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Article created by: Žygimantas Snarskis

The drama, the action, the explosions—movies have always been slightly, or even wildly different from reality in some ways or others. But even though a lot of popular movies do not provide an exact representation of what’s truly real, we still get a kick out of them, because of how we, as an audience, relate to the plot, the characters, and the various scenarios that occur. The distance between the audience’s perception of reality and the point of the film is usually big enough for us to escape that reality for the duration of the running time, if not longer, or it is smaller—in which case we do heavily relate to what’s on the screen. 

On the other hand, there are scenarios where, on an individual or group basis, we will be annoyingly detached from the fictional narrative at hand, because we know that it is a bit too far from our reality. One such example would be people with a certain job or profession watching a movie and thinking that it’s not how their job is done at all. A user on Reddit asked a question that very much relates to this—what movies get wrong about different kinds of jobs that real people do. Here at Bored Panda, we have collected 30 of some of the more interesting responses. Scroll down to view the whole list, upvote the posts you perhaps relate to and leave a comment! 

More info: Reddit

#1

Taxi Drivers

Line of taxis parked on a city street during daytime highlighting common mistakes movies make when portraying taxi drivers. Taxi driver for 2 and a half years. No one has ever asked me to follow that car :(

Frostodian , SindiTaxi Floripa Report

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    #2

    Working With Horses

    Close-up of a brown horse with a red truck in the background illustrating common mistakes movies make portraying various professions. I work with horses. Movie horses are always snorting, neighing, grunting, nickering, or otherwise making noise practically every time they move. In reality, horses aren’t that noisy. They don’t snort or squeal every time they change gaits. I can count on one hand the number of times my own horse has neighed, and he was just screaming for his friends who he couldn’t see over the hill and who wouldn’t answer him.

    fire_foot , Hans Splinter Report

    #3

    IT Professionals

    Old computer setup with CRT monitor and keyboard on a desk, illustrating mistakes movies make portraying professions. I.T. I don’t know everything. I can’t hack. If I don’t know the answer from experience I use google. But I do wear cargo shorts every day so they got that right.

    intensenerd , Jiri Brozovsky Report

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    #4

    Scientists

    Complex scientific equipment with detailed wiring and metal components, illustrating mistakes movies make portraying professions. In sci-fi movies when they rig up a massive, complex experiment and it works the first time.

    otter_pickles , Luigi Selmi Report

    #5

    Medical Professionals

    Person practicing CPR on an inflatable dummy, illustrating common mistakes movies make when portraying various professions. If you stop CPR to pound on the patients shoulders, yell at them to "come back goddammit", and give 'em a kiss, they'll probably die.

    EatYourPain , baronsquirrel Report

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    #6

    Bomb Technicians

    Robot with multiple legs and wires on a checkered surface, illustrating mistakes movies make portraying various professions. I’m a bomb tech, we will blow up 20 robots before we send the most junior guy down to cut the red wire.

    AgreeableMoose , Takuya Oikawa Report

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    #7

    Lawyers

    Courtroom scene showing judge, lawyers, and individuals, illustrating common mistakes movies make portraying various professions. Being a lawyer is 3 months of paperwork and research and one day of trial... and we don’t yell at or intimidate witnesses - if I did what you see in movies I’d be disbarred pretty quickly.

    wynnduffyisking , Seattle Parks and Recreation Report

    #8

    HVAC Engineers

    Exposed air ducts and electrical wiring on wooden ceiling beams showing common mistakes movies make in professions portrayal. You are definitely not, ever, going to roam around the building through the ductwork.

    seeteethree , Patrick Finnegan Report

    #9

    Welders

    Welder wearing protective gear, working with sparks flying, illustrating common mistakes movies make in portraying professions. Whenever I see someone welding in a movie I always notice how they aren’t wearing anything to cover the skin on their arms or body. That’s how you get serious arc burn that’s like a super bad sunburn. Hurts like hell.

    Waitinforit , Dennis Yang Report

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    #10

    Bar Musicians

    Bar interior with various liquor bottles and tiki decorations highlighting mistakes movies make when portraying bartenders and service professions Bar musician. We're not all depressed and hoping some big talent scout from a label shows up. Some us enjoy playing in bars.

    Notasupervillan , Steven Miller Report

    #11

    Archivists

    Archive room with shelves full of files and books illustrating common mistakes movies make portraying various professions Fun fact, archivists do not wear white gloves all the time like the movies show, especially not when handling paper documents since they can do more harm than good. I'm looking at you, National Treasure.

    ConditionalNovember , carmichaellibrary Report

    #12

    Car Mechanics

    Three cars parked in a garage with one car’s hood open, illustrating common mistakes movies make in portraying professions. Car mechanics usually don't lie on a little board beneath the car. They lift the car over their head using hydraulic elevators.

    RealMVPs , Carlos Ebert Report

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    #13

    Blackjack Dealers

    Close-up of poker chips, playing cards, and Monopoly houses illustrating common mistakes movies make portraying various professions. That blackjack dealers have no personality. We live off tips. Even if you lose, we still try to entertain. Every famous casino movie show the dealer on the casinos side. We don’t want the house to win, we make money when you make money.

    sgfy23 , Images Money Report

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    #14

    Wildlife Biologists

    Two otters swimming in a clear pond near aquatic plants illustrating nature scenes for mistakes movies make portrayal. I'm a wildlife biologist. "Tranquilizers" (which is an incorrect term for the immobilizing agents we use) do NOT work immediately like movies make people believe. If drugged for the correct dose and depending on the drug you use, an animal can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes to be completely immobilized if administered IM. Simply darting an animal and expecting them to drop right then and there just simply does not happen.

    running_chipmunk , GeorgeTan#1...Off permanently Report

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    #15

    Forensic Scientists

    Gloved hand holding a spinning tuning fork against a surface, illustrating mistakes movies make portraying various professions. Almost everything about forensic science is sped up/made up technology in the movies. Gives a jury a really unrealistic set of expectations.

    squirrelnamednut , WorldSkills UK Report

    #16

    Emergency Medical Technicians

    Patient lying on a hospital bed in a clinical room illustrating common mistakes movies make when portraying medical professions EMTs never run into the Emergency Room. When we do visit the ER, we usually slowly walk in with a 450lb dialysis patient or intoxicated college student on the stretcher.

    slushster , Erik Report

    #17

    Librarians

    Library bookshelves filled with colorful books, illustrating mistakes movies make when portraying various professions. Probably one of the last things you will do in a library as a librarian is read books.

    garfe , Eden, Janine and Jim Report

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    #18

    Helicopter Pilots

    Helicopter flying against clear sky, illustrating common mistakes movies make when portraying various professions. Helicopters do not blow up as often as portrayed. Shocking I know.

    tambrico , Christos Loufopoulos Report

    #19

    Soldiers

    Raised wooden garden beds with various plants growing, illustrating mistakes movies make in portraying professions. The Army. It isn't always about shooting and blowing stuff up in the Middle East. We actually garden (Get off SgtMaj's grass!), sweep the motorpool, and do janitorial services around our work area.

    Filipino_Buddha , Valerie Hinojosa Report

    #20

    Firefighters

    Close-up of a fire truck highlighting equipment details, illustrating common mistakes movies make portraying various professions. All fire/ems calls are not major incidents. Usually it’s the call because Grandma fell again. Also most of the calls on those shows would actually deplete an entire county’s (or more) resources.

    microwaveburritos , Jennifer Kramer Report

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    #21

    Wedding Planners

    Interior of a decorated church aisle with wooden pews and candles, illustrating common mistakes movies make portraying professions. A wedding planner. I don’t walk around with a headset 24/7, nor do I “cue” violins to play at a precise moment. That’s things that have already been determined prior to the big day. I trust my staff knows what they should and need to be doing. That includes my “contracted” staff.

    N5t5 , Steve Parker Report

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    #22

    Bookstore Managers

    Rickaro Books storefront with window display and signage, illustrating common mistakes movies make when portraying professions. Bookshop manager. I haven’t actually read all the books in my shop, nor do I know the personal history of every single author. However, there’s a decent chance I can find you that book you want that you don’t remember the name of but it’s blue.

    Varta , Tim Green Report

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    #23

    Police Officers

    Blue NYPD highway patrol car parked on a street with officers standing nearby, illustrating mistakes in movie portrayals. Movies always act like police officers never have to do paperwork and aren’t reprehensible for the damage they cause.

    Illegal_alien4 , crash71100 Report

    #24

    Fashion Designers

    Mannequin dressed as a vintage professional surrounded by hats and office equipment showing movie portrayal mistakes. That fashion designers make money. Better income to work for someone else and have them slap their name on it. My friends call me a “ghost designer” because I described it as “ghost writing, but with clothes”.

    katy-peterpan , David Ashleydale Report

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