History SchmuckBait / NewMedia

* [[WikiWalk Links to wiki sites]]. [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife This one included]].
* ''Website/{{Neopets}}'' has the [[http://www.neopets.com/space/strangelever.phtml Lever of Doom]]. The text reads "There's a strange lever sticking out of the space station wall, with a notice that reads, 'DO NOT PULL'. So you probably shouldn't pull the lever. You can if you want. But you shouldn't." The link reads "Pull the lever anyway". When you inevitably do? [[spoiler: "Oh no!! An evil mechanical hand emerges from a panel and steals 100 Neopoints from you!!"]] The worst part is that it's Schmuck Bait with a purpose -- there's a teeny-weeny chance that you'll be granted an exclusive avatar when you push the button. Users have been known to blow 80,000 Neopoints -- 800 pulls -- or more getting it, the lever laughing at them the whole time.
* Any site that has a link featured on [[http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com Webpages That Suck.]] The name says it all.
* The UK Creator/CartoonNetwork website had a large red button featured in the top banner that said "DO NOT PRESS". It was also introduced in the site's homepage intro "Just don't push the big red button". Cue an arrow pointing to it.
* The website for ''Series/MyParentsAreAliens'' also had a button in its side menu which when you rolled over it highlighted in red and a voice said "Do not press" (and was labeled accordingly). The question is, what did happen if you pressed it?
* One of the random boxes in Warehouse 23 contains a laptop that, when picked up, types the message "Do you want to continue? Y/N" Choosing "yes" just makes the screen go black until you futz with it again. Choosing "no" results in... your heart stopping. Well, you did say you didn't want to continue...
* For one day Twitter was cannibalized by a "Don't Click" hack that, upon clicking a button, sent a Tweet to your followers with the link to the button and a "Don't Click" warning. ([[http://dsandler.org/wp/archives/2009/02/12/dontclick Read all about it.]])
* From Wiki/{{Uncyclopedia}}: [[http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Do_NOT_click_any_links! Do NOT click any links!]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HutsJufp0po This YouTube link is a not Rick Roll.]] The bait here being that you avoid the link because you're told it's not a rick roll...
** Conversely [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ this video is one.]] (Am I BriarPatching you or not?)
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNt4ZHVTqJY This YouTube link]], however, most certainly is not a Rick Roll.
** Nor is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJPE1Z63JQU this one]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8_v_3YUVWs This YouTube video]] could qualify as schmuck bait.
* {{Shock Site}}s in general.
** [[ScreamerPrank Screamers]] in general as well.
* Those who believe in the MagicalComputer are prone to this kind of error: [[http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Do-not-run-this-script,-ever!.aspx Do not run this script, ever!]] Shorter semi-example: [[http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/The_Forbidden_Parameter.aspx The Forbidden Parameter]]. "Do not edit this Configuration file by Hand!" or for VideoGame/Warcraft3-Savefiles something akin of "Hackers, do not play around with this file."
* A practical joke that had a switch conveniently labeled [[http://catb.org/jargon/html/magic-story.html "Magic/More Magic"]] would "magically" crash the computer it was attached to if it was switched from "More Magic" to "Magic". It wasn't ''supposed'' to do anything-- the switch was completely inoperative. And yet, every time it was set to "Magic"... Maybe it won't crash the computer ''this'' time.
* The ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'' games forum had a thread titled "Post here and be banned". Everyone who posted in the thread (except the founder) was banned. After a point, anyone who posted was ''permanently'' banned.
* Website/FourChan's /b/ board had a similar thread, with the site's founder and former admin, moot, taunting the /b/-tards to post in the thread and be banned. They were. Amusingly enough, moot himself posted in the thread to laugh at the shmucks who had taken the shmuck bait... [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Only to be banned himself]].
** An old AprilFoolsDay joke had 4chan temporarily put up the board [[UsefulNotes/FurryFandom /fur/]]. At first, users were wary of posting due to the site's well-known stance on furry characters and their fans... but the board was up for ''days'', which made it look like a permanent addition. True to form, /fur/ went down after a few days and everyone who posted in it was permabanned.
** The site temporarily blocked /b/ to outsiders by making the page a completely black screen offering the advice "Press Alt+F4 or Ctrl+W to view board." As any well-versed computer user would know, Alt+F4 and Ctrl+W are [[spoiler:"close window" and "close tab",]] respectively.
* The Facepunch forums have Idot Culls semi-regularly, which often consist of an admin or moderator creating a thread with an OP something along the lines of "do not post in here or you will be banned" or some other very specific instructions with a clear threat. If you do post in it you get permabanned but that doesn't stop idiots from doing it anyway, hence the name "idiot cull".
* [[Wiki/TVTropes The TV Tropes Wiki]] has its share of Schmuck Bait:
** Think very carefully before clicking on an external link. Especially on the JustForFun/{{Rickroll}} or EarWorm articles.
** Likewise, many of the external links on the NightmareFuel and UncannyValley pages are invitations for a creep-out.
** This very wiki is often this trope when linked from other sites. See TVTropesWillRuinYourLife below.
** If you see an image link on a page like PantyShot or OfCorsetsSexy, don't click it if you're [[{{NSFW}} at work]].
* ''Pixie MUD'' had "This is the Line of Death. You cross it, you die." Yes, players crossed it. Yes, they died. And just to rub it in, the MUD promptly announced it to all online players.
* Would anyone like to guess what going to "[[PressXToDie about:inducebrowsercrashforrealz]]" does in Google Chrome? [[spoiler:ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin]]
* Any forum thread titled "CONVINCE ME GOD EXISTS AND I WILL BELIEVE!" is Schmuck Bait for extremists on either side of religious debates to bicker endlessly and come off sounding like idiots.
** Generally, any strongly-worded religious or political meme exists as Schmuck Bait to bring out the trolls on both sides. Post one on your Facebook wall and [[HilarityEnsues just how big a fight you can start among your closest friends and family]].
* On the Website/SomethingAwful forums, anyone who posts a thread is explicitly warned not to use one of the three "Mod-only" tags. Anyone who chooses to ignore this is automatically banned, and the reason for said banning is "Breaking the rules with a *adjective* thread!" To further drive the point home, one of the mod-only tags says "Ban Me"--and yet people still do this. (For extra schmuckiness, it costs $10 to register on the forums, and a regular ban or autoban enables you to re-register... but you have to pay another $10 to do so, plus any custom titles, platinum status, etc., that your pre-banned account might have had if you see fit to do so.) As of this writing, there have been about 17,800 total bans in the last six years or so (normal bans, autobans and permabans); 3554 of those bans have been autobans.
** One "Ban Me" threads has a list of rules within it, and will instaban anyone that breaks them, [[DisproportionateRetribution even though all of them are pointless]] (i.e. no one is allowed to post pictures of Gary Busey). Another one instabans any regular user that posts in it, no exceptions. Naturally, both of these are options for anyone that [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere wants nothing more to do with the website]]; everyone else better have that $10 on hand.
* It's rather common on auction sites for someone to put up the box of the console (Xbox or [=PS3=]) for auction-just the box, nothing else inside it (such as, say, the game console). They'll even clearly state in the writeup that there's no Xbox inside, but every time a herd of bozos will invariably bid on it, then the winner gets all angry afterwards once the realize what they actually bid on.
** Most often, however, the fact that it's only a box, while stated plainly, is buried in a wall of text. But in any case, if a complaint is filed then most auction sites will side with the buyer because such listings are clearly intended to deceive prospective bidders.
*** One ad [[InvertedTrope inverted the trope]], selling an Xbox 360 with everything ''except'' the box. [[http://kotaku.com/145033/dad-replaces-bad-kids-360-with-coal?tag=gamingchristmasspirit Here's an article about it.]]
** Similarly, some textbooks come with a smaller book that's an answer key or study guide. This study guide has the same ISBN and edition number as the textbook, so students buying used textbooks online should be careful.
** This is done with Tarot decks and similar "box of items with book" sets. The book has the same UPC code on it as the kit, so it's not their fault you didn't specify. Sure.
** And a book's first paperback edition is still technically a first edition.
* Anything that says "Do not look up Goatse" or "Do not look up 2 Girls 1 Cup"!
** Don't go to lemonparty.org, either.
* Reading the comments on the game "Flight" on Kongregate, about half of them are warning against throwing the plane backwards. The other half, naturally, are people commenting about what happened when they do.
* [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} That Other Wiki]] has made it official policy [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:DDMP not to delete the front page]]. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_stocks#Maxim_for_the_.22Doesn.27t_do_anything_anyway.22_award The incident]] that is why they have this policy is a prime example.
* ''Podcast/{{Jemjammer}}'': The suits of armour in Spider Chateau. Jylliana predicts that they'll activate when the party passes their line of site. When Grak tosses a rock past them they attack, and Jylliana and Cacophony high-five.
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** Think very carefully before clicking on an external link. Especially on the {{Rickroll}} or EarWorm articles.

** An old AprilFoolsDay joke had 4chan temporarily put up the board [[FurryFandom /fur/]]. At first, users were wary of posting due to the site's well-known stance on furry characters and their fans... but the board was up for ''days'', which made it look like a permanent addition. True to form, /fur/ went down after a few days and everyone who posted in it was permabanned.

* Website/FourChan's /b/ board had a similar thread, with the site's founder and admin, moot, taunting the /b/-tards to post in the thread and be banned. They were. Amusingly enough, moot himself posted in the thread to laugh at the shmucks who had taken the shmuck bait... [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Only to be banned himself]].

* Recently, 4chan blocked the random board to outsiders by making the page a completely black screen offering the advice "Press Alt+F4 or Ctrl+W to view board." As any well-versed computer user would know, Alt+F4 and Ctrl+W are [[spoiler:"close window" and "close tab",]] respectively.

* Those who believe in the MagicalComputer are prone to this kind of error: [[http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Do-not-run-this-script,-ever!.aspx Do not run this script, ever!]] Shorter semi-example: [[http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/The_Forbidden_Parameter.aspx The Forbidden Parameter]]. "Do not edit this Configuration file by Hand!" or for Warcraft3-Savefiles something akin of "Hackers, do not play around with this file."

* It's rather common on auction sites for someone to put up the box of the console (XBox or [=PS3=]) for auction-just the box, nothing else inside it (such as, say, the game console). They'll even clearly state in the writeup that there's no Xbox inside, but every time a herd of bozos will invariably bid on it, then the winner gets all angry afterwards once the realize what they actually bid on.

* ''Franchise/{{Neopets}}'' has the [[http://www.neopets.com/space/strangelever.phtml Lever of Doom]]. The text reads "There's a strange lever sticking out of the space station wall, with a notice that reads, 'DO NOT PULL'. So you probably shouldn't pull the lever. You can if you want. But you shouldn't." The link reads "Pull the lever anyway". When you inevitably do? [[spoiler: "Oh no!! An evil mechanical hand emerges from a panel and steals 100 Neopoints from you!!"]] The worst part is that it's Schmuck Bait with a purpose -- there's a teeny-weeny chance that you'll be granted an exclusive avatar when you push the button. Users have been known to blow 80,000 Neopoints -- 800 pulls -- or more getting it, the lever laughing at them the whole time.

** [[NightmareFuel Screamers]] in general as well.

* [[ImageBoards 4chan's "/b/" imageboard]] had a similar thread, with the site's founder and admin, Moot, taunting the /b/-tards to post in the thread and be banned. They were. Amusingly enough, Moot himself posted in the thread to laugh at the shmucks who had taken the shmuck bait... [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Only to be banned himself]].

** One "Ban Me" threads has a list of rules within it, and will instaban anyone that breaks them, [[DisproportionateRetribution even though all of them are pointless]] (i.e. no one is allowed to post pictures of Gary Busey). Another one instabans any regular user that posts in it, no exceptions. Naturally, both of these are options for anyone that [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere wants nothing more to do with the website]].

** One "Ban Me" threads has a list of rules within it, and will instaban anyone that breaks them, [[DisproportinateRetribution even though all of them are pointless]] (i.e. no one is allowed to post pictures of Gary Busey). Another one instabans any regular user that posts in it, no exceptions. Naturally, both of these are options for anyone that [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere wants nothing more to do with the website]].

** One "Ban Me" threads has a list of rules within it, and will instaban anyone that breaks them, [[DisporportinateRetribution even though all of them are pointless]] (i.e. no one is allowed to post pictures of Gary Busey). Another one instabans any regular user that posts in it, no exceptions. Naturally, both of these are options for anyone that [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere wants nothing more to do with the website]].

* [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} That Other Wiki]] has made it official policy [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:DDMP not to delete the front page]]. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_stocks#Maxim_for_the_.22what_does_this_button_do.3F.22_award The incident]] that is why they have this policy is a prime example.

** If you see an image link on a page like BlackBraAndPanties or OfCorsetsSexy, don't click it if you're [[{{NSFW}} at work]].

* The website for ''MyParentsAreAliens'' also had a button in its side menu which when you rolled over it highlighted in red and a voice said "Do not press" (and was labeled accordingly). The question is, what did happen if you pressed it?

* The TV Tropes Wiki has its share of Schmuck Bait:
** Every single external link on the EarWorm pages is an invitation to get a song stuck in your head.