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Ambiguous Name: You Can Panic Now

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This trope is supposed to be about scaremongering in the media, but its name (which seems like it might be a reference to something obscure) doesn't properly indicate this, leading to rampant misuse, sometimes in reference to the inevitable subversion of This Is No Time to Panic, but more often simply as as a stock phrase, or in some particularly egregious cases, to mean simply "a character panics". Wick check numbered 50 in all, with the results as follows:

You Can Panic Now Wick Check results:

19/50 (38%): Correct usage 3/50 (6%): Erroneous association/confusion with This Is No Time to Panic 28/50 (56%): General misuse/unclear usage/other

As you can see, while the specific form of misuse I was concerned about was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting, other forms of misuse are rampant. So what needs to be done? Well, obviously, we need to rename the trope to something that makes it clear that it's about scaremongering. Perhaps Media Scare, Scaremongering Media or even just Scaremongering?

Mod edit:

Wick check archive

    open/close all folders 

    Correct usage (19) 

    Erroneous association/confusion with This Is No Time To Panic (3) 
Looks like it goes here, but as no references to This Is No Time to Panic appear on the page, I could be wrong.

    General misuse/unclear usage/other (28) 
  • Acceptable Religious Targets: Often goes beyond "LOL" and well into "EEEEEEEEEEK!". Practitioners of voudon and other Yoruba-derived faiths, such as Santeria, Candomble, and Obeah, are often portrayed as magical and mystical at best. At worst, they're portrayed as murderous, morbid, half-Satanists and practitioners of necromancy and dark magics the likes of which would make Voldemort soil his robes. Most media portrayal bears little to no resemblance to the actual religion. See Hollywood Voodoo for details. Not entirely sure what they mean with that pothole. There seem to be a few ways it could be interpreted.
  • The Big Rotten Apple: In the parody J-Men Forever, New York City is about to be inundated by a Stock Footage Giant Wall of Watery Doom, so the Mayor handles the crisis by urging the populace to flee mindlessly and calling on the police and fire brigade to assemble for union negotiations. At the end of the movie, the J-Men celebrate the destruction of the Supervillain Lair and New York City as a double victory! Close, but no cigar.
  • Training Montage: Love Hina has one ticking down the days till the Tokyo U Entrance Exam. Naru is doing well—Keitaro, on the other hand... This one just flat-out makes no sense.
  • Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F': Now despair begins. This is the page quote. This is a very vague interpretation of the trope name.
  • GTA Radio: Only a caption/quote exists:
I'm Bryan Wilkinson, Weazel News. We're all screwed!
Not completely inappropriate, given that this is a radio host saying this, but it's a bit of a grey area.
  • ConspiracyTheories.HToN: A common claim is that United Nations peacekeeping soldiers would move in and round up people for the camps/eliminate the resistance, presumably as a way of explaining where the manpower to undergo this massive undertaking would come from. This is usually followed by claims that they are amassing at the borders and nearby countries, ready to invade... any day now. The editor who made the pothole seems to have taken the trope to mean a very general "you should be worried about this" statement.
  • ☯utlaw St★rr: Initially being a guitar driven Hard Rock & Soul band, the sound changed when more members were added to the line up whom had experiences with different styles. Eventually the band's style pretty much became unclassifiable, Genre-Busting, and Genre Roulette. The band debated on what genre was going to be the bands sound. After a small debate Tish just shrugged and asked why can't we just do them all?, and the band made that Ascended Fanon. Of course if you must categorize them they're a progressive rock/metal/industrial/synth band with a rapper/soul singer as lead vocalist. With heavy emphasis on song writing, rhythm, melody, turntable breaks, vocal harmony and solos....LOTS of solos. They also double as a production team, helping produce albums for other artists. Themes and topics of the band range from sociopolitical issues regarding gender, race & racism, spirituality, classism, sexual liberation, empowerment, speculative fiction (horror, fantasy, science fiction), Black Female & black/African-American pathos, and just simple violence. The band is also very media savvy, embracing online media and social networks before other artists understood the potential. Despite the occasional performances here, and there, the band went on hiatus starting in the spring of 2012, and the fans freaked out. However, after an admittedly longer than expected hiatus the band started recording again in early 2019. Again, the trope is used to mean a general panic.
  • FanficRecs.Vocaloid: Synopsis: On the afternoon of Saturday, July 10, 2010, the Vocaloids held a concert at the Tanabata festival in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa. The decision would prove to be disastrous. Right in the middle of the concert, Miku and Rin were savagely and mercilessly attacked on stage in front of more than 16,000 fans by Miku Zatsune and Rin Arakawa. And what provoked this attack? The fact that Zatsune and Arakawa were dating Mikuo and Len, respectively. When they were dumped because of their rotten behavior, they convinced themselves that the girls were somehow responsible for it, and that they would have to pay dearly, even though that is clearly not the case. Unbelievably, it actually gets much much worse than that. Too much to really list, but I will tell you it involves an electric barrier, a wall of fire, massive audience panic, and towards the end of the fanfic, a prison escape. Even though Miku and Rin are both seriously injured in this attack, they will eventually recover, and their assailants will get their comeuppance. Without context, the pothole makes no sense with this misuse-prone trope. For all I know, this is actually correct usage. Also a Chained Sinkhole.
  • The Devil Wears Prada: Emily gets a message that Miranda's going to arrive early. Nigel calls to everyone to "gird your loins" as the entire building starts turning itself upside down. A character literally telling those around them that they can panic is not this trope, but perhaps it should be a trope?
  • Fridge.YandereSimulator: Japanese society in general takes a rather hands-off approach to children, in direct contrast to the near-hysterical "Protect the Children!" fetish seen in the West, especially the USA. It's not beyond the pale that a wood-chipper would be left unsupervised. Most importantly, just repeat to yourself, "It's just a game. I should really just relax." A borderline case. It almost fits, but not quite.
  • Monsters, Inc. The news monster says, "It is my professional opinion that now is the time to PANIC!", flailing his extremities about at the last word. Then Boo accidentally pushes the TV over and smashes it. Hmm... It's certainly close, but this doesn't quite fit the trope's definition of media scaremongering and/or moral panic.
  • Missing Since Monday: Sort of. According to this Kirkus review, although the author "somewhat exaggerates the danger [of child abduction], her prescriptions for safety are sensible." It is notable that, despite the moral panic of Stranger Danger that gave rise to works such as this, in this story, the abduction was carried out by someone who, although not known to the victim, was connected to her family. Is it acceptable for a troper to claim that the work itself is guilty of this?
  • Norse Mythology: The Fimbulvetr or Fimbulwinter is an especially harsh winter that lasts trice as long as usual and signifies the beginning of Ragnarök. It's believed that this myth was actually developed as a explanation for a real disaster that occured in the early 6th century, due to volcanic activity which would have caused the sunset to appear bloodred and robbed sunlight of the power to cause photosynthesis which in turn made it appear that winters came with no summer between. You can freak out now. This may be the most egregious misuse yet, being effectively a troper using the trope name in its most literal possible sense, similar to how You Bastard! is often (mis)used.
  • NightmareFuel.FarCryNewDawn: The Final Boss is pretty nightmarish. A gigantic shadowy monster with creepy red eyes, basically a recoloured version of a Yeti from Far Cry 4. And just like the Yetis, this monster Was Once a Man mutated by a mysterious supernatural plant. Who was it? Ethan Seed. You Can Panic Now. Again, a troper using the trope's name in the most literal sense.
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer S3E11 "Gingerbread": * You Can Panic Now Zero-Context Example.
  • How I Met Your Mother S 9 E 21 Gary Blauman: You Can Panic Now: Robin at first welcomes Gary Blauman with a surprised expression, once he leaves, Robin starts to panic to Marshall. Once Marshall managed to calm Robin down claiming that he would take care of Gary Blauman's seat, Marshall started to panic to Ted once Robin left. Another particularly egregious example; this time it is apparently being used to mean "a character panics".
  • Mystery Science Theater 3000 S05 E12: Mitchell:
    Gypsy: You think they'll send us a new guy?
    Servo: Oh sure, it's bound to happen. But until that happens... PANIC! AAAAAAAAAARGH!!!
Quote-only example, which I'm fairly sure qualifies as a ZCE, also misuse of the "character tells another they can panic" variety. It appears that a troper has taken this to mean "something that causes someone to panic". Another literal "example".
  • Pasila: You Can Panic Now: An episode concerning bootlegged booze with poison in it eventually culminated in forbidding all alcohol in all of Finland. Kontiovaara hosts an expert on his show, and asks if they ought to panic now. The interviewee's response to his question is, "You get one fuckin' guess". Seems to be an example in there somewhere, but the way this example is written, it is not accurate.

Edited by MacronNotes on Jun 17th 2022 at 10:15:11 AM

Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
selkies Professional Wick Checker Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: Star-crossed
Professional Wick Checker
#27: Jun 3rd 2022 at 5:04:53 PM

Media Panic/Scaremongering + NRLEP.

Nen_desharu Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire from Greater Smash Bros. Universe or Toronto Since: Aug, 2020 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire
#28: Jun 4th 2022 at 5:41:23 PM

Media Fearmongering + NRLEP for me

Kirby is awesome.
wingedcatgirl I'm helping! from lurking (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Oh my word! I'm gay!
I'm helping!
#29: Jun 5th 2022 at 9:16:47 AM

[tup] on renaming, Media Fearmongering, Media Scaremongering, and Media Panic all seem good to us so far, undecided on the NRLEP subject for now cause we haven't looked

[down] Categorically, we haven't looked at the RL examples, in any capacity. We hadn't looked at the page at all in a while when this thread started.

Edited by wingedcatgirl on Jun 13th 2022 at 8:02:39 AM

Trouble Cube continues to be a general-purpose forum for those who desire such a thing.
selkies Professional Wick Checker Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: Star-crossed
Professional Wick Checker
#30: Jun 5th 2022 at 9:38:47 AM

Looked for what? They're full of ZC Es and are too common to list anyway.

VerySunshine Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#31: Jun 5th 2022 at 10:26:37 AM

I think Media Scaremongering is the best title. Media Panic could be confused with Archive Panic, which is a different idea.

And we don't need real life examples.

mr_c Thing unspeakable from Sotland Since: Jul, 2020 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Thing unspeakable
#32: Jun 7th 2022 at 1:07:26 AM

Alright, this thread is more than three days old. Do you think it's time to call a crowner? How do we do that anyway?

I was a germophobe before it was cool.
GastonRabbit MOD Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#33: Jun 7th 2022 at 2:11:20 AM

[up]I've taken care of it.

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
mr_c Thing unspeakable from Sotland Since: Jul, 2020 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Thing unspeakable
#34: Jun 7th 2022 at 5:59:29 AM

[up]Thank you. Do I get a vote?

I was a germophobe before it was cool.
GastonRabbit Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#35: Jun 7th 2022 at 7:59:33 AM

[up]Everyone who clicks the thumbs up or thumbs down button on at least one crowner entry (there's no minimum or maximum amount of options you can cast votes on) gets a vote.

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
mr_c Thing unspeakable from Sotland Since: Jul, 2020 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Thing unspeakable
#36: Jun 7th 2022 at 8:24:04 AM

[up]Thank you. I've voted yes to both.

I was a germophobe before it was cool.
mr_c Thing unspeakable from Sotland Since: Jul, 2020 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Thing unspeakable
#37: Jun 7th 2022 at 10:21:39 AM

Alright, so how long should the crowner be up for before we make our final decision?

I was a germophobe before it was cool.
Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
mr_c Thing unspeakable from Sotland Since: Jul, 2020 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Thing unspeakable
#39: Jun 7th 2022 at 12:29:28 PM

[up]Ah, makes sense.

I was a germophobe before it was cool.
mr_c Thing unspeakable from Sotland Since: Jul, 2020 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Thing unspeakable
#40: Jun 9th 2022 at 2:48:06 PM

I've noticed some opposition to making YCPN NRLEP. Just out of curiosity, does anyone know why this might be?

I was a germophobe before it was cool.
Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the Retromancer
#41: Jun 9th 2022 at 2:53:52 PM

Just means 5 unidentified people are for keeping real life examples. No point guessing why unless they speak up.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
mr_c Thing unspeakable from Sotland Since: Jul, 2020 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Thing unspeakable
#42: Jun 9th 2022 at 3:19:37 PM

I see.

I was a germophobe before it was cool.
GastonRabbit MOD Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#43: Jun 10th 2022 at 4:10:13 AM

Calling in favor of renaming and making it NRLEP. I'll get a name crowner ready since we already have a decent amount of suggestions.

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
GastonRabbit MOD Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#44: Jun 10th 2022 at 4:12:32 AM

All right, it's hooked. I'll add it to the NRLEP index and remove real life examples.

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
MyFinalEdits Officially intimidated from Parts Unknown (Ten years in the joint) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Officially intimidated
#45: Jun 10th 2022 at 10:42:04 AM

Posting this comment to make public that I voted in favor of Media Scaremongering. I didn't upvote or downvote any of the other options.

135 - 169 - 273 - 191 - 188 - 230 - 300
Nen_desharu Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire from Greater Smash Bros. Universe or Toronto Since: Aug, 2020 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire
#46: Jun 11th 2022 at 1:18:15 PM

Both Media Scaremongering and Media Fearmongering are technically correct (I voted for both options).

Kirby is awesome.
underCoverSailsman Peeks from Under Rocks from State of Flux Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Peeks from Under Rocks
#47: Jun 11th 2022 at 6:39:18 PM

Question: is this primarily a Plot or Characterization trope? IE, does it describe the action, or the media entity that takes the action? This would affect which names are grammatically correct...

mr_c Thing unspeakable from Sotland Since: Jul, 2020 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Thing unspeakable
#48: Jun 11th 2022 at 7:06:45 PM

[up]That is a good question, and to be honest, I hadn't really thought about it before. I'd say it depends on the context, but I'm curious what everyone else has to say.

I was a germophobe before it was cool.
Amonimus the Retromancer from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the Retromancer
#49: Jun 12th 2022 at 12:12:24 AM

That's why I'm leaning to Scaremongering Media and not Media Scaremongering, as I believe it would be flexible if it's about networks.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
GastonRabbit MOD Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)

Trope Repair Shop: You Can Panic Now rename
10th Jun '22 4:10:38 AM

Crown Description:

Consensus was to rename You Can Panic Now. What should its new name be?

Total posts: 84
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