Line #30 Main/CoolButStupid


1	[[quoteright:300:[[ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/f14.png]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:[[TropeNamers Both are correct]].]]
3
4	->''"So, ten out of ten for style, but minus several million for good thinking, yeah?"''
5	-->-- '''Zaphod Beeblebrox''', ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy1''
6
7	The intersection of the sets "Stupid things" and "Awesome things", which, surprisingly, are non-disjoint sets. A field mainly occupied by the obsessions of 8-year-old boys, but one that can be surprisingly fertile for all that.
8
9	'''Examples should be confined to things that are acknowledged in-universe as being stupid or ridiculous, yet are treated as being [[MundaneMadeAwesome awesome]] or cool despite or because of this.'''
10
11	Differs from SoBadItsGood and SugarWiki/SoCoolItsAwesome by being the localized case; those apply to the whole show. See also AchievementsInIgnorance, a SisterTrope: when the "impossible" is achieved due to not knowing it's impossible; frequently, cases of Cool, but Stupid are acknowledged as being stupid, but carry on regardless "just to see what will happen". Compare AwesomeButImpractical.
12
13	----
14	!!Administrivia/InUniverseExamplesOnly
15
16	[[foldercontrol]]
17
18	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
19	* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'''s {{trope nam\|ers}}ing [[http://assets.amuniversal.com/7669e540784d01302116001dd8b71c47 example]]: Tyrannosaurs in [[AnachronismStew F14's!]]
20	--> '''Calvin:''' This is '''so''' cool!\
21	'''Hobbes:''' This is '''so''' stupid.
22	** And somehow also ''cute'', with fighter goggles on their small eyes.
23	[[/folder]]
24
25	[[folder:Fan Works]]
26	* In Creator/TeamFourStar's ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'' version of the [[Anime/DragonBallZBrolyTheLegendarySuperSaiyan Broly movie]], Vegeta has a mental crisis over how someone as cool as Broly can have [[DisappointedByTheMotive such a ridiculous motive for wanting to kill Goku]]. Incidentally, this seems to be the general fan consensus on the character, as well.
27	-->'''Vegeta:''' I don't know what's going on anymore. He's so cool, but he's so... goddamn dumb.\
28	'''Piccolo:''' Okay, Vegeta? While you're here having this "crisis", we're out there getting beaten to a bloody paste!\
29	'''Vegeta:''' But you don't understand! The Legendary Super Saiyan is motivated by a ''crying infant!'' He is a ''literal giant f**king BABY!!''
30	[[/folder]]
31
32	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
33	* Many of the things Jeremy Clarkson builds on ''Series/TopGearUK''. Past examples have included a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDlMLqdvHzI V8 powered blender]], a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COd5kAKac0U flamethrower mounted on a snowplough]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggROOCxcZZI modding a car so much it caught fire]]. Although May and Hammond once converted a Reliant Robin (very small plastic three wheeled car) into [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b4WzWFKQ20 a space shuttle]] (which exploded on takeoff because it couldn't properly detach from the rockets, but details). It is also their opinion of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagani_Zonda Pagani Zonda.]] The ''Series/TopGearUK'' equivalent of Cool But Stupid, frequently leveled as a judgment on their own projects, is "Ambitious but rubbish."
34	* Many a "carry the myth to its logical conclusion" test on ''Series/MythBusters''. Past examples include a car with dimples like a golf ball and a boat made out of duct tape.
35	-->'''Adam:''' I've just had one of those "what the hell are we doing" moments.
36	* In ''Series/HomeImprovement'', many of Tim Taylor's "improvements" on [[ShowWithinAShow Tool Time]]... such as a rocket-powered riding lawnmower.
37	[[/folder]]
38
39	[[folder:Music]]
40	* Music/TobyKeith said that he decided to record "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKZqGJONH68 Red Solo Cup]]" because it was both the stupidest and most awesome song he had ever heard.
41	[[/folder]]
42
43	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
44	* Flavor text from ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' suggests that most of the [[OurGnomesAreWeirder gnomes']] most brilliant inventions started with astoundingly dumb ideas. For instance, the Gnomish Magnetic Armor, which [[AntiMagic repels magical attacks]], was originally intended to repel metal debris on workroom floors.
45	* ''TabletopGame/GURPSUltraTech'' has the rocket striker. It's a swinging melee weapon ''with a rocket engine attached for extra power''. Yes, you read that right. May be either SoBadItsGood or just far too silly for the setting.
46	* ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'' has no such compunction, however, and will gladly introduce weapons like the bangstick, a truncheon (also available in staff and hammer) with a single-round shotgun chamber built into one end and an impact trigger. It sells like hotcakes because Rifts' Earth adventurers and mercenaries are stated in-universe to live and die by RuleOfCool, and many of them love the concept of being able to finish off the enemy by [[CherryTapping poking them with a stick]]. The funny part is, something basically similar ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powerhead_(firearm) really exists]]'' and is [[NotCompletelyUseless perfectly practical but highly situational.]]
47	* In the ''TabletopGame/MachoWomenWithGuns'' manual encounters chapter, the Warmechbots are explained as having dominated the battlefields for ages... until people realized what a dumb idea they were, got rid of them, and then tried to pretend they never existed.
48	* An odd case: There exists a Chess opening that runs counter to every bit of good chess strategy, known as the "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bongcloud_Attack Bongcloud Attack]]". It's widely considered cool ''because'' it's so stupid. Even Website/TheOtherWiki says it's named that way because you'd have to be high to consider using it.
49	* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': One of the main things hindering the Orks as a fighting force is that the Orks themselves tend to make equipment decisions based not on effectiveness or battlefield role but by key Orkish virtues like [[{{BFG}} size]], [[BangBangBANG volume]], number of tactically useless but entertaining dangly bitz, whether the previous owner's head is nailed to the side and so on. Entire squads wield weapons made from other people's weapons bolted together, the "tankhammer" anti-armour melee weapon consists of an anti-tank missile crudely welded to the end of a metal pole, their smaller walkers consist of orks and gretchin being nailed into [[ArmoredCoffins walking death cans]] because the Mek felt like it that day, their jump troops strap themselves to badly made rocket packs and go barrelling through the air, their pilots consider slowing down ''while landing'' to be an admission of cowardice and so on. Every other major spacefaring species considers Ork technology stupid, crude, and [[SuccessThroughInsanity surprisingly effective]], because the Orks' gestalt psychic field makes the stuff that they think is cool more dangerous, no matter how stupid it may be...which is why {{Space Marine}}s, the elite bio-augmented space knights of the Imperium of Man, still know to be careful around them, because no matter how elite or bio-augmented you are, an anti-tank missile on a stick being swung directly at your crotch is going to give you a rough day.
50	[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:Video Games]]
53	* The Civilopedia, the in-game encyclopedia of the ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' series, has this opinion (quite vocally) about HumongousMecha. In Civ 5, it admits flat-out that mecha are [[AwesomeButImpractical deadly, but completely inefficient]], far too vulnerable to the enemy, [[MundaneSolution and could be outdone]] by [[TankGoodness chopping off the legs and putting the rest of it on treads]]. But they're ''[[RuleOfCool just too cool]]'' to not have.
54	%%%%%%%%%%%% Not only is this Zero Context, it is not in-universe.
55	%%%%%%%%* This is the premise of VideoGame/GoatSimulator.
56	* ''VideoGame/HorizonForbiddenWest'': In the ''Burning Shores'' DLC, Aloy and Seyka explore an abandoned theme park based on an in-universe movie series called Pangaea. At one point, the two come across a hologram depicting an apparent scene from one of the movies, where a squad of soldiers has a last stand against a pair of ''Tyrannosaurs rexes''. Seyka says that it's ridiculous but also kind of awesome.
57	* [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'', by [[CloudCuckoolander Demyx]].
58	-->You ever get the urge to just do something stupid... and AWESOME?\
59	[[OhCrap Wait, wait... I'm getting an idea]]... [[AntiClimax Nope, it's gone]].
60	[[/folder]]
61
62	[[folder:Web Animation]]
63	* [[WebAnimation/PonyDotMov SWAG.MOV]]'s climactic battle [[spoiler:between a {{Kaiju}}-sized Rainbow Dash and Discord]]. The FreezeFrameBonus in this scene reads, "THIS IS SO FUCKING RETARDED OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M ANIMATING THIS".
64	* The UrbanLegend of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JATO_Rocket_Car the Rocket Car]], one of the earliest Website/DarwinAwards: someone attaching a Jet-Assisted Take-Off rocket to the roof of his car and driving in a straight line until he hit a cliff.
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	[[folder:Webcomics]]
68	* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'':
69	** The AltText for [[http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/20p67 this strip]] (in which Doc focuses his energy to fight ghosts by humming the ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' theme) reads, "Very stupid ideas taken very seriously. Dr. [=McNinja=]."
70	** The Radical Lands are literally ''made'' of this. Inhabitants include winged sharks and octopuses, muscle-bound gun-toting dinosaur people, flying tattoo needles, helicopter-head ents, a centaur-werewolf hybrid, a bipedal unicorn tyrant, and way too many creatures with CoolShades. It is implied that Dr Mcninja's dimension is in between the "boring" real world and the Radical Lands, and is therefore a balanced WorldOfWeirdness as opposed to the full-blown WorldOfChaos that is the Radical Lands.
71	* ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'':
72	** Sword-chucks -- that's nunchucks made out of swords; they're even stupider than they sound. Every character except their inventor is fully aware of how completely idiotic this is, but they end up working perfectly.
73	** In a guest comic, Fighter even makes staff-chucks to cast spells with. They're considered even more ridiculous and turn out to spray destructive magic uncontrollably when used. Since he made them as a gift for [[HeroicComedicSociopath Black Mage]], it all works out.
74	* In ''Webcomic/KnightsOfBuenaVista'', this is how Mary feels about watching a Creator/MichaelBay movie.
75	-->'''Mary:''' I ''know'' his movies are really stupid. That's ''WHY'' I like them.
76	[[/folder]]
77
78	[[folder:Web Original]]
79	* Many of the questions asked on ''Blog/WhatIf'' (e.g. Using eagles to deliver pizza to plane passengers in flight.) are this. In fact the conclusion reached at the end of each answer is often either this, the world being annihilated, or some combination of the two.
80	-->'''Randall (On the feasibility of siphoning Europa's oceans.):''' No, but I like where you're going with this.
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Web Videos]]
84	* In ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'''s review of ''ComicBook/{{Brute Force\|MarvelComics}}'', Linkara acknowledges this about the comic.
85	* ''WebVideo/HonestTrailers'': This is the Narrator's opinion of ''Film/PacificRim''. He dubs it "either ''The Most Awesome Dumb Movie Ever Made'' or ''The Dumbest Awesome Movie Ever Made''."
86	-->'''Narrator:''' Let's be honest, that movie was super dumb. But I still cannot wait for the sequel!
87	* Brand in ''WebVideo/MidnightScreenings'' felt that ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction'' worked better than the other films due to being just stupid enough to avoid pissing him off, and having the cool aspects that he enjoyed in other Creator/MichaelBay films.
88	* In the ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'' version of the first Broly movie, Vegeta's HeroicBSOD turns out to be a result of him realizing that while Broly's Legendary Super Saiyan form is "so cool", the reason for this transformation (Broly hating Goku because he had to endure three hours of his crying when they were babies) is "so dumb".
89	[[/folder]]
90
91	[[folder:Western Animation]]
92	* The Martians of ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' destroyed their own civilization and worked themselves to extinction to turn Mars into a workable space-craft (except, of course, that upon completion there was no-one left to drive it). Why? ''Because it was cool.''
93	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheDragonPrince'', Soren is the first to acknowledge how dangerous his zipline is, but he, Ezran, and Rayla genuinely enjoy themselves.
94	[[/folder]]

Context Main / CoolButStupid