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Ambiguous Name: Doting Grandparent

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Pichu-kun ... Since: Jan, 2001
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#1: Oct 3rd 2017 at 6:44:31 PM

The Miriam-Webster definition of "dote" is: to be lavish or excessive in one's attention, fondness, or affection —usually used with on doted on her only grandchild.

To quote the trope: "Note that it does not have to do with "a grandparent who spoils the children" but with a grandparent who treats the children as equals and has their friendship".

It's using "doting" incorrectly. A doting grandparent does "dote" on their grandkids. To make it more confusing, sister-trope Doting Parent is explicitly about parents who spoil their children.

Looking at the examples, most seem to fit the "spoil the grandchild" route which isn't what the trope is about. For example:

    On the page 
1. In Dragon Ball GT Goku is very close to his granddaughter Pan who is more mature than him, even before Goku was transformed into a child by Shenron. Indeed he subscribed her in the Martial arts tournament at the end of Dragon Ball Z when she was only 5 years old. That being said, she wanted to fight and he personally trained her. Aside from that, Goku clearly adores her and has been shown indulging in her whims. There is even a cute montage of them having fun together with tournament festivities. 2. In Dragon Ball Super, beyond all expectations, Piccolo of all people is also seen being this to baby Pan, being not only her regular babysitter, but also being able to give extremely detailed instructions on her likes, dislikes, and how to care for her. He's seen secretly playing peek-a-boo with her, and lets it slip that he may even sing her to sleep. 3. Hungramps from Yo-kai Watch was one of these in life. He had a granddaughter who he adored however as she grew she started spending less time with him. He ended up becoming ill and died of his illness. His granddaughter had made it her aspiration to become a doctor and cure him, and even after his death she continued her dream of becoming a doctor. Hungramps originally appeared haunting a convenience store because he was waiting to see his granddaughter again. 4. Rinne adoptive grandfather from ViVid Strike! was shown to love her as if he was his own flesh and blood back when he was alive (even if he didn't get to spend much time with her due to illness confining him to his bed), and she still loves in the present day. In fact, her personality change was brought about due to a trio of bullies keeping her from seeing him when he died. 5. The Boruto anime reveals that Hiashi Hyuga, who was a borderline Abusive Parent to his eldest daughter during the first part of Naruto, has mellowed out into a loving grandparent to said daughter's children. 6. In Everybody Loves Raymond, Marie Barone often makes it unsubtly clear that Debra's greatest single function in married life to her son was to provide she, Marie, with grandchildren she can dote on and spoil rotten. Grandchildren, although she genuinely loves them, are just another weapon she uses to remind Debra of her subordinate position and failings as a home-maker. Meanwhile, Frank Barone is the opposite of this trope - as often as not the grandkids are another imposition designed to spoil his comfortable retirement. Contrast Marie to Debra's mousy and unassertive mother - she is barely there in their lives, even when staying with her daughter. Debra's mother doesn't have a clue as to how to be a grandmother. 7. Dracula becomes one in Hotel Transylvania 2 after his grandson, Dennis, is born. He likes to call him "Denisovich" despite his human grandparents' protest and he tries to help bring out Dennis's vampire powers. 8. Mori Takana from 3 Ninjas is the title characters' doting grandpa who teaches them the art of ninjitsu. He even gave them their ninja nicknames "Rocky", "Colt" and "Tum Tum".

They all use the "this grandparent spoils or coddles their grandkid" concept.

    Wick Check 
1. Adventure Time - Misused 2. Anatasia - Probably misused ("She was extremely close to Anastasia and they had a tight bond." is a bit ambiguous) 3. A Silent Voice - Misused 4. Atomic Betty - Misused 5. Ben 10 - Zero-context example 6. Dennis the Menace US - Zero-context example 7. Dennis the Menace UK - Zero-context example 8. Despicable Me - Misused 9. Dinosaur - Misused 10. Granpa - Zero-context example 11. Green Arrow - Zero-context example (and most likely misused) 12. Harvey Beaks - Misused 13. Hotel Transylvania - Misused 14. Magneto - Misused 15. Mrs. Brown's Boys - Misused 16. My Place - Miused 17. Naruto - Misused (and zero-context example) 18. Neurotically Yours - Zero-context example 19. Night in the Woods - Misused 20. New Tricks - Misused

edited 29th Oct '17 5:14:47 PM by Pichu-kun

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#2: Jan 7th 2018 at 10:58:11 AM

Locking per New Year Purge.

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