Line #30 Main/ThisIndexIsUseless


1	Boy, we live in an incredible world. Society has created an infrastructure designed to help those that need it. Science has created all manner of convenient gadgetry, and you can always ask your elders for answers to some of the more confusing questions... That is, unless you're in a work of fiction. Then you can expect all this to be, well... useless. Here's a bunch of not-so-useless tropes about useless things, thrown together for the convenience of... someone else. For you, it's useless. Or maybe not.
2
3	Compare and contrast ThereAreNoIndexes, where something that might be useful in a certain setting/situation is nowhere to be found.
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5	!!Tropes:
6	[[index]]
7	* AdultsAreUseless: The adults can't or won't help the KidHero with whatever problems they're having at the moment.
8	* AnnoyingArrows: These arrows can't even kill a bird.
9	* ArmorIsUseless: Armor that can't protect from damage isn't worth the trouble.
10	* AwesomeButImpractical: Could be useful, if not for the many disadvantages it has.
11	* BlessedWithSuck: You thought that new "power" was going to be useful. It's not.
12	* BystanderSyndrome: Onlookers don't step in to help someone clearly in trouble because it's not their problem.
13	* CellPhonesAreUseless: You can't use a cell phone to call for help when you really need to.
14	* ConvenienceStoreGiftShopping: Last minute, useless, thoughtless gifts.
15	* CoolButInefficient: Looks cool, but that's about it.
16	* CosmeticAward: A reward that's equivalent to a shiny medal saying "You did it!"
17	* DeckClogger: A card that is useless, only serving to clog up your deck and waste draws.
18	* ADegreeInUseless: A degree that has little real-world application.
19	* DelayedSafetyFeature: A safety feature fails to activate until after it would have been useful.
20	* ExpertInUnderwaterBasketWeaving: A character is skilled in something completely useless.
21	* TheDitz: They're too stupid to be helpful.
22	* FailureHero: This guy never wins.
23	* FauxActionGirl: Her appearance and demeanor implies that she's skilled and can handle herself in a bad situation, but in reality she tends to get into trouble and has be rescued like a DamselInDistress.
24	* FauxToGuide: Its instructions are not to be followed.
25	%%* GratuitousMariachiBand: A Mariachi band pops ups into the scene gratuitously or in an unlikely scene.
26	* GrayIsUseless: If something is colored gray, then it's useless.
27	* GunsAreWorthless: Guns are the least effective weapon to use, especially when dealing with the supernatural.
28	* HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic: Important characters don't need helmets.
29	* HellishCopter: The general tendency of helicopters crashing in various media even if it would not make sense in a real situation.
30	* HelplessObserverProtagonist: The protagonist literally can't do anything to impact the plot even if they wanted to.
31	* IrrelevantImportance: Important items cannot be discarded even after having served their purpose.
32	* ItOnlyWorksOnce: Your technique against an opponent worked, but becomes useless when you try it again.
33	* JokeCharacter: This guy's the worst character to use in a game.
34	* JokeItem: An item that's intentionally designed to be very weak.
35	* LittleUselessGun: This gun is completely ineffectual at killing anything.
36	* TheLoad: This person contributes nothing to your team except being more trouble than they're worth.
37	* MeaninglessVillainVictory: [[TheBadGuyWins A villain's victory]] at best doesn't grant them anything and at worst leaves them worse off than before.
38	* MilitariesAreUseless: The military is unhelpful when they really shouldn't be.
39	* TheMillstone: This guy ruins everything.
40	* MoneyIsNotPower: When wealthy people accustomed to [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney bribing their way out of trouble]] find themselves in a situation where no amount of money will prevent them from being held accountable for their transgressions.
41	* MyCarHatesMe: Your car becomes useless when you need it the most.
42	* NotSoOmniscientCouncilOfBickering: These people should be helping the heroes, but are too busy arguing amongst themselves to do so.
43	* OrphanedPunchline: A punchline without the joke.
44	* PatheticDroopingWeapon: A weapon goes limp to signify that it is practically useless for the current situation.
45	* PlanesTrainsAndImbeciles: The people who work in travel and transportation are stupid and unhelpful.
46	* PoliceAreUseless: Law enforcers can't help you or won't do their job.
47	** OverreactingAirportSecurity: Airport security that's too gung-ho to do their job competently.
48	* PowerfulAndHelpless: All their power is rendered naught when they're in a special situation or facing a special problem.
49	* PowerupLetdown: You call this a power up?!
50	* QuirkyBard: This guy's abilities are all for show and not for actual help.
51	* RadarIsUseless: Electronic detection systems are about as helpful as a blind lookout.
52	* ReedRichardsIsUseless: Why use your amazing powers to benefit humanity when you could waste them on meaningless things instead.
53	* ReflectionlessUselessEyes: These eyes are unseeing, at least in our perspective.
54	* RemovingTheCrucialTeammate: The useless team member they expelled [[IndexBackfire isn't nearly as useless as they thought]].
55	* SchlubbyScummySecurityGuard: Security guards are useless.
56	* ScienceIsUseless: When science isn't [[ScienceIsBad bad]] or [[ScienceIsWrong wrong]], it just simply isn't helpful.
57	* ScrappyWeapon: This weapon is not only useless but a pain to use in addition.
58	* SenselessSacrifice: A character's HeroicSacrifice is useless.
59	* ShieldsAreUseless: What good is a shield if it can't protect you?
60	* TanksForNothing: When tanks are completely useless for any purpose other than getting blown up for dramatic effect.
61	* TheSlacker: This character does as little as possible.
62	* SuspectIsHatless: A search is hindered due to a description that is incredibly vague.
63	* UselessBoyfriend: He's only a badass as long as his [[ActionGirlfriend Action]] / [[MagicalGirl Magical]] girlfriend isn't showing him up.
64	* UselessItem: This item could have a purpose... too bad the game designers failed to give it one.
65	* DarthWiki/UselessNotes: These aren't the kind of notes to use when learning about the world around you.
66	* UselessProtagonist: Despite being the hero of the plot, they can't do anything except sit back and let the supporting cast do all the heavylifting.
67	* UselessSecurityCamera: The security camera doesn't catch the criminal in the act.
68	* UselessSpleen: Damage or loss of the spleen can be PlayedForLaughs. It's not like that thing does anything useful anyway, right?
69	* UselessSuperpowers: Superpowers aren't much help if they're limited in what they can do.
70	* UselessUsefulNonCombatAbilities: This skill is useful but it pales in comparison to more action based ones.
71	* UselessUsefulSpell: These magic abilities are never useful when they could be.
72	* UselessUsefulStealth: Getting around enemies with stealth is a pain rather than helpful.
73	* UselessWithoutPowers: This person can't do anything without their powers, sometimes including even mundane things.
74	* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: Superpowers are for asskicking, this power on the other hand can't do that so what good is it?
75	* WitlessProtectionProgram: What's the use of WitnessProtection if it doesn't protect the witness?
76	* WorthlessForeignDegree: Credentials earned in the home country allowed a person to work in a highly skilled profession, but in their new country said credentials are inapplicable, thus forcing them to seek work as an unskilled laborer.
77	* WorthlessYellowRocks: A character discards something expensive because it has no practical application to the situation at hand.
78	* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Killing off whoever is no longer useful to you.
79	** ShootTheBuilder: Now that they're done creating something for you, they must die since they've fulfilled their purpose.
80	* {{Zonk}}: A prize or reward that isn't worth anything.
81	[[/index]]
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Context Main / ThisIndexIsUseless