# 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:** 217
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4327 "2024-10-31T04:14:36Z")
When transporting a serial killer to prison/insane asylum only a single ambulance/van will be used with MAYBE a single inept guard in the back. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4328 "2024-10-31T06:32:40Z")
Don’t forget, if the driver encounters an unexpected diversion, they will immediately turn down the dark, narrow alleyway rather than pause for a short while to radio in and check what to do. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4329 "2024-10-31T06:43:01Z")
Or put the inept guard in with a 60s swinger who was frozen until the 90s and who knows how to judo chop. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4330 "2024-10-31T09:19:50Z")
Getting electrocuted long enough causes your head to explode ---
**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 31, 2024, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4331 "2024-10-31T13:55:20Z")
This is why I will be the “final boy.” I pay attention to many things around me, including, but not limited to the following: - Front door is ajar when I get home at night. - Lights don’t work. - Unexpected detour when I’m transporting prisoners or gold bullion. - A knife missing from the knife block in the kitchen. - A big guy with sunglasses gets in the elevator at the last moment. - I have no cell signal when I know I should. - Voices tell me “Get out!” when I walk in a house. (BTW, I will.) ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4332 "2024-10-31T13:58:25Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > That reminds me of another trope I’ve never seen in real life: in old movies that played in a grocery store or supermarket, you often saw a tower/pyramid of stacked tin cans. Or how about a pyramid of oranges?! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4333 "2024-10-31T20:05:18Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Front door is ajar when I get home at night. Yeah, I know. Why do people insist on investigating when it is clear an intruder is in the house? Call the police. ---
**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 31, 2024, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4334 "2024-10-31T20:15:09Z")
My only experience with that sort of thing was when I was employed at a small software company with offices in an office building of perhaps ten stories, of which we had perhaps half of one floor. I was on the list for the security company to call in the event of the alarm being triggered and I was called late one night. When I arrived, a police officer met me and then asked me to enter to see if there was an intruder. Me, who is small and harmless, rather than him, who was bigger, trained and armed. So calling the police when you come home to a suspected intruder may not be helpful. ---
**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 31, 2024, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4335 "2024-10-31T21:10:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@ZonexandScout](#): > > > > Front door is ajar when I get home at night. > > Yeah, I know. Why do people insist on investigating when it is clear an intruder is in the house? Call the police. In real life it has to be well over 50% of the time the homeowner goes in and checks the house before calling 911. And a surprising percentage will pick up or otherwise touch any object or surface that the burglar may have touched. Have they never watched a cop show on TV? ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4336 "2024-10-31T21:32:47Z")
I mean to be fair the police will already be there to avenge your death. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4337 "2024-11-01T04:23:23Z")
If you’re dying you can only speak in absolute vagueness, “They’re coming to get us” or “It’s somewhere under the full moon” ---
**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:** [November 1, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4338 "2024-11-01T15:47:32Z")
Our hero bumps into a stranger in a bar and causes him to spill a slight bit of his drink. Instead of our hero simply apologizing and the stranger saying “No problem”, a fight breaks out and everyone in the bar gets involved. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4339 "2024-11-01T15:59:17Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > If you’re dying you can only speak in absolute vagueness, “They’re coming to get us” or “It’s somewhere under the full moon” Or if in danger. “I’m in trouble and in fear of my life. I can tell you who it is and how it happened and where I have hidden the evidence … but only if we meet for coffee in an hour.” ---
**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:** [November 1, 2024, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4340 "2024-11-01T16:33:00Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > a fight breaks out and everyone in the bar gets involved. I’ve been in plenty of bars in my life, and I could count the number of fights I’ve witnessed on one hand, probably without needing the thumb. _Never_ have I seen the whole bar - or even a third person - get involved. ---
**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:** [November 1, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4341 "2024-11-01T16:39:30Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > “I’m in trouble and in fear of my life. I can tell you who it is and how it happened and where I have hidden the evidence … but only if we meet for coffee in an hour.” “Bring your own coffee, there’s none at the abandoned lighthouse on Eroding Cliff Road. THAT’S where we should meet.” ---
**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:** [November 1, 2024, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4342 "2024-11-01T19:21:58Z")
A variation on the trope of not wanting to tell somebody something important unless you meet in person: In British police procedurals, it is quite common for police officers to meet on the beach in Brighton, Dover, or some other place simply to explain what they’ve discovered. “DCI Smith, we’ve just discovered that the suspect’s best friend lives at 33 Charning Place.” “It’s important we interview them. Check out that alibi.” “Right, I’ll walk back to the station, get my car, drive over there, and interview them.” “Good idea. But, why did we walk all the way over here to the beach to discuss this?” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4343 "2024-11-01T19:47:49Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Or if in danger. > “I’m in trouble and in fear of my life. I can tell you who it is and how it happened and where I have hidden the evidence … but only if we meet for coffee in an hour.” Yep. Or on Lost and a few others, while walking thru the jungle/whatever, having nothing else to do, someone will ask another about something from their past. The answer is always _“It’s a long story”_. Well, we have all day, tell us. > [@Wheelz](#): > > I’ve been in plenty of bars in my life, and I could count the number of fights I’ve witnessed on one hand, probably without needing the thumb. _Never_ have I seen the whole bar - or even a third person - get involved. I worked my way thru college as Security. Bars paid double. There were fights, sometimes with a knife or a pool cue involved- but only among the two guys. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4344 "2024-11-01T20:01:07Z")
In reference to the current (Nov 1 2024) illustration in the Genuine Caption Contest thread: completely dry bare bone skeletons that nonetheless somehow remain articulated even though the cartilage, ligaments and tendons that connected them are long gone; not to even mention the pathologically mineralized [Costal cartilage - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costal_cartilage) connecting the ribs to the sternum. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4345 "2024-11-01T21:51:25Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The answer is always _“It’s a long story”_. Well, we have all day, tell us. I loved how _The Last of Us_ subverted this: Ellie asks Joel something about his past during a long cross country drive. Joel: “It’s a long story.” Ellie: “Is it longer than 12 hours? 'Cause that’s how long we’ve got.” Joel then relents and tells the story. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4346 "2024-11-01T23:25:15Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I loved how _The Last of Us_ subverted this: > > Ellie asks Joel something about his past during a long cross country drive. > Joel: “It’s a long story.” > Ellie: “Is it longer than 12 hours? 'Cause that’s how long we’ve got.” > Joel then relents and tells the story. Cool! Trope defeated! [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=216) [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=218)