History Main / WANGST

{{Angst}} can create [[EmotionalTorque compelling drama]], CharacterDevelopment, and interesting psychology when done well; [[TrueArtIsAngsty many acclaimed works of art use it to a degree]] and the appeal of TheWoobie is based on it, [[TropesAreTools but like all other good things, angst can be overdone or done poorly.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah" or "whinging"... or possibly "wanky" or "wang" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]]'s AppealToPity ends in an {{epic fail}}ure, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast instead of, you know, trying to move on with their life. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the wangsty character on "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it does, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

{{Angst}} can create [[EmotionalTorque compelling drama]], CharacterDevelopment, and interesting psychology when done well; [[TrueArtIsAngsty many acclaimed works of art use it to a degree]] and the appeal of TheWoobie is based on it, [[TropesAreTools but like all other good things, angst can be overdone or done poorly.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah"... or possibly "wanky" or "wang" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]]'s AppealToPity ends in an {{epic fail}}ure, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast instead of, you know, trying to move on with their life. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the wangsty character on "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it does, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

{{Angst}} can create [[EmotionalTorque compelling drama]], CharacterDevelopment, and interesting psychology when done well; [[TrueArtIsAngsty many acclaimed works of art use it to a degree]] and the appeal of TheWoobie is based on it, [[TropesAreTools but like all other good things, angst can be overdone or done poorly.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah"... or possibly "wanky" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]]'s AppealToPity ends in an {{epic fail}}ure, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast instead of, you know, trying to move on with their life. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the wangsty character on "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it does, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

Wangst is a favorite of {{Emo Teen}}s, {{Sympathetic Sue}}s and characters CursedWithAwesome. Any kind of DespairSpeech (especially by [[StrawNihilist nihilists]]) is also often considered as this. Often pointed out by playing the WorldsSmallestViolin. See also {{Emo}}, {{Narm}}, AngstDissonance. To deal with the wangsty kind, people will usually say "GetAHoldOfYourselfMan!"

Seeing this in fiction may cause one to think of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ7oqmikZDQ this song]].

{{Angst}} can create [[EmotionalTorque compelling drama]], CharacterDevelopment, and interesting psychology when done well; [[TrueArtIsAngsty many acclaimed works of art use it to a degree]] and the appeal of TheWoobie is based on it.

[[TropesAreTools But like all other good things, angst can be overdone or done poorly.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah"... or possibly "wanky" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]]'s AppealToPity ends in an {{epic fail}}ure, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast instead of, you know, trying to move on with their life. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the wangsty character on "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it does, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

'''Note:''' Though Wangst is most frequently associated with characters whining over petty "tragedies," the trope is not merely sadness or angst; it is poorly written sadness or angst that comes off as unjustified due to lack of an explanation, exaggeration of the problem, or otherwise not showing an appropriate level of sadness compared to the tragedy in question. It's not necessarily the scale of the tragedy that the character is reacting to that's the problem, but the way it's handled.

[[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] [[YouNeedToGetLaid angst resulting from a lack of sexual relationship.]] Or angst over [[TeenyWeenie the size of your wang.]]

[[TropesAreTools But like all other good things, angst can be overdone or done poorly.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah"... or possibly "wanky" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]]'s AppealToPity end in an {{epic fail}}ure, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast instead of, you know, trying to move on with their life. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the wangsty character on "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it does, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

[[TropesAreTools But like all other good things, angst can be overdone or clumsily handled.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah"... or possibly "wanky" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]] attempts an {{epic fail}}ure at an AppealToPity, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast or event instead of, you know, trying to solve the problem. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the emokid on "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it is, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

'''Note:''' Though Wangst is most frequently associated with characters whining over petty "tragedies," the trope is not merely sadness or angst; it is poorly written sadness or angst that comes off as unjustified due to poor writing, lack of an explanation, or exaggeration. It's not necessarily the scale of the tragedy that the character is reacting to that's the problem, but the way it's handled.

Subtrope of {{Bathos}}, and may be called that in literary circles.

->'''"STOP YOUR FOUL WHINING, YOU FILTHY PIECE OF DISTENDED RECTUM!"'''

Seeing this in fiction may cause one to think of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRQvToXYzmU this song]].

[[TropesAreTools But like all other good things, angst can be overdone or clumsily handled.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah"... or possibly "wanky" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]] attempts an {{epic fail}}ure at an AppealToPity, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast or event instead of, you know, trying to solve the problem and stop being depressed all the time. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the emokid on "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it is, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

[[TropesAreTools But like all other good things, angst can be overdone or clumsily handled.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah") is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]] attempts an {{epic fail}}ure at an AppealToPity, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast or event instead of, you know, trying to solve the problem and stop being depressed all the time. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the emokid on "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it is, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

->'''"[[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan STOP YOUR FOUL WHINING]], [[TakeThatScrappy YOU FILTHY PIECE OF DISTENDED RECTUM!]]"'''
-->--'''Arnold Rimmer''', ''Series/RedDwarf''

->'''"[[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan Stop your foul whining]], [[TakeThatScrappy you filthy piece of distended rectum!]]"'''

[[quoteright:350:[[Manga/{{Gantz}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/baw.jpg]]]]

The "wangst" equivalent for entire stories is when DarknessInducedAudienceApathy is caused by too much TrueArtIsAngsty. SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers is the philosophical equivalent. Compare DeusAngstMachina, which is about having too many ''sources'' of angst for WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief rather than too much ''response'' to sources of angst. For both in-universe ''and'' meta-examples, see MuseAbuse, a frequent RealLife and in-universe cause of {{Wangst}}. Contrast AngstWhatAngst, and StoicWoobie.

[[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] [[YouNeedToGetLaid angst resulting from a lack of sexual relationship.]]

Wangst is a favorite of {{Emo Teen}}s, {{Sympathetic Sue}}s and characters CursedWithAwesome. Any kind of DespairSpeech (especially by [[NietzscheWannabe nihilists]]) is also often considered as this. Often pointed out by playing the WorldsSmallestViolin. See also {{Emo}}, {{Narm}}, AngstDissonance. To deal with the wangsty kind, people will usually say "GetAHoldOfYourselfMan!"

'''This just defines the term. No examples please.'''

[[caption-width-right:350:[[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner You don't understand. YOU ALL UNDERSTAND, I mean don't understand! WAAAAAHHHH!!!!]]]]

[[TropesAreTools But like all other good things, angst can be overdone or clumsily handled.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah" or "wank") is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]] attempts an {{epic fail}}ure at an AppealToPity, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast or event instead of, you know, trying to solve the problem and stop being depressed all the time. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the emokid on "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it is, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

[[TropesAreTools But like all other good things, angst can be overdone or clumsily handled.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah" or "wank") is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]] attempts an {{epic fail}}ure at an AppealToPity, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast or event instead of, you know, trying to solve the problem and stop being depressed all the time. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the emokid on "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across as nearly tragic as the character thinks it is, [[MiseryPoker compared to other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

[[TropesAreTools But like all other good things, angst can be overdone or clumsily handled.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah" or "wank") is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]] attempts an {{epic fail}}ure at an AppealToPity, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast or event instead of, you know, trying to solve the problem and stop being depressed all the time. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the emokid on "Why haven't you kill yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across as nearly tragic as the character thinks it is, [[MiseryPoker compared to other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

[[TropesAreTools But like all other good things, angst can be overdone or clumsily handled.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah" or "wank") is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]] attempts an {{epic fail}}ure at an AppealToPity, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast or event instead of, you know, trying to solve the problem and stop being depressed all the time. Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across as nearly tragic as the character thinks it is, [[MiseryPoker compared to other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

[[TropesAreTools But like all other good things, angst can be overdone or clumsily handled.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah" or "wank") is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]] attempts an {{epic fail}}ure at an AppealToPity, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast or event instead of, you know, trying to solve the problem and stop being depressed all the time. Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across as nearly tragic as the character thinks it is, [[MiseryPoker compared to other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]