History Main / RightHandVersusLeftHand

* ''VideoGame/{{Segagaga}}'' portrays the relationship between programmers and designers in this way. In theory, both groups should work together in the development of games but in practice they're fighting each other over resources (read: memory) to the point of becoming fierce enemies, making any kind of cooperation between them nigh impossible. It's up to Sega taro to parch things between the warring organizations. Easier said than done as the lead programmer lost his mind after an incident that involved a yellow bear suit, an unruly mob of customers and the guys from ''VideoGame/DDCrew'' and the lead designer became a tyranical despot who rules over his underlings with an iron fist and executes anyone who dares to question his orders, like making a 200.000 polygon trashcan.

** This was a major factor in why RCA's [[UsefulNotes/{{CED}} CED/[=SelectaVision=]]] system wound up being released when it did and why it used the sort of technology it had. As ''WebVideo/TechnologyConnections'' [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv0jwu7G_DFVP0SGNlBiBtFVkV5LZ7SOU can explain]], RCA was plagued for years by friction between their laboratories wing and the rest of the company -- Labs would invent something that was CoolButInefficient and the other parts of the company would have to figure out what to do with it after -- and by general resentment over the privileged status that Labs had. Work on what became the CED began as far back as 1964, RCA higher-ups hoping that the efficient, cost-effective methods of making, buying and playing vinyl records and players could be applied to playback of video. But things didn't exactly work out that way, and [[DevelopmentHell development slowed to a crawl]] until the 1970s (by which time they had to invent the plastic caddies that [=CEDs=] were encased in because handling the fragile discs by hand led to problems, unlike vinyl records); even then, constant revolving-door leadership at RCA (including a DorkAge they never quite recovered from, when under Robert Sarnoff -- son of the famed David Sarnoff -- they expanded into all sorts of business areas; the popular joke, even among RCA executives, was that the name now stood for [[FunWithAcronyms Rugs, Chickens and Automobiles]]) meant the future of the project was constantly in question. The project was nearly cancelled entirely, but a combination of SunkCostFallacy and corporate pride ultimately made them go ahead with the launch...in ''1981'', by which time UsefulNotes/{{VHS}}, Betamax, and UsefulNotes/LaserDisc had all beaten RCA to market. Sales never went as well as RCA had hoped and they discontinued the system in stages; the players ceased production in 1984, and the final discs were released in 1986, by which time GE had bought RCA (primarily for Creator/{{NBC}}) and were busy dismantling it.

* Half [[IdiotPlot the plot]] of ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' rests on this trope, for both sides. It would have been a much shorter series if people simply talked to each other. (The other half resting on those same people just not ''[[JerkAss caring]]'' and feeling that ''they alone'' should be the ones running the show.) This is particularly infuriating from the Aes Sedai, part of whose function is meant to aid co-operation and lead the fight, but who are laughably incompetent and mind bogglingly arrogant, splitting into several factions and still demanding everyone follow their lead alone. Everyone else simply follows their lead in trying to deal with things.

* In an episode of ''Series/GetSmart'', Max infiltrates a KAOS cell and only finds out at the end of the episode that every single member of the cell is a spy for a different intelligence agency.

* In one episode of ''Series/GetSmart'', in order to complete her mission early, 99 sent the KAOS agents chasing her on a WildGooseChase to Pier 42. Unfortunately, Pier 42 happens to be where Max and the Chief are performing ''their'' mission.

* The final showdown of the third ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'' movie. Both [[spoiler:Shinji/Kaworu]] and [[spoiler:Asuka/Mari]] were actually trying to save the world. But the first faction was given wrong intel, believing that grabbing two certain [[UnholyHolySword artifacts]] would return the post-apocalyptic Wasteland they live in to [[ResetButton a habitable state]], when all it will actually do is to devastate the earth for good. [[spoiler:[[TragicHero Shinji]]]], greatly agonizing about having to fight a former comrade, even tried to talk and explain, but [[spoiler:Asuka]], probably believing that he was willingly working for the villains [[spoiler:not an unreasonable guess given earlier events]], just charges him with a glaive to try and stop him and arrest him, putting him in a [[DespairEventHorizon hopeless situation]] where he'd disregard the vague warnings of [[spoiler:Kaworu]] (who'd noticed something was off), and pull the doomsday devices.

* ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'': Any time the PlayerCharacter has to deal with their faction's Intelligence Agencies. The Imperial Intelligence Ministry is often the OnlySaneEmployee in a fascist cesspit led by the Sith (an theocratic cabal of AxCrazy wack-jobs embroiled in chronic infighting), and supported by the military (a bunch of {{SociopathicSoldier}}s and {{GeneralRipper}}s, with the occasional honorable one who will inevitably be sniped by an underling). The Imperial Agent spends a lot of time mopping up after their government. The Republic has the SIS, who tend to operate on IDidWhatIHadToDo, DoUntoOthersBeforetheyDoUntoUs, and often behave as a PsyhcoSupporter within the Republic ranks. Neither service is particularly good about getting permission before carrying out some wacky scheme; in the first case, because it's too sane. In the second, because it's likely on a list of war crimes.

* ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'': Any time the PlayerCharacter has to deal with their faction's Intelligence Agencies. The Imperial Intelligence Ministry is often the OnlySaneEmployee in a fascist cesspit led by the Sith (an theocratic cabal of AxCrazy wack-jobs embroiled in chronic infighting), and supported by the military (a bunch of {{SociopathicSoldier}}s and {{GeneralRipper}}s, with the occasional honorable one who will inevitably be sniped by an underling). The Imperial Agent spends a lot of time mopping up after their government. The Republic has the SIS, who tend to operate on IDidWhatIHadToDo, DoUntoOthersBeforetheyDoUntoUs, and often behave as a PoisonousFriend within the Republic ranks. Neither service is particularly good about getting permission before carrying out some wacky scheme; in the first case, because it's too sane. In the second, because it's likely on a list of war crimes.

* ''TabletopGame/BlackbirdsRPG'': The Allmother is a malevolent DeityOfHumanOrigin who kills people and replaces them with "orphans," doppelgangers of the original person who all possess the Allmother's personality and act as the Allmother believes that person should have acted. She has replaced many powerful people with her orphans, but these doppelgangers also possess free will and the same [[ControlFreak ironclad certainty that they should be the only one making decisions]], leading to them mostly scheming against each other. The horrifyingly brutal civil war gripping Elklund is ultimately a totally pointless war waged between her innumerable spawn, using the inhabitants as pawns to undermine one another.

See also TwoRightsMakeAWrong, FlockOfWolves, PoorCommunicationKills, LetsYouAndHimFight, InterserviceRivalry, CallingTheCopsOnTheFBI, MistakenlyAttackedMole (being unaware that a target is on their side), CivilWarcraft (often a result of this trope), ConflictBall, FriendOrFoe, and WeAreStrugglingTogether. A romantic version is the TwoPersonLoveTriangle. No connection to EvilHand or ''Film/TheNightOfTheHunter.'' Or, for that matter, a fight between [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Master Hand and Crazy Hand]].

* In the late 90's to early 2000's, ''Franchise/LEGO'' had an initative to "move beyond the brick" and tried to launch several building systems, such as the Technic, Znap, ''Toys/Bionicle'', and Galidor lines. Problem was the new building systems competing for limited shelf space/consumers interested in "buildable toys," and were usually not compatible with either each other and often were only partially compatible with traditional Lego bricks. Bionicle and Galidor in particular were both lines of science fiction themed buildable action figures coming out in 2001 and 2002 respectively, and the mass success of Bionicle seems to have been a contributing factor in the downfall of Galidor.

*** This is also what some argue is the reason behind the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise's famously BrokenBase: Sega licensed out use of the Sonic characters and settings to practically anybody who asked, and they were given free reign to do whatever they wanted with the license. The result was that dozens of companies created their own Sonic universes with little in common (Creator/DiCEntertainment alone created [[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog three]] [[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM separate]] [[WesternAnimation/SonicUnderground shows]], with the [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Archie Comics]] being a fusion of the first two early on before mostly going with a uncomfortable blend of ''[=SatAM=]'' and game elements), and kids of the time chose one of them as their favorite. This wasn't much of a problem at the time, as these fans were united against Creator/{{Nintendo}} and their mascot Franchise/SuperMario, but it came crashing down when Sega's people decided they'll have a single continuity instead and tossed all of them out except for their own, upsetting the many Sonic fans who followed a continuity other than that of the video games.

** Tzeentch, Chaos god of change, magic, backstabbing and hope, thrives on this. His every plan is designed to cause and/or require another to fail, even those that would ensure his complete victory over all other gods... because that would leave him no one to plot ''against'' and he ceases to be.

* On ''LightNovel/KinosJourney'' Kino encounters a railroad worker who spent the last twenty years of his life cleaning and maintaining a seemingly unused stretch of railroad. When she travels along the same railroad she encounters another railroad worker who spent the last twenty years of his life disassembling the same railroad. And finally she meets a railroad worker who spent the last twenty years of his life ''reassembling'' the same railroad. Ultimately Kino chooses to tell none of them that they wasted the last two decades of their lives.

Eventually, you can be sure that the protagonists' side will win out over the other, or both will eventually sit down and talk things out once a member of each group {{Go Karting|WithBowser}} and can [[CharacterWitness vouch for the other]]. Expect someone to note "[[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot it could have been avoided]]". This doesn't need to be limited to two sides either, it gets very common with LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters acting independently of each other, but constantly bumping into each other because [[YouALLShareMyStory they all share the story]].

* In the infamous ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Gnomes", the Underwear Gnomes had a MissingStepPlan in between collecting underwear and making a profit. When asked what Step 2 is, the gnomes would freeze up before passing the buck to another gnome, who would say that while they don't know what the step is, they figure another gnome does and is keeping it secret because it's a very a good plan.

* Done humorously in the three-episode PilotMovie for ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'', where Wilt, Eduardo, and Coco all fight over Bloo while being chased by a girl that wants to adopt him. When the three end up colliding, they find out that they were ''all'' trying to prevent the girl from adopting him.
* In ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'' episode "Shiv Katall", a brain pod defects from Zurg's empire, so the evil emperor orders the eponymous hitman to find it. Upon hearing this, Buzz goes off on the mission while the rest of the team is offered a furlough. While XR is all for [[DidntWantAnAdventure using it to go Mahambus Six]], Mira insists on going after Shiv and [[TheDragAlong drags Booster and XR along]]. The pursuit of Shiv leads them into Zurg's territory, where Mira decides to ram Shiv's ship to knock it out of the sky, believing it was what Buzz would do. Upon crash landing, the team learns that Shiv actually ''is'' Buzz, who was using the persona to ferry Zurg defectors to freedom. While the team does manage to escape and save the brain pod, due to Buzz's cover being blown thanks to Mira's actions, Star Command would need to come up with a new way to shuttle dissidents.
* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', the Underpants Gnomes collect vast quantities of underpants in order to make a profit. Unfortunately, it's a MissingStepsPlan because ''none'' of the gnomes have any idea how but believe another gnome knows what the second step is and is keeping it secret for some reason.

* Mostly present in the entire ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' and lampshaded in ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheLostAge'' by the Isaac and Felix's respective parties, as well as the party from Prox. If Saturos and Menardi only stated from the beginning that they're on a mission to save the world instead of leading it to doom, perhaps the elders of Vale have considered their pleas. If Felix had stated his motivation in assisting Saturos and Menardi in their mission while everyone was in the Sol Sanctum, perhaps Isaac, Garet, Jenna, and Kraden would have helped convincing the people of Vale in this journey. If everyone spoke up about their motivations while battling in Venus Lighthouse, Saturos and Menardi, and by extension, Agatio and Karst, would not need to die, etc.

** (AOL) [=TimeWarner=] suffered from this pretty much from the get go. The company was intended to be synergy-friendly by longtime [[Creator/WarnerBros Warner Communications]] chairman Steve Ross. However, he died in 1992, and his successors, Gerald Levin and Jeff Bewkes (both of whom came from Time Inc. via Creator/{{HBO}}) inexplicably seemed to fear/loathe synergy and discouraged it, which in turn made the company's various divisions often run up against each other. In 1993, most of the company's entertainment assets (including WB, HBO and Cinemax) were put into a joint venture with telephone company US West called "Time Warner Entertainment". When [[UsefulNotes/TedTurner Turner Broadcasting]] merged with TW in 1996 this meant that its' production and distribution assets were absorbed into WB[[note]]Creator/HannaBarbera took a while to be fully integrated into WB Animation, with a separate sub-division, Creator/CartoonNetwork Studios, remaining under Turner's control. Creator/NewLineCinema (which was also bought out by Turner), on the other hand wasn't integrated into WB until 2008, and remained autonomous by that point[[/note]], but the company remained as a semi-autonomous unit of Time Warner (the aforementioned TWE joint venture ended in 2003 after Comcast sold their stake, having inherited it through various mergers). The company tried and failed multiple times to take advantage of the emerging internet and leverage their properties in the process, as both the Pathfinder portal and the AOL merger backfired hugely (the latter moreso than the former). Even as the company slimmed down over the years, losing its book and [[Creator/WarnerMusicGroup music]] publishing groups, AOL, its cable systems and finally Time Inc. itself, the walls between the WB, HBO and Turner divisions remained rather strong. Ultimately, AT&T's purchase of the company (and subsequent renaming to Creator/WarnerMedia) in 2018 finally averted the trope, as they acted to reorganize the company and increase synergy and interaction-- Turner and HBO are no longer separate units, instead their assets have been reassigned into new divisions[[note]]CN, Creator/AdultSwim and Creator/TurnerClassicMovies now report to Warner Bros., while HBO is part of the [=WarnerMedia=] Entertainment division alongside Creator/{{TBS}}, Creator/{{TNT}}, Creator/TruTV, Otter Media (an AT&T asset, home of Website/{{Crunchyroll}}, Creator/{{VRV}} and Creator/RoosterTeeth; they were also division of Warner Bros. for two months) and the Creator/HBOMax streaming service; while Creator/{{CNN}}, along with Bleacher Report, Turner Sports and the AT&T [=SportsNet=] RSNs are now the [=WarnerMedia=] News & Sports division[[/note]]. The major sign that the byzantine bureaucracy of the old [=TimeWarner=] had been eliminated was when the [[https://youtu.be/eASkqrwdg7Y trailer]] for the Creator/HBOMax streaming service was released, showcasing the vast amount of properties [=WarnerMedia=] has to offer and that they're bringing them all together.\\

* ''VideoGame/HypnospaceOutlaw'' has the player run afoul of this later in the game, when they're tasked with [[spoiler:sniffing out [[DigitalPiracyIsEvil music piracy]] on their service, because it turns out Dylan Merchant, the creator of Hypnospace, is responsible. Dylan bans the player with bogus reasons after they report his music downloads, which then leads to them being reinstated by Samantha when Hypnospace is in desperate need of administration, because nobody else in Merchantsoft understands why they were banned.]]