# 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:** 145
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2882 "2023-10-02T20:05:58Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > A cop/investigator shows up to a crime scene of a man who was just shot to death and upon seeing the bullets wounds exclaims “9mm, the same bullet wounds as the last guy, it must be related!” > > Two things, great detective work guessing the most commonly used bullet in crime, second how exactly do you know it’s not 38 special, or .380, or .40, or .45? A .45 does make a somewhat bigger hole- altho of course you cant always tell that. But yeah, .38, .357 , .380, etc all are more or less the same diameter as 9mm. You cant tell them apart with getting the bullet,. and even then, its not 100%, ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2883 "2023-10-02T20:06:39Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > The biting the lip thing reminded me - I’m not sure it shows up in lots of movies, but some Stephen King characters inevitably clench their hands so hard, they leave bloody fingernail marks in the palms. It happens quite often in his books. And sometimes _their nipples harden with anger._ (Actual thing he wrote.) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2884 "2023-10-02T21:51:40Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > And sometimes _their nipples harden with anger._ > > (Actual thing he wrote.) [Humphrey Bogart] So, are you really angry, or are you just happy to see me? [/HB] ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2885 "2023-10-02T22:12:01Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > A chick biting her lower lip looks uber-hot! Only if she has glasses on, and possibly red hair. ---
**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 2, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2886 "2023-10-02T22:47:30Z")
Like this: 🥰 [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9d/Velma_Dinkley.png) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9d/Velma_Dinkley.png) ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2887 "2023-10-03T03:41:45Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > yeah, .38, .357 , .380, etc Rerun of a program on TV the other night and the detective said it was a 32 ACP. Then mentioned it was favored by James Bond. All from looking at a corpse. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2888 "2023-10-03T18:49:04Z")
Well, the problem was that there was another really strong psychic who wanted to see her fail, so mentally shouted out the wrong answer ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2889 "2023-10-06T03:56:28Z")
A psychiatrist sole job in therapy is to force their patient to utter a Freudian slip or random outburst which will automatically make the patient realize the solution to all their problems. “So how does your family make you feel?” “JUST LEAVE MY MOTHER OUT OF THIS… oh, it’s all because of mistrust of my own mother!” ---
**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 6, 2023, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2890 "2023-10-06T04:03:07Z")
Enough with those negative waves! ---
**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 6, 2023, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2891 "2023-10-06T05:57:01Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Asuka](#): > > > > A cop/investigator shows up to a crime scene of a man who was just shot to death and upon seeing the bullets wounds exclaims “9mm, the same bullet wounds as the last guy, it must be related!” > > > > Two things, great detective work guessing the most commonly used bullet in crime, second how exactly do you know it’s not 38 special, or .380, or .40, or .45? > > A .45 does make a somewhat bigger hole- altho of course you cant always tell that. But yeah, .38, .357 , .380, etc all are more or less the same diameter as 9mm. You cant tell them apart with getting the bullet,. and even then, its not 100%, On a body the hole doesn’t remain a neat little hole. It’s not like hitting a paper target. You can’t even guess the caliber by looking at the hole in a body. I’ve seen enough of them to know that. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2892 "2023-10-06T12:35:33Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > On a body the hole doesn’t remain a neat little hole. It’s not like hitting a paper target. Well, except in old Dick Tracy comic strips. And al Capp’ s parody of him, Fearless Fosdick > **[Fearless Fosdick by Al Capp](https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Fosdick-Al-Capp/dp/0878161082)** > > Fearless Fosdick \[Al Capp, Max Allan Collins\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Fearless Fosdick ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2023, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2893 "2023-10-08T08:17:28Z")
Moderating: > [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > > [@terentii](#): > > > > A chick biting her lower lip looks uber-hot! > > Only if she has glasses on, and possibly red hair. @terentii , @Dallas_Jones , please don’t hijack this thread with daydreaming about hot women. In addition to being a hijack, it makes the actual women participating in the thread uncomfortable. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2894 "2023-10-14T22:06:58Z")
I think I perused the whole thread, but I do not remember if this one was mentioned that I just happened to see. People recruited for mission on the same day as when it occurs like: “We need you because x-reason” “OK I will do it” “Alright, we are leaving in 4 hours.” No consideration with having them know the plan, help with the preparation, know anything about the team, nothing. They just show up 15 minutes before, and know everything and are completely prepared. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2895 "2023-10-14T22:28:29Z")
Yeah, the movie 6 Days about the SAS rescue of the hostages at the Iranian Embassy goes through great lengths to show how much planning and preparation goes into an actual special ops mission. The only possible thing you can do on short notice is if they just need a warm body somewhere for like perimeter security or observation. You’re not being second-in-command at short notice. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2896 "2023-10-15T08:47:39Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > Usually one character will ask another “you ok? You seem awfully stressed out about something”. “No, not at all! Everything’s perfectly fine (forces a strained smile but suddenly the glass they’re holding shatters). > > Does his hand bleed profusely from all the broken glass embedded in it? > > I know you can jump through a window without getting cut to ribbons by the glass. People do it all the time on TV and in the movies. In _Django Unchained_, Leonardo DiCaprio slams his fist down on a table at a pivotal scene. He broke a glass doing so, and lacerated his hand quite badly. He kept performing the scene, however, and that was the take they used in the finished film. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2897 "2023-10-15T14:41:15Z")
Though I have seen it happen frequently in movies and TV, I have never in real life been in a bar and had someone show up and buy drinks for everyone in the place. ---
**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 15, 2023, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2898 "2023-10-15T15:19:50Z")
It’s a very long thread, so apologies if this was mentioned. But I’ve seen people in movies or TV shows hit an elevator button that stops the cab where it is, even if that’s between floors. Presumably this is some sort of emergency stop button, but I haven’t seen one. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2899 "2023-10-15T15:42:58Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > I have never in real life been in a bar and had someone show up and buy drinks for everyone in the place. After I hit my weight goal, I walked into the local watering hole, annnd… …counted the number of people and said “No way.” Bought myself some good scotch on the rocks, instead. ---
**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 15, 2023, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2900 "2023-10-15T16:48:27Z")
Anybody ever thrown a punch in a bar and started a brawl? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2023, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/2901 "2023-10-15T16:59:38Z")
Never threw a punch, never got punched, never even witnessed a bar brawl although I often went to some rather shady rock clubs and bars in my youth. [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=144) [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=146)