Nobody's saying that harming somebody's mind actually is a form of rape. The trope name is meant metaphorically. "Words have meaning and they need to be used properly." Yeah, but metaphors don't constitute improper use of words. You might as well say that calling somebody a sexist pig is wrong because being sexist doesn't change one's species.
And one might say that comparing mental torture to rape diminishes the agony of rape, but the thing is, many of the trope examples really are as horrible to suffer through as rape. One doesn't diminish rape by comparing it to something that's equally agonizing (or even worse).
Edited by MichaelKatsuro
Although I don't expect the trope name to be changed, this is a conversation worth having and I sort of agree with both of these posts. It seems really extreme to toss the phrase "mind rape" around, so I can understand OP, but in the Trope Namer (Eva), the experience is presented as excruciatingly traumatic in a way that makes sense as to why it would be called this. I think the best thing to do in this situation is to make sure people don't misuse the trope as simple brainwashing.
That sounds more like it includes anything done to one's mind, like reading it without permission.
Evidently late to this party, but I also think the name needs to be changed. For the above cited reason (though the OP I think worded their complaints awkwardly and less-than-convincingly); I've known people who are rape survivors and for many, hearing or reading the word 'rape' can be a PTSD trigger, so it is quite insensitive to have it be casually used as a trope name when said trope could literally appear anywhere due to how widespread this trope is. It'd be like naming the Fantastic Racism or Fantastical Slur tropes something like 'Fantasy N*****s'; there's way to infer the 'trope is a metaphor for something terrible' without being, well, callous about it.
I think "Mental Assault" is a good option. It's open enough to interpretation to include the 'mundane' idea but is still specifically an attack on one's mind and would cover the psychic variant. And the trope description can note the Does This Remind You of Anything? aspect when the trope is used as a metaphor for rape.
I agree almost entirely with iamnoone's points, and second suggestion to switch it to "Mental Assault"
Linking to a past Trope Repair Shop thread that dealt with this page: You keep using that word...
, started by dontcallmewave on May 29th 2011 at 6:20:10 AM
Would what happens to Kate in The Taming of the Shrew count?
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Seems a bit forced. This is supposed to be about horrible mental agony, and Kate never shows signs of being in horrible mental agony, Values Dissonance aside.
Shadow of Legends
It seems this trope is suffering some serious Trope Decay. The trope page and Laconic says "painful mental assault", but in other places it's basically used as "any non-consensual mental contact". Should this go to the Trope Repair Shop?
"We can handle what is true, for we are already living it." Hide / Show Replies
That will not help. In these cases, removing the improper usages is the best thing to do.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Mind rape as described here is often very painful, and sometimes caused by a telepath. Does anyone know of a related trope (or more examples) in which the telepath enters the victim's mind just to cause pain? Or causes pain just by looking at them?
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That'd qualify as this trope, with the former being a pure example and the latter being part of a general Brown Note effect.
What rises must fall, what falls may rise again.
The page seems to be blocked, or broken, or... something. I just get this text displayed: "We do not want a page on this topic. It does not meet our content policy." Anyone know what's happened?
Edited by IceSickle Hide / Show Replies
It's part of a general cleanup of stuff on the Wiki, which apparently now includes Rape Tropes.
Now, since this isn't strictly a rape trope, I suspect the page will be renamed and put back up in due time. You can join in the discussion on the forums.
Does it need to be renamed? It is a trope after all, and the name is very fitting and appropriate in many cases. This clean up seems to be going over board.
^It was forced by Google, which pays for 30% of the Wiki. We are trying to get it done. For your relief, I have saved the entire source of this page and subpages.
Also, such questions should be asked in the TV Tropes Fora, not in a discussion page
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Stuff has now been at least partially sorted; it's back for everyone. There are threads in the fora with more information.
That was the amazing part. Things just keep going.
Would talking someone to death about anime (a la weeaboo) count for this trope? Or for that matter, anything?
Edited by Stoogebie Hide / Show Replies
No, that's a Breaking Lecture...which, IMO, needs to be kept separate. A Breaking Lecture that's treated like Mind Rape (that is, a violation of the character's mental autonomy) should be considered an exaggerated example of the former trope.
Edited by FarseerLolotea
I was wondering. When Phoebe and Paige of "Charmed" used a potion against Darryl to take out his soul against his will, is that mind rape?
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Idk... I mean, he's an Extreme Doormat and eventually he finally loeaves the sister for good and they don't understand why. But he's not actually shown with any PTSD like symptoms.
Should what Discord did in My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic be considered an example? Seriously, half the examples on this list are less severe than what he did and most of the people I've talked to consider it such. If not the psychic part, then he most certainly did the mundane to Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash.
Please stop referring to Discord's mind control attacks in My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic as Mind Rape. He just brainwashed them; Mind Rape is WAY more serious
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How so? I don't see your point. Unless you've discussed this somewhere else, you need to give more justification than just "it's not that serious". I don't know if you're a mod or something who has that right, but if not, there needs to be a bit more discussion on this one before we ban it entirely, as a LOT of people still consider it as such.
BWAAAH!
I see the exact same example appear twice in each category, oh and big surprise, it's an example shoehorned from My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic. Which category is it gonna be?
I TELL YOU HWAT!
Why was Asuka's quote removed? Just curious, but I thought it should be kept there
Can the trope "Mind Rape" be renamed? Rape is a serious offense and the word should only be used for situations that are actually rape. Harming a person's mind is not rape. By that logic, punching someone in the face or brainwashing them is rape. That is not rape, of course. Words have meaning and they need to be used properly. Calling things "rape" that are not rape is callous and insulting to the many victims of sexual assault. Suggested possible changes: Mind Assault, Mind Battery, etc.
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