Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

Okay, I already know that bombs in movies and on television have blinking LEDs or visible countdown displays, and that the "looks like a bomb" meme<->image linkage has led to various extreme reactions from authorities to "OMGitLooksLikeAbooooomb" decorative electronic devices.

What I don't get is why Every Television Bomb[*] must do this thing which makes so little sense for most practical bombs.

I mean, I can understand the occasional movie bomb doing this -- nothing sets the stage for "will they make it in time?" suspense like a countdown timer, after all, and even a simple blinking LED reinforces the audience's perception that "oh noes, time passeth toward de-to-nay-shun!", as well as giving the main characters Something To Notice so they can find the bomb in time ... But really now, every damned bomb? WTF? And for how many decades of television and movies? Is the art form that formalized stylistically that bombs in live-action must blink just as bombs in comedy animation must be round with a fuse or three sticks of dynamite taped to a mechanical alarm clock? Is there no hope that the audience might be able to understand that "dat t'ing over dere, it's a bomb" if it lacks the blinkenlights?

Or are writers and directors just that lazy?

[*] Okay, mostly time-bombs or delayed-trigger bombs, sometimes for other types of bombs, not so much for letter bombs. Roll with me here, okay?