History Main / SlowerThanASpeedingBullet

* Averted on the tv show ''[[MasterNinja The Master]]'', starring LeeVanCleef as a ninja. In the pilot, he his shown running away from gunfire in a zigzag pattern.

* Subverted in ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'': in the first scene, [[spoiler:Shoshanna]] runs away from [[spoiler:Hans Landa]], who readies his gun... and doesn't shoot at the last second, bidding the target "AU REVOIR!" as they disappear behind a small hill.

*** However, he half-succeeds in that while he does die, at least he isn't clubbed to death by a baseball bat.

A common demonstration of OneDimensionalThinking. Reacting to someone a few feet away from you drawing a handgun by running away, in a straight line, out in the open, without taking cover. Contrary to what these characters seem to believe, [[TruthInTelevision this does not allow you to outrun bullets.]] At five yards or less it's better to duck, swoop in, grab their gun wrist, and push it ''up'', since you actually going ''in'' is often the last thing your attacker expects. That way if they fire, it won't be at you.

That being said, running away [[RealityIsUnrealistic isn't always a bad idea]]. The effective range of a handgun, in the hands of a poorly trained fighter, is less than ten yards. A lot of urban criminals have never been to a firing range, and barely know how to fire their weapons. Competent shooters may simply choose not to shoot someone who's running away (EvenEvilHasStandards, plus it's hard to plead self-defense for shooting someone InTheBack). In fact most survival guides recommend that if someone attempts to force you into a car with a gun, ''run away''. (In a straight line is not compulsory.) If they're willing to shoot at you when you run away, they were probably going to kill you anyway.

That being said, running away [[RealityIsUnrealistic isn't always a bad idea]]. The effective range of a handgun, in the hands of a poorly trained fighter, is less than ten yards. A lot of urban criminals have never been to a firing range, and barely know how to fire their weapons. Competent shooters may simply choose not to shoot someone who's running away (EvenEvilHasStandards, plus it's hard to plead self-defense for shooting someone in the back). In fact most survival guides recommend that if someone attempts to force you into a car with a gun, ''run away''. (In a straight line is not compulsory.) If they're willing to shoot at you when you run away, they were probably going to kill you anyway.

* Averted on the tv show ''[[MasterNinja The Master]]'', starring Lee Van Cleef as a ninja. In the pilot, he his shown running away from gunfire in a zigzag pattern.
* Those two chicks [[spoiler:Mikhail]] shot in The Looking Glass at the end of ''{{Lost}}'' season 3 did this.

->-- '''EddieIzzard''', ''Glorious''

* The torpedo version. During the climactic submarine fight of ''TheHuntForRedOctober'', Marko Ramius deliberately turns his boat toward the Alfa's second torpedo. This to take advantage of their safety features; that is to say, [[TruthInTelevision torpedoes only arm themselves after having run a pre-set distance]], in order to avoid any risk of blowing up the ship that fired them -- or worse, accidentally detonating inside their firing tubes.

* On the medieval side of this trope, one might think that arrows have a relatively short accurate range, especially against a moving target. Perhaps. But one of your poor fellow condemned prisoners at the start of ''[[TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'' finds out the hard way that running away and yelling "YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME" isn't the best strategy when your escape route is [[TooDumbToLive a straight line that goes directly past three soldiers carrying longbows]].

* The torpedo version. During the climactic submarine fight of ''TheHuntForRedOctober'', Marko Ramius deliberately turns his boat straight into the Alfa's second torpedo. This to take advantage of their safety features, that is to say [[TruthInTelevision torpedoes only arm themselves after having run a pre-set distance]] in order to avoid any risk of blowing up the ship that fired them - or worse, accidentally detonating inside their firing tubes.

* Averted in ''StateOfPlay'' -- when Ben Affleck's character is being threatened by a soldier with a rifle (not aimed at him), the arrival of the cops distracts him for just long enough to throw himself to the ground. The soldier can't adjust his aim quickly enough at short range, and gets gunned down by the cops.

* Human sized or larger enemies that fight at melee range in ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' can spoil a player's VATS shot by running directly [[InvertedTrope towards]] him/her. The weapon's barrel will be pushed aside by the enemy's body, usually ending up pointed over the target's shoulder when it fires. This happens most often with fast enemies and large weapons. [[MadeOfIron Deathclaws]], for example, or [[TheDragon Legate]] [[CompleteMonster Lanius]] and the [[{{BFG}} Anti-Materiel Rifle]].

* Averted in ''StateOfPlay'' -- when Ben Affleck's character is being threatened by a soldier with a rifle (not aimed at him), the arrival of the cops distracts him for just long enough to throw himself to the ground. The soldier [[ShortRangeLongRangeWeapon can't adjust his aim quickly enough at short range]], and gets gunned down by the cops.

** Note to self: houserule that movement penalties do not apply if shooter doesn't have to adjust his aim.
*** Although the shooter might have to adjust his aim slightly to account for ballistic trajectory (specifically, that the bullet will fall farther vertically if it has to travel farther horizontally).

* Human sized or larger enemies that fight at melee range in ''[[FalloutNewVegas New Vegas]]'' can spoil a player's VATS shot by running directly [[InvertedTrope towards]] him/her. The weapon's barrel will be pushed aside by the enemy's body, usually ending up pointed over the target's shoulder when it fires. This happens most often with fast enemies and large weapons. [[MadeOfIron Deathclaws]], for example, or [[TheDragon Legate]] [[CompleteMonster Lanius]] and the [[{{BFG}} Anti-Materiel Rifle]].

->''"If they've got a bazooka, don't run away, 'cause it's easier to hit someone from a distance. Run towards them! And grab hold of them. (trying to shoot the bazooka) 'Back off! Oh, we're both going together!' (explosion)"''

That being said, running away isn't always a bad idea. The effective range of a handgun, in the hands of a poorly trained fighter, is less than ten yards. A lot of urban criminals have never been to a firing range, and barely know how to fire their weapons. Competent shooters may simply choose not to shoot someone who's running away (it's hard to plead self-defense for shooting someone in the back). In fact most survival guides recommend that if someone attempts to force you into a car with a gun, ''run away''. (In a straight line is not compulsory.) If they're willing to shoot at you when you run away, they were probably going to kill you anyway.

* Subverted in ''InglouriousBasterds'': in the first scene, [[spoiler:Shoshanna]] runs away from [[spoiler:Hans Landa]], who readies his gun... and doesn't shoot at the last second, bidding the target "AU REVOIR!" as they disappear behind a small hill.

* The torpedo version. During the climactic submarine fight of TheHuntForRedOctober, Marko Ramius deliberately turns his boat straight into the Alfa's second torpedo. This to take advantage of their safety features, that is to say [[TruthInTelevision torpedoes only arm themselves after having run a pre-set distance]] in order to avoid any risk of blowing up the ship that fired them - or worse, accidentally detonating inside their firing tubes.

* Averted on the tv show ''The Master'', starring Lee Van Cleef as a ninja. In the pilot, he his shown running away from gunfire in a zigzag pattern.

* On the medieval side of this trope, one might think that arrows have a relatively short accurate range, especially against a moving target. Perhaps. But one of your poor fellow condemned prisoners at the start of [[TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]] finds out the hard way that running away and yelling "YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME" isn't the best strategy when your escape route is [[TooDumbToLive a straight line that goes directly past three soldiers carrying longbows]].

* Due to complicated firing angles and whatnot, every once in a while, this tactic succeeds in ArmoredCore series. Particularly in 4/for Answer when provided that the range is close and you have the height difference to quick boost forwards, thereby making the opponent overshoot the target. Moving away is generally a foolish move however, especially with the introduction of different bullet velocities in the same game series. Take note: if you are being attacked with a railgun or a sniper rifle, expect evasive maneuvers to work less; their muzzle velocity will close the gap almost immediately unless the distance is too great.

-->''"If they've got a bazooka, don't run away, 'cause it's easier to hit someone from a distance. Run towards them! And grab hold of them. (trying to shoot the bazooka) 'Back off! Oh, we're both going together!' (explosion)"''
--->-- EddieIzzard, ''Glorious''

* Due to complicated firing angles and whatnot, every once in a while, this tactic succeeds in ArmoredCore series. Particularly in 4/for Answer when provided that the range is close and you have the height difference to quick boost forwards, thereby making the opponent overshoot the target. Moving away are generally a foolish move however, especially with the introduction of different bullet velocities in the same game series. Take note: if you are being attacked with a railgun or a sniper rifle, expect evasive maneuvers to work less; their muzzle velocity will close the gap almost immediately unless the distance is too great.

A common demonstration of OneDimensionalThinking. Reacting to someone a few feet away from you drawing a handgun by running away, in a straight line, out in the open, without taking cover. Contrary to what these characters seem to believe, [[TruthInTelevision this does not allow you to outrun bullets.]]

That being said, running away isn't always a bad idea. The effective range of a handgun, in the hands of a poorly trained fighter, is less than ten yards. A lot of urban criminals have never been to a firing range, and barely know how to fire their weapons. Competent shooters may simply choose not to shoot someone who's running away (it's hard to plead self-defense for shooting someone in the back).

* The torpedo version. During the climactic submarine fight of HuntForTheRedOctober, Marko Ramius deliberately turns his boat straight into the Alfa's second torpedo. This to take advantage of their safety features, that is to say [[TruthInTelevision torpedoes only arm themselves after having run a pre-set distance]] in order to avoid any risk of blowing up the ship that fired them - or worse, accidentally detonating inside their firing tubes.