Unclear Description: Super Fly Reflexes

Okay, so in this Image Pickin' thread we were discussing about finding an image replacement, and then we hit a snag.

The description for the trope mentions about "when a character grabs a fly or other flying insect with his bare hands". The "bare hands" part is a problem since it implies that characters taking down insects with implements, such as say, spitting a pin (current image), or parrying it with a compass◊ don't count as being the trope (and I don't think they count as Improbable Chopsticks Skill either, because the page specifically mentions using chopsticks only). I would change the description myself, but I think it would be better to post here first.

First TRS thread I made!

edited 1st Jan '17 9:36:58 AM by anza_sb

Twitter/Instagram: anzasquiddles. Deviantart: anzahanifathallah.

Opening this.

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

Gah, misleading pun in the name too. That's not what Super Fly usually means.

The fact that we have two super-specific tropes about Amazing Reflexes suggests a Missing Supertrope. Which I might be able to think of a name for if I try really hard. Give me a minute...

Anyway, I do agree that catching flies is a common way to show off your Amazing Reflexes. And I don't think it's a different trope if you happen to use chopsticks. Or tweezers. Or a dagger. Tropes are allowed to overlap.

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eta: Main/SuperFlyReflexes found in: 9 articles, excluding discussions.

Since January 1, 2012 this article has brought 96 people to the wiki from non-search engine links.

This is not thriving, and I suspect the name may be part of the problem. It appears to have been launched in 2012!

edited 6th Jan '17 11:48:08 AM by Xtifr

Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.

Super-Reflexes exists but its entirely written as a superhero power as opposed to say Ninjas, cybernetics, luck and such.

Accurate Fly Smacking? The standard is the flailing fly shoo and such with maybe an eventual hit, getting it first attempt is rather rare.

Smacking and grabbing are both very common. Snatching it out of the air. The important thing is that it's a demonstration of skill. Not just randomly swatting them with a flyswatter.* But I have seen one where a guy stabbed a fly with the point of his dagger. And it was definitely a demonstration of skill.

* Not even if it's "seven with one blow!"

Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.

I don't think Super Fly Reflexes is a supertrope to Super-Reflexes. So, yeah, besides a description expansion I think a name change is necessary.

"Accurate Fly Snatching"?

Twitter/Instagram: anzasquiddles. Deviantart: anzahanifathallah.

Sounds good.

We don't need justice when we can forgive. We don't need tolerance when we can love.

Anyway, the thread over at IP has reached the clocking point, so I think we need to come up with a decision now. For the description, specifically; I know tropes are allowed to overlap, but with such a narrow definition of the trope it's rather hard to make it overlap anyway.

Oh, and the new name too.

Twitter/Instagram: anzasquiddles. Deviantart: anzahanifathallah.

Just as a sidenote, we also have a trope for Improbable Chopsticks Skill.

You've got roaming bands of armed, aggressive, tyrannical plumbers coming to your door, saying "Use our service, or else!"

Noted in the OP. But I think the chopsticks one is really more Amazing Dexterity than Amazing Reflexes. They're not the same, even if they frequently overlap.

Anyway, possible Missing Supertrope aside, I definitely think this should cover any cases of using a fly to demonstrate your Amazing Reflexes. Not just bare-hand.

Maybe something like:

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Super Fly Reflexes is when a character uses a hard-to-catch insect like a fly or gnat to show off their astounding reflexes. Usually by catching it, though other common variations including hitting it with the point of a sharp object like a dagger or pin, or even slicing it in half in mid-air with a sword. Or Improbable Chopsticks Skill.

This can be done to show the character's amazing training and skill, or simply to show off the superpower.

A staple of action and superhero movies, but can be found in all sorts of works.

edited 25th Jan '17 2:35:45 PM by Xtifr

Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.

^ Sounds solid.

That's good

Twitter/Instagram: anzasquiddles. Deviantart: anzahanifathallah.

That's good.

Ok. Another thumbs up or two, and maybe I'll install it.

Anyway, what about the name? It honestly doesn't seem that bad to me, but the trope's not exactly thriving.

Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.

Is it just me, or does this look like something that didn't go trough the TLP? I know I would not have hatted it with it's current description.

Ye who would Tope Meaninglessness. Ye who ignore All We Have. I say to you You Shall Not Pass!!

Sailing 101: It probably went through YKTTW before the hat system was installed. That's not a count against it, though.

I'll add my vote to use @xtifr's definition upthread.

edited 2nd Mar '17 7:53:30 AM by Madrugada

...if you don’t love you’re dead, and if you do, they’ll kill you for it.

Ok, several in favor (including two Mods Without Hats), and none opposing, after quite some time, I went ahead and installed the new description.

That should be enough for the image picking folks....

Now, just the question of the name remains open.

Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.

Hmm, no one (including me) seems to have strong feelings about the name. But I will point out that it doesn't suggest the catching part of the trope. So...maybe something simple like Super Fly Catching?

Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.

Bump. Anyone?

The newer, broader description, by itself, might help with the underperformance problems, but new name suggestions could at least be used as searchable redirects, even if we don't want to bother to rename this.

Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.

Ok, we have an improved description. I have submitted a request for a new search term. Since no one but me seems to be paying any attention to this, and I've done as much as I can on my own (and lack motivation to push this any further), I think we can probably call it done.

(If it weren't for me, the clock would have clearly run out, and this would already be closed.)

Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.

Just close it?

Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.

If no one restarts the conversation by the time the clock expires, then it can be closed.

However, we can close this earlier if it's all right with other users.

she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report

Clock is up. Since no one jumpstarted the conversation, closing.

she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report