# 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:** 17
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/321 "2021-02-09T18:55:39Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > But still, even if you outright murder an unarmed, prone man on camera, y… He was acquitted by a jury, thus no "murder"occured. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/322 "2021-02-09T18:57:37Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Or every town in the UK if you go by British crime shows. Sleepy little Oxfordshire is awash with blood every week. Midsomer Murders get away from this by mostly having each episode in a different small village. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/323 "2021-02-09T18:58:06Z")
Not saying “bye” before you hang up the phone. It’s like there’s a law against it or something. I notice it _every time_, it takes me out of the show, and its annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/324 "2021-02-09T19:15:41Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > He was acquitted by a jury, thus no "murder"occured. And OJ didn’t do it. By your logic, no one murdered Emmett Till, either. Funny, that. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/325 "2021-02-09T19:42:51Z")
On goofy sitcoms from the 70s ( or reruns from the late 60s ) on I remember myself, friends/family, whoever we were watching TV with, always noticed that when people came into someone’s house, they’d never shut the door. It would be left open as the characters babble amongst themselves…the front door remaining open. The chorus from us was always “Close the ---- door!”. We wanted to smack the characters. It was a capital crime in my house if we left it open, and usually one or both of my parents would angrily make references of how we’re heating up all of the outdoors and making ConEd richer. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/326 "2021-02-09T19:44:34Z")
1955? No, that is way old, things back then were a bit different. But some people think they know better than a jury of 12 and a judge- who saw all the evidence, not just a wiki page. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2021, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/327 "2021-02-09T19:46:39Z")
You may not be aware of it, but sometimes when people use a word like “murder”, they are not using it in the strictly legal sense. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/328 "2021-02-09T19:54:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But some people think they know better than a jury of 12 and a judge- who saw all the evidence, not just a wiki page. You ever watch the video? What would you call it? Justifiable? Juries like cops. In 1955 they acquitted white guys that murdered black poeple. Now they acquit cops that kill black people. And sometimes white people. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/329 "2021-02-09T19:58:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > He was acquitted by a jury, thus no "murder"occured. Why mess around here, when Godwin is available. Hitler never even went to trial, so he was innocent? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/330 "2021-02-09T20:07:22Z")
---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/331 "2021-02-09T20:07:42Z")
**Modnote** : Hey everyone, this is a nice little Café thread. Let’s drop any debates on murder, Hitler, racism and the like. We have no shortage of threads for those subjects. _closed for 5 minutes so posters can see the note._ ---
**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:** [February 9, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/332 "2021-02-09T20:07:59Z")
If there is one thing I’ve learned, all you have to do to cure a gunshot is get the bullet out. Once it’s out the danger is over and all you need are a couple of stitches. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/333 "2021-02-09T20:13:06Z")
---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/334 "2021-02-09T20:19:02Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Once it’s out the danger is over and all you need are a couple of stitches. Bah! Stitches are for wimps. All you really need is to cauterize the wound with alcohol and a cigarette lighter. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2021, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/335 "2021-02-09T20:32:02Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Regarding away teams, I thought the premise of the hands-on Captain was supposed to harken back to the age of sail when the Captain (or at least the first Lieutenant) would be the leader of shore parties. From what I understand, back in the heyday of piracy the captain of the ship was expected to lead in battle… but that’s because that was a major role of such a captain. The day to day running of the ship was decided more democratically, which, back in the days of absolute monarchs, was just one more thing to despise pirates for. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/336 "2021-02-09T20:49:20Z")
Oooh…how about getting bad news (usually from your nemesis), then immediately dropping to your knees, making fists, looking up at the ceiling/sky, and yelling “NOOOOOOOO!!!” ---
**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:** [February 9, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/337 "2021-02-09T21:36:33Z")
When you’re on a sailing vessel locked in close-quarter combat, there’s no place to hide. So the captain had better be prepared to defend himself if the ship is boarded. Of course, sending landing parties ashore to deal with restless natives is another matter. 😉 Yet another item: People with mundane jobs (fiction writer, landscaper, restaurateur) stumbling onto murders wherever they go. And solving them. And earning the undying gratitude of the local police, who are clueless. (No pun intended.) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/338 "2021-02-09T21:45:00Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I just watched _Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang_ for the first time, and although it’s a black comedy I was surprised by the over-the-top slaughter. It almost seems unfair to pick on anything to do with combat or gunplay. Still, the casualness of body counts and the cavalier attitude to them gets me every time. What certainly couldn’t happen is a cop blowing a few guys away and just showing up for work the next day. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2021, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/339 "2021-02-09T22:02:41Z")
> Probably talking fondly about your wife and kids and then getting immediately killed? Well, talking fondly about your wife and kids when you’ve got a week until retirement will certainly get you killed. > [@BrickBat](#): > > …when people came into someone’s house, they’d never shut the door. It would be left open as the characters babble amongst themselves…the front door remaining open. The chorus from us was always “Close the ---- door!”. We say “Good thing there are no mosquitos on _that_ soundstage…” ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/340 "2021-02-09T22:12:03Z")
> [@digs](#): > > We say “Good thing there are no mosquitos on _that_ soundstage…” Oh yeah, the bugs too. I think you’ve got something with your soundstage reference. We “see” these settings and take them to be an actual house. Those acting see the just props and various facades shot at just the right angles. They don’t “see” it as leaving a door open in somebody’s home, though I’d like to think a director would be there to keep the details correct and believable. But then again, it’s a sitcom: it’s supposed to be inane. I’ve come to, if not hate-watch, but kinda-dislike watch older dramas that I used to watch when I was younger and it’s funny at how cheap and cheesy some of the sets were. Even outdoor city street/town scenes look like super phony sets many of them were. [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=16) [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=18)