spy satellites. Also nobody ever chooses a password longer than six letters using a word found in the dictionary. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/50 "2016-10-09T15:51:13Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Precision long range shots from a revolver. Very possible. Lots of trained people can do it. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/51 "2016-10-09T16:29:07Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > “But weren’t you convicted of multiple rapes?” > “OBJECTION!” > [steps back, showing two palms] “Withdrawn.” And the clever 30 second closing statements instead of the long rehashing of every point of the case like closing statements really are. Cops work 24 hours a day. Night time. Day time. Holidays. 7 days a week. No one cares about getting overtime. Bosses don’t care about giving overtime. It’s only money right? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/52 "2016-10-09T20:09:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by AncientHumanoid View Post > Precision long range shots from a revolver. > [@RikWriter](#): > > Very possible. Lots of trained people can do it. Long range? Many revolvers (I won’t say all!) have intrinsic windage: even if you locked the gun in a gun-vise, the shots will scatter to a certain degree. You can’t compensate for this, no matter what your skill. (Now, hand me a Buntline Special, and the effect will be quite a bit less!) ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/53 "2016-10-09T20:24:24Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Long range? Many revolvers (I won’t say all!) have intrinsic windage: even if you locked the gun in a gun-vise, the shots will scatter to a certain degree. You can’t compensate for this, no matter what your skill. > > (Now, hand me a Buntline Special, and the effect will be quite a bit less!) And yet I’ve seen people make shots with revolvers at up to 100 yards. And what do you mean they have “intrinsic windage?” Windage is the horizontal drift of the bullet. How do you have intrinsic horizontal drift? I have never heard that term before. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/54 "2016-10-10T19:23:51Z")
The hero will be in hot pursuit of the villain down an alley, when invariably a delivery truck will pull out between the hero and the villain, allowing the bad guy to escape. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/55 "2016-10-10T20:31:13Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > And yet I’ve seen people make shots with revolvers at up to 100 yards. May I ask where? 'Cause I can’t even _see_ the target at 100 yards. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/56 "2016-10-10T20:35:34Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > May I ask where? 'Cause I can’t even _see_ the target at 100 yards. Hell, _I_ can do it. and here’s others: > **[Throwback Thursday—Long Range Pistol Shooting - The Shooter's Log](https://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/long-range-pistol-shooting/)** > > Many don't believe you can shoot beyond 50-80 yards with a handgun. With the right handgun, ammo and training you could go to 200 yards, or beyond. [http://rugerforum.net/ruger-double-action/25268-100-yd-revolvers.html](http://rugerforum.net/ruger-double-action/25268-100-yd-revolvers.html) > **[The Long Shot - Handguns](https://www.handgunsmag.com/editorial/tactics_training_shot_022305/138904)** > > Pushing the limits of the service pistol ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/57 "2016-10-10T20:37:42Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > I don’t know what world TV folks live in but there are certain tropes that would never work in real life and everyone knows it. Like for example the idea that a smoker can hide their smoking from non-smokers. Tobacco smoke is so insidious that it is impossible to cover up. Yet we constantly see smokers act like its possible. Well, I did it for 4-5 years. And I’m certain that from the time we met, got engaged and married, my wife didn’t know that I smoked. So, I can’t agree with your premise. (FYI, we’re still married and I don’t smoke anymore.) ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/58 "2016-10-10T20:54:35Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Precision long range shots from a revolver. Mannix! Not just a revolver, but the classic TV detective snub nose .38. Our hero is in a jeep on a bouncy jungle road, being chase by bad guys. He takes careful aim (pretty sure he wasn’t driving) and puts a single shot into the pursuing vehicle’s radiator, immediately disabling that jeep. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/59 "2016-10-10T21:01:28Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Hell, _I_ can do it. > > and here’s others: > > [Throwback Thursday—Long Range Pistol Shooting - The Shooter's Log](http://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/long-range-pistol-shooting/) > > [100 yd. + revolvers? | Ruger Forum](http://rugerforum.net/ruger-double-action/25268-100-yd-revolvers.html) > > [The Long Shot - Handguns](http://www.handgunsmag.com/tactics-training/tactics_training_shot_022305/) Wow. Some talented shooters with special weapons. Impressive. But, your last cite says: > [@](#): > > Handguns by their very nature are difficult to shoot well, compared to rifles. They lack penetration and have lackluster terminal performance and limited magazine capacity. On top of this, their range is limited, and most standard service rounds are easily defeated by body armor. > > Simply put, what it takes a master handgunner to accomplish with a tuned pistol, most any rifle shooter with a modicum of training can easily better with a rack-grade AKM. This is reality. And the target in the picture is nowhere near 100 yards. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900/60 "2016-10-10T21:21:29Z")
The slam on the brakes perfect 180 U-turn seems commonplace. Is it that easy? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-only-work-on-tv/767900.md?page=4)