# 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:** 209
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2024, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4167 "2024-09-05T00:47:49Z")
+ can receive -, but not vice versa. AB+ is universal recipient, O- universal donor. The opposite is true of plasma, O can receive anything but AB only AB. ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4168 "2024-09-05T01:22:29Z")
They never open a door with a key. They just walk in. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2024, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4169 "2024-09-05T03:13:20Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > And secondly, AB+ isn’t really all that rare. Well, it’s 2-4% of the population. That’s pretty rare, but it’s not B- or AB-. And yeah, we can take all of you guy’s blood. The blood bank is kinda “Thanks, I guess” when I donate. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2024, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4170 "2024-09-05T03:24:39Z")
It’s more common among people with certain Asian descent, but true across USA and similar countries. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2024, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4171 "2024-09-05T10:49:54Z")
> [@TeroSunbear](#): > > They never open a door with a key. They just walk in. Which seems normal to me. We have no keys to any of our doors. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2024, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4172 "2024-09-05T13:36:58Z")
I once visited a home on an estate sale that had deadbolts on a lot of the inside doors. That made me raise my eyebrows a bit…. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2024, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4173 "2024-09-05T18:49:44Z")
It means that at one time the rooms were rented out, generally ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4174 "2024-09-05T19:01:49Z")
Depends on what side had the deadbolt. ---
**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 5, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4175 "2024-09-05T21:28:57Z")
I have Jehovah’s Witnesses pounding on my doors all the time. They keep yelling “Let us out, _PLEASE_!” 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4176 "2024-09-06T02:57:54Z")
That was a pivotal scene in the movie “Ladybug Ladybug.” > **[Ladybug Ladybug (1963) ⭐ 7.2 | Drama](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057242/)** > > 1h 22m | Not Rated ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4177 "2024-09-06T03:00:33Z")
That woman was looking out for her! Don’t be offended. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4178 "2024-09-06T03:06:51Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I have Jehovah’s Witnesses pounding on my doors all the time. > > They keep yelling “Let us out, _PLEASE_!” 🤣 Had me laughing out loud! Thanks for that; I’ll have to remember it. ---
**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 8, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4179 "2024-10-08T17:30:48Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Prosecutor turned author Vincent Bugliosi repeatedly pointed out how uncommon it was to find usable fingerprints at a crime scene, esp. on a weapon. He routinely had to explain this to juries since it was too common of them to assume that _if_ this was the perp, the cops would have found fingerprints at the scene, so maybe “not guilty”? Watching a show where they were able to find a fingerprint in an unlikely place it made me thing of this thread. He to check and someone brought it up a couple of years ago. Unless it’s on a smooth non-porous surface it’s nearly impossible to find a print. Even on a good surface it’s hard to a usable print and not a smudge. On CSI in particular they would pull out “special” colored powder. While there is powder that is supposed to show up better on different colored surfaces but I never found one that worked better than another. Also realized while watching something how easy it is to sneak up on someone. You can walk into a completely empty room and as long as the camera is tight onto your face anyone can come in and knock you on the head and you will never know they are there. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2024, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4180 "2024-10-08T18:25:58Z")
You’d think the camera person at least would warn them! ---
**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:** [October 8, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4181 "2024-10-08T18:35:38Z")
Moviewise did an ep on this: “the ability to see is limited by the edges of the frame” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ngqSqtWKLb4/maxresdefault.jpg "The Mad Magic of Off-Screen Space") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngqSqtWKLb4) ---
**Author:** ![kwintenstraler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kwintenstraler/32/10698_2.png) [@kwintenstraler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kwintenstraler)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4182 "2024-10-08T18:39:01Z")
Reminds me of a program on tv where people thought they had seen a snake under the bed, and they called some agency to come and check and get the snake out of there, if indeed it was a snake. They came to the house and to that bedroom door, and then the next shot of people entering that room was shot from inside and from under the bed where the snake was thought to be hiding. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4183 "2024-10-08T18:40:45Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > The blood bank is kinda “Thanks, I guess” when I donate. I donated blood a lot. My type is O+, and I was told they really wanted my blood. Because O+ is most common that means it’s also the type most needed. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4184 "2024-10-08T18:55:03Z")
O+ blood is in high demand because it is used so frequently, but O- blood is used more frequently for emergency transfusions. This is because O- can be given to patients with O+ blood, but not vice-versa. (I realize this is greatly simplified, but I’ve been told this many times because I’m part of the 7% that has O- and who is considered a "universal donor.) ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4185 "2024-10-08T19:09:34Z")
yeah, I’m O neg but I can’t give blood because it makes me dizzy and sick for hours afterward and I gave up. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4186 "2024-10-08T21:52:15Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Moviewise did an ep on this: “the ability to see is limited by the edges of the frame” The related phenomenon, which I’m certain has been mentioned in this thread, is that if two people walk three steps away from the rest of the group, turn their backs, and speak to each other in normal voices, nobody else can hear them. [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=208) [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=210)