History Main / AppealToObscurity

-->'''FBI Agent:''' The Secret of the Sierra Madre, the secret recipe for Coke, and the secret of GeorgeBush's appeal.

* In one series of ''ComicStrip/BloomCounty'' strips, Bill the Cat was arrested by the FBI for selling secrets to Russia. Steve Dallas - his lawyer - asked what the secrets were. (Keep in mind, this was when RonaldReagan was still President):

A type of logical fallacy, though there may be cases where the obscurity of something is a valid point, such as matters of subterfuge or annihilation. See also FamedInStory. Contrast UndeadAuthor.

* On ''Series/{{Friends}}'' Rachel does this to her sister Jill.
-->'''Rachel:''' You remember what happened to the girl who tried too much too fast don't you?\\
'''Jill:''' No?\\
'''Rachel:''' Uh, she died Jill.

** He may have invoked this trope, but the annihilation of the Armenians was a very real event from around the time of WWI. This quote is often used to argue that the Holocaust was at least in part inspired by Turkey's genocide of the Armenians, and it's ability to go unpunished for it.

-->Who's he? You don't know, 'cause he gave up!

*** However, a couple sentences later he described the view as "Magnificient desolation." The phrase was so poetically apt that to this day [[SubvertedTrope hardly anyone talks about the moon's surface without quoting him]].

** He may have invoked this trope, but the annihilation of the Armenians was a very real event from around the time of WWI.

* In AgentsOfShield, Coulson defends S.H.I.E.L.D's policy of covering up supernatural events

--> '''Skye''': No
--> '''Coulson''': Exactly

--> '''Coulson''': Do you remember the panic when that anti-matter meteorite landed off the coast of Miami and nearly devoured half the city?\\
--> '''Skye''': No\\
--> '''Coulson''': Exactly\\

-->'''Coulson''': Do you remember the panic when that anti-matter meteorite landed off the coast of Miami and nearly devoured half the city?\\
'''Skye''': No\\
'''Coulson''': Exactly\\

-->'''Coulson''': Do you remember the panic when that anti-matter meteorite landed off the coast of Miami and nearly devoured half the city?
'''Skye''': No
'''Coulson''': Exactly

'''Balthazar:''' Oh, she's a destitute lounge singer somewhere in Quebec -- and let's keep it that way, please.

-->'''Chase''': Superheroes are an everyday thing for New Yorkers, boss. For these people, seeing (She-Hulk) is like an Angeleno running into Steve Guttenberg.
-->'''Nico''': Who's Steve Guttenberg?
-->'''Chase''': Exactly.
* This actually makes sense in one ''SheHulk'' story, and in quite a disturbing fashion. The Time Variance Authority doesn't just kill people, it [[RetGone prevents them from ever existing in the first place]]. Like Knight Man and Dr. Rocket--not that you'd have heard of them . . .

-->"Yeah - who decided [Ashley Judd] was a movie star?"
-->"I know. Same person who decided Molly Ringwald was."
-->"Who?"
-->"Exactly."

-->'''Lefuneste''': I don’t want to swim in that pond: the water looks deadly cold!
-->'''Achille''': Come on, you wimp! Think of the [[TheSpartanWay Spartans]]! In the midst of the winter they would play water-polo using ice balls in the rivers they were gladly swimming in!
-->'''Lefuneste''': Exactly: there are no more Spartans!

* [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in ''PiratesOfTheCaribbean'': Curse of the Black Pearl.
-->'''Norrington:''' You are without a doubt the worst pirate I have ever heard of.
-->'''Jack Sparrow:''' But you ''[[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity have]]'' heard of me.
* In ''{{High School Musical}}'', Chad tries to convince Troy (they're both high school basketball players) that basketball practice is more important than singing:
-->'''Chad''': Have you ever seen [[ThePhantomOfTheOpera Michael Crawford]] on a cereal box?
-->'''Troy''': Who's Michael Crawford?
-->'''Chad''': Exactly my point!
* Used in ''GoodWillHunting'' as the professor and therapist discuss Will's future. They ask the bartender if he's ever heard of several people who've taken the path they don't want Will to take, including the professor's name. Finally, Robin Williams' character wins with this:
--> '''Sean''': Hey, Timmy!
--> '''Bartender''': Yo?
--> '''Sean''': Who's Ted Kaczynski?
--> '''Bartender''': Unabomber.
* From ''WhatAGirlWants'':
-->'''Glynnis:''' Look what happened to Olivia Nixon when she went to China last summer.
-->'''Clarissa:''' Who's Olivia Nixon?
-->'''Glynnis:''' Exactly.

* I don’t remember the name of the film, but it was about a Broadway producer who really needed his last work to be a success. He and all his family are waiting in the cold street at 4:00 A.M. for the newspaper with the reviews of the premiere, [[ReviewsAreTheGospel because the only thing that matters is the newspaper's critic opinion:]]
--> '''Producer’s son:''' '' "Why are we waiting here? It was a success! The public loved it, they gave an standing ovation!" ''
--> '''Producer:''' '' "They also gave an standing ovation at the premiere of 'Microheaven' "'' .
--> '''Producer’s son:''' '' "Of what?"''
--> '''Producer:''' '' "Exactly"''.

* In ''Discworld/TheLastHero'', Cohen explains why he a) wants to do something that will ensure he's remembered forever, and b) has dragged a minstrel along to record it:
-->"Laugh away. But what about all the heroes who aren't [[FamedInStory remembered in songs and sagas]], eh? You tell me about ''them''."\\
"Eh? ''What'' heroes who aren't remembered in songs and sagas?"\\
"''Exactly!''"

-->'Like, supposing the population is being a bit behind with its taxes. You pick some city where people are being troublesome and kill everyone and set fire to it and pull down the walls and plough up the ashes. That way you get rid of the trouble and all the other cities are suddenly really well behaved and polite and all your back taxes turn up in a big rush, which is handy for governments, I understand. Then if they ever give trouble you just have to say "Remember Nangnang?" or whatever, and they say "Where's Nangnang?" and you say, "My point exactly."'

-->"Oh dear. there I go again..." A tiny bolt of lightning flashed off his thumb and exploded. "I hope it's not going to be the city of Quint all over again. Of course, you know what happened there..."\\

* ''FreaksAndGeeks'': The heroine doesn't want to go to college. She lists famous people who never went to college, and her guidance counselor adds, "Frank." When she says, "Who?" his response is "The guy who pumps my gas."
* ''TheBradyBunch'': Carol, trying to convince a discouraged Bobby not to quit his hair-tonic business, lists famous people who became great because they didn't quit, and ends with "Carl Mahakian."
-->'''Bobby''': Carl Mahakian? Never heard of him.
-->'''Carol''': That's cause he quit.
* On ''{{Friends}}'' Rachel does this to her sister Jill.
-->'''Rachel:''' You remember what happened to the girl who tried too much too fast don't you?
-->'''Jill:''' No?
-->'''Rachel:''' Uh, she died Jill.

* Inverted on ''{{Dollhouse}}'', when Echo is hired to help commit a robbery:
-->'''Robber''': If you're so great, how come I never heard of you?
-->'''Echo''': You ever heard of Bonnie and Clyde?
-->'''Robber''' (thinking she's [[AnalogyBackfire made a mistake]]): Bonnie and Clyde got ''killed''.
-->'''Echo''': That's because they wanted to be famous.

-->'''Kelly:''' "If you have a bad day with Deke, you'll be bigger nobodies than Tanyon Labelle."
-->'''BTR:''' "Who's Tanyon Labelle?"
-->'''Kelly and Gustavo:''' "Exactly."
** Who is Tanyon Labelle?
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' did the changing-history version (see ''She-Hulk'') when Balthazar prevents the sinking of the Titanic.
-->'''Dean:''' Why did you un-sink the ship?
-->'''Balthazar:''' Ugh, because I hated the movie.
-->'''Dean:''' What movie?
-->'''Balthazar:''' Exactly!

-->'''Balthazar:''' That godawful Celine Dion song made me want to smite myself.
-->'''Sam:''' Who's Celine Dion?
-->'''Balthazar:''' Oh, she's a destitute lounge singer somewhere in Quebec -- and let's keep it that way, please.

-->'''Sabrina''': I never heard of it.
-->'''Salem''': THAT'S MY POINT!
* Played entirely straight on an episode of ''{{Castle}}'', "A Dance With Death":
-->'''Brad''': I'd be off the ''show''. I'd be Brian ''Dunkleman''!
-->'''Beckett''': ''{{Beat}}'' Who's Brian Dunkleman?
-->'''Brad''': Exactly.

-->'''Castle''': I mean, I'd rather be Peter Gabriel than Anthony Phillips.
-->'''Beckett''': Anthony who?
-->'''Castle''': Exactly.
* On ''ANTFarm'' in the episode "[=TranplANTed=]", when Chyna wants to get her lunch from her locker and eat in the cafeteria, and Olive tells her its not safe for them out there.
-->'''Chyna''': I left my lunch in my locker
-->'''Olive:''' Emma left her lunch in her locker
-->'''Chyna:''' Who's Emma?
-->'''Olive:''' Exactly!
* In {{Boardwalk Empire}}: An upset Eddie Cantor asks Billie Kent if she's ever heard of Lucy Danziger, Nucky's former lover who was {{Put on a Bus}} in season 2 after she abandoned [[spoiler:Nelson van Alden with their out-of-wedlock baby]], to remind her of the realities of being Nucky's fling.

-->'''Conchy''': Is there any chance the war with the East Islanders will reach the nuclear stage?
-->'''The King''': Not a chance. North Island tested a nuclear bomb and since then we've all been a little uneasy.
-->'''Conchy''': North Island? There is no North Island.
-->'''The King''': Exactly.

* ''VideoGame/TheCurseOfMonkeyIsland'' features a scene where the captive Guybrush Threepwood is trying to convince the Demon Pirate [=LeChuck=] not to kill him. At one point, it's possible to argue that if [=LeChuck=] kills Guybrush, there will be no more VideoGame/MonkeyIsland games, and hence [=LeChuck=] will wind up just another forgotten game villain. [=LeChuck=] scoffs at this, prompting the following exchange:
-->'''Guybrush:''' Do you know the name "Bobbin Threadbare"?
-->'''[=LeChuck=]:''' Um, er...no.
-->'''Guybrush:''' Exactly.

* When Mira is talking about her arch enemy, Hanharr in ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic 2'', Depending on which option you choose to link her question and explanation, you can get something like this:
-->'''Mira:''' Ever heard of Dersonn III?
-->'''Exile:''' No.
-->'''Mira:''' See what I mean?
* In ''BaldursGate 2'', [[NietzscheWannabe Haer'Dalis]] deflates Edwin's ambition for eternal life through godhood by this trope:

-->'''Karin:''' You have as many medals as Irving Thiddlebakker! How do you feel about events now, champ? How are they?
-->'''Your first choice of response:''' Piece of cake!
-->'''Karin:''' You're going to be just like Irving: [[BrutalHonesty forgotten!]] It's not over yet. There are more valuable medals still to be won!

* In the flash series ''{{Perfect Kirby}}'', where Neil is talking about how Professor $1.99 is called that because he's cheap but still manages to make things work. His example is how they gave him a million dollars to make a hydrogen bomb. He spent most of it on candy but spent $1.99 making the bomb itself out of a pop can and other household items.
-->'''Kirby''': Did it work?
-->'''Neil''': Oh yeah. Remember Kaplikistan?
-->'''Kirby''': No?
-->'''Neil''': Exactly.

* ''ArthurKingOfTimeAndSpace'':
-->'''Merlin''': Don't make me mad.
-->'''Space pirate''': I'm on the verge of taking over all the territory of all the pirates Arthur's put out of business. I don't think one old man--
-->'''Merlin''': Have you heard of the dual dragons of Dinas Emrys?
-->'''Space pirate''': No.
-->'''Merlin''': ''They'' made me mad.
* Played with in ''QuestionableContent'', where the conversation looks like this from [[TheDitz Raven]]'s point of view, but is a StealthPun from Faye's:
-->'''Faye''': You'd better be careful with those drinks, they're what killed Keith Moon.
-->'''Raven''': Keith [[TheWho who]]?
-->'''Faye''': Exactly.

--> "And exactly 0.003% know who Dirk Kempthorne is."
--> "Who's Dirk Kempthorne?"

* Done in ''{{Cat and Girl}}'' [[http://catandgirl.com/?p=2371 here]].
* ''DorkTower'': Igor [[http://www.dorktower.com/2011/12/06/dork-tower-tuesday-december-6-2011/ educates Matt]] on the efficiency of ''Kickstopper''.

-->'''Roll (as Zero)''': You want Pop Culture? I'll show you Pop Culture!
-->'''Wily (as Sigma)''': Sure you will... You're about as Pop Culture as Dee Dee Stockton was.
-->''(BeatPanel)''
-->'''Roll''': You just made that name up!
-->'''Wily''': No I didn't!

* From ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'':
-->'''Kaiba''': Since he's the star, he thinks he can hog all the screentime to himself. I mean, just look at Bakura.
-->'''Mokuba''': Who the hell is Bakura?
-->'''Kaiba''': Precisely.

-->'''Freeza''': Tell me...have you ever heard of the planet Vegeta?
-->'''Nail''': ...n...no...
-->'''Freeza''': Funny...because I expect to hear the same from the next person when I ask them about ''Namek''.

-->'''Nostalgia Critic''': So the film opens with -- big shock -- a pop song.
-->'''Past!Nostalgia Critic''': Yeah, but so what? The original had pop songs too.
-->'''Nostalgia Critic''': [[SarcasmMode Yeah, and I'm sure that never dated either]]. Just like having Sandy Duncan or the Harlem Globetrotters.
-->'''Past!Nostalgia Critic''': Who?
-->'''Nostalgia Critic''': Exactly.
* ''HolyMusicalBatman''
-->'''Superman''': Have you ever heard of Mr. Mxyzptlk?
-->'''Green Lantern''': No.
-->'''Superman''': No! That's right. It's because I do my damn job.

* ''AllGrownUp!'', "Brother, Can You Spare The Time?": Tommy has just won an award for a video he's shot, and his brother, Dil, keeps intruding on a video he's shooting about himself because he [Dil] is worried that the fame will go to Tommy's head.
-->'''Dil''': Who knows what effects the "cross the fame border" has on sibling symbiosis? Once you're a big time director, the dynamic duel of T and D Pickles will be no more.
-->'''Tommy''': First of all, even if I do get famous, who's to say that you won't be the brother that got famous too?
-->'''Dil''': Two words, T, Lars Christian Anderson.
-->'''Tommy''': Who's that?
-->'''Dil''': Exactly.

* Used on ''{{Fillmore}}'', when Fillmore and Ingrid are interrogating an artist suspected of doing graffiti:
-->'''Tommy:''' I ain't goin' out like Charles Laskey, know what I'm sayin'?
-->'''Ingrid:''' Who's Charles Laskey?
-->'''Tommy:''' That's what I'm ''sayin''', know what I'm sayin'?
** Doubles as a GeniusBonus.
* Used in ''FriskyDingo'', when Killface's son comes out of the closet and Xander, Killface's rival in the presidential election, wants to use the news against his campaign.
-->'''Stan''': Nope, we leave this one alone.
-->'''Xander''': Why?
-->'''Stan''': Because two words: John Kerry.
-->'''Xander''': Who?
-->'''Stan''': Exactly.
-->'''Xander''': [{{Beat}}] ...He some sort of famous gay dude?

-->'''Yakko:''' Very Pete Townshend-esque.
-->'''Dot:''' [[TheWho Who]]?
-->'''Wakko:''' Exactly.
** Plays with this trope, but [[WhosOnFirst punnier]].

* Used dramatically in ''DragonBallAbridged'', just before Freeza kicks the crap out of Nail, one of the few surviving Namekians:

* Invoked through DialogueTree in one of [[StreetFighterAlpha Karin's]] pep talks in the Olympic Mode in ''VideoGame/CapcomVsSNKMillenniumFight2000'' for the NeoGeoPocket:

* Invoked through DialogueTree in one of [[StreetFighterAlpha Karin's]] pep talks in the Olympic Mode in ''[[CapcomVsSNK SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium]]'' for the NeoGeoPocket:

* Now that Steven Soderbergh has completed his Liberace film Behind The Candelabra for HBO, he’s set up shop at a new website, Extension 765, essentially a marketplace for his favorite things. Along with movie props, there’s quite an array of t-shirts. The references on the shirts are outlandishly obscure, including a license plate number from The French Connection and a whiskey brand from a five-second pan in Laura. I won’t list out every film here, but it’s a nice little advanced trivia game to go through and match the films to Soderbergh’s favorite obscure references.

* Now that Steven Soderbergh has completed his Liberace film Behind The Candelabra for HBO and taken his parting shots at the film industry on the fast track to early retirement, he’s set up shop at a new website, Extension 765, essentially a marketplace for his favorite things. Amid the movie props and Bolivian liquor, there’s quite an array of t-shirts, but they’re not your typical movie-spoiler or promo shirts. The references on the shirts are outlandishly obscure, including a license plate number in The French Connection and a whiskey brand from a five-second pan in Laura. We won’t list out every film here, but it’s a nice little advanced trivia game to go through and match the films to Soderbergh’s favorite obscure references.

-->'''Jack Sparrow:''' But you ''have'' heard of me.

* ''Life of Wily'', an early ''VideoGame/MegaMan'' sprite comic, features [[http://low.newbsoft.com/index.php?date=2001-08-10 a unique delivery on the idea]]: