History Main / WhatMeasureIsAMook

** A ''ComicBook/StarWarsAdventures'' story escalates this with WhatMeasureIsANonHuman. The comic "Roger Roger" features B1-0516, who starts off as just another B1 battle droid among the millions deployed and destroyed en masse, but who accidentally gains a conscience when a stray deflected blaster bolt shorts out his obedience chip and causes his independent personality programming to take over in an attempt to keep the robot body running. Fortunately for 0516, the first people he runs into are Obi-Wan and Rex, who hold off long enough to not immediately dispatch him since he behaves not as just another combat robot, but a full feature droid with a personality. It's just too bad that the personality is ever so slightly AxCrazy, as when 0516 is recaptured by the Separatists in order to dismantle and analyze his newfound personality, [[GrievousHarmWithABody he promptly attacks another B1 battle droid and snaps off its arm, using said arm to bludgeon everyone around him]]. Only once he demonstrates this rebellious, individual behavior does 0516 [[AndroidsArePeopleToo get treated as a full person]], including the granting of a name--in this case, [[MeaningfullName Bats]]. Obi-Wan actually comes to Bats' rescue, something that clearly does not happen for other non-individual droids in the setting, [[PityTheKidnapper much to the relief of the tactical droid Bats is beating up]].

* One of the many ''Franchise/StarWars'' comic series, called ''Empire'', focuses on the Empire's side of the conflict against the Rebels. One of the main characters is an up and comer in the Empire who gets mocked because he cares about the lives of each and every Stormtrooper.

This is generally done intentionally. A primary antagonist, even if their face is somehow concealed, will likely have a very distinctive appearance and a considerable amount of dialogue. However, mooks are often [[CloningBlues clones]] or [[FacelessGoons wear masks]] (perhaps even both), and consequently have very little [[SortingAlgorithmOfMortality chance of surviving]] an encounter with the hero.

-->--'''Emela''', ''VideoGame/MARDEK''

->'''Vesper Lynd:''' It doesn't bother you, killing those people?\\
'''Film/JamesBond:''' I wouldn't be very good at my job if it did.
-->-- ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006''

** Similarly averted in the main series, when it's revealed that [[spoiler:Dr. Gero's hatred of Goku stems from [[YouKilledMyFather his son being one of the countless soldier's killed during the latter's raid on Red Ribbon HQ as a child. While ''[[UnintentionalFinalMessage recording a video message for Gero]]'', no less]].

** Similarly averted in the main series, when it's revealed that [[spoiler:Dr. Gero's hatred of Goku stems from [[YouKilledMyFather his son being one of the countless soldier's killed during the latter's raid on Red Ribbon HQ as a child]].]]

* Cruelly averted in ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'''s rendition of ''Anime/DragonBallZTheWorldsStrongest'' with the Bio-Warriors. In this version, contrary to the evil mooks they were in their original movie, they were designed as friendly creatures supposed to help people, before Kochin turned them (probably against their will) into living weapons. [[AlasPoorVillain Their death is even a surprisingly solemn (and sad) moment.]]
--> '''Wheelo''': "Wait! Can they all talk?"
--> '''Kochin''': "Of course! They're completely sentient."
--> '''Bulb-Blub''': [[AlasPoorVillain "I need a hug..."]]
--> '''Kochin''': "With their own wants and needs... And a crippling fear of death!"
--> '''Blub-Blub''': [[ImColdSoCold "So dark... And cold..."]] ''[[{{Tearjerker}} (starts sobbing)]]''
--> '''[[ForcedToWatch Wheelo]]''': [[{{Tearjerker}} "Blub-Blub... No..."]]

''WebVideo/SwordArtOnlineAbridged'': Episode 16 turns it into a RunningGag after a Salamander sends his pet bat to spy on Leafa and Kirito. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gIXoaB-Jik&t=205s When the bat gets spotted...]]

* ''Fanfic/VowOfNudity'': Largely averted with Haara, who defaults to nonlethal damage when fighting anyone, including nameless mooks. Though she will kill occasionally, especially if a fight forces her to use unconventional tactics (like environmental manipulation or her ''produce flame'' spell) that give her less control than she has with her fists.

* Inverted in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13299443/1/Departure-from-the-Diary Departure from the Diary]]''. Harry takes cruel satisfaction from Tamelyn murdering Aunt Marge but is horrified when she does the same to a future rapist, even asking her if "Several prevented rapes are worth a murder".

** Additionally, they are the person who can order the enemy to surrender to you, which might be useful to keep as an option.

* In the most recent {{Wolverine}} comics, one issue explores the background of a female Hand ninja, known best for being Marvel's go-to mooks for stories set in Japan. The ninja dies early on during one of Logan's frequent rampages. The Hand brings her back to life only to serve as the human equivalent of a broodmare. She refuses and instead joins the Right Red Hand, a group of people who blame Logan for ruining their lives.

[-[[caption-width-right:330:[[Film/StreetFighter For you,]] the day Mario graced your level was the most important day of your life... [[ButForMeItWasTuesday but for me, it was an opening stage.]]]]-]

* Deconstructed in ''Fanfic/TheDaysOfReckoningAreUponUs'', a recurring point brought up is that Steve and Natasha [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier dumping all of SHIELD's files on the internet]] led to a lot of agents and their families getting killed due to their identities being compromised. Likewise, Steve and his allies are ripped a new one over the cops they killed who were just trying to do their jobs and [[Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar arrest a potential terrorist (Bucky).]]

''He wasn't sure.''

* ''Fables'' loves to subvert this. We see bits and pieces of the [[BigBad Emperor's]] forces, background, interests, beliefs... Boy Blue [[spoiler: while he is sneaking through the Empire]] gives the goblins he questions the chance to surrender when he confronts them [[spoiler:since he just wants information]]. (Not his fault they kept attacking him.)

* {{Justified}} in ''TabletopGame/PrincessTheHopeful'', where it is explicitly stated that with the exception of the {{VampireRefugee Darkened}} (who have not yet been fully corrupted and can fight off the Taint if they get their [[KarmaMeter Integrity]] high enough), the various minions of the Darkness are AlwaysChaoticEvil, bereft of any redeeming qualities and can and should be killed without a qualm.