# 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:** 139
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2762 "2023-09-03T01:15:21Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And I regularly hear people on TV shows referring to the “freeway” but again, that’s a California-ism. No, it’s not. I’ve lived in the Midwest all my life and “freeway” is a very common term. In contrast to “tollways”, which we also have. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2763 "2023-09-03T01:20:50Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > Sometimes in the US lima beans are green. Sometimes they’re big and beige. A couple years ago my sister sent me some heirloom lima beans that were brown and white in a sort of pinto motif. There are a LOT of different beans out there! ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2764 "2023-09-03T02:24:54Z")
the thread has run for so long that I cant recall if it was already posted: smoking in bed after sex … was that really a thing IRL? … that feels like high-fiving or so 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2765 "2023-09-03T03:23:15Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > smoking in bed after sex … was that really a thing IRL? It was a way to show a couple had just had sex, without showing the sex part. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2766 "2023-09-03T03:30:41Z")
I don’t know: I’ve never checked (to steal a line from Austin Powers). ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2767 "2023-09-03T06:33:40Z")
People get into a fist fight in a public place, and spectators watching the fight put up their own fists and mimic the fighters punches during the excitement. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2768 "2023-09-03T19:34:16Z")
Women in movies will frequently talk at the gym completely topless for long periods of time ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2769 "2023-09-03T20:19:23Z")
Where are you seeing that? ---
**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:** [September 3, 2023, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2770 "2023-09-03T21:23:15Z")
In the sauna, but they’re usually wrapped in towels. > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg4JXXVB4uU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg4JXXVB4uU) ---
**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:** [September 4, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2771 "2023-09-04T00:39:23Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Women in movies will frequently talk at the gym completely topless for long periods of time That is weirdly specific. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2023, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2772 "2023-09-04T01:07:25Z")
They’re real and they’re spectacular! 😍 ---
**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:** [September 4, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2773 "2023-09-04T01:24:28Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > smoking in bed after sex … was that really a thing IRL? Only if the sex was extremely vigorous. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2774 "2023-09-04T02:28:18Z")
Every single “Guys movie” in the 80s and 90s would have a scene of hot babes casually talking naked in the locker room. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2775 "2023-09-04T13:52:46Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > the thread has run for so long that I cant recall if it was already posted: > > smoking in bed after sex … was that really a thing IRL? … that feels like high-fiving or so > > 😉 It was ImyRL. At least in a hotel room. I never smoked in my house. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2776 "2023-09-04T20:17:27Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > smoking in bed after sex … was that really a thing IRL? … that feels like high-fiving or so Yes, it was, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth in my youth, and everyone smoked everywhere. The two best smokes were the cigarette after sex and the cigarette after a meal. If I had ever had a meal while having sex, I don’t know if I could have endured the nicotine fit it would have triggered. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2777 "2023-09-04T22:10:09Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > If I had ever had a meal while having sex… This was the era of edible panties, was it not? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2778 "2023-09-04T22:29:45Z")
Now you’re thinking! ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2023, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2779 "2023-09-10T23:38:56Z")
“You’ll know it when you see it.” Does anybody ever actually use that in real life? “I’ll text you when I’m ready” is a much more realistic signal. Even for the kind of people who attack enemy airbases, I’m sure they actually say “when you see the fuel depot go up…” instead of leaving their colleagues guessing when to rush the gate. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2780 "2023-09-10T23:44:02Z")
Heh. Reminds me of the go-to suspense-builder filler you’ll see from time to time in, say, this or that iteration of STAR TREK: “Captain, you should come down here.” “What is it?” “…something you should see for yourself.” ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2781 "2023-09-10T23:55:38Z")
From _Greg the Bunny_: > **Junction Jack** : We’re going to Greg’s house. > **Count Blah** : What? Why? > **Jack** : No time to explain! > **Count Blah** : What are you talking about? It’s a forty-minute drive to his house! There’s plenty of time to explain! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311.md?page=138) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311.md?page=140)