# TV Rant too tiny for the pit: Dead People's Eyes - STOP IT! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826 "2010-01-13T20:01:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/1 "2010-01-13T20:01:15Z")
It’s not even a rant. It’s just a simple irritated publicly expressed bitch, and imparts information to those who are not aware of the facts. If a person dies with their eyes open, you cannot gently close them. Oh, wait… yes you can. And the minute you remove your fingers, they will open again. Even if you hold them for a second. Or two. Or five. Or press hard. It doesn’t work. That’s why they used to put coins on people’s eyes. Every time an otherwise well-done entertainment has someone do this, I’m instantly yanked out of the show and find my brain screaming: LIES! STOP THAT!!! I’m not here to discover or explain the physical reason this is true, I’m just telling you it is. I know it and always knew it, but then I had the direct experience when my sister died. She died after spending a day or two in a coma, and when she passed her eyelids were at half-mast. My other sister tried to close them and was startled when repeated attempts didn’t work. My mother and I enlightened her that this was not possible. And also explains why we traditionally cover the faces of the dead. When a person is dead with closed eyes, their dead face isn’t nearly as disturbing. But most people’s eyes are at least a little bit open after they die and it’s kinda creepy. (And if you disagree with my speculation…explain why we’re ok with looking right at them after the undertaker has made them look like they’re asleep? Dead and asleep look different, and it’s all in the eyes.) So Directors of The World: Please stop doing this. It completely screws with my suspension of disbelief and enjoyment of your film/tv show. Thank you. Grumble. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/2 "2010-01-13T20:03:47Z")
And here’s a question: WHY do they do this? We know it just messes with me and my enjoyment of the show, so I’m completely missing whatever it is I’m _supposed_ to be feeling when they do this. What is the point? What’s the message? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/3 "2010-01-13T20:08:13Z")
When my Mother in Law passed away in my home, with her eyes open, we closed them, gently and without difficulty. They did not reopen and she remained here for another 8 hrs. We were not in the room when she passed it was probably 30+ mins after her death that we shut her eyes. So, understandably, I’m a tad suspect of what you are saying here. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/4 "2010-01-13T20:11:17Z")
I’m sorry - I did not know that. I have been guilty of perpetuating this shorthand gesture, which up until know, I had no reason to believe wasn’t true. A simple explanation for it - it’s really hard to keep your eyes open on stage or on camera while pretending to be dead. Open, expressionless, dead looking eyes convey the moment of death remarkably well, but if the corpse is going to be onstage or in shot for very long, it’s a good idea to have someone close their eyes for them. Blinking tends to ruin the illusion… ---
**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:** [January 13, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/5 "2010-01-13T20:11:36Z")
Why on Earth does this matter? Next you’ll be complaining that they don’t actually kill actors who die on TV shows. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/6 "2010-01-13T20:30:09Z")
They do it on TV because it shows compassion for the dead. On _Big Love_ … Bill closes Roman’s dead eyes so you know that, even though they were adversaries, Bill still had some measure of respect for Roman. Not that it didn’t take me right out of the scene, Roman had been dead and frozen for days before Bill closed his eyes. I called BS out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/7 "2010-01-13T20:34:57Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > They do it on TV because it shows compassion for the dead. > > On _Big Love_ … > > Bill closes Roman’s dead eyes so you know that, even though they were adversaries, Bill still had some measure of respect for Roman. Not that it didn’t take me right out of the scene, Roman had been dead and frozen for days before Bill closed his eyes. I called BS out loud. That’s exactly what triggered this thread as the most insanely egregious example I think I’ve ever seen. In fact, I didn’t buy that they were that wide open to begin with! ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/8 "2010-01-13T21:18:47Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > That’s exactly what triggered this thread as the most insanely egregious example I think I’ve ever seen. In fact, I didn’t buy that they were that wide open to begin with! Well, Roman did die fighting for his life while being smothered with a pillow. I gave them a pass on that part. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/9 "2010-01-13T22:25:26Z")
My father died with his eyes open, and yup, every time I tried to close them they’d open up again. He was always a very stubborn man. My mother was not stubborn, and she had the grace to die with her eyes closed. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/10 "2010-01-13T22:40:10Z")
Heh, I knew you must have watched _Big Love_ this week. I just thought it was odd he was able to do that so easily, what with the body being frozen solid for several weeks. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/11 "2010-01-13T22:42:47Z")
My experience with my mom was similar to **elbows’** with his/her mother-in-law. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/12 "2010-01-13T23:31:27Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > That’s why they used to put coins on people’s eyes. I doubt that very much. > **[Yahoo Search - Web Search](https://search.yahoo.com/)** > > The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web. > [@](#): > > Charon, in Greek mythology, is the ferryman of the dead. The souls of the deceased are brought to him by Hermes, and Charon ferries them across the river Acheron. He only accepts the dead which are buried or burned with the proper rites, and if they pay him an obolus (coin) for their passage. For that reason a corpse had always an obolus 1 placed under the tongue. > > Those who cannot afford the passage, or are not admitted by Charon, are doomed to wander on the banks of the Styx for a hundred years. Living persons who wish to go to the underworld need a golden bough obtained from the Cumaean Sibyl. Charon is the son of Erebus and Nyx. He is depicted as an sulky old man, or as a winged demon carrying a double hammer. He is similar to the Etruscan (Charun). Obviously, people aren’t literally worshipping Charon. But the rite has held on across many cultures and, as far as I know, always for the same purpose: to honor the dead and ease the passage. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/13 "2010-01-14T00:16:57Z")
**Exapno Mapcase** , do you realize the quoted passage says absolutely nothing about coins on the eyes, or any need for more than one coin? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/14 "2010-01-14T00:23:50Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > When my Mother in Law passed away in my home, with her eyes open, we closed them, gently and without difficulty. They did not reopen and she remained here for another 8 hrs. Not to make light, but I mis-read that as 8_yrs_. I agree this is definitely a cliché that takes me out of the story. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/15 "2010-01-14T01:00:21Z")
I hate the sprinkler one worse. Shooting a gun at / holding a lighter to / shooting fire out of your hands at _one_ building sprinkler does not activate _every_ sprinkler in the building. It doesn’t even activate the one sitting next to it unless the glass element breaks on that one too. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/16 "2010-01-14T01:05:41Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I doubt that very much. > > [Yahoo Search - Web Search](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070323185932AAJa6U2) > > Obviously, people aren’t literally worshipping Charon. But the rite has held on across many cultures and, as far as I know, always for the same purpose: to honor the dead and ease the passage. [FYI](http://www.shroud.com/lombatti.htm): > [@](#): > > Certainly it is true that the Jews did not believe in the pagan practice of providing a tip for charon, or routinely putting coins on the eyelids of the corpse. two things were always done customarily among the jews at the time of death, however: namely, the eyes were closed and the chin was tied shut. **if a person dies with the eyelids open, they may have the rather disconcerting characteristic of opening again after they are shut. the nearly universal practice among many peoples for millennia has been to put coins on the eyes of the dead to keep the eyelids shut.** it would be rather ridiculous to think that the jews would not occasionally resort this very pragmatic practice when necessary and would simply take two small coins out of their purse to accomplish that. to randomly pull out two coins struck the same year would indicate that the event for which they were used was very close in time to when the coins were minted. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/17 "2010-01-14T01:07:20Z")
It can’t be any more difficult to have thunder follow lightning than it is to get it wrong and have them occur simultaneously. Dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/18 "2010-01-14T01:10:15Z")
So several people are saying the OP is wrong and they have been able to do this in RL, but that hasn’t been addressed. I’ve never had the experience myself, so I am curious. And if they do stay open no matter what, why is that? You said you weren’t interested in discovering/explaining the physical reason for it, but this is the Dope after all so I think we should investigate. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/19 "2010-01-14T01:18:34Z")
I wanted to add that when my father died, his eyes were halfway open and I immediately closed them with no problem. I did this right after they pronounced him gone. Not sure if it matters how soon you do it, but I closed his right away. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826/20 "2010-01-14T01:20:38Z")
I’d say it depends on the corpse. I’ve closed many eyes of the newly dead in my time. Sometimes they stay closed, and sometimes they don’t. I don’t put pennies on them, though. And now I have “Taxman” running through my head… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-rant-too-tiny-for-the-pit-dead-peoples-eyes-stop-it/524826.md?page=2)