Line #12 Main/ExcuseOfAnIndex


1	Here are tropes which deal with characters making all kinds of excuses or justifications for doing certain things or avoiding situations.
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3	!!Tropes:
4	[floatboxright:
5	See also:
6	+ LogicalFallacies
7	]
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9	* AgainstMyReligion: Refusing to do something with the excuse that it doesn't follow the teachings of your religion.
10	* AppealToInherentNature: Excusing horrific actions with the reasoning that it is normal for you to do such actions.
11	* AtLeastIAdmitIt: A person who calls out another person for wrongdoing is themselves no saint, but excuses that they at least don't deny or lie about their misdeeds.
12	* BadMoodAsAnExcuse: A character gets into a bad mood and berates everyone.
13	* BathroomSearchExcuse: Using a bathroom break as an excuse to snoop.
14	* BecauseISaidSo: Coercing someone into following orders by stressing that you gave the order and that they must do as you say.
15	* BlamingTheTools: Claiming that one's tools are defective as an excuse for incompetence.
16	* BystanderSyndrome: Refusing to help someone in need in spite of being in a position to help on the basis that the person's misfortune does not affect you.
17	* CantArgueWithElves: A race believes that they are the superior species and uses this belief as an excuse to look down on so-called lesser lifeforms and insist that they are always right.
18	* ClassifiedInformation: Claiming that you can't reveal information because it's a secret.
19	* CultureJustifiesAnything: Using one's cultural background as an excuse to do horrible things.
20	* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou: An estranged father gives an excuse for why they left their child.
21	* DiplomaticImpunity: A dignitary believes that having diplomatic immunity means they can't get punished for what they do in the country they're visiting.
22	* DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery: Someone uses the excuse that being disabled means they can get away with being an asshole.
23	* ADogAteMyHomework: A student who didn't bother doing their homework claims their dog ate it to avoid getting in trouble for not doing it.
24	* DogKickingExcuse: A character looks for a reason to KickTheDog.
25	* DontLikeDontRead: Someone responds to negative feedback on their work with the rationalization that the reviewer who panned their creation shouldn't be watching works that they dislike.
26	* EmbarrassingCoverUp: A cover story so embarrassing/disgusting no one wants to know any details.
27	* ExcuseBoomerang: A person's excuse backfires when it is used against them as an excuse for punishing them for their actions.
28	* ExerciseExcuse: Claiming to be exercising as an excuse for being in a strange position.
29	* FakePeriodExcuse: A woman gets out of a situation by lying about being on her period.
30	* FakeStatic: Someone avoids conversation by pretending that their communications system is failing.
31	* FakingEngineTrouble: Claiming to have engine trouble to stall for time.
32	* ForeignFarewell: A character kisses another character goodbye, then claims it wasn't romantic because that's just how people say goodbye in another country.
33	* ForScience: Excusing ethically questionable behaviour as scientific research.
34	* FreudianExcuse: A villain or jerk is the way they are because of something bad that happened to them in the past and they use their past suffering as an excuse for their actions.
35	* FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse: The bad person's victims and the people intending to punish the bad person for their transgressions feel that the bad person having suffered in the past does not mean their actions are acceptable or that they should avoid punishment for their wrongdoings.
36	* GasLeakCoverup: Something unnatural is covered up by claiming that it's actually the result of a gas leak.
37	* GiveMeAReason: Character eagerly looks for an excuse to inflict violence upon someone.
38	* GoingToTheStore: A character claims to be going to the store as a cover-up for why they're leaving.
39	* HurricaneOfExcuses
40	* IAmBigBoned: Someone claims that they aren't really fat and gives an excuse for why they look obese.
41	* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Someone gives the excuse that they did something reprehensible because they had no other option.
42	* IHaveNoIdeaWhatImDoing
43	* ImAManICantHelpIt: It's attempted to justify sexual harassment and sexual assault with the rationalization that men have little self-control when it comes to being aroused.
44	* INeedToGoIronMyDog: A character makes an excuse to leave that is weird and obviously fake.
45	* InsanityDefense: A person attempts to avoid going to jail for their crimes by giving the excuse that they are insane and therefore cannot be held accountable for what they did.
46	* InventedInvalid: Lying about having to tend to a sick relative as an excuse for not showing up.
47	* IReadItForTheArticles: A stock defence when a character is caught in possession of lewd magazines.
48	* ItIsBeyondSaving: A villain plans to cause mass death and destruction with the rationale that society is so screwed up that the only sensible solution is to purge it all and start anew.
49	* ItsForABook: Justifying one's behaviour as being research for a book.
50	* ItsWhatIDo: A justification for why a character behaves the way they are.
51	* IWasJustPassingThrough: A character saves another character and makes an excuse for it.
52	* IWasYoungAndNeededTheMoney: A character claims that they appeared in a pornographic film because they were that desperate for money at the time.
53	* JerkJustifications: A character makes an excuse for their {{Jerkass}} attitude and behavior.
54	* JustFollowingOrders: Someone gives the excuse that they did something simply because they were given the order to do so.
55	* JustGivingOrders: Someone tries to shift the blame for their actions onto the subordinates who followed their orders.
56	* JustJokingJustification: Excusing threats and insults by claiming that you weren't sincere when you made them.
57	* LanguageFluencyDenial: A character tries to get out of a conversation by lying that they don't speak the other person's language.
58	* LifeIsntFair: A character uses the observation that life isn't fair as an excuse to treat other people badly and to rationalize that no one has the right to complain about their misfortunes.
59	* MaritalRapeLicense: The rationalization that marriage makes it okay to rape your spouse if you want sex.
60	* MovingTheGoalposts: A character makes a new stipulation at the last minute in order to get out of honoring their part of a deal.
61	* NotBloodNotFamily: If they aren't related by blood, they'll never be "real family."
62	* NotEvenBotheringWithAnExcuse: A character doesn't even try to give an excuse for their actions and bluntly tells why they did what they did.
63	* NothingPersonal: a character defends actions as "simply business", with no specific malice toward those harmed
64	* NotIfTheyEnjoyedItRationalization: A rapist tries to rationalize that they did nothing wrong because their victim enjoyed the non-consensual sex.
65	* NotIllegalJustification: An action is immoral, but isn't illegal, so a person can't be arrested for it.
66	* OwnerlessTreasureMorality: A treasure has no owner but for some reason people can't, or don't want to, take it. Until someone uses "it has no owner" as an excuse and takes it.
67	* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: A person really wants to be the one to defeat their enemy, so they'll sabotage any attempts other people make at defeating their foe.
68	* PlayingSick: Pretending to be sick as an excuse to avoid doing something or to make everyone else wait on you hand and foot.
69	* PrecedentExcuse: Using the observation of what another person is allowed to do or have as an excuse for why someone should be allowed to do something or have something.
70	* PretextForWar: Waging war against an enemy with the excuse that they were doing something that could indicate that they are a potential threat.
71	* RationalizingTheOverkill: Someone gives an excuse for why they retaliated to a slight with more extremes than the offense really deserved.
72	* RelativelyFlimsyExcuse: Claiming a person is related to you as an excuse in spite of it being obvious that the person can't be family.
73	* SandInMyEyes: A character who was caught crying denies that they were and gives an excuse for why they appeared to be shedding tears.
74	* ScrewPolitenessImASenior: Someone believes that being elderly entitles them to be rude to everyone.
75	* ScrewTheRulesIHaveSupernaturalPowers: A character believes that having powers means they're entitled to break the law.
76	* ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem: An authority figure believes that being in charge means they don't have to obey the law.
77	* ScrewTheRulesImFamous: A celebrity believes that their fame means they can get away with anything.
78	* ScrewTheRulesItsTheApocalypse: When the apocalypse happens, everyone starts doing whatever the hell they want with the reasoning that the world ending means that rules and laws don't matter anymore.
79	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Character leaves because they don't want to get involved with the current situation.
80	* SimpleSolutionWontWork: A stated simple solution is explained to not be useful or effective.
81	* SlipperySlopeFallacy: Extreme opposition towards a disliked activity is rationalized with the excuse that allowing too much leeway will result in those who practice it eventually doing much worse things.
82	* SocietyIsToBlame: A person who has done wrong gives the excuse that the poor state of the world is why they've resorted to committing immoral and illicit actions.
83	* TalkAboutThatThing: A character comes up with an excuse to go somewhere private to discuss something with someone else.
84	* ThinkOfTheChildren: A person lobbies to have stricter censorship for the media or to enforce restrictions on certain products, activities or ways of life with the rationale that leniency equates putting children at risk of being harmed or corrupted (which is often a smokescreen to distract others from noticing that they're trying to force their standards of morality and ethics on everyone else).
85	* TooProudForLowlyWork: A character tries to avoid doing certain types of work under the excuse that said work is beneath them.
86	* WeWereRehearsingAPlay: Oh, that thing you just heard us talking about? It's not real, it's just part of a story.
87	* WildCardExcuse: A character always uses the same excuse, regardless of whether it makes sense in the current context.
88	* WouldRatherSuffer
89	* YouDidntAsk: A character is inquired why they didn't reveal information that would've been helpful earlier and the character rationalizes that they were not asked to do so.

Context Main / ExcuseOfAnIndex