# 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:** 79
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1561 "2022-01-10T15:47:46Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > The first thing that I thought of were Hollywood style car chases. Obviously car chases are a real thing but I have never seen one that even remotely resembles anything like is in a typical action movie. Along a similar vein, explosions. Things don’t tend to explode as often or in the same ways as they do in Hollywood. Cars that are hit in the gas tank by a bullet don’t explode (there was a funny scene demonstrating this in Last Action Hero). A truck hit by an RPG doesn’t lift into the air and flip over, and high explosives don’t explode in a huge fireball or do grenades…as anyone who has watched Mythbusters can tell you. 🙂 ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1562 "2022-01-10T15:49:10Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > Given that he may have still been legally married at the time- something we’re still not sure about- I feel that was a missed opportunity. Sounds like my dad’s funeral. Do you suppose we’re related? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1563 "2022-01-10T15:49:44Z")
That may have to do with religious/regional differences. At every funeral where I have been present for each part there is 1. Meeting at the funeral parlor 2. Procession to the church ( if a church service) 3. A service at a church or the funeral parlor 4. A procession to the cemetery, which often passes by the deceased’s home 5. A short graveside ceremony, typically presided over by the funeral director. This takes place at a freshly dug gravesite , which has a very straight hole, surrounded by (I think) 2x4s and the casket is suspended by some sort of straps. The casket is lowered and depending on the type of funeral, each person tosses either some soil or a flower on the casket. 6. A luncheon Not everyone is present for all parts of this - for example, usually only close family meets at the funeral home to proceed to the church , and many people may leave after the church service and do not go to the gravesite. Never seen a service in the cemetery chapel ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1564 "2022-01-10T15:51:30Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Not everyone is present for all parts of this - for example, usually only close family meets at the funeral home to proceed to the church , and many people may leave after the church service and do not go to the gravesite. What, and skip the luncheon?!? 😲 ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1565 "2022-01-10T15:55:43Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > That’s a fair description of my Grandpa’s funeral, complete with some throwing in of random items onto the coffin When my friend (a tattoo artist well known in Pittsburgh tattoo circles) died, I decided to go to the funeral, something I very rarely do. He was a fan of sunglasses and got me into them. I brought the first pair I bought after meeting him and placed them in the coffin with him… Surprise, surprise, there were about a dozen pairs already in with him. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1566 "2022-01-10T15:56:03Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > A short graveside ceremony, typically presided over by the funeral director. For veterans, this is where they do the 21 gun salute and present the the flag to the family. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1567 "2022-01-10T15:59:15Z")
Are you secretly an English woman? ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1568 "2022-01-10T16:02:09Z")
**[VOICE OF LT UHURA]:** Sorry, neither. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1569 "2022-01-10T16:10:11Z")
He did have a fiancée in Brazil for a bit, if that helps? I mean it about the missed opportunities for mystery… ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1570 "2022-01-10T16:34:32Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I’ve never been to a funeral that had the coffin-lowering ceremony at the actual burial site. Is that a real-life thing that I’ve just somehow missed All the ones with a burial I’ve been to have been like that. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1571 "2022-01-10T16:36:44Z")
> [@digs](#): > > And watching from the distance, there will be a lone figure in black, or in a trenchcoat, or in a black trenchcoat. And that person will be the person who is supposed to be in the casket. They’re actually (secretly) still alive, yet couldn’t avoid showing up at their own funeral. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1572 "2022-01-10T16:55:15Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > I’ve never been to a funeral that had the coffin-lowering ceremony at the actual burial site. Is that a real-life thing that I’ve just somehow missed > > All the ones with a burial I’ve been to have been like that.- I’ve been to many graveside services but I’ve never actually seen them lower the casket. Everyone is gone by the time the workers get around to that. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1573 "2022-01-10T16:57:28Z")
Maybe you come from a less grave-robby culture. ---
**Author:** ![Eclipse\_Chaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Eclipse\_Chaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eclipse_Chaser)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1574 "2022-01-10T18:01:33Z")
And when people visit the grave the next day, the gravestone is already in place. In real life it takes several months, as the earth has to be given time to settle first. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1575 "2022-01-10T18:21:53Z")
Three guns, usually. 21 guns is for a Head of State. I note that in TV, Roe does not exist. When a women is pregnant, and it is not expected and perhaps not wanted, there is rarely a discussion about abortion. Unless it is a “very special episode” of course. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1576 "2022-01-10T18:23:44Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Three guns, usually. 21 guns is for a Head of State. Correct, I was inpercise. But 21 shots, as I recall from my FILs funeral. I think there were seven shooters, three shots each. They picked up the casings and presented them to the family ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1577 "2022-01-10T18:29:11Z")
Yes, it is a little confusing, I concur: [https://www.mdwhome.mdw.army.mil/ceremonial-support/military-funerals](https://www.mdwhome.mdw.army.mil/ceremonial-support/military-funerals) ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1578 "2022-01-10T19:38:27Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I’ve never been to a funeral that had the coffin-lowering ceremony at the actual burial site. Is that a real-life thing that I’ve just somehow missed, or is that just a TV / movie convention? I’ve been to several where the coffin-lowering was done. But it was separate from the ceremony which was held in the mortuary chapel, usually. Then, you’d drive to the gravesite. But often only a small handful of the mourners from the ceremony would continue to the gravesite. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1579 "2022-01-10T19:42:38Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > A short graveside ceremony, typically presided over by the funeral director. This takes place at a freshly dug gravesite , which has a very straight hole, surrounded by (I think) 2x4s and the casket is suspended by some sort of straps. The casket is lowered and depending on the type of funeral, each person tosses either some soil or a flower on the casket. I always wondered how they retrieved the straps after lowering the coffin. Do they just yank on them to pull them up and away from the coffin? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1580 "2022-01-10T19:43:26Z")
I don’t remember ever seeing that part- they might do that after the mourners leave. [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=78) [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=80)