Jerkass Gods: Gods vs. Mortals, Gods vs. Gods

I noticed the Mythology & Religion folder on Jerkass Gods is a major mess with loads of Natter and Thread Mode.

Looking at the examples I observe that many examples are about the gods being jerks towards each other or to other quasi-divine entities, like giants or demons.

I actually think that Jerkass Gods is (only) about gods abusing their power over humans, while I would file gods mistreating other gods, giants, demons etc. under Divine Conflict. It makes a difference if the victims are powerless mortals or god-like beings themselves. Besides, conflicts between gods, or gods and their cosmic adversaries, are usually taken for granted in mythological thinking. Whether the gods play fair or not in these conflicts is beside the point; we can't really judge them by human standards.

Only, while I believe this was the intended definition, the description of Jerkass Gods does not clearly say that it is only about gods being jerks towards mortals. The description speaks chiefly about gods treating humans bad but it does not actually say that this is a necessary condition. The laconic definition is just

which allows a much wider range of interpretations.

Bottom line: Do I have permission to narrow down the definition so that it excludes "god vs. god" jerkassery, or must it be taken to TRS?

edited 20th Jul '14 8:07:37 AM by LordGro

Let's just say and leave it at that.

In my opinion, Jerkass Gods is not so much about its targets as much as about the behaviour. A god waging war against another being is Divine Conflict, while mere bullying or the behaviour of the Greek gods would fall under Jerkass Gods.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman

The way I read the trope it is explicitly about gods using their powers on people who're unable to do anything about it. It's about their perception of human life.

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Yes, that's exactly what I think too.

Jerkass behavior is covered in Jerkass. "Jerkasses who are gods" is just The Same But More Specific.

The only factor that makes this a genuine subtrope of Jerkass is that gods have so much more possibilities to be jerkasses and can get away with anything. But that is only true if their victims are beings of a less powerful class: Like humans, or dwarfs or nymphs or whatever. The important thing is that they have no chance to defend or avenge themselves.

Take these examples (all from Norse Mythology, as I happen to know that best):

This could happen as well if both Odin and Thor were humans without any supernatural powers. That Odin is a god has no impact at all on the situation.

I could also see a cruel king in a fairy tale or heroic legend do this. That Loki and his captors are gods doesn't actually play into the matter.

For once, there is a power imbalance, but this would still work if Freyr was, say, a feudal lord and Gerd a woman from a less powerful family. It has nothing specifically to do with Freyr being a god.

I would contend that neither of these three examples is a true example of Jerkass Gods. This, on the other hand, is a true example of Jerkass Gods:

Because there is a deity who a) uses divine power b) for a selfish and disproportionately minor reason c) against beings that have no way to defend or protect themselves against it.

edited 20th Jul '14 10:34:19 AM by LordGro

Let's just say and leave it at that.

I think overall the Aesir weren't as much Jerkass Gods as they were products of a rough philosophy. They were, in a way, more human than, say, most of the Greek gods.

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