Discussion Main / ButtMonkey

Is it me or does the audio for the Mr Robot example vid seem desynchronised?

Linking to a past Trope Repair Shop thread that dealt with this page: Split comedy and serious examples?, started by Raso on Feb 21st 2011 at 5:13:07 AM

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

Linking to a past Trope Repair Shop thread that dealt with this page: Split?, started by Raso on Jul 30th 2011 at 5:31:20 AM

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

Whatever happened to the Sports section of Butt-Monkey? It was a huge page of its own and then... poof. Was there any discussion on that?

Exactly what it says on my tin.

How is it called when you get a character for whom it's played for drama ?

Am I the only one who considers Waspinator the avatar of this trope? I think we should probably have an image of him as the trope picture, if we can somehow get one that won't attract copyright issues.

We need a line in the intro saying something like how if the show is full of people who are Butt Monkeys, it doesn't count, and if they deserve the punishment they're getting - they've just done something incredibly stupid, say - they're not a Butt Monkey either.

I mean, in Futurama, Kif is the butt monkey (part of his role is to have a damn good reason to hate his commanding officer), but then it goes on to list every other major character on the show who's ever had a demeaning moment as being a Butt Monkey too. Zoidberg catches a lot of flack, yes, but most of the time he deserves it for his incompetance or stupidity.

Meg, on the other hand, is picked on without reason, by everybody, and the show doesn't really need to do this. Her tormenters never get comeuppance and she never gets any relief. Similar with a lot of the ways Brian gets punished without reason.

There ought to be such a thing as a Butt Ensemble, for when everybody on the show is picked on reguarly.

And there really shouldn't be any lists saying "Look at all the examples!" When somebody's a butt Monkey, you shouldn't have to give dozens of examples because just hearing their name fills you with pity.

Edited by HarleyQuinnhyenaholic Hide / Show Replies

Am I to infer that the name is a reference to anal rape and is thus an instance of Rape Is Funny When It Is Male On Male?

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So, what's the difference between Butt-Monkey and The Chew Toy? They seem practically synonymous!

Oh, Equestria, we stand on guard for thee! Hide / Show Replies

Might be worth noting that most sit-com episode plots resolve around making one character butt monkey for an episode.

In an attempt to save space through page cutting, why don't we implement a Type X system like with the Anti-Hero. The way I see it, there's three types of Butt-Monkey.

Type 1: They suffer a lot of abuse because they had it coming as a result of bad karma. (The Jerkass butt monkeys like Daffy Duck go here.)

Type 2: They were asking for it because they're idiots. Homer Simpson is an example here who could also be type 1 depending on the season.

Type 3: They do nothing to deserve their fate besides from the powers that be hating them. Meg is an example of a type 3. Type 3 is likely to become a Desiginated Monkey to fans.

This also brings forth a question asked by the Nostalgia Critic in regards to type 1 (something I shall call the Butt-Monkey viscous cycle). Is the character a Butt-Monkey because they're a jerk (thus their misery being karmic punishment), or are they a bitter, cynical jerk BECAUSE they're a Butt-Monkey (they act like jerks because of unjust treatment which provokes more punishment in a viscous cycle). Tink is an example of the former due to being such a lech while Doofensmirtz is an example of the later given his bad upbringing. The later case is a good method of Deconstruction for the trope because it realistically points out that people who people/the universe shafts for no reason can easily become bitter, cynical people thus resulting in a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of sorts when it comes to karma. Great idea for a YKTTW discussion.

Edited by magnum12 Hide / Show Replies

My mom takes offense to the term Butt Monkey, is there any other term that could be used?

I am the Tippy Toe Zombie I like to Limbo Often I fall on people's heads Hide / Show Replies

Would it count as an invocation if a Lawful Good teammate is always put in this position essentially because of their Character Alignment?

Hey, what happened to the Troper Tales here?

"Be who you are and say what you feel. Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter." -Dr. Seuss

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Edited by Yowuza

Anybody know the origin of the term "butt monkey"? Just heard it on an episode of CSI. Seems like they're doing some lampshade hanging, one character just mentioned the victim's show jumping the shark.

So, where did "butt monkey" come from? Is it possible this episode is making some references to us or the greater TV nerd fandom?

"But don't give up hope. Everyone is cured sooner or later. In the end we shall shoot you." - O'Brien, 1984

Does the president of the United States count as a butt monkey? Every time the government screws up, he always is scapegoated by at least some group, and congress is normally overlooked even though it can be much guiltier and has the power to make the president's job a living hell. Obama is a good example of a butt monkey who doesn't deserve it as much as the actual bad ones.

Edited by 74.194.224.252