Line #24 Main/SlidingScaleOfLikeRealityUnlessNoted


1	The sliding scale of Like Reality Unless Noted charts the degree to which a work of fiction set in what is ostensibly a "modern", Earthly environment departs from RealLife. It starts with the application of the CelebrityParadox, through to such things as the [[OurPresidentsAreDifferent fictional President]] and a half-way compromise with the AnonymousRinger, through to literal UrbanFantasy and the exclusion of certain controversial subjects such as UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror.
2
3	Compare PlausibleDeniability. When a work starts low on the scale and then jumps, TheSeriesHasLeftReality.
4
5	'''Difference'''
6
7	!!AlternateHistory
8	... which explicitly involves non-existent persons as major characters
9	* ''Literature/Timeline191''
10	* ''Literature/TheDraka''
11	* ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'' and its [[Film/{{Watchmen}} film adaptation]] (though, in all fairness, the film did an excellent job of being LikeRealityUnlessNoted, with things such as the ''V-J day in Times Square'' photograph, and references to [[WhoShotJFK the Kennedy assassination]], UsefulNotes/RichardNixon, Henry Kissinger, Lee Iacocca and UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan.)
12	* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' (big emphasis on "alternate" - all the places of our world exist but what those places are like is very different. Human history is implied to have the same general outline as reality but with fictional historical figures & events).
13
14	!!UrbanFantasy
15	... ostensibly set in our timeline
16	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''
17	* ''TabletopGame/TheWorldOfDarkness''
18	* ''Literature/HarryPotter''
19	* ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians''
20
21	!!Modern In Setting Only / NextSundayAD
22	* ''[[VideoGame/{{Battlefield}} Battlefield 2]]''
23	* ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerGenerals''
24	* ''{{Series/CSI}}''
25	* ''Series/DoctorWho''
26	* ''Manga/DeathNote''
27	* The Franchise/DCUniverse, despite having lots of superheroes, aliens and magical beings, mostly has had the same history as the real world... until recent times, when [[Comicbook/{{Superman}} Lex Luthor]] was elected president of the United States. Also, while the events of 9-11 ''did'' happen, they paled in comparison with the more massive destruction caused by alien invasions at the time.
28
29	!!Semirealistic
30	At this level, current events such as UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror, the Darfur conflict or the UsefulNotes/ArabIsraeliConflict may be referenced, but more contentious subjects such as present holders of office, diplomatic crises such as Iran's alleged nuclear capability or recent terrorist attacks will be carefully evaded through the use of {{Anonymous Ringer}}s and RippedFromTheHeadlines stories. Closer to the softer end of this subcategory, the terrorists will tend to be [[WesternTerrorists Western]].
31	* ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24]]'' (The [[UsefulNotes/ShanghaiCooperationOrganisation PRC is hostile to the Russian Federation]] and highly belligerent; the Russian Federation has good relations with the United States, and there are at least two fictional nations, Sangala [African] and Kamistan [Arab]. Of course, there is also the existence of CTU and numerous fictional presidents, [[spoiler:although CTU was disbanded between season 6 and 7]].)
32	* ''Literature/AlexRider''
33	* ''Film/TheBourneSeries''
34	* ''[[VideoGame/ModernWarfare Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare]]''
35	* TheMovie [[Film/IronMan of Iron Man]].
36	* ''Series/{{JAG}}'', ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' and ''Series/NCISLosAngeles''.
37	* ''Film/JamesBond'' (The newer Creator/DanielCraig films and the Creator/TimothyDalton films of the 80's being the most realistic of the series)
38	* ''Series/LawAndOrder''
39	* Franchise/MarvelUniverse (Their American presidents, unlike those of the Franchise/DCUniverse, aren't [[OurPresidentsAreDifferent different]], and 9/11 and its impacts upon Earth-616 were the subject of a series.)
40	* ''Film/NationalTreasure''
41	* ''Series/{{Spooks}}'' (although, judging by the footage used in one episode regarding a U.S. state visit, UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush and UsefulNotes/TonyBlair were in office at the same time they were in RealLife)
42	* Works by Creator/TomClancy
43	* ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' (While the first film skirts around mention of UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror, North Korea and the People's Republic of China are mentioned as a potential source of the unknown hacking threat and a NoCelebritiesWereHarmed AnonymousRinger for UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush pops up. Also, in Revenge of the Fallen, Sam briefly mentions the economy being crazy, UsefulNotes/BarackObama appears on a television screen and is mentioned in a news broadcast as being escorted to the Mojave Desert.)
44	* ''Series/TheWestWing'', by merit of having the federal government of the United States of America staffed entirely by fictional characters who naturally react differently to events than their RealLife counterparts.
45
46	!!LikeRealityUnlessNoted
47	At this level, present-day events will be freely referenced and discussed, with the only real divergence from reality being the fictional storylines and characters involved.
48	* Series/BostonLegal
49	* VideoGame/DarfurIsDying
50	* ComicStrip/{{Doonesbury}}
51	* Film/HaroldAndKumarGoToWhiteCastle
52	* Franchise/IndianaJones (With the addition of some supernatural elements.)
53	* ProfessionalWrestling (Though, in some cases, actors essentially [[TheDanza play themselves]], edging it closer to RealPersonFic.)
54	* VideoGame/ProjectReality
55	* WesternAnimation/SouthPark
56	* Film/TheLastKingOfScotland
57	* Literature/TheOdessaFile
58	* Virtually any work involving UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo, UsefulNotes/TheKoreanWar or UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar with fictional storylines and/or main characters
59	* Music/{{Eminem}}'s body of work largely exists here, with the addition of supernatural elements and a lot of unrealistic car{{toon}} [[AmusingInjuries violence]]. However, Slim Shady is often the only fictional character in the setting and is more of a ''persona'' than a character, making it extremely close to RealPersonFic.
60
61	!!RealPersonFic
62	The only divergence will be the fictional events themselves. All or almost all major characters will be {{Historical Domain Character}}s, celebrities or real people.
63	* ''VideoGame/HeartsOfIron''
64	* ''Manga/TheLegendOfKoizumi''
65	* Stephen Coonts' ''Literature/UnderSiege''
66	* ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch''
67
68	!!RealLife
69	... and, by extension, all {{nonfiction}}.

Context Main / SlidingScaleOfLikeRealityUnlessNoted