# 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:** 98
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1942 "2022-09-01T03:40:58Z")
At least, that was his explanation for why he had a rake handle up his ass. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2022, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1943 "2022-09-01T04:13:58Z")
It was a million-to-one shot, Doc! šŸ˜‰ : ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1944 "2022-09-01T04:16:31Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > At least, that was his explanation for why he had a rake handle up his ass He slipped in the shower! ---
**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:** [September 1, 2022, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1945 "2022-09-01T04:18:36Z")
I _told_ him not to drop the soap! šŸ˜– ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1946 "2022-09-01T04:27:29Z")
> [@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 couldnā€™t do anything because just as long as he remained naked on his front lawn and didnā€™t walk into the sidewalk it was all considered legal. Wow! When and where did _this_ happen, and ā€œallegedā€ by whom? ---
**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:** [September 1, 2022, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1947 "2022-09-01T05:50:41Z")
Iā€™ve been watching a few old film noirs on Prime. They canā€™t get through a whole movie without someone falling to their death. Seems to be pretty evenly split between windows and cliffs. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1948 "2022-09-01T05:58:37Z")
It was [similar to this incident](https://rare.us/rare-news/florida-man-naked-yard-work/) but itā€™s hard to find the exact story Iā€™ll have to look longer since I know I bookmarked it somewhere. But yes same general idea guy was in a State where being naked in his front lawn was legal, but the twist is he did this in front of an elementary school. As for alleged, well he was never charged with anything but he suspiciously only did yard work when the local school children were going or leaving school. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1949 "2022-09-01T12:06:11Z")
Back when I lived in Rogers Park in Chicago a local bad boy somehow managed to fall on and impale himself on one of the iron fences closing off the courtyards of courtyard apartment buildings. He didnā€™t survive the experience but yeah, people do manage to get impaled in the real world. Actress Charisma Carpenter survived being impaled, a happier outcome in that case. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2022, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1950 "2022-09-01T12:18:41Z")
I knew a guy years ago who, at 66 years of age, was on his roof fixing some storm damage. He did this while his wife was away, knowing sheā€™d object. When he was finished, he took a step backwards that he shouldnā€™t have taken. He came to on his back on the ground. He wasnā€™t in pain, which scared him because he thought he must have broken his back. He stayed still and began yelling for help. Eventually he realized nobody could hear him. He cautiously began moving each limb, then he stood up. He was fine. He was better than fine, he felt great. ---
**Author:** ![SlipperyPete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@SlipperyPete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlipperyPete)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1951 "2022-09-01T13:03:11Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Eventually he realized nobody could hear him. He cautiously began moving each limb, then he stood up. He was fine. He was better than fine, he felt great. Free chiro adjustment! ---
**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:** [September 1, 2022, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1952 "2022-09-01T13:22:35Z")
> [@SlipperyPete](#): > > Falling off a roof and being impaled by something. Has never happened to me even once. Happened to Dick Tracy villains all the time The Brow: > **[Great Moments: Dick Tracy ā€“ Death (Impaling) of the Brow](https://panelsandprose.com/2021/08/02/great-moments-dick-tracy-death-impaling-of-the-brow/)** > > The hallmark of Chester Gouldā€™s Dick Tracy is its surreal villains. Flattop, Pruneface, Mole, Mumbles, et. al. But Gould wasnā€™t satisfied expressing inner evil with outward disfiguremenā€¦ Another Tracy villain got impaled on a church steeple, but I canā€™t find it now. To make up for it, hereā€™s a Midnight villain in an early Jack Cole comic impaled on a church steeple > **[MIDNIGHT 4 (1941) - A Jack Cole Classic](http://colescomics.blogspot.com/2009/08/midnight-4-1941-jack-cole-classic.html)** > > Story presented in this post: "Midnight - Gabby, The Talking Monkey" (Story and art by Jack Cole) Smash Comics #21 (April 1944 - Quality ... ---
**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:** [September 1, 2022, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1953 "2022-09-01T14:07:56Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Actress Charisma Carpenter survived being impaled, a happier outcome in that case. Her _character_ was impaled. I am unaware of something like that happening to her personally. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1954 "2022-09-01T14:11:10Z")
Her character being impaled was, apparently, inspired by her real-world experience as a child. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2022, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1955 "2022-09-01T14:11:39Z")
Ah. Color me educated. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1956 "2022-09-01T20:45:18Z")
The Mayo rake-guy survived and returned to farming in North Dakota. I donā€™t think Mayo would have the display of him if they werenā€™t able to help him. (The display got removed during one of their construction projects many years ago and I canā€™t find out where it went.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1957 "2022-09-01T23:51:44Z")
My buddy is a contractor, and while not fatally impaled , he fell off into an old wood deck and got a nasty nail wound. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1958 "2022-09-02T06:35:11Z")
My ex brother-in-law was working construction and fell off a two story scaffold. Fortunately, he landed on his back on a big pile of sand that broke his fall. Unfortunately, a cinder block also fell two stories and landed on his stomach. Messed up his insides quite a bit, but nothing permanent. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1959 "2022-09-03T01:55:28Z")
I donā€™t know about eggs, but they really do make a doll that cries every couple of hours (and it isnā€™t a cute cry), and you have to shut it off with a special set of keys, and you donā€™t know which one shuts it off, so you have to try each one. Itā€™s supposed to mimic the experience of checking the diaper, feeding the baby, rocking the baby, etc., trying to figure out what it needs, which, with a newborn can be a lot of hit-and-miss. I have seen teens with these more than once in Walmarts and restaurants. apparently, the doll logs how quickly you respond, so you canā€™t just throw a pillow over it for the night, and the school gives you a carseat/carrier for it. ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_That](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roger_that/32/8505_2.png) [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2022, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1960 "2022-09-03T10:50:50Z")
The thing about the women in PG movies wearing her bra in bed post-sex is that, from that point on, I canā€™t stop thinking how weird the sex must have been, and how uptight the woman have been. Every women iā€™ve ever been to bed with couldnā€™t wait to take her bra off, and thatā€™s one of the most revealing moments in any sexual relationship, especially the first time a couple has sex, but even on the thousandth reiteration, itā€™s always a high point. And the post-sex stuff is even stranger with the naked (bra-less) woman sitting in bed with the sheets up to her clavicle. I mean, Iā€™ve already seen them, so she canā€™t be hiding them from me, and thereā€™s no one else here so who exactly is she displaying this modesty for? Again, my conclusion (in the movies) is this one severely fucked-up couple to be treating this odd behavior as normal. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2022, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-tv-or-movies-but-almost-never-happens-in-real-life/932311/1961 "2022-09-03T17:42:43Z")
> [@Roger\_That](#): > > the naked (bra-less) woman sitting in bed with the sheets up to her clavicle. Actually, that is somewhat more likely than, say, putting a bra back on. Iā€™ve done that if the room is chilly-- but it wouldnā€™t be the just the sheet. I can even remember one specific instance of doing it. My husband arrived back in the US from Iraq on Dec. 24 in Wisconsin, and had a 3-day pass, so I drove up there, and we stayed in a drafty motel. We first saw each other at about 10am. A couple of hours later, we were naked and sweaty in a cold room and talking about what to do for lunch. I pulled the sheet and blanket up around myself to my armpits-- I specifically did want to cover my breasts to keep the cold and sweat from causing a slightly painful contraction of my nipples. I remember just because many details of that day are very clear to me still. [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=97) [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=99)