History Main / MadeOutToBeAJerkass

* In ''Manga/ElfenLied'', when Kohta's little sister Kanae tells him that she saw his friend Lucy commit mass murder at a festival, [[OrderedApology he tells her to apologize to Lucy]] for accusing her or else he'll "hate her forever". A second later, [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe she's bifurcated]] ''by Lucy''. This leaves Kohta with a double-heaping of PartingWordsRegret, as his final words to his sister were not only that that he'd hate her forever, but he called her a liar when she was telling the truth.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', the title characters try to stop a group called [[CuteIsEvil the Fluffy Bunch]] from committing crimes. Unfortunately, the Fluffy Bunch's [[CutenessProximity cuteness]] makes the townspeople believe the girls were ''harassing'' the Fluffy Bunch and [[HeroWithBadPublicity they ostracize the girls as a result]].

** In "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS7E2GrowthSpoutStuckInTheWringer Stuck in the Wringer]]", [=SpongeBob=] has an accident that gets him [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin stuck in the wringer]], and thanks to Patrick's [[TooDumbToLive stupidity]] by pouring forever glue on the wringer, he can't get out. [=SpongeBob=] feels he'll never be able to do anything now, but Patrick gives him a RousingSpeech that he can go on. Unfortunately, Patrick's speech [[InstantlyProvenWrong is proven unfounded]] as the wringer causes [=SpongeBob=] a ton of bad luck no matter how much Patrick tries to inspire him. Finally, in the middle of an amusement park, [=SpongeBob=] [[RageBreakingPoint snaps at Patrick]], [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech telling him his life is over and that it's all his fault]]. Patrick runs off crying [[ShamedByAMob while everyone who was watching call [=SpongeBob=] a jerk and say he got what he deserved]].

* ''Literature/QueenOfBabble'': Monsieur Henri when he returns to work in Book Three after his heart attack. He's shocked at all the changes that Lizzie has made to the shop, which includes a new cappuccino bar and salmon awning, and says that it's not his business anymore. Tiffany and Madame Henri explicitly call him an UngratefulBastard for not appreciating that Lizzie increased their business by 1000 percent. Lizzie understands, however, that he nearly died and is dealing with some reservations about where his life is going.

* In ''Literature/EndersGame'', Ender is ostracized by his peers because he retaliated against a bully but misjudged his strength, making it seem as if [[DisproportionateRetribution he broke the kid's arm for the offense of poking Ender in the back]]. While the teacher present doesn't technically punish Ender, Ender knows full well that the bullying and ostracizing ''is'' the punishment, as the teacher set him up to be resented by deliberately overpraising him to his classmates.
** Of course, Ender is unaware that he's already on record as having killed a previous bully (between misjudging his strength and simply walking away afterwards without looking back), and the teacher almost certainly does know. In terms of punishment, this can be considered part of the price of getting away with that; more pragmatically the isolation does a lot early on to prevent any potential repeats.

* Played with in ''Fanfic/StoryOfTheCentury''. [[spoiler:No one else is there to see Erin [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech verbally tear L to shreds]] and toss him out of his chair (and one wonders that if they were whether they would have agreed with her argument [[BrokenPedestal at that point]] if put off by her, ahem, intensity), but L's response to it is so kind and graceful that she [[PartingWordsRegret beats herself up over the incident]] for some time afterwards.]]

* ''Manga/{{Working}}'': Inami is so [[DoesNotLikeMen terrified of men]], that she instantly punches out any man who is unfortunate enough to be near her, [[RunningGag with her regular victim being Souta]]. Eventually, he gets fed up, [[WhatTheHellHero calls her out on this]], and ''everyone'' treats him as the bad guy and acts as if Inami didn't deserve his calling out.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "[[Recap/SouthParkS22E01DeadKids Dead Kids]]", Sharon tries to lecture Randy about the school shootings at South Park Elementary, but he never takes her seriously. When Sharon finally reaches her breaking point and calls out Randy for his insensitivity, [[ShamedByAMob the townsfolk get on her case for it]] and take Randy's side, and then storm off.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''episode "[[Recap/SouthParkS22E01DeadKids Dead Kids]]", Sharon tries to lecture Randy about the school shootings at South Park Elementary, but he never takes her seriously. When Sharon finally reaches her breaking point and calls out Randy for his insensitivity, [[ShamedByAMob the townsfolk get on her case for it]] and take Randy's side, and then storm off.

** In "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS7E2GrowthSpoutStuckInTheWringer Stuck in the Wringer]]", [=SpongeBob=] has an accident that gets him [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin stuck in the wringer]], and thanks to Patrick's [[TooDumbToLive stupidity]] (pouring forever glue on the wringer), he can't get out (but it's also thanks to himself for not technically asking Patrick to free him). [=SpongeBob=] feels he'll never be able to do anything now, but Patrick gives him a RousingSpeech that he can go on. Unfortunately, Patrick's speech [[InstantlyProvenWrong is proven unfounded]] as the wringer causes [=SpongeBob=] a ton of bad luck no matter how much Patrick tries to inspire him. Finally, in the middle of an amusement park, [=SpongeBob=] [[RageBreakingPoint snaps at Patrick]], [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech telling him his life is over and that it's all his fault]]. Patrick runs off crying [[ShamedByAMob while everyone who was watching call [=SpongeBob=] a jerk and say he got what he deserved]].

** In "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS7E2GrowthSpoutStuckInTheWringer Stuck in the Wringer]]", [=SpongeBob=] has an accident that gets him [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin stuck in the wringer]], and thanks to Patrick's [[TooDumbToLive stupidity]] (pouring forever glue on the wringer), he can't get out. [=SpongeBob=] feels he'll never be able to do anything now, but Patrick gives him a RousingSpeech that he can go on. Unfortunately, Patrick's speech [[InstantlyProvenWrong is proven unfounded]] as the wringer causes [=SpongeBob=] a ton of bad luck no matter how much Patrick tries to inspire him. Finally, in the middle of an amusement park, [=SpongeBob=] [[RageBreakingPoint snaps at Patrick]], [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech telling him his life is over and that it's all his fault]]. Patrick runs off crying [[ShamedByAMob while everyone who was watching call [=SpongeBob=] a jerk and say he got what he deserved]].

So, this guy has been a total {{Jerkass}} to you and you've finally had enough and snap. You stand up to him, give him a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, and tell him off for everything he's done to you. Should be a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome, right? Well, guess what? You were so harsh on the guy that you [[MinorInsultMeltdown hurt his feelings]]. Even worse, your display was witnessed and the only thing that everyone saw was you being mean to him! [[SarcasmMode Congratulations]]. Everyone thinks [[InsaneTrollLogic you're the jerk instead of the guy you just told off]]!

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'':
** PlayedForLaughs in "[[Recap/SouthParkS12E1TonsilTrouble Tonsil Trouble]]", when Kyle reports [[FatBastard Cartman]] to the school system [[ItMakesSenseInContext for purposely infecting him with [=HIV=]]], only for ''him''[[note]]along with Cartman for infecting him[[/note]] to get in trouble ''for tattling on him''.
--->'''[[AdultsAreUseless Principal Victoria]]:''' And now Kyle, maybe you should also admit you were wrong for tattling.\\
'''Kyle:''' ''(after a {{Beat}})'' [[BigWhat What?!]]\\
'''Mr. Mackey:''' Kyle, the thing about tattlin' is, eh tattlin's bad. [[VerbalTic M'kay]], because nobody likes a tattle-tale, m'kay.\\
'''Kyle:''' A tattle-tale?! ''He infected me with [=AIDS=]!''\\
'''Cartman:''' See? He's tattling again. He hasn't learned a thing, you guys.
** In "[[Recap/SouthParkS17E3WorldWarZimmerman World War Zimmerman]]", when Token gets angry at Cartman for making some racist jabs in the cafeteria, Mr. Mackey calls out ''Token'' for causing a scene. Later on, when Token gets shot by Cartman, Mr. Mackey threatens to send him to detention ''[[NoSympathyForGrudgeholders if he doesn't make up with Cartman]]''.
** In "[[Recap/SouthParkS22E01DeadKids Dead Kids]]", Sharon tries to lecture Randy about the school shootings at South Park Elementary, but he never takes her seriously. When Sharon finally reaches her breaking point and calls out Randy for his insensitivity, [[ShamedByAMob the townsfolk get on her case for it]] and take Randy's side, and then storm off.

* An episode of ''Series/{{Friends}}'' has Ross move into a new apartment. A resident tries to get him to give $100 for the super's retirement, but Ross only ''just'' moved in and doesn't feel obliged. Everyone in the building treats him like a pariah.
* In ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'' Season Six episode "Stress Related", Carlton shows up to give a speech at Ashley's school for Career Day (as their father, Phil, can’t make it,) but everyone at the assembly quickly determines that he doesn't have a job, despite what he says about career success in general. After one student quips that Carlton is a bum (causing laughter among the students present,) another student actually has the nerve to raise her hand to question if that is, in fact, the truth. "Excuse me, sir. Are you really a bum?", [[WhatAnIdiot she "politely" inquires]]. Suffice to say that she is genuinely shocked and unprepared when he angrily snaps, "Back off, sister!", but then a third student in the audience has the nerve to stand up for her by calling Carlton out on his "attitude" and basically say that ''he'' is being insensitive to ''her'' feelings, not vice versa. And to add further insult to her brother's emotional injury, Ashley reinforces this trope at the end of the episode when she laments to her father that, while she can understand that he was too busy to make it to the career fair himself, she ''can't'' understand why, of all people, he'd send Carlton in his place, further implying her brother's defensive outburst towards that girl was completely out of line.

'''Mr. Mackey:''' Kyle, the thing about tattlin' is, eh tattlin's bad. [[VerbalTic M'kay]], because nobody likes a tattle-tale, m'kay?\\

** In "[[Recap/SouthParkS17E3WorldWarZimmerman World War Zimmerman]]", when Token gets angry at Cartman for making some racist jabs in the cafeteria, Mr. Mackey calls out ''Token'' for causing a scene. Later on, when Token gets shot by Cartman, Mr. Mackey threatens to send him to detention ''if he doesn't make up with Cartman''.

** In "[[Recap/SouthParkS17E3WorldWarZimmerman World War Zimmerman]]", when Token gets angry at Cartman for making some racist jabs in the cafeteria, Mr. Mackey calls out ''Token'' for causing a scene. Later on, when Token gets shot by Cartman, Mr. Mackey threatens to send him to detention if he doesn't make up with Cartman.

** In "[[Recap/SouthParkS17E3WorldWarZimmerman World War Zimmerman]], when Token gets angry at Cartman for making some racist jabs in the cafeteria, Mr. Mackey calls out ''Token'' for causing a scene. Later on when, Token gets shot by Cartman, Mr. Mackey threatens to send him to detention if he doesn't make up with Cartman.

** In "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS7E131KeepBikiniBottomBeautifulAPalForGary A Pal for Gary]]", Gary saves [=SpongeBob=] from Puffy Fluffy, only to get scolded again.

* One episode of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' has Ichigo's little sisters demanding that he apologizes to their cousin Tsukishima after he punches him. That wouldn't be wrong except that [[spoiler:Tsukishima is really a villain and he messed with their memories to make them think he's their cousin]]. So, basically he had that punch coming.

* In a {{Flashback}} scene in ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', young Walter Korvacs is being harassed by a couple of older kids because his mother is a prostitute, so Korvacs takes one kid's cigarette and stabs him in the eye with it. Korvacs is sent to juvenile hall while the bully receives no official punishment.

* In ''Manga/ElfenLied'', when Kohta's little sister Kanae tells him that she saw his friend Lucy commit mass murder at a festival, [[OrderedApology he tell her to apologize to Lucy]] for accusing her or else he'll "hate her forever". A second later, she's bifurcated ''by Lucy''. This leaves Kohta with a double-heaping of PartingWordsRegret, as his final words to his sister were not only that that he'd hate her forever, but he called her a liar when she was telling the truth.

This can lead to a BrokenAesop, except that ValuesDissonance makes it widely accepted, where being a jerk back is even worse than what the original Jerkass did to you. Can result from being a BullyHunter. A villain, especially a VillainWithGoodPublicity, may use this to [[HeroWithBadPublicity give a hero bad cred]]. If the victim of this trope were friends with anyone who witnessed this scene prior to this moment, it probably triggers an EtTuBrute and WeUsedToBeFriends situation. In some cases, the ones who believed [[TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong the retaliater is in the wrong]] may [[OrderedApology force them to apologize to the insulted jerk]], and [[JerkassHasAPoint end up finding out that the calling out they were given was justified after all]].

* In ''Manga/ElfenLied'', when Kohta's little sister Kanae tells him that she saw his friend Lucy commit mass murder at a festival, [[OrderedApology he tell her to apologize to Lucy]]] for accusing her or else he'll "hate her forever". A second later, she's bifurcated ''by Lucy''. This leaves Kohta with a double-heaping of PartingWordsRegret, as his final words to his sister were not only that that he'd hate her forever, but he called her a liar when she was telling the truth.

** In "[[Recap/SouthParkS22E01DeadKids Dead Kids]]", Sharon tries to lecture Randy about the school shootings at South Park Elementary, but he never takes her seriously. When Sharon finally reaches her breaking point and calls out Randy for his insensitivity, [[ShamedByTheMob the townsfolk get on her case for it]] and take Randy's side, and then storm off.

** In "[[Recap/SouthParkS22E01DeadKids Dead Kids]]", Sharon calls out Randy for being apathetic to the constant shootings at South Park Elementary. Unfortunately, the townsfolk get on Sharon's case for it and take Randy's side, and [[InsaneTrollLogic believe Sharon is acting up because she is experiencing her period or menopause]].

** In "[[Recap/SouthParkS22E01DeadKids Dead Kids]]", Sharon calls out Randy for being apathetic to the constant shootings at South Park Elementary. Unfortunately, the townsfolk get on Sharon's case for it and [[InsaneTrollLogic believe she is acting up because she is having her period or — even worse —]] ''[[InsaneTrollLogic menopause]]''.