# 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:** 96
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2022, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1902 "2022-08-24T03:16:59Z")
You know in TV and films like Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, A Quiet Place and maybe a few others where you have small children and survival depends on everyone being absolutely quiet for long stretches of time? Not going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2022, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1903 "2022-08-24T04:31:14Z")
I can’t find anything online to back this up, but I am quite sure that I read some time back about a fertility doctor who gave every prospective client a Baby Think It Over, and was quite surprised how often they would bring it back ASAP and never pursue further treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2022, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1904 "2022-08-25T02:50:38Z")
I’ve seen a variant on this. **Me:** Innocently watering my lawn early one Sunday morning. **Him:** Leaving the neighbor’s house at a quick pace, looking straight ahead, and shoes in hand. **Her:** Bursts from the house a moment later, clad in only a too short t-shirt, “Wait! Stay a little longer!” **Him:** Reaches his car. Still not looking back. **Her:** “At least tell me your name!” **Him:** Starts the car and drives away as she sprints toward him. **Her:** Comes to a stop. “Your name!” **Her:** Notices me, covers her naughty bits with one hand, and flips me off with the other. Walks back into the house with impressive dignity. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2022, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1905 "2022-08-25T04:45:10Z")
How often do male hotel guests get locked out of their rooms naked? And often does this actually happen by accident? 🤨 ---
**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:** [August 26, 2022, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1906 "2022-08-26T02:59:58Z")
Well, I have locked myself out of my own house in my underwear while sleepwalking. My wife found me squeaking the storm door back and forth in my sleep. I know, only close, but quite close. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1907 "2022-08-26T03:31:04Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > How often do male hotel guests get locked out of their rooms naked? And often does this actually happen by accident? 🤨 Naked, almost never. Staying in a nonsmoking room. Stepping outside to smoke a cigarette. In their underwear. Forgot to bring their key. Fairly common. It gets really awkward when the room is registered in their girlfriend’s name, and the girlfriend is not in the hotel. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1908 "2022-08-26T06:09:08Z")
Those oscillating fans that don’t have a metal cover so people are able to walk directly into the blades. They were probably more common in the 50’s but there’s no excuse for any show made in the past 30 years to have one. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1909 "2022-08-26T11:58:31Z")
> [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](#): > > I’ve seen a variant on this. > > **Me:** Innocently watering my lawn early one Sunday morning. > > **Him:** Leaving the neighbor’s house at a quick pace, looking straight ahead, and shoes in hand. > > **Her:** Bursts from the house a moment later, clad in only a too short t-shirt, “Wait! Stay a little longer!” > > **Him:** Reaches his car. Still not looking back. > > **Her:** “At least tell me your name!” > > **Him:** Starts the car and drives away as she sprints toward him. > > **Her:** Comes to a stop. “Your name!” > > **Her:** Notices me, covers her naughty bits with one hand, and flips me off with the other. Walks back into the house with impressive dignity. I happened to look out of my living room window one Sunday morning. The house across the street (did not know them) had the attached garage door open, with the car parked in the driveway. A naked woman was sprinting from the car to the garage. A (clothed) man opened the door to the house and she dashed inside. Then the door shut. Me ???. I tried to envision a scenario where the woman who lived in the house was sleeping naked in the car in the driveway and I just…couldn’t. There may be a sitcom explanation somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1910 "2022-08-26T13:48:55Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > In Alaska all road-kill moose go to local orphanages and the like. You aren’t allowed to keep any of it. (And it probably destroyed your car.) They told us on our vacation that there’s actually a sort of registry run by the state police, where needy organizations and families register, and then people who hit, or see roadkill (usually moose) report it, and the registry connects the needy with the roadkill, who go take care of the carcass. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1911 "2022-08-26T14:00:39Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > I tried to envision a scenario where the woman who lived in the house was sleeping naked in the car in the driveway and I just…couldn’t. There may be a sitcom explanation somewhere. I would assume she drove home naked, called whoever opened the door to open the door, and then sprinted into the house. Why she drove home naked is either sitcom or L&O:SVU territory. ---
**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:** [August 26, 2022, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1912 "2022-08-26T14:10:53Z")
Two things I love about our home; there’s no HOA, and I can walk out the door naked, walk the whole way around the house, and never risk being seen by a neighbor. ---
**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:** [August 26, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1913 "2022-08-26T15:23:42Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > and I can walk out the door naked, walk the whole way around the house, and never risk being seen by a neighbor. Same here. But we put in security cameras last year and now I feel a little inhibited. If we ever have to review the recordings with cops or something, I’d rather not have to fast forward past my naked morning strolls. ---
**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:** [August 26, 2022, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1914 "2022-08-26T15:33:33Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Two things I love about our home; there’s no HOA, and I can walk out the door naked, walk the whole way around the house, and never risk being seen by a neighbor. I can, too. If it’s 3 in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1915 "2022-08-26T16:55:10Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Two things I love about our home; there’s no HOA, and I can walk out the door naked, walk the whole way around the house, and never risk being seen by a neighbor. I also love that there’s no HOA at my place. And that I can walk around the property naked and be seen by ALL the neighbors. ETA: They’re not so keen on it. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1916 "2022-08-26T17:54:49Z")
Depending on your state/county you can literally walk around your front lawn completely naked in broad light and there’s not a damn thing the police can do about it There was an incident several years ago where an alleged pedophile had a house across the street from an elementary school and he mowed his lawn naked during school hours, and police said they couldn’t do anything because just as long as he remained naked on his front lawn and didn’t walk into the sidewalk it was all considered legal. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1917 "2022-08-26T19:14:34Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TLnmA653f94/hqdefault.jpg "The second week of deer camp") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLnmA653f94) That documentary should answer your query. 😛 😜 > [@alphaboi867](#): > > How often do male hotel guests get locked out of their rooms naked? And often does this actually happen by accident? In a bathrobe to get ice- once, and in a bathing suit, also once. When I worked for the Feds, I stayed in a LOT of hotel rooms. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1918 "2022-08-26T21:41:12Z")
Making wax impressions of a high security (or any) key. Seemed to be a staple of spy and Mission Impossible type movies and series. Let’s include cutting off thumbs/fingers for biometric locks and eyeballs for retina scans. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2022, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1919 "2022-08-27T18:20:31Z")
But does he have a license to grill? ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1920 "2022-08-30T00:44:44Z")
In fiction small countries are able to get away with a surprising lot of antagonism with significantly larger countries and just get away with it. Like theres a North Korean style and size country that invites both the US and China’s diplomats for “negotiations” and then kills both sets of diplomats to “prove a point” and then both the US and China both decide to just sit on their hands and go “Well, we don’t want to go on full on war so we’ll just let that one slide” and continue negotiations. And North Korea at least makes sense in our world because it’s a Nuclear Power with a huge military, but I’ve seen movies where it’s some generic Sub-Saharan African country with basically all forced conscription armies that are able to boss giant nations around. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1921 "2022-08-30T06:55:39Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > There was an incident several years ago where an alleged pedophile had a house across the street from an elementary school and he mowed his lawn naked during school hours, and police said they couldn’t do anything because just as long as he remained naked on his front lawn and didn’t walk into the sidewalk it was all considered legal. Huh. He could still be _seen_ even though he was not on the sidewalk, and he would have no expectation of privacy. I guess it depends on the state laws. Or maybe the cops just didn’t feel like doing the paperwork. [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=95) [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=97)