Things that are common in fiction but not in your real life

[Paperbackstash]

Originally Posted by tempest@de

Revive this thread because I came across a situation in 2 books recently read and would like to hear opinions about this

Do people in real life that are in the middle of taking a shower stop mid shower to go answer the door because someone rings the bell?

How about leaving the shower to answer the phone?

For me finishing the shower is more important than rushing trailing water and suds to go to the door, or the phone, whoever that is can wait or came back later.

No, I wouldn't be able to hear the shower. I can't even hear the door from my bedroom because i have window AC

However, I will say that I get interrupted A LOT by my parents who live across the street when I am in the bath and have to get out of it a lot due to this. It's annoying.

[tempest@de]

Judging by your answers this is indeed a «Thing that are common in fiction but not in your real life».

[4691mls]

Does anyone here refer to their own parents by their first names? I see this in books but everyone I know in real life refers to their parents as Mom or Dad (or some equivalent).

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

Does anyone here refer to their own parents by their first names? I see this in books but everyone I know in real life refers to their parents as Mom or Dad (or some equivalent).

No, but wasn't that a thing in the seventies?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

Does anyone here refer to their own parents by their first names? I see this in books but everyone I know in real life refers to their parents as Mom or Dad (or some equivalent).

Not when I grew up (50's-60's). My parents were 'Pop' and 'Mom' till the day they died.
But now, it seems quite common, even at a real young age.
And we always referred to our friends parents as "Mr or Mrs" well into our teens.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

Does anyone here refer to their own parents by their first names? I see this in books but everyone I know in real life refers to their parents as Mom or Dad (or some equivalent).

I think it started in the 1930s or maybe 1950s. It's a particular socio-politcal demographic in England and never much caught on in Wales, Scotland, NI or Ireland. I think it's still rare on these Islands.

Mum is more common than Mom (UK & Ireland), but some areas it's Mam, Mummy or Mammy. Dad, Daddy.
Father, Pater, Mother, Mater tend to be more upper class, or sometimes used by Step-Children or Children-in-law of any class.
Also in Ireland there is mamaí (mammy) and daidí (daddy), which might explain why some less Irish speaking areas use mummy rather than mammy.
A mummified corpse is ‘mumaí’ [masculine]
Scottish is mamaidh, dadaidh [Pronounced: mammie, daddie]

It's very much related to "class" and geographic area. Class is of much more significance in England in terms of language and pronunciation.

[GlenBarrington]

This is more about video fiction, but I noticed it when watching several old "Midsomer Murders" episodes on IMDB. Somebody gets murdered when the murderer topples a stack of heavy. . . 'stuff' on top of them, and the victim does nothing to get away!

I don't care how old and feeble I get, I'm going to at least TRY to step away!

[4691mls]

People in books often go to the grocery store first before all their other errands, with no mention of keeping their cold things cold, such as having a cooler in the trunk of the car.

Unless it's really cold outside, I always save the grocery store for last.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

This is more about video fiction, but I noticed it when watching several old "Midsomer Murders" episodes on IMDB. Somebody gets murdered when the murderer topples a stack of heavy. . . 'stuff' on top of them, and the victim does nothing to get away!

I don't care how old and feeble I get, I'm going to at least TRY to step away!

Korean Dramas' version of this is people who stand on a zebra crossing and wait for a (always white) truck to hit them. It's actually known as "the truck of doom". Although the ease and frequency with drivers in K Dramas manage U-turns across 3-6 lanes in a city of 10 million is perhaps even more risible.

[mpeg2]

"Although the ease and frequency with drivers in K Dramas manage U-turns across 3-6 lanes in a city of 10 million is perhaps even more risible." - in real life as well. U-turns on major streets in Seoul are apparently part of driving there - at least I saw lots of this activity the last few times I was there.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by mpeg2

"Although the ease and frequency with drivers in K Dramas manage U-turns across 3-6 lanes in a city of 10 million is perhaps even more risible." - in real life as well. U-turns on major streets in Seoul are apparently part of driving there - at least I saw lots of this activity the last few times I was there.

Wow, that's fascinating, thank you! Here was I laughing at what I assumed was absurd only to find it was art imitating life. Now I'm in the mood to watch the freeway scene from Bowfinger again, still an llol moment after multiple watched

[paulag]

I like when people parting away without giving any hint to the other about where they are going and then magically bumping into each other years later in some far-flung city and stuffs like that.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by paulag

I like when people parting away without giving any hint to the other about where they are going and then magically bumping into each other years later in some far-flung city and stuffs like that.

That happens all the time (well, once or twice a year) to me and my middle child. My wife just looks at us sideways and asks who this new person is. We rarely meet someone she's met before when this happens. For me, it's old college friends, church friends, work acquaintances, etc. For my kid it is classmates and their families.

It rarely happens near home though, mostly when we are on vacation. It's very weird but I've learned to keep my eyes open and expect to be pleasantly surprised when traveling.

[4691mls]

People in books always seem to skip putting on underwear if they're in a hurry.

I could understand this if it were a life-or-death emergency, like if the house is on fire you'd just grab the nearest thing to cover yourself up and run out the door. But short of such an extreme emergency, why? How long does it really take to put on underwear?

(I'm talking about modern-day books, not historical fiction from a time where women wore complicated undergarments that had to be laced up with the help of a maid....)

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by paulag

I like when people parting away without giving any hint to the other about where they are going and then magically bumping into each other years later in some far-flung city and stuffs like that.

This sort of thing happens. All.The.Time in real life. One day, while heading in for lunch at the staff dining room of the lumber mill he was working at, he literally bumped into his brother, of and from whom he'd heard nothing for 10 years or so after said brother had moved to Bougainville.