History PlayingWith / FeedTheMole

* '''Justified''':
** The information is laid out carefully so that Bob is convincingly fooled and the information itself is plausible to the enemy and the audience.

** Alice knows for certain that Evulz has planted a spy on her team, and has narrowed the suspects down to Bob, Carol, or Dylan, but she still isn't sure which of them are the spy. To find out, she contacts each of them individually and trust them with a different bit of intelligence. By gauging Evulz's reaction, she finds out that the spy is Bob.

** Dylan, the actual mole, knew that Alice was his trail, and so he exploited the fact Bob trusted him implicitly into making him share the information Alice told him, and he then used it to frame Bob with.

** Dylan, the actual mole, knew that Alice was his trail, and so he exploited the fact Bob trusted him implicitly into making him share the information Alice told him, and he then use it to frame Bob with.

** Bob actually wasn't a mole. In fact, Dylan, the actual mole, knew that Alice was his trail, and so he exploited the fact Bob trusted him implicitly into making him share the information Alice told him, and he then use it to frame Bob with.

* '''Straight''': Bob pretends to be on Alice's side, but [[TheMole he's really working for]] [[BigBad Emperor Evulz]], and is giving him information. [[GuileHero Alice]] figures out that Bob's TheMole, but instead of exposing him, she doesn't let him know she knows and gives him false information. Evulz receives the information and acts on it, which is exactly what Alice wanted him to do. Because of this, Evulz either falls into a trap or has his position compromised.

** Alice leaves the high command door open, Bob 'discovers' a treasure trove of information, and all of it is fed back to the enemy. Acting on it results in their massacre.

** Bob actually wasn't a mole.

* '''Double Subverted''': [
** [KansasCityShuffle Alice counted on Bob figuring this out and arranges matters so that Bob, coming back for the true information, takes more bogus information without realizing it]].

* '''Subverted''': Bob realises on his way to the Evulz that the information is bogus, and drops it.
* '''Double Subverted''': [[KansasCityShuffle Alice counted on Bob figuring this out and arranges matters so that Bob, coming back for the true information, takes more bogus information without realizing it]].

** [[GenreSavvy Bob]]: "False information again? ThisIsGonnaSuck."

* '''Defied''': [[GenreSavvy Bob]] realises that the Alice is tricking him, and looks elsewhere for information, or tries a counter-ploy.

* '''Implied''': Bob gives information on the positions of Alice's army to Evulz. Evulz then proceeds to tactically screw up the battle, as if he didn't know where Alice's army was going to be.

* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': Bob accepting the false information makes way for a WhatAnIdiot moment.

* '''Straight''': Bob pretends to be on Alice's side, but [[TheMole he's really working for]] [[BigBad Emperor Evulz]], and is giving him information. [[GuileHero Alice]] figures out that Bob's TheMole, but instead of exposing him, she doesn't let him know she knows, and gives him false information. Evulz receives the information and acts on it, which is exactly what Alice wanted him to do. Because of this, Evulz either falls into a trap or has his position compromised.

** The information is laid out carefully, so that Bob is convincingly fooled and the information itself is plausible to the enemy and the audience.

** We see a binder labeled [[VisualPun "Purina Mole Chow"]]. Alice gives it to Bob, who happily accepts it (along with any feeble excuse she gives as to why it's labled that) and carries it over to Emperor Evulz.

* '''Enforced''': "We need to show that Alice is a GuileHero, and that Bob is not half the ManipulativeBastard [[SmugSnake he thinks he is]]. Why not have Alice discover that he's TheMole and manipulate him into giving false information to Emperor Evulz?"

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%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
%%* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': ???
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???

* '''Double Subverted''': Alice counted on Bob figuring this out and arranges matters so that Bob, coming back for the true information, takes more bogus information without realizing it.

* '''Conversed''': A fanboy goes on about a 'trick he saw in a show' which turns out to be FeedTheMole.

** The deception turns out to be necessary, even beneficial, as it prevented an atrocity from being committed. Or the Alex morally justifies his or her use of the deception.

'''Basic Trope''': One character deliberately feeds false information to TheMole, either to expose it or to trick the enemy.
* '''Straight''': [[GuileHero Alex]] knows who [[TheMole Bob]] is, but gives him false information. The [[BigBad Emperor Evulz]] receives the information and acts on it, but falls into a trap or has their position compromised.

** Alex leaves the high command door open, Bob 'discovers' a treasure trove of information, and all of it is fed back to the enemy. Acting on it results in their massacre.
** Bob [[PlayingBothSides tries to manipulate both Alex and Evulz]] by selling out information between them, yet both of them now this and [[ReliableTraitor only tell him what they want the other side to know]].
* '''Downplayed''': Use along with ExactWords. Alex gives Bob misleading yet true information.

** Bob chooses to become a DoubleAgent.

* '''Subverted''': Bob realises on his or her way to the Evulz that the information is bogus, and drops it.
* '''Double Subverted''': The Alex counted on Bob figuring this out and arranges matters so that Bob, coming back for the true information, takes more bogus information without realizing it.

** Alex is so obviously giving false information that Bob figures it out immediately, but lets himself or herself be 'fooled' anyway because he wants to get one over Evulz [[ItAmusedMe for amusement]].
** We see a binder labeled [[VisualPun "Purina Mole Chow"]].
* '''Zig Zagged''': The success of the FeedTheMole tactic varies so wildly that at times the Alex and Bob seem inconsistent in their behavior.
* '''Averted''': No one uses the tactic at all.
* '''Enforced''': ExecutiveMeddling and/or the authors: "We have Bob, but the character's not doing anything. Why don't we show how brilliant Alex is by having him manipulate Bob?"

** Alex: "Why doesn't that guy even notice it's just false information?" or "I can't believe that actually worked. So many things could have gone wrong!"
* '''Invoked''': Alice a ReverseMole in the favour of the BigBad persuades the BigBad to send Bob, at least in part so that the Alex can make use of this trope.

* '''Defied''': [[GenreSavvy Bob]] realises that the Alex is tricking him or her, and looks elsewhere for information, or tries a counter-ploy.
* '''Discussed''': GenreSavvy Characters fear a Mole in their midst and one recommends this tactic.

** A character calls out the Alex on using deception in such a way, arguing that it makes them no more endearing to their enemies and may be used by them to justify future retribution.

* '''Implied''': Bob gives information to Evulz, yet Evulz loses the battle. Its implied, but not stated outright, that the information was lies.

%%

* '''Straight''': [[GuileHero Alex]] knows who [[TheMole Bob]] is, but gives him false information. The [[BigBad Emperor Evulz]] the information and acts on it, but falls into a trap or has their position compromised.

* '''Inverted''': ??

* '''Defied''': [[GenreSavvy Bob]] realises that the ALex is tricking him or her, and looks elsewhere for information, or tries a counter-ploy.

** Bob [[PlayingBothSides tries to manipulate both Alex and Evulz]] by selling out information between them, yet both of them now this and [[ReliableTraitor only tell him what they want the other side to now]].

* '''Straight''': GuileHero knows who TheMole is, but gives TheMole false information. The BigBad / TheRival receives the information and acts on it, but falls into a trap or has their position compromised.
* '''Exaggerated''': GuileHero leaves the high command door open, TheMole 'discovers' a treasure trove of information, and all of it is fed back to the enemy. Acting on it results in their massacre.
* '''Downplayed''': Use along with ExactWords. GuileHero gives TheMole misleading yet true information.

** The information is laid out carefully, so that TheMole is convincingly fooled and the information itself is plausible to the enemy and the audience.
** TheMole chooses to become a DoubleAgent.
* '''Inverted''':
** TheMole tricks the GuileHero into acting on false information.
** Alternatively, the ReverseMole is fed bad info by the villain.
* '''Subverted''': TheMole realises on his or her way to the BigBad that the information is bogus, and drops it.
* '''Double Subverted''': The GuileHero counted on TheMole figuring this out and arranges matters so that TheMole, coming back for the true information, takes more bogus information without realising it.

** GuileHero is so obviously giving false information that TheMole figures it out immediately, but lets himself or herself be 'fooled' anyway because he wants to get one over the BigBad ForTheLulz.

* '''Zig Zagged''': The success of the FeedTheMole tactic varies so wildly that at times the GuileHero and TheMole seem inconsistent in their behaviour.

* '''Enforced''': ExecutiveMeddling and/or the authors: "We have TheMole, but the character's not doing anything. Why don't we show how brilliant Character X is by having him/her/it/them/pronoun of choice ''manipulate'' TheMole?"

** GenreSavvy [[TheMole Mole]]: "False information again? ThisIsGonnaSuck."
** Alternatively, GuileHero: "Why doesn't that guy even notice it's just false information?" or "I can't believe that actually worked. So many things could have gone wrong!"
* '''Invoked''': A ReverseMole in the favour of the BigBad persuades the BigBad to send in TheMole, at least in part so that the GuileHero can make use of this trope.

* '''Defied''': A GenreSavvy [[TheMole Mole]] realises that the GuileHero is tricking him or her, and looks elsewhere for information, or tries a counter-ploy.

** A character calls out the GuileHero on using deception in such a way, arguing that it makes them no more endearing to their enemies and may be used by them to justify future retribution.
** Alternatively, the trick enrages the BigBad and TheMole suffers as a result.

** The deception turns out to be necessary, even beneficial, as it prevented an atrocity from being committed. Or the GuileHero morally justifies his or her use of the deception.
** Alternatively, TheMole reconsiders his or her position and joins the heroes in a HeelFaceTurn.

%%* '''Implied''': ???

* '''Parodied''': GuileHero is so obviously giving false information that TheMole figures it out immediately, but lets himself or herself be 'fooled' anyway because he wants to get one over the BigBad ForTheLulz.
** We see a binder labeled "Purina Mole Chow".

* '''Deconstructed''':
** A character calls out the GuileHero on using deception in such a way, arguing that it makes them no more endearing to their enemies and may be used by them to justify future retribution.
** Alternatively, the trick enrages the BigBad and TheMole suffers as a result.
* '''Reconstructed''':
** The deception turns out to be necessary, even beneficial, as it prevented an atrocity from being committed. Or the GuileHero morally justifies his or her use of the deception.
** Alternatively, TheMole reconsiders his or her position and joins the heroes in a HeelFaceTurn.

Back to FeedTheMole.

* '''Justified''': The information is laid out carefully, so that TheMole is convincingly fooled and the information itself is plausible to the enemy and the audience.

* '''Inverted''': TheMole tricks the GuileHero into acting on false information.

* '''Deconstructed''': A character calls out the GuileHero on using deception in such a way, arguing that it makes them no more endearing to their enemies and may be used by them to justify future retribution.

* '''Reconstructed''': The deception turns out to be necessary, even beneficial, as it prevented an atrocity from being committed. Or the GuileHero morally justifies his or her use of the deception.

* '''Lampshaded''': GenreSavvy [[TheMole Mole]]: "False information again? ThisIsGonnaSuck."

** The ReverseMole is fed bad info by the villain.

* '''Discussed''': GenreSavvy Characters fear a mole in their midst and one recommends this tactic.

** Alternatively, FeedTheReverseMole.

** Alternatively, Feed The Reverse Mole.

* '''Defied''': A GenreSavvy TheMole realises that the GuileHero is tricking him or her, and looks elsewhere for information, or tries a counter-ploy.

* '''Enforced''': Executive Meddling and/or the authors: "We have TheMole, but the character's not doing anything. Why don't we show how brilliant Character X is by having him/her/it/pronoun of choice ''manipulate'' TheMole?"

* '''Invoked''': A GenreSavvy Character says; "Trick the enemy into sending in a mole. We'll do the rest."
* '''Exploited''': A GenreSavvy BigBad counts on this, and uses TheMole as a decoy to distract the GuileHero.
* '''Defied''': A GenreSavvy TheMole assumes at the outset or realises that the GuileHero is tricking him or her, and looks elsewhere for information, or tries to foil the plan.