# What is extremely common in TV or movies but almost never happens in real life? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2021, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311 "2021-02-06T04:16:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 110
**Author:** ![pipperroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@pipperroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pipperroo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2182 "2022-10-29T00:48:47Z")
I’ve never eaten Chinese takeout directly from the white boxes like they show on TV, but that’s either because I’m sharing with someone, Or that none of the asian restaurants in my area use the classic white fold up boxes ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2183 "2022-10-29T00:54:06Z")
That depends. For plain white rice the Asian restaurant who delivers to me will use the classic fold-up boxes. For larger entrees they use the foam plastic “clamshell” containers. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2184 "2022-10-29T08:04:47Z")
I think it was very common in the CRT days when they had wide edges. I worked in an office where everyone had and old, clunky one, and lots of notes. Some people even wrote notes with dry-erase markers. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2185 "2022-10-29T08:12:00Z")
When there was a take-out place two blocks from my college, that’s all they used. They sold cheap food to college students, who ordered one thing, and at lunch, the rice and entree went into one container. You got a fork, or chopsticks and napkin if you wanted, and stuck them in your pocket, and carried the thing home by the handle. This was at Gallaudet University, and none of the people who worked there spoke any English, but they could say “Please,” “Thank you,” “Wait few minutes,” “1 or 2” and a couple of other things in ASL. Mostly people just pointed to the picture menu. It was in the late 80s. ---
**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 29, 2022, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2186 "2022-10-29T12:46:56Z")
Growing up in the '50s and '60s, I remember Chinese takeout being exclusively sold in white fold-out containers. The last time I remember eating chow mein out of one was in August 1975. (I have a very specific reason for this.) I also remember things like pasta and chili takeaway being served in waxed cardboard tubs with close-fitting lids. Back in the '80s, I was watching an old episode of _ **The Untouchables** _ with Robert Stack and Jack Lord drinking their morning coffee out of such containers. It immediately brought back memories from my childhood. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2022, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2187 "2022-10-29T12:53:44Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The character provides the blood by making a huge slash across their palm. Despite this potentially pretty serious injury, the plot moves forward. The brothers on the show Supernatural must have had horribly scarred palms. Seems like they did that for one reason or another every other episode for 15 long seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Eclipse\_Chaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Eclipse\_Chaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eclipse_Chaser)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2188 "2022-10-29T13:58:47Z")
Klingons do that a lot. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2189 "2022-10-29T14:10:25Z")
You have made me curious. Why do you specifically remember this? ---
**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 29, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2190 "2022-10-29T14:17:05Z")
Subsequent bad memories of a personal nature. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2191 "2022-10-29T18:00:18Z")
> [@Eclipse\_Chaser](#): > > Klingons do that a lot. G’Kar did, but [only once](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oHtLmjKRbE&t=14s). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2192 "2022-10-29T20:36:20Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The character provides the blood by making a huge slash across their palm. Despite this potentially pretty serious injury, the plot moves forward. Yeah, that is one of the worst places to cut yourself. That meme will not die. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2022, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2193 "2022-10-30T01:31:35Z")
This is a really bad idea. This part of the anatomy is called “no man’s land” by some plastic surgeons. The problem is not just scars or blood loss or loss of touch, really, but also never being unable to bend your fingers again. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2022, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2194 "2022-10-30T01:37:15Z")
I’ve cut myself on my palm (accidentally, of course, usually while trying to cut something in the kitchen). The problem is that you need to open and close your hand throughout the day, and that tends to pull the wound open. Plus when I washed my hands, the bandage would get wet and need to be replaced. So, yes, if you just need some blood for some ritual, there are better places on one’s body. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2022, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2195 "2022-10-30T04:51:42Z")
And cuts on the palm are super painful! I never understand why they don’t just make a small cut on the back of their arm or something. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2022, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2196 "2022-10-30T08:35:06Z")
I suppose in the context, the character cutting their own hand is supposed to demonstrate how hardcore they are, but to me, it always makes them just look like a reckless idiot ---
**Author:** ![JohnnyEcks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnnyecks/32/18197_2.png) [@JohnnyEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnyEcks)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2197 "2022-10-30T15:23:44Z")
Wrist mounted weapons. In real life, nobody seriously straps a crossbow or retractable blade to their forearm. I guess it would be possible to do, but probably way more trouble than it would be worth. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2198 "2022-10-30T15:34:42Z")
When someone is using a laptop in movies or TV it is never plugged in. Even when they are sitting at a desk. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2022, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2199 "2022-10-30T16:13:30Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > And cuts on the palm are super painful! I never understand why they don’t just make a small cut on the back of their arm or something. The same reason people rack their weapon to make a point – it’s dramatic. ---
**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 31, 2022, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2200 "2022-10-31T13:27:52Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > the character cutting their own hand is supposed to demonstrate how hardcore they are Well, they also grasp hands to mingle the blood and presumably seal the bond - that is hard to pull off with a cut anywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2201 "2022-10-31T14:29:34Z")
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