Movies/Televisions gave me unrealistic expectations about...

[megxers]

Alright Pweb,

What are some movies that made you fall in love with certain boys, certain places, gave you unrealistic expectations about what college would be like, what life after graduation would be like, what falling in love would be like/etc?

For me, it is mostly romantic comedies. As some of you may have witnessed in chat, I can come up with paragraph long descriptions of unattainable dream men. Which is um, not good.

(This is thread is not limited to Movies & Television, so feel free to include books, plays, etc as well)

(this is my first thread runs and hides)

[Eaquae Legit]

Being honest, real life is more likely to ruin movies/tv/etc. for me.

[Janus%TheDoorman]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... nrealistic

I can't come up with any specific instance, but I will admit that when CSI first came on and the whole ENHANCE thing happened, I thought it was possible (I was like 12) until I actually started using image editing software and came to understand how the data is stored.

[Mich]

The future! Where is my Jaws in super-3D? Where is my hoverboard? Why can't I use a thumbprint to get into my house? Huh? Huh?

[Gravity Defier]

My entire life has been one instant or another of me taking bits of this movie, this tv show, this book, and combining it with others to make a sort of life-expectations quilt under which I can hide when real life gets too heavy. The same can be said about character crushes and my tendency to look to them for comfort when my love life is lacking (when is that not the case?).

That approach is great for the imagination but disastrous for my ability to be an actual level-headed grown up.

Actual examples:

Saved by the Bell really did a number on me for high school. Physically, I expected my classmates to be taller and uniformly attractive. On a more personal level, I expected to have this close-knit group of friends with which I'd have all these little adventures. I'd date a cute boy, go to prom, have an issue of the week sort of life. ha.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun is how I first noticed Chicago and while it didn't disappoint on the city in terms of visits, I can't tell yet whether it'll hold up to an extended stay. I do remember being disappointed throughout my life that I couldn't dance and that movie is what put the idea in my head that I could be a dancer.

I have a strong desire to use a laundromat after watching Dr. Horrible and have this strong feeling it won't be nearly as fun or rewarding. Probably won't get yogurt or a crush.

When Harry Met Sally has completely ruined any chance of a guy ever making me happy by telling me he loves me. I want the speech, tailored to me, of course. You know which one:

"I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. "

Across the Universe and RENT makes me think guys chase after girls (in RENT, it's not just guys chasing after girls) when things go south, when my reality has never worked that way. When I f*** things up with a guy, I really f*** things up.

Bridget Jones' Diary. Mark Darcy: Spoiler of My Heart.

Mark Darcy: I like you, very much.
Bridget: Ah, apart from the smoking and the drinking, the vulgar mother and... ah, the verbal diarrhea.
Mark Darcy: No, I like you very much. Just as you are.

Just as she is! Kills me every single time.

He's Just Not That Into You

Gigi: But you didn't! And that same wise person told me that I'm the rule. That I have to stop thinking that every guy will change, that I have to stop thinking that...
Gigi: [Alex kisses her]
[smiles]
Gigi: ... I'm the exception...
Alex: [whispers] You are *my* exception.


I'm the rule. Always the rule. I hate how that movie makes me feel. So I watch it fairly often.



I have more. MANY more. I'll post those later.


ETA:

I'm currently in love with Ned from Pushing Daisies. He is tall, attractive, funny, witty, makes sweets, is romantic. Good grief.

[Rei]

I'm still dismayed that I cannot kythe as per Madeline L'Engle.

[Satya]

Movies/Televisions gave me unrealistic expectations about...

Women.

[Jayelle]

There is no time in my life where I will get to give an impassioned speech, followed by one person clapping, then everyone else clapping.

[jotabe]

The future! Where is my Jaws in super-3D? Where is my hoverboard? Why can't I use a thumbprint to get into my house? Huh? Huh?

At least you soon will be able to have this:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20015323-1.html

[daPyr0x]

Life.
Happiness.
Relationships.

[Froth]

Porn...

Just kidding. Im still a virgin, so its possible everything Ive seen is true.

Just kidding, Ive somehow managed to stay away from the stuff for 19 years. But still, just from what guys say in the locker room and stuff and how sex is portrayed in movies Im sure I have unrealistic expectations.

And romance in general. Ive dated a few girls and Ive only had one experience where it was actually kind of movie worthy.

Girl: Weve got to end this well. *Stands up and looks me in the eye*
Me: What does that even mean. *Even though I know what it means*
Girl: Oh stop being stupid *Pretty much mounts me and kisses me*

It was an epic kiss. Too bad it only lasted like 2 seconds and was followed by a handshake because we were then officially friends.

[Young Val]

I've actually had rather a lot of movie moments in my life. Pretty awesome.

One thing I'd love to be a part of, though, is a spontaneous group dance.

(I HAVE been a part of a spontaneous group sing, however).

[Rei]

I've done the spontaneous dance thing. In the library with a friend.

The great thing about people who swing dance is that they're usually up for it anywhere, any time

[Mich]

(I HAVE been a part of a spontaneous group sing, however).

This is possibly the best thing ever. I've participated in "I Get Around" and "Banana Man" in recent memory.

[Janus%TheDoorman]

Does it count when several people who are fans of a movie, show or something else find themselves in a familiar scenario and act it out for each other's benefit without directly acknowledging what's happening, preferably with several completely oblivious parties present?

[zeroguy]

Dexter's Lab. Man, having something like that is just really not feasible. And most houses don't have acres of open space somehow between their walls.

Why can't I use a thumbprint to get into my house?

Actually, you could do that fairly easily. But you don't really want to, because biometrics are useless as a security measure without a guard or whatever watching to make sure you actually use your finger on it.

I mean, I even have a fingerprint reader on my friggin' (4-year-old) laptop. Not that I use it or wanted it.

[Mich]

Dexter's Lab. Man, having something like that is just really not feasible. And most houses don't have acres of open space somehow between their walls.

Why can't I use a thumbprint to get into my house?

Actually, you could do that fairly easily. But you don't really want to, because biometrics are useless as a security measure without a guard or whatever watching to make sure you actually use your finger on it.

I mean, I even have a fingerprint reader on my friggin' (4-year-old) laptop. Not that I use it or wanted it.

Look, is it a standard on every house, especially ones in the suburbs, where putting my thumb on a pad unlocks (or even opens, with a whooshing sound) my door? No?

I was lied to, zero. Lied to.

[Janus%TheDoorman]

I consciously tried to counter this when taking Japanese. When it came time for us to conduct interviews with some Japanese people that had come to our class to visit, I spent the entire night before worrying that I'd make some obtuse otaku reference and weird everybody out.

Come time for the actual interview and we get on the actual subject of music, and Gackt came up. My parter isn't familiar with him, and without thinking I described him as a "bishounen", thinking there was no way the 45-year-old woman I was interviewing would be familiar with the concept. As it turns out, at least some middle aged people in Japan are huge fans of pretty boy J-Dramas and anime, and are themselves worried that Americans would find that weird.

I think that's life imitating art imitating life imitating art, but I'm not sure.

[Syphon the Sun]

Nike just patented self-lacing sneakers, though! That's something, right?!

[jotabe]

Nike just patented self-lacing sneakers, though! That's something, right?!

That's what i posted, but Mich ignored me
*cries in a corner*

[locke]

actually movies/TV didn't give me too offbase expectations about relationships. The part where movies and tv steered me wrong was in giving me the impression that girls do not like to be asked out, and if anything you shouldn't give them any direct indication that you like them that communicating attraction needs to be subtle and adorable and take a long time.

At least that is what you were supposed to do if you were a guy like me (nose in books, not an athlete, nerdy, top of the class) because if you didn't the girl you asked out would be 1) horrified, and 2) laugh at you (which would cause everyone else to laugh at you as well).

But that's nothing compared to the expectations about women i got from reading too many OSC books. :-p a few real life experiences quickly disabused me of both tv and bookish illusions.

Frost, I'd say that epic kiss is a rather strong indication that you've been too cautious in communicating your romantic attractions.

[Young Val]

(I HAVE been a part of a spontaneous group sing, however).

This is possibly the best thing ever. I've participated in "I Get Around" and "Banana Man" in recent memory.

It was my freshman year of college in my first semester French class.

The class was at 8:00 am and the professor was running late. Five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes. This kid that always sat slouched down in the back started humming "New York, New York" under his breath. After a minute or so another kid across the room started drumming lightly on his desk with his hands, and a few more people joined in humming. After another minute or so we were all singing the words pretty quietly, not looking at each other at all. After the singing had been going on for about 3 or 4 minutes and the teacher had been absent for over half an hour, the kid who started all the humming got up from his seat and wrote on the chalkboard "WE WERE HERE. WHERE WERE YOU?" And then went over to the door and held it open for us. Every one sang out loud in earnest at that point, and did a little kickline on our way out the door. Once we got into the hallway we stopped singing and all disappeared to make the most of our unexpectedly free morning.

The next class the teacher was there and things went on as normal. None of us made eye contact or mentioned anything about the spontaneous singing last time. We spent the rest of the year acting as though nothing had ever happened, and I never saw most of them again, after that course was over.

[Froth]

Frost, I'd say that epic kiss is a rather strong indication that you've been too cautious in communicating your romantic attractions.

Possible. But sometimes Im really forwards, and Im just to new/unexperienced and goofy/funny to really be any kind of romantic.

[Mich]

Nike just patented self-lacing sneakers, though! That's something, right?!

Wow, really? That's soooo neat! Do you have a link?

[jotabe]

Wow, really? That's soooo neat! Do you have a link?

disclaimer: LOL

[Syphon the Sun]

Wow, really? That's soooo neat! Do you have a link?

Patent application.

[starlooker]

There is no time in my life where I will get to give an impassioned speech, followed by one person clapping, then everyone else clapping.

You never know.

When my father was trying to get to his mother's funeral, he was being constantly delayed and transfered on multiple flights. My family (excluding me) had been in airports and on airplanes for nearly 24 hours.

They were about to board the very last flight when my father's name was called to see the clerk.

He was told the flight was over booked and his name had randomly been called so that he was bumped.

He tried to explain politely the situation, and the woman was adamant that it was random and she could do nothing about it.

At which point, he put it in more impassioned terms. That is, his mother's funeral being the next day, the delays and the hell the airline had put them through, and closed with "Now, you are going to look at your list of passengers and you are going to randomly choose someone else."

Apparently everyone around him broke into applause. And he got on the flight.

[megxers]

That approach is great for the imagination but disastrous for my ability to be an actual level-headed grown up.

I'm not familiar with the concept

I've actually had quite a few experiences walking around campus singing. Which is funny, because I shouldn't sing in public because I am terrible. But I had really unrealistic expectations about how college was going.to.change.everything. Also, more recently, how turning 21 was.going.to.change.everything.

I have had that epic, 2 am, sitting on the beach with someone, sharing your thoughts about everything moment. It didn't quite end how I wanted it to though.

Also, Alea mentioned laundromats, and having made out in a college dorm room laundry room several times, they really are quite romantic places, LOL.

[Eaquae Legit]

Been thinking about this. TV and movies gave me an unrealistic expectation as to how the general populace welcomes spontaneous witty banter. Most people don't participate in it - they just give you weird looks and switch the subject.

[locke]

I expect my male doctors to look like George Clooney or Hugh Laurie and the female doctors to be smoking hot, and improbably, younger than 25.

[Mich]

Been thinking about this. TV and movies gave me an unrealistic expectation as to how the general populace welcomes spontaneous witty banter. Most people don't participate in it - they just give you weird looks and switch the subject.

Man, really? There's a reason I'm not making more serious posts in this thread, because I do this all the time. It might be an "I only remember the times it succeeds" thing, though, because I probably attempt it with just about any friendly-looking stranger.

Strangely, I found Waldo downtown last weekend and he was not receptive.

[Satya]

TV/movies have given almost everyone unrealistic expectations about emergency services, law enforcement, the judicial system (of the U.S., at least) and guns/gunshots/being shot.

[Eaquae Legit]

Academia. It's full of average-looking people who are mostly nice and sometimes jerks. There's an amazingly low rate of crime-fighting and a higher-than-presented rate of sitting in front of a computer screen with a bunch of books. Also, when a professor hits on a student, it's creepy and not at all romantic.

[locke]

being shot.

[Janus%TheDoorman]

being shot.*

*Yes, it's a new link.