History Main / MediationBackfire

Subtrope of NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished, and related to StopHelpingMe. Inversion of AppleOfDiscord, when a third party makes two allies ''start'' arguing - this is about making two arguers temporarily join forces against the intruder. Compare/contrast EnemyMine, when two mortal enemies join forces to defeat a mutual threat.

* In the Robert Asprin book ''[[MythAdventures The Sweet Myth-tery of Life]]'', Guido describes this as an inevitable result of getting involved in a domestic dispute.
** As previously shown by Skeeve in ''Hit or Myth'', when he got the reluctantly married king and queen to get along by telling off both of them.

* In ''BlackBooks'', Bernard and Mannie take time out from an argument to insult Fran, and end up resolving their own differences in the process.
** Until Fran leaves the room.

Everyone knows when you see two dogs tearing into each other, the last thing you should do is try to get between them. What some don't realise is that the same can be true of people, too.

Two characters in the middle of a bitter argument make up their differences over a common love of abusing someone else - usually, but not always, the person who tries to get them to make up in the first place. They'll tend to start out with grudging DumbassHasAPoint and ActuallyPrettyFunny's, before really warming to the tag-team beatdown.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', episode "Over A Barrel": Pinkie Pie tries to settle tensions between the settlers and the buffalo with a song-and-dance number. They briefly agree... that it's the worst song they've ever heard... and then go back to fighting. Later, just as the buffalo are about to give up their stampede, she reprises it... and they decide to go through with the stampede as a result.

* ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', episode "Over A Barrel": Pinkie Pie tries to settle tensions between the settlers and the buffalo with a song-and-dance number. They briefly agree... that it's the worst song they've ever heard... and then go back to fighting. Later, just as the buffalo are about to give up their stampede, she reprises it... and they decide to go through with the stampede as a result.

* This trope, along with TheMasochismTango, is the entire point of the Edward Albee play ''Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf''. George and Martha attack each other at every turn, but take more delight in ganging up to tear apart the innocent young couple they invite round for drinks, ([[TheAlcoholic lots and lots]] [[BottleFairy of drinks]]). It's heavily implied they do this all the time to keep them from killing each other.

* ''[[RanmaOneHalf Ranma 1/2]]'': When Gosunkugi gets ahold of paper dolls capable of controlling anyone he wishes, he tries to use this opportunity to win Akane's heart. Unfortunately, after he test-drives a few of his dolls on Ranma to see if they actually work, Ranma's suspicions are raised to the point where he openly confronts him about it. Akane immediately rushes to Gosunkugi's defence and our two opposing sides begin to bicker.

* In the ''AzumangaDaioh'' comic strip, [[KindheartedCatLover Sakaki]] once sees two cats about to fight. She instantly rushes in to stop them, but since [[AnimalsHateHim the affection is pretty much one-sided]] [[TheWoobie on Sakaki's part]], they both settle for chomping her hands instead.

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Two characters in the middle of a bitter argument make up their differences over a common love of abusing someone else - usually, but not always, the person who tries to get them to make up in the first place. They'll tend to start out with grudging DumbassHasAPoint and ActuallyPrettyFunny's, before really warming to the activity. Can cross over with TruthTellingSession.

Subtrope of NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished, and related to StopHelpingMe. Quasi-inversion of AppleOfDiscord, when a third party makes two allies ''start'' arguing - this is about making two arguers temporarily join forces against the intruder. Compare/contrast EnemyMine, when two mortal enemies join forces to defeat a mutual threat.

* Harry of the DresdenFiles tries to defuse what's about to go down between Ebenezer [=McCoy=] and Jaren Kincaid. He ends up with a gun pointed at his face and his spine.

* In ''FamilyGuy'', Peter is upset that he can't find way to bond with Stewie, until he discovers that beating up Lois is the perfect way to do it. CrossesTheLineTwice when they lock her in the trunk/boot of a car and ''sink it in a lake''.
* On ''TheSimpsons'' when Marge went after Itchy and Scratchy, the series staff did an episode where a squirrel character based on Marge tries to stop a fight, but the duo decides to knock her head off instead.

* Very deliberately [[InvokedTrope invoked]] by Creator/{{Saki}} in "Excepting Mrs. Pentherby".
* Harry of the DresdenFiles tries to defuse what's about to go down between Ebenezer McCoy and Jaren Kincaid. He ends up with a gun pointed at his face and his spine.

* Very deliberately [[InvokedTrope invoked]] by {{Saki}} in "Excepting Mrs. Pentherby".

* In the ''XenaWarriorPrincess'' episode "Been There, Done That", Joxer attempts to invoke this trope in order to stop the feuding families. He gets a couple dozen arrows to his face for his trouble (but again, this being a GroundhogDayLoop, [[IGotBetter he gets better]]).

* Very deliberately [[InvokedTrope invoked]] by {{Saki}} called "Excepting Mrs. Pentherby".

* There is a short story about this by {{Saki}} called "Excepting Mrs. Pentherby".

* There is a short story about this by Saki called "Excepting Mrs. Penberthy".

* In ''FamilyGuy'', Peter is upset that he can't find way to bond with Stewie, until he discovers that beating up Lois is the perfect way to do it. CrossesTheLineTwice when they lock her in the boot of a car and ''sink it in a lake''.

--> '''Ranma:''' Hey! This has nothing to do with you!
--> '''Akane:''' Too bad, because I won't put up with it!

* ''[[RanmaOneHalf Ranma 1/2]]'': When Gosunkugi gets a hold of paper dolls capable of controlling anyone he wishes, he tries to use this opportunity to win Akane's heart. Unfortunately, after he test-drives a few of his dolls on Ranma to see if they actually work, Ranma's suspicions are raised to the point where he openly confronts him about it. Akane immediately rushes to Gosunkugi's defence and our two opposing sides begin to bicker.

--> ''both Ranma and Akane send him airborne''

* In the ''AzumangaDaioh'' comic strip, [[KindheartedCatLover Sakaki]] once sees two cats about to fight. She instantly rushes in to stop them, but since [[AnimalsHateHim cats hate Sakaki for some reason]] they both settle for chomping her hands instead. [[TheWoobie Poor Sakaki]].

* From ''{{Scrubs}}'' after JD intervenes in an argument between [[SlapSlapKiss Dr. Cox and Jordon]];

* In ''FamilyGuy'', Peter is upset that he can't find way to bond with Stewie, until he discovers that beating up Lois is the perfect way to do it. CrossesTheLineTwice when they lock her in the boot of a car and ''sink it in a lake''.
* In ''BlackBooks'', Bernard and Mannie take time out from an argument to insult Fran, and end up resolving their own differences in the process.
** Until Fran leaves the room.
* In the Robert Asprin book ''[[MythAdventures The Sweet Myth-tery of Life]]'', Guido describes this as an inevitable result of getting involved in a domestic dispute.
** As previously shown by Skeeve in ''Hit or Myth'', when he got the reluctantly married king and queen to get along by telling off both of them.
* There is a short story about this by Saki called "Excepting Mrs. Penberthy".
* This trope, along with TheMasochismTango, is the entire point of the Edward Albee play ''Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf''. George and Martha attack each other at every turn, but take more delight in ganging up to tear apart the innocent young couple they invite round for drinks, ([[TheAlcoholic lots and lots]] [[BottleFairy of drinks]]). It's heavily implied they do this all the time to keep them from killing each other.

* ''Flame Warriors''' typically verbose description of forum users has this to say about the archetype they call Diplomat:
-->Diplomat butts into hot disputes, presuming that the combatants will welcome and appreciate his even-handed and eminently reasonable mediation. Frankly, he gets what he deserves.
* On TheSimpsons when Marge went after Itchy and Scratchy, the series staff did an episode where a squirrel character based on Marge tries to stop a fight, but the duo decids to knock her head off instead.
* From ''{{Scrubs}}'' after JD intervenes in an argument between [[SlapSlapKiss Dr. Cox and Jordon]];
-->'''[[ButtMonkey JD]]:''' And just like that all the hatred they had for each other was instantly directed at me.
* In the ''XenaWarriorPrincess'' episode "Been There, Done That", Joxer attempts to invoke this trope in order to stop the feuding families. He gets a couple dozen arrows to his face for his trouble (but again, this being a GroundhogDayLoop, [[IGotBetter he gets better]]).
* [[RanmaOneHalf Ranma 1/2:]] When Gosunkugi gets ahold of paper dolls capable of controlling anyone he wishes, he tries to use this opportunity to win Akane's heart. Unfortunately, after he test-drives a few of his dolls on Ranma to see if they actually work, Ranma's suspicions are raised to the point where he openly confronts him about it. Akane immediately rushes to Gosunkugi's defence and our two opposing sides begin to bicker.

--> * both Ranma and Akane send him airborne*

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