Suspended Sensibility
It is a well-known fact that if characters in books, movies and TV shows behaved like well-adjusted adults with decent risk assessment skills, powers of observation and a modicum of common sense, there wouldn’t be much of a plot, a book would be a couple of lines long, and a movie would end a few minutes after the start.
Most stories are basically powered by terrible choices, bad decisions, lapse in judgement and characters ignoring the most obvious course of action, especially in horror movies and rom-coms.
Split up for what?
Stay together, if someone leaves the group consider them dead, do not look for them… you are not the police, call for help… Everybody gets to go home, The End.
Call the Authorities
See something, say something… Whether its a dead body, a conspiracy, evidence of wrongdoing, call the police. Don’t try to handle it yourself. Call the police and let professionals handle things. Wait for backup to arrive. They might take time to get there, so stay safe.
Don’t investigate.
Resist the urge to investigate strange noises, especially in the dark, don’t whisper “Hello, who’s there?” into the void. Nothing is investigated, nothing kills you, The End.
Make sure the villain is dead
If you must set out to kill the villain, make sure they are dead and will not come back for a rematch, also make sure they do not have family members who will come for revenge or vengeance… which is why its best to let the police handle things. The End.
Do not touch things you do not understand
Similar to the don’t investigate rule, don’t be curious, don’t touch, haunted or cursed objects, or alien artifacts. Do not pick them up, poke them, or take them home as a souvenir. No one gets parasites or possessed, The End.
Say what you mean/ mean what you say
If you have something to say to someone tell them, if you love them tell them, if you no longer love them, set them free… Misunderstanding cleared up, The End.
Be who you are.
Don’t pretend to be someone else other than yourself. If you play silly games you win silly prizes.
One Last Job
Don’t be tempted to do one last job before or after retirement. Walkaway and live happily ever after. The End.
What other situations keep coming up in plots which we suspend our disbelief so the story can go on?
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