History Analysis / TheScrappy

Occasionally, a character intended as a ButtMonkey will backfire and become a Scrappy, too. This usually happens when a writer attempts to make his mishaps even funnier by making him an unlikable person [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist to whom it's very satisfying to see horrible things befall]]. A great idea, but sometimes it backfires when the ButtMonkey becomes so annoying that whatever happens to him in the story, audiences are haunted by the feeling that it will never be enough. An especial risk when the ButtMonkey gags are prolonged, after which even a character who's not inherently unlikable can stop being funny and become a DamselScrappy. It also comes full-circle in a way; note also that many Scrappies can easily become {{Butt Monkey}}s when touched upon in fan discussions and literary parodies. In any given HateFic, and even in the occasional straight-up FanFic, the author may very likely go a step further than making TheScrappy into the ButtMonkey, killing him or her off (often brutally), or giving a "hero" Scrappy a FaceHeelTurn [[RonTheDeathEater so he or she becomes the villain]] - after which he or she again will likely be killed off.

* An AesopEnforcer who is [[KarmicOverkill needlessly punitive and cruel to a character]] to teach a lesson or correct a bad behavior. Especially if they [[AesopCollateralDamage victimize innocent people to get their point across]].

* GreekChorus character(s) if they distract/annoy the audience or if they sidetrack the plot. Especially if they're [[ThatRemindsMeOfASong randomly interrupting the story just to sing a lot]].

* An ObliviouslyEvil character if their actions are too violent, cruel, or destructive to the point where their "obliviousness" [[FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse doesn't give them a pass from the audience]] (especially if the narrative weakly tries to excuse the bad behavior).

* A HighTierScrappy or LowTierLetdown can get this reaction, especially if their personality happenes to meet the criteria on this page.

* A VillainProtagonist if they are extremely heinous and don't have any [[EvilIsCool positive]] and[=/=]or [[CryForTheDevil sympathetic]] [[MagnificentBastard traits]] (and even then, the audience supposedly have to sympathize for them), as well as that most are {{Karma Houdini}}s.

Scrappies also often fall under a {{Double Standard}}, when popular characters are more likely to be whitewashed and get away with actions that fans would slander an unpopular character for doing. For example, some audiences may dislike David for, say, [[LackOfEmpathy making fun of people's trauma]], but brush off Tyler doing the same thing because, well, "Tyler looked good doing it!" or "[[{{Hypocrite}} Tyler is funny while David is just annoying and insensitive]]". Or, a horrible-looking pedophile could be hated for their pedophilia, but another pedophile who happens to have good looks in the same story might be liked because, in this case, [[EvilIsSexy evil can be hot]] and even if the other is immoral too, at least they are attractive.

Occasionally, a character intended as a ButtMonkey will backfire and become a Scrappy, too. This usually happens when a writer attempts to make his mishaps even funnier by making him an unlikable person [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist to whom it's very satisfying to see horrible things befall]]. A great idea, but sometimes it backfires when the ButtMonkey becomes so annoying that whatever happens to him in the story, audiences are haunted by the feeling that it will never be enough. An especial risk when the ButtMonkey gags are prolonged, after which even a character who's not inherently unlikable can stop being funny and become a DamselScrappy. It also comes full-circle in a way; note also that many Scrappies can easily become {{Butt Monkey}}s when touched upon in fan discussions and literary parodies. In any given HateFic, and even in the occasional straight-up FanFic, the author may very likely go a step further than making TheScrappy into the ButtMonkey, killing him or her off (often brutally), or giving a "hero" Scrappy a FaceHeelTurn [[RonTheDeathEater so he or she becomes the villain]] - after which he again will likely be killed off.

Occasionally, a character intended as a ButtMonkey will backfire and become a Scrappy, too. This usually happens when a writer attempts to make his mishaps even funnier by making him an unlikable person [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist to whom it's very satisfying to see horrible things befall]]. A great idea, but sometimes it backfires when the ButtMonkey becomes so annoying that whatever happens to him in the story, audiences are haunted by the feeling that it will never be enough. An especial risk when the ButtMonkey gags are prolonged, after which even a character who's not inherently unlikable can stop being funny and become a DamselScrappy. It also comes full-circle in a way; note also that many Scrappies can easily become {{Butt Monkey}}s when touched upon in fan discussions and literary parodies. In any given HateFic, and even in the occasional straight-up FanFic, the author may very likely go a step further than making TheScrappy into the ButtMonkey, killing him or her off (often brutally), or giving a "hero" Scrappy a FaceHeelTurn [[RonTheDeathEater so he/she becomes the villain]] - after which he again will likely be killed off.

Occasionally, a character intended as a ButtMonkey will backfire and become a Scrappy, too. This usually happens when a writer attempts to make his mishaps even funnier by making him an unlikable person [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist to whom it's very satisfying to see horrible things befall]]. A great idea, but sometimes it backfires when the ButtMonkey becomes so annoying that whatever happens to him in the story, audiences are haunted by the feeling that it will never be enough. An especial risk when the ButtMonkey gags are prolonged, after which even a character who's not inherently unlikable can stop being funny and become a DamselScrappy. It also comes full-circle in a way; note also that many Scrappies can easily become {{Butt Monkey}}s when touched upon in fan discussions and literary parodies. In any given HateFic, and even in the occasional straight-up FanFic, the author may very likely go a step further than making TheScrappy into the ButtMonkey, killing him or her off (often brutally), or giving a "hero" Scrappy a FaceHeelTurn [[RonTheDeathEater so he or she becomes the villain]] - after which he again will likely be killed off.

Occasionally, a character intended as a ButtMonkey will backfire and become a Scrappy, too. This usually happens when a writer attempts to make his mishaps even funnier by making him an unlikable person [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist to whom it's very satisfying to see horrible things befall]]. A great idea, but sometimes it backfires when the ButtMonkey becomes so annoying that whatever happens to him in the story, audiences are haunted by the feeling that it will never be enough. An especial risk when the ButtMonkey gags are prolonged, after which even a character who's not inherently unlikable can stop being funny and become a DamselScrappy. It also comes full-circle in a way; note also that many Scrappies can easily become {{Butt Monkey}}s when touched upon in fan discussions and literary parodies. In any given HateFic, and even in the occasional straight-up FanFic, the author may very likely go a step further than making TheScrappy into the ButtMonkey, killing him or her off (often brutally), or giving a "hero" Scrappy a FaceHeelTurn [[RonTheDeathEater so he becomes the villain]] - after which he again will likely be killed off.

* A PsychoLesbian or DepravedHomosexual, especially if they're the only LGBT characters.

Scrappies also often fall under a {{Double Standard}}, when popular characters are more likely to be whitewashed and get away with actions that fans would slander an unpopular character for doing. For example, some audiences may dislike David for, say, [[LackOfEmpathy making fun of people's trauma]], but brush off Tyler doing the same thing because, well, "Tyler looked good doing it!" or "[[{{Hypocrite}} Tyler is funny while David is just annoying and insensitive]]". Or, a horrible-looking pedophile could be hated for their pedophilia, but another pedophile who happens to have good looks in the same story might be liked because, in this case, evil can be hot and even if the other is immoral too, at least they are attractive.

* A character that relies too much on PlotArmor to survive instead of actually ''doing something'' to get out of a situation. Especially if it leads to an AssPull or an AntiClimax.

* A FatSlob (or ThePigPen, a related trope) if they do ''really'' [[JabbaTableManners disgusting things]] that [[NauseaFuel legitimately gross out]] the audience.

* A VillainProtagonist if they are extremely heinous and don't have [[EvilIsSexy any]] [[EvilIsCool positive]] and[=/=]or [[CryForTheDevil sympathetic]] [[MagnificentBastard traits]] (and even then, the audience supposedly have to sympathize for them), as well as that most are {{Karma Houdini}}s.

Scrappies also often fall under a {{Double Standard}}, when popular characters are more likely to be whitewashed and get away with actions that fans would slander an unpopular character for doing. For example, some audiences may dislike David for, say, [[LackOfEmpathy making fun of people's trauma]], but brush off Tyler doing the same thing because, well, "Tyler looked good doing it!" or "[[{{Hypocrite}} Tyler is funny while David is just annoying and insensitive]]". Or, a horrible-looking pedophile could be hated for their pedophilia, but another pedophile who happens to have good looks in the same story might be liked because, in this case, EvilIsSexy and even if the other is immoral too, at least they are attractive.