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Inconsistencies in Movies/TV

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Kristy

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Aug 17, 2003, 9:16:50 AM8/17/03
to
There are several things that drive me crazy when watching TV and movies.
First, why does everybody take pills with no water? Who does this in real
life? Also, when they leave a door open or bring in a prop like a purse or
a coat or whatever and then forget to take it when they leave.

What drives you guys crazy?


M. V.L. M.

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Aug 17, 2003, 3:24:30 PM8/17/03
to
I simply couldn't resist replying to "Kristy" <Wemb...@west.cox.net>,
when I read...

When characters don't wash their hands in a food preparation scene.
There's one in a 'Frasier' episode where the brothers are forming
hamburger patties for the dad's new grill. You'd think
cleanliness-conscious Niles would wash his hands both before and after
handling the meat, but he never once goes near the sink. Gives me the
heebie-jeebies.

----------------------------------
http://scrubs.ob-n.co.uk/

Linda Harms

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Aug 17, 2003, 5:44:02 PM8/17/03
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In article <8fL%a.1054$n94.771@fed1read04>, Wemb...@west.cox.net says...

When characters are watching the news on television, and the reporter is
talking about them or their situation, and they turn the TV off in the
middle of the report. If something that I was involved in was being
reported on the news, I think I would watch the whole report, and then go
to every other channel to see how they reported it.

--
Linda Harms
New York, NY

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Macbeth, Act 5 Scene 5

smi...@ureach.com

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Aug 17, 2003, 8:22:38 PM8/17/03
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"Kristy" <Wemb...@west.cox.net> wrote in message news:<8fL%a.1054$n94.771@fed1read04>...

Good question.
How about eating ice cream out of the container.
Never getting change when they buy something.
Extras who don't talk (because that way they can pay them less)
Every other line is a clever witty putdown.
15 year olds saying things that took a Harvard graduate 2 weeks to come up with.
Fake accents.


Get Upcoming Episodes for Daytime Talk Shows at http://www.greencats.com

Barry Margolin

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Aug 17, 2003, 9:02:37 PM8/17/03
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In article <MPG.19a9c1313...@News.CIS.DFN.DE>,
Linda Harms <onpe...@aol.com> wrote:

> When characters are watching the news on television, and the reporter is
> talking about them or their situation, and they turn the TV off in the
> middle of the report. If something that I was involved in was being
> reported on the news, I think I would watch the whole report, and then go
> to every other channel to see how they reported it.

The variation on this that bugs me is when someone comes in to an office
or calls and tell the protagonist to turn on the news to watch something
related to them. Unless it's a major disaster that the entire newscast
is devoted to, the report would be over by the time this happened.

--
Barry Margolin, bar...@alum.mit.edu
Level(3) Communicaions, Woburn, MA

David Johnston

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Aug 17, 2003, 10:40:20 PM8/17/03
to
Kristy wrote:
>
> There are several things that drive me crazy when watching TV and movies.
> First, why does everybody take pills with no water? Who does this in real
> life?

I do.


Rick

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Aug 17, 2003, 11:18:24 PM8/17/03
to
"Kristy" <Wemb...@west.cox.net> wrote in
news:8fL%a.1054$n94.771@fed1read04:

The way that they pour just a tiny little bit of coffee into the cup all
the time.

--
Rick

Visit the Entropy Productions homepage at
http://www.boundtoone.com/entropy.htm

Uboyle

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Aug 17, 2003, 11:52:51 PM8/17/03
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>From: "Kristy" Wemb...@west.cox.net

The thing that drives me totally crazy is when a character, say an
onconlogist, for example, gets into a discussion with another doctor about
cancer treatment, and the oncologist stands there, dumbfounded, asking
questions and looking confused about something to which s/he should already
know the answers.
Obviously, the point of the dialog is to relay information to the audience
about a topic with which they may be unfamiliar, but the character just comes
off looking stupid, in my opinion.

Kristy

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Aug 18, 2003, 12:13:31 AM8/18/03
to
> > First, why does everybody take pills with no water? Who does this in
real
> > life?
>
> I do.
>
Really? Doesn't it get stuck in your throat or leave a hideous taste
behind?


Maureen Goldman

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Aug 18, 2003, 1:51:23 AM8/18/03
to
>Rick <hecu...@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:
>The way that they pour just a tiny little bit of coffee into the cup all
>the time.

I'm more bothered by watching people handle supposedly full cups of
coffee that are both weightless and unsloshable.

David Johnston

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Aug 18, 2003, 3:10:06 AM8/18/03
to

No, and not usually.


john sad

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Aug 18, 2003, 5:27:00 AM8/18/03
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ubo...@aol.com (Uboyle) wrote in message news:<20030817235251...@mb-m07.aol.com>...

I hate that too. Like in CSI or something when someone says some
technical term and then goes you know... and explains it. Obvoiusly
they are just explaining it for the home audience but I always think
it looks dumb because the other people in the room usually know
exactly what the term means. Thats one thing i liked about ER. When
they expained a term it worked because it was usually to a patient who
probably didnt know what it meant.

frater mus

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Aug 18, 2003, 11:06:02 AM8/18/03
to
18 Aug 2003: Maureen Goldman <inksl...@FOGsunshine.net> wrote

> I'm more bothered by watching people handle supposedly full cups of
> coffee that are both weightless and unsloshable.

And paper grocery sacks that are perfectly straight-sided and weight four
ounces.

--
L.V.X., brother mouse
http://www.mousetrap.net/otr/ Old Time Radio
http://greyhound.mousetrap.net/altus/ retired racer

"What's not fine is rarely is the question asked, are, is our children
learning?" GWB. http://www.mousetrap.net/pie.txt

Maureen Goldman

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Aug 18, 2003, 11:40:43 AM8/18/03
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>poisoned rose <pros...@nospam.aol.com> wrote:
>How about that approximately 80% of all film/TV weddings are aborted,
>mid-ceremony? This always makes me groan. :) How often does this ever
>happen in real life??

Well... there isn't much point in showing the fictional wedding unless
something dramatic or funny is going to happen. I wouldn't put the
figure nearly as high as 80% for collapsed weddings, though.

Kathleen M. Frederick

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Aug 18, 2003, 11:37:08 AM8/18/03
to
frater mus wrote:

> 18 Aug 2003: Maureen Goldman <inksl...@FOGsunshine.net> wrote
>
> > I'm more bothered by watching people handle supposedly full cups of
> > coffee that are both weightless and unsloshable.
>
> And paper grocery sacks that are perfectly straight-sided and weight four
> ounces.
>

And there always seems to be a loaf of bread sticking out the top, just to
make sure we know there are groceries in there.

Anthony Cerrato

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Aug 18, 2003, 1:07:10 PM8/18/03
to

"Kristy" <Wemb...@west.cox.net> wrote in message
news:8fL%a.1054$n94.771@fed1read04...

People in dramas or soaps who walk into a room and first
thing off are asked if they want a drink (of alcohol)--or
first thing they do is prepare on themselves. How many
people do this routinely? The best tho is how everyone has
sex with their clothes on! Conceivable for women in
"nighties", but c'mon guys, at least take off your pants
(off camera would be
ok!) :) ...tonyC


William December Starr

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Aug 18, 2003, 11:05:18 PM8/18/03
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In article <20030817235251...@mb-m07.aol.com>,
ubo...@aol.com (Uboyle) said:

> The thing that drives me totally crazy is when a character, say an
> onconlogist, for example, gets into a discussion with another
> doctor about cancer treatment, and the oncologist stands there,
> dumbfounded, asking questions and looking confused about something
> to which s/he should already know the answers.
>
> Obviously, the point of the dialog is to relay information to the
> audience about a topic with which they may be unfamiliar, but the
> character just comes off looking stupid, in my opinion.

You must _love_ CSI...

Incidentally, in rec.arts.sf.written and related newsgroups there's a
name for a variation on that theme. It's called "As You Know, Bob..."
in honor of the archetypical bad-writing attempt to justify dialog in
which Character A tells Character B something that they both already
know perfectly well.

-- William December Starr <wds...@panix.com>

Thom Wilkerson

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Aug 18, 2003, 11:25:32 PM8/18/03
to
-- William December Starr wrote:
>Incidentally, in rec.arts.sf.written and
> related newsgroups there's a name for a
> variation on that theme. It's called "As
> You Know, Bob..." in honor of the
> archetypical bad-writing attempt to
> justify dialog in which Character A tells
> Character B something that they both
> already know perfectly well.

Which was sooo true of old 50s space operas, even great flix like
Forbidden Planet.
btw how come every space opera had to have a cook on board from
Brooklyn???

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_
Notice:
This post consists entirely of electrons looted during the NYC '03
Blackout.

Tony Calguire

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Aug 19, 2003, 3:00:26 AM8/19/03
to
Kristy wrote:
>
>
> What drives you guys crazy?


1. When a person on television addresses, or refers to their aunt or
uncle, they always call them "Aunt _____" or "Uncle _______". How many
people actually do this in real life? I have always called my aunts and
uncles by their first names. And my neice and nephews... well, you
wouldn't want to know what names they call me!

Jorabi

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Aug 19, 2003, 9:15:27 AM8/19/03
to

"Tony Calguire" wrote ...

>
> 1. When a person on television addresses, or refers to their aunt or
> uncle, they always call them "Aunt _____" or "Uncle _______". How many
> people actually do this in real life?

Most people.

Jorabi

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Aug 19, 2003, 9:16:08 AM8/19/03
to

"Anthony Cerrato" wrote ...

>
> People in dramas or soaps who walk into a room and first
> thing off are asked if they want a drink (of alcohol)--or
> first thing they do is prepare on themselves. How many
> people do this routinely?

How about the ice bucket that always has brand new cubes in
it?

Jorabi

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Aug 19, 2003, 9:17:56 AM8/19/03
to

"Kristy" wrote ...

1. A character coming in to eat/drink, getting the item, and
immediately leaving after taking one bite/sip.

2. Traveling across town for a meeting that lasts 30 seconds.

Maureen Goldman

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Aug 19, 2003, 11:31:39 AM8/19/03
to
>Tony Calguire <calg...@tcfreenet.org> wrote:
>1. When a person on television addresses, or refers to their aunt or
>uncle, they always call them "Aunt _____" or "Uncle _______". How many
>people actually do this in real life? I have always called my aunts and
>uncles by their first names. And my neice and nephews... well, you
>wouldn't want to know what names they call me!

Within my mother's large extended family, my cousins and I used the
whole thing for the aunts and uncles. In speaking to them, Aunt Mary
was "Aunt Mary", Uncle Norman "Uncle Norman", and so on. In speaking
of them as we became older, aunt and uncle might be dropped if they
were being discussed at length. The labelling didn't extend to any
other family area.

Xx Aum Shinri Kyo xX

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Aug 19, 2003, 1:05:01 PM8/19/03
to
>From: "Jorabi" jor...@pobox.com

Really? Do they do it beyond the age of 12?
----------
<Angkor vo...@what.nop> >Message-id:
<2ffc84930052278e...@free.teranews.com

" I cleaned latrines for the Army because they were afraid if they ever let me
near any action I'd scream like a girl and choke on my own vomit."


Message has been deleted

Linda Harms

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Aug 19, 2003, 2:23:10 PM8/19/03
to
In article <20030817235251...@mb-m07.aol.com>,
ubo...@aol.com says...

A similar thing that drives me crazy, and it happens all the time on cop
shows like Law and Order: The detectives report on their case to their
captain, and he/she gives them instructions on what to do next. "Canvas
that neighborhood and see if you can find someone who saw the crime,"
and "Go talk to the widow."

If the detectives need to be told what to do next in a routine
investigation, they should be thrown off the force!

************************************

Bill Steele

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Aug 19, 2003, 2:35:08 PM8/19/03
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In article <8sp0b.116799$wk4.1...@twister.nyroc.rr.com>, "Jorabi"
<jor...@pobox.com> wrote:

> What drives you guys crazy?

Women in trouble who scream, cower and plead instead of doing something
constructive. Even in the dark ages I doubt most women reacted that way.

Donna L. Bridges

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Aug 19, 2003, 3:06:23 PM8/19/03
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In rec.arts.tv on 19 Aug 2003 17:05:01 GMT in Msg.#
<20030819130501...@mb-m29.aol.com>,

nine...@aol.comXSPAMX (Xx Aum Shinri Kyo xX) wrote:

> >From: "Jorabi" jor...@pobox.com
> >"Tony Calguire" wrote ...
> >>
> >> 1. When a person on television addresses, or refers to their aunt or
> >> uncle, they always call them "Aunt _____" or "Uncle _______". How many
> >> people actually do this in real life?
> >
> >Most people.
>
> Really? Do they do it beyond the age of 12?

Sure. They didn't stop being your aunt or your uncle.

--
DonnaB-giving give credit where it's apparently due! The Blackout of
2003, it was Cleveland's fault!

"A dream is an answer to a question we haven't yet learned how to
ask." - Scully, X-FILES

Linda Harms

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Aug 19, 2003, 3:34:38 PM8/19/03
to
In article <ws21-19080...@128.253.187.23>, ws...@cornell.edu
says...

That drives me crazy, too. Especially when I consider that the scene is
probably written by a man who is turned on by a woman's helplessness.

A similar thing that makes me want to scream, cower, and plead for it to
stop: Scenes in disaster movies of couples running away from whatever,
with the man holding the woman's hand, dragging her along, and shouting
"RUN!!!" every 15 seconds. Case in point: "Twister."

Maureen Goldman

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Aug 19, 2003, 7:00:53 PM8/19/03
to

I get tired of hearing TV characters say that they have feelings for
each other. "I have feelings for you." "He has feelings for you."
What's the matter with the wuv word?

Linda M. Young

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Aug 19, 2003, 7:15:23 PM8/19/03
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On 19 Aug 2003 17:05:01 GMT, nine...@aol.comXSPAMX (Xx Aum Shinri
Kyo xX) wrote:

> Really? Do they do it beyond the age of 12?

If they're respectful they do. If I didn't address my aunts and uncles
by the honorific my mother would have something to say about my
manners.

Heck, I still call all my aunts "Auntie ______" "Aunt" sounds too
stuffy.

Linda
http://www.flyingdreams.org/tv/televisionindex.htm

William December Starr

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Aug 19, 2003, 8:08:48 PM8/19/03
to
In article <MPG.19ac45d6...@News.CIS.DFN.DE>,
Linda Harms <onpe...@aol.com> said:

>> Women in trouble who scream, cower and plead instead of doing
>> something constructive. Even in the dark ages I doubt most women
>> reacted that way.
>
> That drives me crazy, too. Especially when I consider that the
> scene is probably written by a man who is turned on by a woman's
> helplessness.

More likely the writer's just being lazy and using a ancient and
hoary stereotype rather than coming up with something vaguely new.

Side note: it seemed to me that there was some weirdness going on
on "Beauty and the Beast" regarding Catherine's (Linda Hamilton)
fighting ability. Sometimes it seemed like she operated under a
strict "N-Minus-One" rule -- she could defeat in combat exactly one
fewer thugs than were attacking her. If she was up against five men
she'd fight like James Bond and wipe out four of them and then get
clobbered by the fifth (and have to be rescued by Vincent), whereas
if only one man was attacking her she'd suddenly become helpless (and
have to be rescued by Vincent).

Linda

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Aug 19, 2003, 8:29:26 PM8/19/03
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"Kristy" <Wemb...@west.cox.net> wrote in message news:<8fL%a.1054$n94.771@fed1read04>...
> There are several things that drive me crazy when watching TV and movies.
> First, why does everybody take pills with no water? Who does this in real
> life? Also, when they leave a door open or bring in a prop like a purse or
> a coat or whatever and then forget to take it when they leave.
>
> What drives you guys crazy?


Diagnosis Murder .Thank God it got cancelled on CBS.This show
was the epitomy of everything that could be wrong with a tv show
or movie.It was so stupid,it was laughable.How the hell did it
manage to stay on so long?

David Johnston

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Aug 19, 2003, 8:54:22 PM8/19/03
to

Plenty do. Plenty of men do it too. And sometimes cowering and
pleading is a very constructive thing to do.

Andy Jakcsy

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Aug 19, 2003, 9:43:13 PM8/19/03
to
Tony Calguire sez:

<<
>1. When a person on television addresses, or refers to their aunt or
>uncle, they always call them "Aunt _____" or "Uncle _______". How many
>people actually do this in real life? I have always called my aunts and
>uncles by their first names.
>
>>

There are quite a few that still do it IRL. A cousin of mine, though she's
about 6 or 7 years older than me, still calls my parents "Aunt X" and "Uncle
Y"...(names withheld to protect the guilty, of course...)


----
"You said I could have the day off."
"I'm sorry. I must have been lying."
--Erotica/Stripperella and Chief Stroganoff, Stripperella: The Wrath of Klinko

fruitbat

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Aug 20, 2003, 11:56:40 AM8/20/03
to

There can be a big step between having feelings for someone and love
for someone. Love is a strong word to me, although some people seem to
throw it around much more freely. I've had feelings for people that
weren't strong enough or well-developed enough that I would have said
I loved them. There's also some difference to me between saying "I
love you" and "I'm in love with you", although I may be one of the few
that makes that distinction.

In any case, I don't see it as a fear of using the L-word necessarily
(although it could be), but as choosing different words to convey a
different nuance or intensity.

Jeff

Maureen Goldman

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Aug 20, 2003, 1:20:18 PM8/20/03
to

>Maureen Goldman <inksl...@FOGsunshine.net> wrote:
>> I get tired of hearing TV characters say that they have feelings for
>> each other. "I have feelings for you." "He has feelings for you."
>> What's the matter with the wuv word?

> >fru1...@hotmail.com (fruitbat) wrote:
>There can be a big step between having feelings for someone and love
>for someone. Love is a strong word to me, although some people seem to
>throw it around much more freely. I've had feelings for people that
>weren't strong enough or well-developed enough that I would have said
>I loved them. There's also some difference to me between saying "I
>love you" and "I'm in love with you", although I may be one of the few
>that makes that distinction.

>In any case, I don't see it as a fear of using the L-word necessarily
>(although it could be), but as choosing different words to convey a
>different nuance or intensity.

Often on TV the phrase "I have feelings for you" indicates even more
intensity, a fear of stating love directly. My complaint, though, it
that in real life I have never, EVER heard anyone claim to have
feelings for someone, or to state that someone else has feelings for
another person. So it comes across as blatantly phony and writer-ish.

In real life it's usually something like she likes him, she kind of
likes him, she likes him a lot, she really likes him, she really likes
him a lot. These sentiments are more likely to be expressed in
elementary school style than as per a psychiatrist (oh, let me check
in my psche... yes, it appears that I have feelings for him).

However, I could just be out of the loop.

Kristy

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Aug 20, 2003, 9:14:19 PM8/20/03
to
"Tony Calguire" <calg...@tcfreenet.org> wrote in message
news:3F41CB...@tcfreenet.org...
Actually I hate to tell you but our whole family does that and I have 9
aunts and uncles, we do it with all the aunts and uncles.


Kristy

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Aug 20, 2003, 9:18:32 PM8/20/03
to
> > >There are several things that drive me crazy when watching TV and
movies.
> > >First, why does everybody take pills with no water? Who does this in
real
> > >life? Also, when they leave a door open or bring in a prop like a
purse or
> > >a coat or whatever and then forget to take it when they leave.
> > >
> > >What drives you guys crazy?
> > >
> > >
> A similar thing that drives me crazy, and it happens all the time on cop
> shows like Law and Order: The detectives report on their case to their
> captain, and he/she gives them instructions on what to do next. "Canvas
> that neighborhood and see if you can find someone who saw the crime,"
> and "Go talk to the widow."
>
Yeah, if my boss did that everytime he told me to do something my response
would probably be "duh!" I'd be quite offended.


Jorabi

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Aug 21, 2003, 7:36:44 AM8/21/03
to

"Maureen Goldman" wrote ...

>
> >Maureen Goldman wrote:
> >
> >> I get tired of hearing TV characters say that they have feelings for
> >> each other. "I have feelings for you." "He has feelings for you."
> >> What's the matter with the wuv word?
>
> >fruitbat wrote:
> >
> >There can be a big step between having feelings for someone and love
> >for someone. Love is a strong word to me, although some people seem to
> >throw it around much more freely. I've had feelings for people that
> >weren't strong enough or well-developed enough that I would have said
> >I loved them. There's also some difference to me between saying "I
> >love you" and "I'm in love with you", although I may be one of the few
> >that makes that distinction.
>
> >In any case, I don't see it as a fear of using the L-word necessarily
> >(although it could be), but as choosing different words to convey a
> >different nuance or intensity.
>
> Often on TV the phrase "I have feelings for you" indicates even more
> intensity, a fear of stating love directly. My complaint, though, it
> that in real life I have never, EVER heard anyone claim to have
> feelings for someone, or to state that someone else has feelings for
> another person. So it comes across as blatantly phony and writer-ish.
>
> In real life it's usually something like she likes him, she kind of
> likes him, she likes him a lot, she really likes him, she really likes
> him a lot. These sentiments are more likely to be expressed in
> elementary school style than as per a psychiatrist (oh, let me check
> in my psche... yes, it appears that I have feelings for him).
>
> However, I could just be out of the loop.

No, I agree with you on what it's been in the past in real life. But now
that "I have feelings for you" is constantly being said on TV, it will
make it into the vernacular.

I also think that the importance given to the phrase "I love you" has been
the product of TV and movies, starting long ago. I would add that to this
thread -- a character is tortured over saying those words or hearing them
from someone else. That part of a plot drives me crazy.

I also don't know what the difference between "I love you" and "I am in love
with you" is (or what the meaning of "is" is (kidding)).

Arthur Lipscomb

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Aug 21, 2003, 10:11:50 AM8/21/03
to
Jorabi wrote:
>
> "Maureen Goldman" wrote ...
> >
> > >Maureen Goldman wrote:
> > >
>snip

>
> I also don't know what the difference between "I love you" and "I am in love
> with you" is (or what the meaning of "is" is (kidding)).

Would you say to your mother/father/brother/sister etc. "I am in love
with you?"

David Levy

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Aug 21, 2003, 10:40:32 AM8/21/03
to
Kristy wrote:

> There are several things that drive me crazy when watching TV and
> movies. First, why does everybody take pills with no water? Who does
> this in real life? Also, when they leave a door open or bring in a prop like
> a purse or a coat or whatever and then forget to take it when they leave.
>
> What drives you guys crazy?

Off the top of my head, here are two things that I'm surprised haven't
been mentioned (unless I missed them):

1. In phony driving scenes, characters often spin the steering wheel
back and forth, similar to the manner in which a young child would
play with a toy. Sometimes, they actually stop momentarily, turn to
address another character, and then turn back and resume this
preposterous behavior. It's as though they've never even seen anyone
drive a car!

2. In one-way telephone conversations, characters rarely pause for a
remotely realistic length of time. (to allow the nonexistent party to
speak) When placing calls, they typically dial and immediately begin
talking. (leaving no time for anyone to answer)

Repetition of the nonexistent party's remarks (for the benefit of the
audience) is okay, as long as the responsible actor is either Bob
Newhart or Patricia Routledge. Most others probably shouldn't attempt
this.

David Levy

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Aug 21, 2003, 10:40:34 AM8/21/03
to
Linda Harms wrote:

> > When characters are watching the news on television, and the
> > reporter is talking about them or their situation, and they turn the
> > TV off in the middle of the report. If something that I was involved
> > in was being reported on the news, I think I would watch the whole
> > report, and then go to every other channel to see how they reported it.

Barry Margolin added:

> The variation on this that bugs me is when someone comes in to an office
> or calls and tell the protagonist to turn on the news to watch something
> related to them. Unless it's a major disaster that the entire newscast
> is devoted to, the report would be over by the time this happened.

Personally, I'm perturbed by the following:

The characters are watching something on television or listening to
something via radio. (an entertainment program, a news report, an
advertisement, etc.) The audio conveniently pauses (with no outside
intervention) just long enough for the insertion of perfectly timed
dialogue. (and often laughter, if it's a sitcom)

It also bothers me when the television/radio receiver suddenly goes
dead at the exact point at which it no longer is needed in the scene.
(In other words, the audio vanishes without anyone turning off or
muting the device.)

Maureen Goldman

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 11:24:51 AM8/21/03
to
> Maureen Goldman

>> In real life it's usually something like she likes him, she kind of
>> likes him, she likes him a lot, she really likes him, she really likes
>> him a lot. These sentiments are more likely to be expressed in
>> elementary school style than as per a psychiatrist (oh, let me check
>> in my psche... yes, it appears that I have feelings for him).
>>
>> However, I could just be out of the loop.

> >"Jorabi" <jor...@pobox.com> wrote:
>No, I agree with you on what it's been in the past in real life. But now
>that "I have feelings for you" is constantly being said on TV, it will
>make it into the vernacular.

I hope that "I have feelings for you" doesn't make its way into common
usage via TV, although that's certainly a major way that catchphrases
become popular.

>I also think that the importance given to the phrase "I love you" has been
>the product of TV and movies, starting long ago. I would add that to this
>thread -- a character is tortured over saying those words or hearing them
>from someone else. That part of a plot drives me crazy.

>I also don't know what the difference between "I love you" and "I am in love
>with you"

I take the second as problemsome for the speaker, to be followed by
"but I'll get over it" or "let me think for a while about how I got
into this emotional tangle".

> is (or what the meaning of "is" is (kidding)).

One cannot define love without first defining "define". Kind of takes
the bloom from the rose, that.

Donna L. Bridges

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 12:08:19 PM8/21/03
to
In rec.arts.tv on Wed, 20 Aug 2003 10:20:18 -0700 in Msg.#
<7r87kv86lrcn94mav...@4ax.com>, Maureen Goldman
<inksl...@FOGsunshine.net> wrote:

> Often on TV the phrase "I have feelings for you" indicates even more
> intensity, a fear of stating love directly. My complaint, though, it
> that in real life I have never, EVER heard anyone claim to have
> feelings for someone, or to state that someone else has feelings for
> another person. So it comes across as blatantly phony and writer-ish.
>
> In real life it's usually something like she likes him, she kind of
> likes him, she likes him a lot, she really likes him, she really likes
> him a lot. These sentiments are more likely to be expressed in
> elementary school style than as per a psychiatrist (oh, let me check
> in my psche... yes, it appears that I have feelings for him).
>
> However, I could just be out of the loop.

I am very aware of people using phrases like this & others to express
feelings that are somewhere between 'Hello' and 'I love you' or even
because they know it would be too early or premature on their part to
declare their love for someone else. Nothing phony about it to me.
Human, regular, ordinary.

--
DonnaB-giving credit where it's apparently due! The Blackout of 2003,


it was Cleveland's fault!

"Those who have imagination without learning have wings but no feet."
- Anonymous

Donna L. Bridges

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 12:08:20 PM8/21/03
to
In rec.arts.tv on Thu, 21 Aug 2003 11:36:44 GMT in Msg.#
<g921b.87$8d...@twister.nyroc.rr.com>, "Jorabi" <jor...@pobox.com>
wrote:

> I also don't know what the difference between "I love you" and "I am in love
> with you" is (or what the meaning of "is" is (kidding)).

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. In some instances it means I don't love
you romantically but instead I love you as a friend. In other
instances it means I used to have romantic love for you but now I only
have friendship love for you. (agape)

--
DonnaB-giving credit where it's apparently due! The Blackout of 2003,
it was Cleveland's fault!

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking up at the
stars." - Oscar Wilde

Donna L. Bridges

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 12:09:16 PM8/21/03
to
In rec.arts.tv on Thu, 21 Aug 2003 08:24:51 -0700 in Msg.#
<hml9kv0e2h871ec2s...@4ax.com>, Maureen Goldman
<inksl...@FOGsunshine.net> wrote:

> One cannot define love without first defining "define". Kind of takes
> the bloom from the rose, that.

??? Did I just miss something?

--
DonnaB-giving credit where it's apparently due! The Blackout of 2003,
it was Cleveland's fault!

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing
which ones to keep." - Scott Adams

fruitbat

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 12:17:47 PM8/21/03
to
"Jorabi" <jor...@pobox.com> wrote:
>
> I also don't know what the difference between "I love you" and "I am in love
> with you" is (or what the meaning of "is" is (kidding)).

This is way OT, but I felt like I should explain...

To me, when used seriously, "to be in love" is to be
infatuated/enamored, while "to love" is to deeply care for... The
former connotes a certain irrationality and perhaps newness (hence
when a couple says "we've been married 30 years and we're still in
love", it means that there's still a freshness to their feelings for
each other), while the latter implies a deeper bond.

I don't know why I make a distinction or where I got it from, but
that's just what they mean to me.

Jeff

Maureen Goldman

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 2:01:32 PM8/21/03
to

><inksl...@FOGsunshine.net> wrote:
>> One cannot define love without first defining "define". Kind of takes
>> the bloom from the rose, that.

> >Donna L. Bridges <shall...@rcn.com> wrote:
>??? Did I just miss something?

Nah, it's summer. Just idle chitchat.

The Magically Delicious Mr. Hole

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 3:01:47 PM8/21/03
to
"Kristy" <Wemb...@west.cox.net> wrote:

>There are several things that drive me
>crazy when watching TV and movies.
>First, why does everybody take pills with
>no water? Who does this in real life? Also,
>when they leave a door open or bring in a
>prop like a purse or a coat or whatever
>and then forget to take it when they leave.

>What drives you guys crazy?

Plain pink pastry boxes from the bakery, in real life all the pastry
boxes I've ever seen are plain white, but on TV and in films they're
always pink.


..
Mr. Hole

Ben Wolfson

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 3:30:33 PM8/21/03
to
In article <14842-3F...@storefull-2332.public.lawson.webtv.net>,

I've seen pink pastry boxes, IYKWIM.

--
BTR
The Glass Marble, mistaking the No. 37 Penpoint for the Four-Holed
Button, pushed it into the Yawning Chasm.

David Levy

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 3:52:11 PM8/21/03
to
Mr. Hole wrote:

> Plain pink pastry boxes from the bakery, in real life
> all the pastry boxes I've ever seen are plain white,
> but on TV and in films they're always pink.

White objects (particularly those with flat surfaces) tend to reflect
the bright overhead lights, creating glare and various camera-related
distortions. This is why late night talk show hosts typically use
blue index cards.

The Magically Delicious Mr. Hole

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 3:12:35 PM8/21/03
to
Maureen Goldman <inksl...@FOGsunshine.net> wrote:

Maybe, its because I'm a tad shy, but up until now I've been too afraid
to tell you that I too have feelings for you, Maureen, and I've had
these feels for you for so very very long. Deep feelings, do you share
these feelings, can we share these feelings together?

..
Mr. Hole

Linda Harms

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 4:33:07 PM8/21/03
to
In article <14843-3F...@storefull-2332.public.lawson.webtv.net>,
holef...@webtv.net says...

As a result of reading this post, I too am having feelings. A sort of
queasy, cramping feeling in my stomach. A slight pounding in my head.
Is it possible to say, "I migraine you"?

Donna L. Bridges

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 4:41:00 PM8/21/03
to
In rec.arts.tv on Thu, 21 Aug 2003 11:01:32 -0700 in Msg.#
<ma1akvg087of40fpr...@4ax.com>, Maureen Goldman
<inksl...@FOGsunshine.net> wrote:

I think I'm feeling something about this, something sorta positive,
but, not in a completely superlative way!

Or, maybe it's just something I ate.

--
DonnaB-giving credit where it's apparently due! The Blackout of 2003,
it was Cleveland's fault!

"Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off
their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more." - Mark Twain

Maureen Goldman

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 8:29:37 PM8/21/03
to

>Maureen Goldman <inksl...@FOGsunshine.net> wrote:
>>I get tired of hearing TV characters say
>>that they have feelings for each other. "I
>>have feelings for you." "He has feelings
>>for you." What's the matter with the wuv
>>word?

> >holef...@webtv.net (The Magically Delicious Mr. Hole) wrote:
>Maybe, its because I'm a tad shy, but up until now I've been too afraid
>to tell you that I too have feelings for you, Maureen, and I've had
>these feels for you for so very very long. Deep feelings, do you share
>these feelings, can we share these feelings together?

I ... I suspect we already do share those feelings. Or at least a
pixel or two worth..

Maureen Goldman

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 8:44:41 PM8/21/03
to

Okay, here's another one that bothers me. A thug is knocked out in a
fight in a smallish interior setting. Either the fight goes on, or the
scene continues in a way that makes it clear nobody is on the floor.
Last season's "24" had something similar close to the end, where Mrs.
Palmer's bodyguard was knocked out and cuffed to a wall (and never
shown again). This was a tight area filled with computer equipment,
and even though the floor wasn't shown, I think they would have moved
differently.

KSK

unread,
Aug 21, 2003, 11:58:11 PM8/21/03
to
On Sun, 17 Aug 2003 06:16:50 -0700, "Kristy" <Wemb...@west.cox.net>
wrote:

>There are several things that drive me crazy when watching TV and movies.
>First, why does everybody take pills with no water? Who does this in real
>life? Also, when they leave a door open or bring in a prop like a purse or
>a coat or whatever and then forget to take it when they leave.
>
>What drives you guys crazy?
>

Gifts that have the lid giftwrapped separately from the rest of the
package. Obviously, it's so it can be opened easily and reclosed
without messing up the wrapping paper. But who really wraps gifts
this way? Nobody I know!

Bill Steele

unread,
Aug 22, 2003, 3:35:31 PM8/22/03
to
In article <935bkvs91sctflg6i...@4ax.com>, KSK
<kko...@charter.net> wrote:

Lots of things like that are set up to make scenes move faster--especially
in TV--or to make things easier for the actors. One I like is where the
hero has to escape from handcuffs by getting his hands from the back to
the front, and the chain is two feet long.

I've always remembered a little bit in an old movie where some young girl
starts crying and Ethel Barrymore hands her a handkerchief. Barrymore
takes the folded handkerchief by the thumb and forefinger of each hand and
pulls and *presto*, it unfolds instantly. She had carefully planned
exactly how to hold it.

Kathleen M. Frederick

unread,
Aug 22, 2003, 8:26:08 PM8/22/03
to
KSK wrote:

I do on rare occassions.. They look nicer that way. Yeah, it takes longer to do
that, but it's worth it for really special gifts. Or for so-so ones that you
want to make look better :)

--
Kathy

Brad Filippone

unread,
Aug 23, 2003, 1:04:51 AM8/23/03
to
Have you ever noticed that people in TV shows set in areas where it snows
in winter NEVER have to go through the bother of putting boots or coats on
or off when they enter/leave a house?

Unless it's a Christmas episode. Then it's snowing everywhere!

Brad

Brad Filippone

unread,
Aug 23, 2003, 1:13:55 AM8/23/03
to
Jorabi (jor...@pobox.com) wrote:

: "Kristy" wrote ...
: >
: > There are several things that drive me crazy when watching TV and movies.


: > First, why does everybody take pills with no water? Who does this in real
: > life? Also, when they leave a door open or bring in a prop like a purse or
: > a coat or whatever and then forget to take it when they leave.
: >
: > What drives you guys crazy?

: 1. A character coming in to eat/drink, getting the item, and
: immediately leaving after taking one bite/sip.

: 2. Traveling across town for a meeting that lasts 30 seconds.

On a simalar note, how about trips that SHOULD be long, but seem to be
over right away? I don't mean because they only show the beginning and
the end, I mean instances in which it's obvious that only a little time
has passed.

For example, on "General Hospital" it's well established that members of
the Cassidine family live in a house on an island in the middle of Port
Charles Harbor. In one scene, you'll see a character say something like,
"I have to go talk to Nicholas" and he leaves the scene. This is in a
scene immediatly following another scene showing Nicholas on the island.
After a commercial break we see a continuation of the Nicholas scene,
indicating that not much time has passed. But before the scene is over,
the other character walks in! He has gone to the dockyard, waited for the
boat, made the crossing to the island, walked up to the house and gone to
the room Nicholas is in, in just a few minutes!

And before you say anything, this stuff happens on shows other than the
daytime dramas too.

Brad

Ubiquitous

unread,
Sep 2, 2003, 9:34:22 AM9/2/03
to
In article <8fL%a.1054$n94.771@fed1read04>, Wemb...@west.cox.net wrote:

>There are several things that drive me crazy when watching TV and movies.
>First, why does everybody take pills with no water? Who does this in real
>life?

I know some people who do that, but yeah, it's fucked up.

>What drives you guys crazy?

People who open their door without looking out the peephole or even
asking who's there.

--
======================================================================
ISLAM: Winning the hearts and minds of the world, one bomb at a time.

Ubiquitous

unread,
Sep 2, 2003, 9:36:09 AM9/2/03
to
In article <barmar-ABD338....@netnews.attbi.com>,
bar...@alum.mit.edu wrote:

>The variation on this that bugs me is when someone comes in to an office
>or calls and tell the protagonist to turn on the news to watch something
>related to them. Unless it's a major disaster that the entire newscast
>is devoted to, the report would be over by the time this happened.

It usually is, too. Well, just the part where the reporter repeats
the headline to the story.

Ubiquitous

unread,
Sep 2, 2003, 9:38:09 AM9/2/03
to
In article <3F40F2A4...@lehigh.edu>, km...@lehigh.edu wrote:

>And there always seems to be a loaf of bread sticking out the top, just to
>make sure we know there are groceries in there.

Unless the stupid bagboy put the eggs at the bottom "so that they don't
leak all over everything if they break".

Ubiquitous

unread,
Sep 2, 2003, 9:40:25 AM9/2/03
to
In article <3F41CB...@tcfreenet.org>, calg...@tcfreenet.org wrote:

>1. When a person on television addresses, or refers to their aunt or
>uncle, they always call them "Aunt _____" or "Uncle _______". How many
>people actually do this in real life?

I do. It's called "respecting your elders".

ANIM8Rfsk

unread,
Sep 2, 2003, 10:34:55 AM9/2/03
to

>1. When a person on television addresses, or refers to their aunt or
>uncle, they always call them "Aunt _____" or "Uncle _______". How many
>people actually do this in real life? >>

Me, me!


___________
NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY
<A HREF="http://www.donotcall.gov/">http://www.donotcall.gov/</A>
Most telemarketers cannot call your telephone number
if it is in the National Do Not Call Registry.

ANIM8Rfsk

unread,
Sep 2, 2003, 10:36:27 AM9/2/03
to
<< >The variation on this that bugs me is when someone comes in to an office
>or calls and tell the protagonist to turn on the news to watch something
>related to them. Unless it's a major disaster that the entire newscast
>is devoted to, the report would be over by the time this happened. >>

LOL, yeah. Buffy did that a lot. Ring, ring. "Quick, Giles, turn on the
news!" <<and now we repeat our story from the very beginning . .. >>

ANIM8Rfsk

unread,
Sep 2, 2003, 10:37:16 AM9/2/03
to
<< From: web...@polaris.net (Ubiquitous) >>


<< >And there always seems to be a loaf of bread sticking out the top, just to
>make sure we know there are groceries in there.

Unless the stupid bagboy put the eggs at the bottom "so that they don't
leak all over everything if they break". >>

Always buy the french bread or baguette that's longer than the grocery bag.
Guaranteed to stick out the top every time.

ANIM8Rfsk

unread,
Sep 2, 2003, 10:37:53 AM9/2/03
to
<< From: web...@polaris.net (Ubiquitous) >>


<< People who open their door without looking out the peephole or even
asking who's there. >>

In fairness, they mostly seem to do that in NYC, where it's apparently safe.

Evander

unread,
Sep 2, 2003, 10:13:56 PM9/2/03
to

"ANIM8Rfsk" <anim...@aol.comNOSPAM> wrote in message
news:20030902103716...@mb-m24.aol.com...

> << From: web...@polaris.net (Ubiquitous) >>
>
>
> << >And there always seems to be a loaf of bread sticking out the top,
just to
> >make sure we know there are groceries in there.
>
> Unless the stupid bagboy put the eggs at the bottom "so that they don't
> leak all over everything if they break". >>
>
> Always buy the french bread or baguette that's longer than the grocery
bag.
> Guaranteed to stick out the top every time.
>

How come they alway only have one grocery bag? I've never come from the
store with just one bag.

Evan
--
Censorship is advertising paid by the government.
Federico Fellini


Ubiquitous

unread,
Sep 3, 2003, 1:00:58 PM9/3/03
to
Evander <evancl...@nospamsbcglobal.net> wrote:

: How come they alway only have one grocery bag? I've never come from the


: store with just one bag.

Grocery bags in TV land are larger inside than they are here.

Thom Wilkerson

unread,
Sep 3, 2003, 1:08:28 PM9/3/03
to
>Grocery bags in TV land are larger inside
> than they are here.

I was half way through the sentence before I realized you weren't going
for --

"grocery bags in TV land are larger inside than outside".

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_
Notice:
This post consists entirely of electrons looted during the NYC '03
Blackout.

Linda Harms

unread,
Sep 3, 2003, 1:31:43 PM9/3/03
to
In article <bj56oa$k9n$5...@news.utelfla.com>, web...@polaris.net says...
And they are always paper, never plastic.
--

Bill Steele

unread,
Sep 3, 2003, 1:46:45 PM9/3/03
to
In article <E7c5b.8917$Ra....@newssvr27.news.prodigy.com>, "Evander"
<evancl...@NOSPAMsbcglobal.net> wrote:

> How come they alway only have one grocery bag? I've never come from the
> store with just one bag.

The character carrying the bag is usually single, and usually lives in New
York, where you don't drive to the store.

Bill Steele

unread,
Sep 3, 2003, 1:48:56 PM9/3/03
to
Saw another one last night: space/diving helmets with little lights inside
that illuminate the face. Second cousin to automobile dash lights that
shine on the people in the front seat.

Ubiquitous

unread,
Sep 4, 2003, 8:20:24 PM9/4/03
to
Thom Wilkerson <th...@webtv.net> wrote:

:>Grocery bags in TV land are larger inside than they are here.

: I was half way through the sentence before I realized you weren't going
: for --
: "grocery bags in TV land are larger inside than outside".

ANYONE can write that.

Andy Jakcsy

unread,
Sep 4, 2003, 11:10:43 PM9/4/03
to
Ubiquitous sez:

>
>>

If you're a D&D fan, you know that TV land bags are really Grocery Bags of
Holding...


----
"You said I could have the day off."
"I'm sorry. I must have been lying."
--Erotica/Stripperella and Chief Stroganoff, Stripperella: The Wrath of Klinko

Ubiquitous

unread,
Sep 11, 2003, 4:53:19 PM9/11/03
to
In article <20030902103753...@mb-m24.aol.com>,
anim...@aol.comNOSPAM wrote:
>> From: web...@polaris.net (Ubiquitous)

>> People who open their door without looking out the peephole or even
>>asking who's there.
>
>In fairness, they mostly seem to do that in NYC, where it's apparently safe.

Or a (female) teen babysitter, all alone.

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