I'd support a rename. This is more a Plot trope than an Ability per se, and the title should probably reflect that. Bruce Wayne Held Hostage isn't called Awkward Alter Ego.
edited 10th Mar '11 6:53:12 PM by troacctid
Rhymes with "Protracted."
Dragon Writer
This is the second topic on the matter (I know because I posted the first one ... eons ago) . Support a rename, but difficult to find a good name for. Masquerade Breaking Superpower?
An Ear Worm is like a Rickroll: It is never going to give you up.
Definitely needs a change.
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
That sounds like a pretty good suggestion.
Sounds good, but the only problem that it suggests that the power breaks the Masquerade, and some examples don't involve it.
Dragon Writer
Yeah, see what I mean, good names are difficult to come by. Revealing Superpower kinda works, but is extremely bland.
An Ear Worm is like a Rickroll: It is never going to give you up.
Definitely in favor of a rename. The current name conjures thoughts of "Awkward Boner-Hug Man" from SMBC Theater.
Perhaps Obfuscating Normality?
edited 10th Jul '11 12:57:09 AM by Totema
Loser
There is now a single proposition rename crowner for this trope here
.
I think it could do with a rename given that "awkward" means quite a few different things to different people.
"irhgT nm0w tehre might b ea lotof th1nmgs i dont udarstannd, ubt oim ujst goinjg to keepfollowing this pazth i belieove iN !!!!!1 d
Playing off Stratadrake's suggestion: maybe Cover Blowing instead of Masquerade Breaking?
Edit: And maybe stick with "ability", since the page examples aren't limited to superpowers.
edited 10th Jul '11 7:34:58 PM by Embryon
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And even if it is broke, just ignore it and maybe it'll be sort of OK — like the environment."
Loser
Given the support for a rename in the single proposition crowner, there is now an alternative titles one here. Feel free to add names as you wish and tell me if I missed any.
World's Toughest Milkman
Hmm, none of the current names seem to suggest a situation, which appears to be what the trope is about. It might be wise to discuss this before slapping a bunch of suggestions on the crowner and voting.
Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.
Dragon Writer
^ Second that. The trope is not (and never was) about the actual ability, but the situation.
E.g: Superman is a Flying Brick; if anyone saw Clark Kent leaping tall buildings in a single bound that would break his cover, but that doesn't make it an Awkward Ability.
An Ear Worm is like a Rickroll: It is never going to give you up.
Okay, let's generate some suggestions. I won't add these to the crowner because I might be overlooking huge flaws in them. (I'll cross these out as said flaws are pointed out.)
Cant Show His Ability, Cant Show Her Ability, Cant Show My Ability, etc.
Situational Ability Inconvenience
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And even if it is broke, just ignore it and maybe it'll be sort of OK — like the environment."
So, it been a while. Should we go with Cover-Blowing Superpower, or should we find a name relating to the situation?
Yes, I think that was one of the problems with the original name: the ability itself isn't "awkward" or secret-identity-revealing, but the situation is. The description makes it clear that it's a plot trope, as post #2 notes.
There's a part of me that wants to suggest something like Clark Kent Got Shot, but Cover-Blowing Superpower's much better than anything I could ever come up with.
Yeah, unwritten rule number one: follow all the unwritten procedures. - Camacan
World's Toughest Milkman
Meh. Cover-Blowing Superpower seems like it should be misleading, since it seems to be describing the power, not the situation, but on reflection, I can't think of anything it could actually be confused for, so it may well be good enough.
I also haven't got any better suggestions. At least, not any that are shorter than essay length. :)
Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.
The Crowner's been in place for a month now. How about we make the switch?
Calling the crowner. Someone make the switch or I'll get to it later.
Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Dragon Writer
Done:
- Rename/redirected namespaces: Main, Laconic
- Custom title request: Submitted
- Updating lists/indexes: Added Alliterative Appeal, More than Meets the Eye
Still to do:
- Updating wikilink references
edited 17th Sep '11 11:01:30 AM by Stratadrake
An Ear Worm is like a Rickroll: It is never going to give you up.
Looks like the wiks are all moved. Locking.
Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Crown Description:
Previous crowner
showed consensus support for a rename.
Guess! That! Trope!
My first guess upon seeing this name is that the ability is very clumbersome, like a very large magical sword that is unwieldly, but actually it means ...a situation where a character can't use his true powers without causing an awkward situation later, usually if the character as an Alter Ego of some sort.
And here're the stats:
Main/AwkwardAbility found in: 38 articles, excluding discussions.
This title has brought 36 people to the wiki from non-search engine links since 20th FEB '09.
Low enough inbounds and outbounds to rename. Any suggestons?
edited 10th Mar '11 6:24:29 PM by chihuahua0