# 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:** 179
**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:** [April 23, 2024, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3566 "2024-04-23T19:11:03Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Seems a mix of things. Family guy had stewie [getting drunk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9GES2aGiOA) on cough syrup, while the south park guys very explicitly [got high](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMwqJ5izGPY). NyQuil has a lot of alcohol. It’s about 10% (20 proof). Robitussin has no alcohol but has DXM which is a hallucinogen. Prescription cough syrup with codeine of course has codeine which is an opioid. Especially with the first two you have to purposely take far above the recommended dosage for it to make you feel high or drunk. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2024, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3567 "2024-04-23T19:53:26Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Her initial plan was - I kid you not - putting an anvil on a truck and finding a way to catapult it into their car as it was driving down the highway. That sounds unbelievable. If your victim is stationary you have to make sure your victim is standing in the right place. Did she plan to put down **Free Bird Seed Here!** or something? Hitting a moving target is even worse. You’d do better to drop the anvil onto the car from a bridge as it passes under. (Not to give anyone ideas – this, tragically, has been done) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3568 "2024-04-23T22:27:54Z")
The alcohol is a co-solvent. In short, dextromethorphan (and many other drugs too) dissolves poorly in water, but better in alcohol, so they dissolve it in the alcohol (or sugar alcohols in EtOH-free preparations) and then dissolve it in syrup. The cherry flavoring is also most often used, because it disguises the unpleasant taste best. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2024, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3569 "2024-04-24T11:35:06Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Robitussin has no alcohol but has DXM which is a hallucinogen Years ago a woman I knew texted me about her 15 year old daughter. She couldn’t find her. When she searched the house, she found two empty bottles of dextromethorphan cough syrup in daughter’s bedroom. I explained to her about DXM. I suggested searching the house room by room, looking _everywhere_. If she still couldn’t find her I suggested calling the police. When she searched the garage, for completeness she popped her car’s trunk, which was where she found daughter dozing. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3570 "2024-04-24T15:36:16Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > Robitussin has no alcohol but has DXM which is a hallucinogen > > Years ago a woman I knew texted me about her 15 year old daughter. She couldn’t find her. When she searched the house, she found two empty bottles of dextromethorphan cough syrup in daughter’s bedroom. > > I explained to her about DXM. I suggested searching the house room by room, looking _everywhere_. If she still couldn’t find her I suggested calling the police. When she searched the garage, for completeness she popped her car’s trunk, which was where she found daughter dozing. Because it’s over the counter kids don’t think it’s harmful. You can absolutely overdose on DXM with a slew of dangerous symptoms up to coma and death. Like I mentioned above what can be even more dangerous is if they use the multi-symptom version of robitussen with acetaminophen. If you don’t realize DXM can be dangerous you are probably not thinking about what Tylenol does to your liver at high doses. ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3571 "2024-04-25T09:25:09Z")
Back in the mid 70’s I was prescribed Benylin by my doctor for a bad cough. I was about 6 years old and I can still remember lying in my bed hallucinating like crazy even on the prescribed dose. That line in ‘Comfortably Numb’: “when I was a child I had a fever, my hands felt just like 2 balloons” always reminds me of my Benylin trip. Although it was my whole body that was a balloon and it was being overinflated and I was scared it would go pop. I think it contained codeine back in those days, although that has long since been removed in the UK market. They also don’t recommend it for anyone under 10 years old. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3572 "2024-04-25T09:35:35Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > > [@Al128](#): > > > > _Can you tap into the security camera at McD?_ > > \*Sure \* > > _Wait … that’s HIM!!!_ > > Now, _really…_ > > You forgot the “Zoom in and enhance!!” Heee !!! This is the best- and references very directly several scenes in Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi epic “Blade Runner”. Now, for the first time in a couple of decades, I happen to own a state of the art cellular phone. The Galaxy Ultra 24-Pro. It’s lovely. The camera can shoot stills with a 200 Megapixel resolution. Even with THAT, taking a clear photo on a well-lit but overcast day ( the best photographic conditions because the contrast ratio is greatly reduced ), using the good ole " Zoom in and enhance " only goes so far. When I saw that in the movies, and I’m old, so I did, it was a fun little bit that just flew by. Take a freaking Polaroid-like print and pop it into the viewer and voila !! By comparison to today’s video technology: Many live sporting events are shot using 8K resolution High Definition cameras. The sheer amount of data per frame is so enormous- and so much MORE than is needed to push out the end result show to users at home most of whom are, at best, viewing on a 4K t.v. monitor- that back at the stadium, in the truck, the Control Room can zoom in rapidly and isolate one part of the frame with startling clarity. I say startling unless you’re the player committing the offense, in which case, of course, you’re mighty pissed that technology has shown you up for the world to see. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3573 "2024-04-25T15:19:54Z")
Just in case anyone is unfamiliar with this classic “Red Dwarf” [scene.](https://youtu.be/JMIHNiR3CP8) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3574 "2024-04-25T15:48:07Z")
Person gets in a car, closes door. Someone’s hiding in the back seat and shoots/strangles him or her. I can’t imagine that happening. Even at night, your cabin light comes on and while getting in the car you’re going to notice someone lurking in the back seat. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2024, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3575 "2024-04-25T17:23:57Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > you’re going to notice someone lurking in the back seat I’m not so sure. I don’t normally look into the back seat of my car before getting in, because it would never occur to me to wonder whether someone was hiding back there (and so far, no one ever has been). ---
**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:** [April 25, 2024, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3576 "2024-04-25T17:46:25Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Even at night, your cabin light comes on and while getting in the car you’re going to notice someone lurking in the back seat. Ahh, but every time I’ve seen a scene like this, the light doesn’t come on. In my car, it’s actually three lights (and it’s an older car, nowadays there might be more!). So I think the driver’s an idiot for not noticing that their car’s pitch black inside. Hey, Victim Number Three, you know your ex is strangling anyone who knows his real name, aren’t you the _least bit_ suspicious…? ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3577 "2024-04-25T21:13:24Z")
Someone did actually wake me up by throwing gravel at my window once. He was coming to bring me and my stuff back from college, didn’t know when he would arrive and it got to being so late I couldn’t keep my eyes open. So I laid down on the (stripped) bed to close my eyes for a moment. Several hours later I woke up as something made a noise on the window. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3578 "2024-04-26T01:15:36Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > (and so far, no one ever has been). How do you know? 😁 The Enterprise (or any other vessel) is in dire trouble, no one knows what to do. But wait! Someone comes up with some bizarre plan that … _might … just … work_. Spoiler: it ALWAYS works. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3579 "2024-04-26T01:20:16Z")
But only if someone’s willing to take the unprecedented step of _Reversing The Polarity!_ ---
**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:** [April 26, 2024, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3580 "2024-04-26T01:21:17Z")
Whenever a guest is offered a drink, the host always has a bucket of ice ready on the counter, even if he just got home after being out all day. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3581 "2024-04-26T02:31:41Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Spoiler: it ALWAYS works. Well, there’s not going to be any CCTV left from the starships where it _didn’t_ work, now is there? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3582 "2024-04-26T02:33:08Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > The Enterprise (or any other vessel) is in dire trouble, no one knows what to do. But wait! Someone comes up with some bizarre plan that … _might … just … work_. Spoiler: it ALWAYS works. Well, if it didnt work and the Enterprise and crew went boom, then we wouldnt know it didnt work- yes? So, we only get the version where it worked. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3583 "2024-04-26T05:48:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > if it didnt work and the Enterprise and crew went boom, then we wouldnt know it didnt work- yes? The sudden and permanent end to the show might be a clue … ---
**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:** [April 26, 2024, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3584 "2024-04-26T06:46:25Z")
They can always use the “speed-of-light breakaway factor” and go back in time to make sure the problem never happens! ---
**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:** [April 26, 2024, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/3585 "2024-04-26T06:50:43Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Person gets in a car, closes door. Someone’s hiding in the back seat and shoots/strangles him or her. I can’t imagine that happening. Even at night, your cabin light comes on and while getting in the car you’re going to notice someone lurking in the back seat. You obviously haven’t seen _ **Double Indemnity** _. 😣 [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=178) [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=180)