# 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:** 266
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2026, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5329 "2026-04-03T01:31:44Z")
I seem to recall scenes in super low budget flicks in which the car blows up before it even hits the bottom, but they leave it in anyway. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2026, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5330 "2026-04-03T03:09:34Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Fire sprinkler systems that all go off when somebody sets off a fire alarm. On aircraft carriers, if one sprinkler on the hangar deck is triggered they all go off. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2026, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5331 "2026-04-03T03:24:53Z")
An aircraft carrier loaded with fuel and explosive ordnance is definitely a “better safe than sorry” situation. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2026, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5332 "2026-04-03T03:28:21Z")
There are “dry” systems where the water piping is usually filled with air or an inert gas (nitrogen) under pressure and a head must be activated to allow the air/nitrogen to fill the pipe and flow from the head. The loss of pressure in the system from a head causes a valve in the sprinkler riser to trip and provide water to the entire system, but the sprinkler heads still work individually. “Pre-action” systems exist. The water piping is usually filled with air or an inert gas (nitrogen) and a valve must open to ”charge” the piping with water. In other words, the piping can fill with water (except for any air trapped in it) and water will flow from any individual head that is activated by heat. The valve that charges the system is usually activated by one or more heat or smoke detectors positioned within the protected area (smoke detector \> valve activation \> pipes fill but no water flows until heat activates one or more heads). A “deluge” system uses sprinkler heads that are all open, but the water is held back at a system valve. Just like in a “pre-action” system, smoke or heat detectors (or other fire detection technologies) cause the valve to open and then ALL sprinkler heads start to flow water. So…if you really need all the sprinkler heads to activate for your movie, you want a “deluge system.” Furthermore, you have to activate it by activating the associated heat or smoke detector(s), NOT an individual sprinkler head. ---
**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 3, 2026, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5333 "2026-04-03T12:55:18Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > An aircraft carrier loaded with fuel and explosive ordnance is definitely a “better safe than sorry” situation. I’m a bit surprised they don’t have a halon or foam system. Abrams tanks have halon. Land based hangers have foam fire suppression systems. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8RKZm0oFJZg/hqdefault.jpg "Hangar Emergency Foam System Activation") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RKZm0oFJZg) ---
**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 3, 2026, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5334 "2026-04-03T13:07:27Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > All the fire sprinkler systems I’m familiar with are fully-charged (‘wet’) systems where the water is released when the wax plug in the individual sprinkler head melts. (You can specify different set-points for hot environments). Not wax – generally a eutectic (low temperature melting point metal alloy) ---
**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:** [April 3, 2026, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5335 "2026-04-03T13:57:02Z")
Also re: sprinkler system fiction vs. reality, I read somewhere recently (hopefully not here, that would be embarrassing) that on TV and in movies, when a fire sprinkler system accidentally goes off, the water that comes out is clean and clear. Sometimes the characters, after being initially surprised, kind of go with it and start dancing and cavorting around in the falling water, as if enjoying a nice Summer shower. But in reality, since the pipes that feed the sprinkler system never get water flow (until they do) the water that would come out, at least initially, would likely be a disgusting brown sludge. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5336 "2026-04-03T18:06:30Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > a person can kill zombies and get splattered in literally _gallons_ of zombie blood > > Which makes it seem like zombies have a pumping heart, which in turn makes one wonder why a chest shot won’t kill them. Let’s not forget the women having affairs with vampires in bad movies and books. > [@solost](#): > > It’s made to seem as if something goes wrong, say the person they’re trying to call doesn’t answer, then they’re out of luck. That’s how it went the time I got arrested (Illinois, early '70s). > [@Al128](#): > > head budding a car window Snicker. > [@Lumpy](#): > > An aircraft carrier loaded with fuel and explosive ordnance is definitely a “better safe than sorry” situation. _Akagi_, _Kaga_, _Soryu_… . > [@Lumpy](#): > > Not to mention that (according to Hollywood) every junkie convenience store robber was armed with a MAC-10. Guy I knew had one of those back in the late '70s. Took maybe four seconds to convert it from semi-auto to full auto, and one second to change it back. (I think they “fixed that problem” on newer models.) ---
**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:** [April 3, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5337 "2026-04-03T18:09:42Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > It’s made to seem as if something goes wrong, say the person they’re trying to call doesn’t answer, then they’re out of luck. > > That’s how it went the time I got arrested (Illinois, early '70s). Well, in my defense, the OP title _does_ say “…_ **almost** _ never happens in real life” 😏 ---
**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:** [April 3, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5338 "2026-04-03T18:13:52Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Let’s not forget the women having affairs with vampires in bad movies and books. Well, vampires are shape-shifters, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5339 "2026-04-03T18:48:13Z")
… and its HOT women having afairs .. you (thankfully) never see Big Ol’ Nelly from HR doing that … . and … people coming over to a FRIENDS house or appt having breakfast before heading off to work. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5340 "2026-04-03T20:25:27Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Well, vampires are shape-shifters, after all. Does shape-shifting give them a working circulatory system? ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5341 "2026-04-03T21:40:19Z")
If they shift it about sixty times per minute, sure ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5342 "2026-04-04T00:45:31Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Not wax – generally a eutectic (low temperature melting point metal alloy) I’ve seen them looking like a glass capsule filled with a red liquid. Boils at a set temp to burst the capsule? I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5343 "2026-04-04T00:46:44Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Not wax – generally a eutectic (low temperature melting point metal alloy) Interesting. I haven’t been up close to a sprinkler head for 40 years, back then it was definitely wax plugs. (melb.aus). I’ve seen the eutectic links on fire doors. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5344 "2026-04-04T00:51:18Z")
> [@solost](#): > > But in reality, since the pipes that feed the sprinkler system never get water flow (until they do) the water that would come out, at least initially, would likely be a disgusting brown sludge. That’s a significant advantage of dry systems. Tap water contains dissolved air, the oxygen reacts with the steel sprinkler system pipes. And every time you have to re-charge a wet system, it gets a new shot of air, so if there are leaks or failures, you’re continually playing catch-up. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5345 "2026-04-04T00:53:37Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > On aircraft carriers, if one sprinkler on the hangar deck is triggered they all go off. I thought I remembered hearing stories about triggered deluge systems (and now that the word has been used, I remember the word), but I couldn’t remember or think of any examples. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5346 "2026-04-04T01:03:46Z")
The one I remember was related by [Daniel V. Gallery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_V._Gallery). During WWII a group had gathered on the hangar deck to watch a movie. A sailor thought he’d prank them by holding a lighter on a long pole under a sprinkler head. It was not just the movie-watchers who got drenched (with salt water!). He received a stern talking-to – or was thrown over the stern. I forget which. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2026, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5347 "2026-04-24T01:53:24Z")
X is murdered. Detective Q is on the case.Y is the obvious suspect. Y is taken into custody. Q is certain Y is guilty. Q intensely pressures Y to confess to the murder. A distraught Y maintains their innocence. After further investigation Y is cleared. Z is a friend of X. When Y is released an irate Z attacks, severely injures and/or kills Y. Q feels bad. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2026, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/5348 "2026-04-24T02:10:11Z")
Here is one that’s probably been mentioned, but I just saw it on two different shows yesterday. Taking _lots_ of unknown pills. In one, a guy took a whole bunch of blood pressure pills from someone else, because he’d left his at home when traveling. No attempt to figure out a good dosage or anything, just take a bunch. In the next show a guy is being offered some recreational pills, so he eats the whole bowl. I’m sure hilarity ensues, but that’s the next episode I haven’t watched yet. I know such things as accidental overdoses exist, and people eating a whole browny when they should have had half a gummy, but does anyone who is not already way too high just gobble down a handful of random pills? [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=265) [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=267)