# 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:** 235
**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 13, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4709 "2025-02-13T21:46:27Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Hero Cop/Soldier who’s nationally recognized gets blacklisted from the government because of something they saw/prevented that angered the powers that be, and they now live as an unemployed burn-out or suicidal recluse nobody believes. > > I’m pretty sure at the time but especially now if you’re ANYBODY famous and then say some crazy shit, SOMEBODY will believe you. Especially if you’re like a guy who got famous for saving the President’s life prior to the incident. Conversely there is the Hero Cop/Soldier that has done so much in his career that he should be a household name and on a Wheaties box but is still just a schlub getting yelled at by his boss. John McClane saved all the hostages in Nakatomi Tower, saved hundreds of plane passengers at Christmas, saved the U.S. gold reserves and he’s still getting shitty assignments because his boss doesn’t like him. He should have had a ticker tape parade in his honor. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4710 "2025-02-15T22:06:49Z")
Also “General, the bad guys are about to launch a nuke at US soil, we need to stop them!” “Sure, just send in two guys! But they’re the best guys for the job!” (Note one of the guys dies during the mission so he wasn’t actually one of the best guys) ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4711 "2025-02-23T14:01:35Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > When’s the last time you saw a doctor write something with a pen? She has the in-room terminal, but my PCP has both the coat AND the pen, for jotting notes when I’m speaking too quickly to type. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4712 "2025-02-24T03:33:41Z")
isn’t Wild Turkey high-octane? ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4713 "2025-02-24T03:54:57Z")
love it! I’m a Dorsey fan, also Haasen ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4714 "2025-02-24T21:13:43Z")
101 proof, or 50.5% alcohol. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4715 "2025-02-24T22:44:26Z")
Whereas antiseptic rubbing alcohol typically is 70% by volume or more. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4716 "2025-02-25T03:39:28Z")
So, I’ll need to start drinking Bacardi 151, huh? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4717 "2025-02-25T19:32:43Z")
I used to drink that stuff. 😅 ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4718 "2025-02-26T00:55:43Z")
my reply was about using whiskey to disinfect wounds, and I thought WT would do ---
**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:** [February 26, 2025, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4719 "2025-02-26T01:56:04Z")
If nothing else it will wash the dirt out of the wound. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4720 "2025-02-26T02:19:14Z")
This is more “Maybe it was true 50 years ago” but either man joins the military because it was either that or prison, or a suicide squad military unit who have to fight one last mission so they get pardoned or commuted sentences. And yet half the Steven Seagal straight-to-DVD movies have that as Seagals background. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2025, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4721 "2025-02-26T03:28:44Z")
I think that trope is now depicted as either off-the-books or flatly illegal, a black ops done with total deniability. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4722 "2025-02-27T19:40:05Z")
Trapped group rescued/ Locked area breached by brave child in group just small enough to be the only one capable of crawling through many yards of air vent. Bonus points when inside popped vent lands on only bad guy in the desired room, knocking them unconscious. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2025, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4723 "2025-02-28T02:23:48Z")
I see old-fashioned butterfly bandages/ closures frequently on screen, but I’ve never seen them in real life. Are they actually used anymore? Or is it that I’m just not involved in situations where they’d be used? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4724 "2025-02-28T06:03:24Z")
They’re used. I’ve used them. They are used to close a shallow cut in the skin. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2025, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4725 "2025-02-28T06:11:17Z")
They still have butterfly bandages, best for awkward places. On larger surfaces it’s better to use the kind that have little zip ties to close the cut [![](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/33648320-e61b-4179-9079-2e6d953be882.401ea5e45d63845f1e9c971a9aaf649c.jpeg?odnHeight=768&odnWidth=768&odnBg=FFFFFF) ](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/33648320-e61b-4179-9079-2e6d953be882.401ea5e45d63845f1e9c971a9aaf649c.jpeg?odnHeight=768&odnWidth=768&odnBg=FFFFFF) ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4726 "2025-02-28T12:23:01Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > They are used to close a shallow cut in the skin. Here in the UK they’ve mainly switched to superglue for the types of cuts that would have had a butterfly stitch. I had that a few years ago when I sliced my hand open making lunch at work. It wasn’t a deep cut, but it wouldn’t stop bleeding so a hospital visit ensued. Never trust a kitchen knife that isn’t your own! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4727 "2025-02-28T20:18:12Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > If nothing else it will wash the dirt out of the wound. Which is now not recommended- [First Aid True or False – Caring for Cuts, Scrapes, Burns, Wounds](https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/ss/slideshow-wound-care-dos-and-donts#:~:text=Using%20hydrogen%20peroxide%20or%20rubbing,dirt%2C%20debris%2C%20and%20bacteria). _Clean With Hydrogen Peroxide or Alcohol? FALSE_ _Using [hydrogen peroxide](https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-76035/hydrogen-peroxide/details) or [rubbing alcohol](https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/difference-between-rubbing-alcohol-hydrogen-peroxide) to clean an injury can actually harm the tissue and delay healing. The best way to clean a minor wound is with cool running water and mild soap. Rinse the wound for at least five minutes to remove dirt, debris, and [bacteria](https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/bacterial-and-viral-infections). Wounds that are large, deep, or bleeding nonstop should be treated by a professional._ Mind you, if that is all you have… and fine for disinfecting the instruments you will remove the bullet with, since once the bullet hits the pan with a “ding” everything is now great! 😇 😀 > [@Asuka](#): > > This is more “Maybe it was true 50 years ago” but either man joins the military because it was either that or prison, Apparently, with some googling, that was _informally_ a thing in the past, like in WW2. Mind you, not likely a long prison term, but say a six month jail term. ---
**Author:** ![sb1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@sb1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sb1953)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/4728 "2025-02-28T20:28:17Z")
surprisingly, this has been SPECIFICALLY requested by two women “a man close to me” was with. I never di find out why [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=234) [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=236)