# 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:** 161
**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:** [January 25, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3202 "2024-01-25T17:44:08Z")
On TV and movies, _every_ animal that ever gets screen time makes its characteristic sound all the time. Dog barks, cat meows, cow moos, bird caws (though mostly the caw of a different bird, but a generic caw is sufficient for Hollywood), lion roars, horse neighs, you name it, the fact most animals enounce rarely in real life notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3203 "2024-01-25T17:45:36Z")
That probably comes from beagles, who won’t shut up no matter how much you try. For actual hunts, it’s a feature, not a bug. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3204 "2024-01-25T18:34:12Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > On TV and movies, _every_ animal that ever gets screen time makes its characteristic sound all the time “Buggerit!” said Old Foul Ron. That is not my cow! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3205 "2024-01-25T20:07:25Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > On TV and in movies - search dogs are always barking loudly. You would think that they would be quiet so that the “prey” (not wanting to be found) would not be alerted? It’s kind of like “sneaking up” on suspects with lights and sirens all ablaze on your cop car. > [@garygnu](#): > > That probably comes from beagles, who won’t shut up no matter how much you try. Heh, most hounds. Dachshunds are notorious barkers, and one of ours was a spurlauter and was LOUD. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2024, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3206 "2024-01-25T20:56:18Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > On TV and movies, _every_ animal that ever gets screen time makes its characteristic sound all the time. Dog barks, cat meows, cow moos, bird caws (though mostly the caw of a different bird, but a generic caw is sufficient for Hollywood), lion roars, horse neighs, you name it, the fact most animals enounce rarely in real life notwithstanding. What does the fox say? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3207 "2024-01-25T20:59:39Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > What does the fox say? “Go away,creep. I have a boyfriend.” ---
**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:** [January 25, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3208 "2024-01-25T21:31:06Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > What does the fox say? Foxes never come up in the programs and movies I see… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3209 "2024-01-25T21:47:19Z")
TIL MGM’s [Leo the Lion uses a tiger’s roar](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nrLyllumxts&pp=ygUNbWdtIGxpb24gcm9hcg%3D%3D). [Lions’ roar](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5rf4LGT_GMg&pp=ygUVbGlvbiBsaW5jb2xuIHBhcmsgem9v) have less snarl and sound more like [bulls’ bellowing](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oAPHRPdguA0&pp=ygUPYnVsbHMgYmVsbG93aW5n). ---
**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:** [January 25, 2024, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3210 "2024-01-25T23:27:12Z")
Forgive me if this one was already mentioned. When two people are about to make spontaneous passionate love, they dramatically sweep everything off a table or counter before getting to it. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2024, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3211 "2024-01-25T23:46:24Z")
Has anyone here ever had sex on a table? Or knows someone who did? I can never figure out how this works, logistically. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3212 "2024-01-25T23:52:48Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Not sure if this has been brought up before, but when someone on TV or film pours a drink at home, it’s invariably from a glass decanter rather than the bottle it came in. Does anyone really do this? Why pour the booze from the bottle into another container? Ditto for milk served in a glass pitcher- I have never seen this in real life. I suppose I could. I’ll occasionally fix myself a glass of scotch and my MIL gave me a glass decanter she found on a yard sale for pennies (she buys a lot of useless stuff for pennies at yard sales…there’s like a whole ecosystem for that shit in our town. I bought a decent set of golf clubs for $20…but I digress). I’d use it for pouring scotch but I think it’s lead glass so I’m concerned about storing anything in it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2024, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3213 "2024-01-26T00:14:21Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Has anyone here ever had sex on a table? Or knows someone who did? On a table, picnic table/bench, in the shower, in a sand dune. Mostly in my younger days. I prefer beds at this point in my life Logistically, various positions make it easier. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2024, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3214 "2024-01-26T00:21:38Z")
I want diagrams! I’m mostly joking. But as a romance reader I am occasionally downright flummoxed by the physics of sex in some of these books, where the actual composition of the union is so complicated that I have to read it multiple times to even understand what is happening. As a romance _writer_ I would like to avoid that, but I also need a certain degree of inventiveness in my own scenes as well. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2024, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3215 "2024-01-26T00:24:37Z")
That would be so distracting I wouldn’t enjoy it. What if we fell off? Seriously. Spice-how about on a balcony? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2024, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3216 "2024-01-26T00:29:36Z")
Diagrams might not help - even with them , I can’t figure out the logistics. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2024, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3217 "2024-01-26T00:47:00Z")
Maybe Venn diagrams? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2024, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3218 "2024-01-26T00:50:54Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Has anyone here ever had sex on a table? Or knows someone who did? I can never figure out how this works, logistically. Does a coffee table count? ---
**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:** [January 26, 2024, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3219 "2024-01-26T00:56:02Z")
I pictured this on a little end table, but perhaps you mean a big one that sits in front of a sofa. That one seems more plausible. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2024, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3220 "2024-01-26T01:04:49Z")
I picture it on a dining room table. Actually might be an advantage for a guy of the right height. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2024, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3221 "2024-01-26T01:05:54Z")
This is why you buy one of those adjustable height desks. [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=160) [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=162)