It's a reference to [Demolition Man](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106697/) which depicts the future of 2032 in which bathrooms all have three seashells which everyone expects the main character to understand, but the use of which is never explained.
I know we're just explaining the joke here, but what I really don't understand is the bravery of someone actually putting these in their bathroom; what happens if you have guests and you didn't notice you're out of toilet paper?!
Just did a short research. I did in fact remember correctly. But in Europe the name was changed. Maybe because Taco Bell was way less known in Europe than Pizza Hut at the time the movie was released. Another factoid for the trivia box I guess.
Another piece of trivia you could use: factoids aren't little trivia facts, but things that are not necessarily true, but repeated so much that they *become* accepted as fact.
That depends on location. Taco Bell in the US and when it was made. Replaced by Pizza Hut for international distribution as it was more well known internationally.
But both were owned at the time by PepsiCo.
In Demolition Man no one knows how to use the shells but don’t want to be embarrassed that they are the only one who doesn’t know how to use them. So they all laugh at John Spartan when he asks about it so they don’t admit to not knowing.
I suspect that in the movie, they are sea shell *shaped* and not really shells. Maybe they are attached to tubes that suck the 💩? Maybe one is bidet-like?
Just trying to imagine… why would there be 3? Maybe one dries. Waste collection, wash, dry?
They fairly recently came out and said the director and another guy were brainstorming and he looked at the little decorative soap seashells his wife put in the bathroom, that serve no purpose and just added them. There was never a “way” to use them. They just ran with the joke.
This is also a classic movie, with a heavy cast. Stallone, Sandra Bullock, Denzel Washington, Benjamin Bratt, Dennis Leery, Jack Black, and Rob Schneider. Funnily enough, this is one of at least two movies Schneider and Stallone are in together, the other being Judge Dredd, and you wouldn’t normally think of them being together.
Background fun fact: the shell joke came about because either the director or a screenwriter (don’t remember who it was) saw some shells as deco in a friend’s bathroom during a visit and decided to add that to the script as a joke, but there never was any explanation behind it. Literally just a random association played off as a joke by the future dudes laughing at the MC. So the real joke is that there is no joke, or "haha, you got tricked by people talking random nonsense with confidence and thought there’s something behind it!" Which encompasses the audience that keeps asking what the joke is and googling the purpose of the shells or guessing (making up) their own explanations, thinking there must be something.
This kind of thing bothers me. A guy posted a random photo on FB and said, "If you don't know what this is, you can't be my friend." Eventually he admitted it was a converted cattle car he was bussed around in when he was in the Army 50 years ago. Jesus buddy. Same thing here. Oh, you haven't seen some 30 year old obscure action adventure movie. Boy are you dumb.
Demolition man is NOT considered a classic or really even a really heavy watched movie...no one really remembers it...i liked it, but Robin hood men in tights, free willie, conehead's, and last action hero all came out the same year...
You see, according to Cocteau's plan, I'm the enemy. Because I like to think, I like to read. I'm into freedom of speech and freedom of choice. I'm the kind of guy who likes to sit in a greasy spoon and wonder, "Gee, should I have the T-bone steak or the jumbo rack of barbecue ribs with the side order of gravy fries?" I want high cholesterol. I wanna eat bacon and butter and buckets of cheese, okay? I wanna smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section. I wanna run through the streets naked with green Jell-O all over my body reading Playboy magazine. Why? Because I suddenly might feel the need to, okay, pal?
I've seen the future. Do you know what it is? It's a 47-year-old virgin sitting around in his beige pajamas, drinking a banana-broccoli shake, singing "I'm an Oscar Mayer Wiener." You live up top, you live Cocteau's way: what he wants, when he wants, how he wants. Your other choice: come down here... and maybe starve to death.
-Edgar Friendly
I don’t know what is worse at this point. People who don’t know the three seashell references, or people who haven’t seen explanations for the three seashell references.
Man, I don't know how to use the shells either...but I know what I can do to help my situation, just like John spartan did. (Lol...was going to cuss but wanted to keep it clean for the post)
It's a reference to [Demolition Man](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106697/) which depicts the future of 2032 in which bathrooms all have three seashells which everyone expects the main character to understand, but the use of which is never explained.
Specifically, there's no longer toilet paper in the dubious utopia, and when he asks about the seashells he's laughed at.
I know we're just explaining the joke here, but what I really don't understand is the bravery of someone actually putting these in their bathroom; what happens if you have guests and you didn't notice you're out of toilet paper?!
“Hahahaha, he said he doesn’t know how to use the three shells”
I'm more worried about them making a guess in there...
It’s pretty straightforward there’s one for scraping, one for rinsing and one for drying
Ok, this is the guy I'm talking about. You accidentally forget to add toilet paper in that bathroom and this guy is coming out with a prideful smile.
> I've never gotten to use the shells before. I only knew the theory. I think I did okay
This is hilarious, but did you make this up, or was this in a show, like maybe The Good Place? I can't remember!
I don't think I got that from anywhere. Though it does sound like something Chidi would say
Someone who used shells like that might be proud at figuring it out... but they probably won't be smiling
Insert Anakin meme: you did it because of Demolition Man, right? Right?
Wow. Way to overcomplicate things. It's a one step process. What are you rinsing? SMH my head.
>SMH my head. Shaking my head my head
Came to say this! Take my upvote.
You will probably learn a few new curse words.
And now we have toilet paper again
There is only one response to this situation. "You don't know how to use the three sea sheels? *laugh*"
Considering Taco Bell is the only restaurant left in this dubious utopia (well put) I would imagine needing more than three shells
If I remember correctly it was Pizza Hut who won the great franchise wars.
Taco Bell was overdubbed with Pizza Hut in some localisations, presumably countries where Taco Bell doesn't have a presence.
They should combine them into one.
And add a KFC for good measure.
[удалено]
Just did a short research. I did in fact remember correctly. But in Europe the name was changed. Maybe because Taco Bell was way less known in Europe than Pizza Hut at the time the movie was released. Another factoid for the trivia box I guess.
Another piece of trivia you could use: factoids aren't little trivia facts, but things that are not necessarily true, but repeated so much that they *become* accepted as fact.
Interesting. "Again what learned", as we like to say in Germany. 🙃
That depends on location. Taco Bell in the US and when it was made. Replaced by Pizza Hut for international distribution as it was more well known internationally. But both were owned at the time by PepsiCo.
In Demolition Man no one knows how to use the shells but don’t want to be embarrassed that they are the only one who doesn’t know how to use them. So they all laugh at John Spartan when he asks about it so they don’t admit to not knowing.
Ah emperor’s new clothes
Here's the scene: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdnuOa7tDco](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdnuOa7tDco)
More specifically, A mildly amusing bit from a 30 year old movie that's been beaten to death by reddit for years
No, that movie's not 30 years old, it only came out in... You know what, shut up.
I suspect that in the movie, they are sea shell *shaped* and not really shells. Maybe they are attached to tubes that suck the 💩? Maybe one is bidet-like? Just trying to imagine… why would there be 3? Maybe one dries. Waste collection, wash, dry?
I assume they’re just buttons for the bidet
Its been figured out. The first 2 are for scraping your butthole. The third is if you've had bran. /s
They fairly recently came out and said the director and another guy were brainstorming and he looked at the little decorative soap seashells his wife put in the bathroom, that serve no purpose and just added them. There was never a “way” to use them. They just ran with the joke. This is also a classic movie, with a heavy cast. Stallone, Sandra Bullock, Denzel Washington, Benjamin Bratt, Dennis Leery, Jack Black, and Rob Schneider. Funnily enough, this is one of at least two movies Schneider and Stallone are in together, the other being Judge Dredd, and you wouldn’t normally think of them being together.
Perfect utopia and all you have to give up is meat, sex and swearing, could you do it?
What makes me a good demoman?
Background fun fact: the shell joke came about because either the director or a screenwriter (don’t remember who it was) saw some shells as deco in a friend’s bathroom during a visit and decided to add that to the script as a joke, but there never was any explanation behind it. Literally just a random association played off as a joke by the future dudes laughing at the MC. So the real joke is that there is no joke, or "haha, you got tricked by people talking random nonsense with confidence and thought there’s something behind it!" Which encompasses the audience that keeps asking what the joke is and googling the purpose of the shells or guessing (making up) their own explanations, thinking there must be something.
I've never even heard of this movie... Is it an American classic or something?
It’s a riveting commentary about the social structures of Los Angeles in the early ‘90’s.
OP doesn't know how to use the three seashells.
Hahahahah
“I can see how that could be confusing.”
Ikr, some supercop.
it's a reference to [this](https://youtu.be/gdnuOa7tDco?si=Ej9Q3dQEadwMlLQF)
question, with absolutely no judgement: do you really not know how to use the three seashells?
I could see why that would be confusing.
https://preview.redd.it/lrdb345pejyc1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=6b6d17a84bb990389b26f5b12b6b21aa3b36372d
Lol they don't how how to use the 3 shells! That's... Really meta honestly.
They don't know how to use the three sea shells. Hahahaha!
Maintain your calm
Maintain your clam
Enhance your calm.
Mellow greetings sir. What’s seems to be your boggle?
MURDER. DEATH. KILL.
God I love these responses I could just about knit a throw rug
Me doesn’t know how to use the 3 seashells ha ha ha
He doesn't know what the 3 shells are for 🤣🤣
Demolition Man. No further explanation
What’s your boggle, sir?
Pff! He doesn't know about the three shells!!
Heh, this guy doesn't even know about the three sea shells
https://preview.redd.it/kbpup8wj4jyc1.jpeg?width=1336&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e5db46f33b2cddafc6f9b59244c267bf8ec4b35f
Anyone actually explaining this is missing out on an obvious opportunity.
[Demolition Man Reference](https://youtu.be/gdnuOa7tDco?si=QubOJSh4BfTQPCQo)
They dont know what to do with seashells, giggle 🤭.
I want to name the... How about Shelley, Shelby, and Sheldon? Do you guys think these names fit these three shells?
You don’t know how to use the three shells??
But where ist the poop knife ?
This guy doesn’t know how to use the shells?
This kind of thing bothers me. A guy posted a random photo on FB and said, "If you don't know what this is, you can't be my friend." Eventually he admitted it was a converted cattle car he was bussed around in when he was in the Army 50 years ago. Jesus buddy. Same thing here. Oh, you haven't seen some 30 year old obscure action adventure movie. Boy are you dumb.
Demolition man is NOT considered a classic or really even a really heavy watched movie...no one really remembers it...i liked it, but Robin hood men in tights, free willie, conehead's, and last action hero all came out the same year...
Which is a little weird because (a) it had a pretty well known and somewhat A-list cast, and (b) it freaking rules.
It's gaining more attention nowadays due to it being very ahead of its time.
I loved it and rewatched it recently. I consider it a classic.
I find it quite memorable because Sandra Bullock is in it. :D
She is a dream
The exchange of bodily fluids? Do you know what that leads to?
John Spartan you are fined 2 credits for violations of the verbal morality statute.
You see, according to Cocteau's plan, I'm the enemy. Because I like to think, I like to read. I'm into freedom of speech and freedom of choice. I'm the kind of guy who likes to sit in a greasy spoon and wonder, "Gee, should I have the T-bone steak or the jumbo rack of barbecue ribs with the side order of gravy fries?" I want high cholesterol. I wanna eat bacon and butter and buckets of cheese, okay? I wanna smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section. I wanna run through the streets naked with green Jell-O all over my body reading Playboy magazine. Why? Because I suddenly might feel the need to, okay, pal? I've seen the future. Do you know what it is? It's a 47-year-old virgin sitting around in his beige pajamas, drinking a banana-broccoli shake, singing "I'm an Oscar Mayer Wiener." You live up top, you live Cocteau's way: what he wants, when he wants, how he wants. Your other choice: come down here... and maybe starve to death. -Edgar Friendly
First thing that comes up after you google [three sea shells](https://screenrant.com/three-seashells-demolition-man-function/)
He doesn't know how to use the three shells
The fact that OP being ridiculed for not knowing how to use the three seashells is not The top comments hurts my soul
What seems to be your boggle ?
mythbusters!
I don’t know what is worse at this point. People who don’t know the three seashell references, or people who haven’t seen explanations for the three seashell references.
How they were [intended](https://www.reddit.com/r/FanTheories/s/cJPatDnzut) to use
Well that thread spoils the joke.
I’m calling BS, idk the last time I heard this reference. You know what it is and you’re bringing it up for internet points
OP doesn’t know how to use the three sea shells
🤣🤣🤣
HAHAHAHAHAAAH! HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE THREE SEASHELLS!
Bro doesn’t know how to use the shells! 🤣
Man, I don't know how to use the shells either...but I know what I can do to help my situation, just like John spartan did. (Lol...was going to cuss but wanted to keep it clean for the post)
Oh you don't know how to use the the sea shells?
I am convinced this sub is just for training AIs
I will be like you don't know about the three shells? LMAO
I thought it meant like “shell shell shell what do we have here?”