Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
Putting duct tape over someone’s mouth wouldn’t actually work to keep them quite in real life, would it?
I was working on a story where this guy gets kidnapped and tied up when something occurred to me: does duct tape ACTUALLY work to keep you from shouting for help? I mean, if it’s just one tiny strip of tape (like it usually is in TV shows) it seems like you could just lick it off in three seconds. And even if the tape were wrapped around your head, couldn’t you just force your mouth open and still be able to talk that way?
I’ve never been in a situation where someone put duct tape over my mouth (hooray for that) but it just seems like it would be really easy to get the tape off, or at least “off enough” so that you could shout out.
So here’s my question: Does duct tape actually work to keep someone from talking? And if so, how does that work? I want to describe it in my story but the way I’m thinking about it makes it seem a little impossible, and it’s throwing me off a little. I don’t want the readers to be like, “What’s wrong with you man?! Just move your mouth around a little!”
Anybody with experience writing a scene like this (one where someone gets kidnapped with duct tape over their mouth, I mean) would be appreciated. Heck, if you’ve had experience actually having tape over your mouth, you’ll be appreciated too!
On a side note, I was going to have the character crawl or somehow make his way over to the other side of the room where there’s something sharp he can use to slice his ropes off. Can you really move around that much when your arms and legs are tied though? To try to gauge this for myself, I decided to try to get up off the floor by only using my arms and legs as if they were tied, and it was really hard><! I had to cheat a little just to get onto my knees, and so I can’t imagine how hard it would be to move for someone who was actually tied! I don’t think my character would realistically be able to move enough to even make it halfway across the room, much less the whole way. To be honest, I don’t think he’d be able to move much at all …
If anyone has any input for either of these questions, please answer! Thanks!
15 Answers
- Anonymous10 years agoFavorite Answer
It's wrapped tightly enough it would be difficult to move your lips, but you could still lick it off. Like someone else has said, it's better (yet crueler) to stick a cloth or sock in the person's mouth then cover their mouth with tape. That would stop everything but the mumbling. you cant really do anything about the sinuses vibrating and the screams. You can scream with your mouth sealed. It will just be muffled, the sound will still come out though.
- 6 years ago
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Putting duct tape over someone’s mouth wouldn’t actually work to keep them quite in real life, would it?
I was working on a story where this guy gets kidnapped and tied up when something occurred to me: does duct tape ACTUALLY work to keep you from shouting for help? I mean, if it’s just one tiny strip of tape (like it usually is in TV shows) it seems like you could just lick it off in three seconds....
Source(s): putting duct tape mouth wouldn work real life it: https://shortly.im/wynVp - Anonymous10 years ago
A single strip of duct tape doesn't work. You're right, it is possible to just open your mouth and pull it away. What works slightly better in one strip across and then go over that with an X pattern. This makes it a little more difficult to open your mouth to work the tape off.
Source(s): Personal experience. - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- 10 years ago
I've put duct tape on my mouth before just to see if I could get it off, which I did. You can easily work your tongue out of your mouth and ease the tape away from your skin. I think I saw someone put cloth in the mouth and then cover it with the tape in the show Dexter.
- TammyLv 45 years ago
I wrap my head up in duct tape when I'm not feeling pretty (at least an 8.5 on a scale of 1-10) and don't want to be seen by anyone.
- SazwonderzLv 710 years ago
Well yes it does work. It is possible to take off if you have a little piece round your mouth using licking, but this takes a long time (yes, I've tried). It's more effective if your wrap it all the way around the person's moth twice, as they can never get it off without their hands.
He moved like a very slow snake or worm. It may be possible to get up, but not for very long and it'd take a long time.
- ?Lv 710 years ago
duct tape wrapped tightly enough will prevent someone from opening their mouth. You could be extra cruel and put a sock in their mouth too. They could exhale through their nose and make noise. If you wanted someone restrained well you should use zip ties. Tight enough they are very difficult to cut through.
Source(s): father of 5 - 10 years ago
No duct tape doesn't work I tried it on my south and got it off in like 3 seconds. With the whole tied together thing you could crawl on your elbows and stomach or roll.(depending on how you were tied)
- Anonymous10 years ago
Yes, it would actually work.
Why don't you simply go try it for yourself and see how easy (or not) it is to shout round it / remove it by licking?
If your character isn't tied _to_ something, yes, he'll be able to move in the same sort of way a snake does. Not fast, not efficiently, but he'll be able to do it.
