While a good movie or show is fun, there's just nothing like the visceral pleasure of taking apart a bad one. And sometimes hating something popular is what defines a crowd, especially if, despite its popularity, it's actually pretty bad. Not terrible, not pitiful, just boringly bad.
Of course, in order to hate it to its fullest potential, you need to watch it and find out why it's so terrible.
Snark Bait refers to any popular work that evokes a desire to watch specifically to mock and join other people mocking. It's often a generic Hollywood blockbuster, or best-selling book. It's usually so formulaic you can see the TV Tropes Wiki Words forming in the air as the plot happens, and/or poorly fact-checked that 640k could pick it apart.
Either way, everyone is going to be complaining about it, and you wouldn't want to be left out of slagging off all those idiots who gave up their money and time for such junk, or the derision of stupidity with the passwords halfway, the predictability of the twists, the unlikeable “heroes” and so-called “villains”, and the “happy” ending that isn’t happy in the slightest. So, of course, you need to buy it yourself. That'll show 'em!
As a Troper, good Snark Bait can lead to seeing how far off you can see the Obvious Judas, which characters are secretly related, and playing Trope Bingo or a trope Drinking Game with them. On the plus side, seeing a trope done badly can help you see what it is, and appreciate when it's done well.
It should also be noted that those who engage in Snark Bait could range from those who "love it but are able to laugh at its flaws" to those who "Love to Hate it and enjoy ripping it to pieces". Those who love it so passionately and are unwilling to recognize its flaws are unlikely to appreciate snarking, as well as those who hate it with such a huge passion that they refuse to waste any time on even acknowledging its existence.
Does not relate to the monster that can be utilized to bite your opponents or self. Nothing to do with thimbles, forks, railway shares, and soap. Compare Periphery Hatedom and Bile Fascination. If you were looking for characters who jump at the sight of Snark Bait, see Deadpan Snarker.
No examples, please. This just defines the term. In-Universe examples can go to MST
