Clean up/description modification.: Hilariously Abusive Childhood

It was mentioned in the Image Pickin' that the trope seems to focus entirely on this being a flashback. I feel that this is a result of poor writing in the description and that the trope is simply Child Abuse Played for Laughs.

Ahem.

I locked the older thread. Carry on.

I just hollered for this one, so okay?

Well, I'm with you. I think the trope should focus on child abuse played for laughs, rather than saying that it has to occur in a flashback.

What, no Real Life examples?

Agreed. I don't see the need for it to be THAT specific.

edited 23rd Aug '11 1:58:54 PM by ArtemisStrong

Or as a reason for it. So things like The Simpsons or South Park would count.

Yeah, I think just restricting it to flashbacks is too restrictive.

Most of the examples are flashbacks, but there's nothing about the ones set in the present that makes them seem out of place. I vote for a rewrite that clarifies that it doesn't have to be in the past. And it's not just restrictive, it's pointlessly restrictive. There's no reason to limit the trope that way.

Agree that Played for Laughs is the point and flashback is a pointless and unnecessary restriction.

Anyone want to take a shot at the rewrite.

Why is a rewrite needed? As currently written, the word "flashback" doesn't appear on the trope description, nor is the concept of a flashback in any place in the description implied directly or indirectly.

The fact that most of the examples occur as part of a character's background is simply an indicator of how the trope is used, not of the trope itself.

It's that second paragraph about the Real Life consequences of abuse, and how its can shape adult decisions that I think muddy the water.

Okay, we can rewrite it, but first, the name has to go. The name indicates a flashback childhood, and it wouldn't fit if changed because the Trope Decay would make it sound stupid.

How does the name imply a flashback? It doesn't imply that to me at all!

The name implies past tense. Therefore, the rewritten article should be renamed. Comedic Child Abuse, anyone?

I'm not seeing anything that implies past tense, myself.

Me neither.

I see nothing in the name that implies flashback. It's not like it needs a full rewrite, I'd just like to make sure that nobody gets it confused like Mad Man did.

CHILDHOOD MEANS IT ALREADY HAPPENED. Catch my drift?

Well, I at least begin to understand your confusion, but you are incorrect. My nieces are experiencing childhood right now.

Childhood (n.)
1. the time or state of being a child.
2. The early stage in the existence of development of something: the childhood of Western Civilization.

edited 25th Aug '11 5:19:05 PM by Xtifr

No, no it doesn't. A childhood can refer to both the past and the present. You could even refer to it as a future if you wanted. It's a time period.

Okay, screw that argument, but the name still needs a bit more clarification, and that's why I suggested Comedic Child Abuse, which we can also use as a redirect (which this trope lacks).

edited 26th Aug '11 11:57:30 AM by MadMan400096

I'm not seeing any lack of clarity either, sorry. All three words in the name are relevant, and, added up, seem to me to equal this trope. I'd call it a case of Exactly What It Says on the Tin. Can you try to explain your objection/confusion in a little more detail?

Also, please try calm down a little. I realize that the topic of child abuse in general is a touchy one, but the meaning of the name is still something we should be able to discuss without all-caps, bold-markup, or swearing.

edited 26th Aug '11 1:08:11 PM by Xtifr

The words I'm looking for to talk about your thoughts, I can't say without getting thumped.

Anyway, we still need at least one redirect for this page, and, for the third time, I may suggest Comedic Child Abuse.