Misused: Captain Obvious

If I'm reading the description right, this is a trope for a character type, not a statement. I propose a split; one for a character, and another for statements. Or at the very least the latter, as the former seems somewhat un-tropeworthy.

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edited 1st Jun '12 2:16:32 AM by Kexruct

Hmm, that is how the description is put. But if it were divided that way, would there really be enough examples to fulfill the character-type version? How many characters are really habitually obvious? Spock and Data maybe; I'm not sure who else.

Also, allowing the trope as currently named to go for any obvious statement matches well to its colloquial use, that of saying "thank you Captain Obvious" to anyone who says such a thing, no matter whether they habitually do it.

edited 1st Jun '12 10:47:06 AM by NimmerStill

Also, this is a major Pothole Magnet, where any tropers put it on statements they think are obvious.

There doesn't need to be a split at all. It needs a cleanup. The character type is correct usage. The one for something being said by the editor is incorrect usage.

Now, if it's a character saying something completely obvious, that still counts - they're functioning as Captain Obvious in that scene. But if you see a Sink Hole to it? Cut it.

How about limiting it to only in-universe examples of Captain Obvious?

I love this suggestion.

Even if we clean this page, I think the "captain obvious" statement deserves a trope, even if we only list in-universe examples, so I prefer a split. But Captain Obvious character page shouldn't only include in-universe examples, I think description would be obvious enough to not get misused(if we split this trope).

Clocking due to lack of activity.

Wouldn't the "captain obvious" statement be a Stock Phrase?

Yes, and I hear we don't do those anymore.

Locking.