History Main / AsymmetricDilemma

You present a pair of problems with a plan as if the problems are of equal importance. The first problem is relatively minor, and is explained in unwarranted detail. The second problem is so much simpler and more serious that the first problem seems like a silly thing to worry about: "IBrokeANail. Oh, also, I have terminal cancer."

The archetype for this sort of joke is "If I had bacon, I could have bacon and eggs. If I had eggs."

* Similarly, in Walt Kelley's comic strip ''ComicStrip/{{Pogo}}'', a slightly-recurring character was a beetle who, whenever she saw something she didn't like, [[CatchPhrase always exclaimed]] "If I could write I'd write a nasty letter to the mayor, if he could only read."

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-->'''Sokka''': Zuko's gone crazy! He completely wrecked my sand sculpture of Suki! ''(Beat)'' Oh, and he's attacking Aang. ''

** In ''Literature/WyrdSisters'', Nanny Ogg asks the strolling players (having invited herself to get a lift in their wagon) if they have a light. After the group proffer an array of matches, she asks if anyone happens to have any tobacco. In ''Literature/{{Maskerade}}'', she does it again, asking the other people (reluctantly) sharing a stagecoach with her if they have "anything to open a bottle a beer", "anything to drink a bottle of beer out of" and finally, "Anybody have a bottle of beer?"

* Done with NoodleImplements in an issue of ''ComicBook/RatMan''. Working on a plan to fight a villain, Rat-man gathers some objects he can use (a pipe, some rags...) but has to abandon the plan when he cannot find the final item: an atom bomb.

* From ''WesternAnimation/{{AvatarTheLastAirbender}}'':

** In ''Literature/{{Maskerade}}'', Nanny Ogg asks the other people (reluctantly) sharing a stagecoach with her if they have a light. After the group proffer an array of matches, she asks if anyone happens to have any tobacco.

If the less serious problem is instead a list of problems, that's a case of BreadEggsMilkSquick; if the serious one is a list, it's ArsonMurderAndJaywalking.

* From ''Disney/MeetTheRobinsons'':

** A couple of books in the' series take place on the Hork-Bajir planet, where several deep chasms open down to the molten planetary core. The Arn, a winged species, have cliff dwellings extending partway down these chasms, with very thin walkways. In two separate instances, Andalites have concluded that there is no need to worry about the magma, because the body would ''probably'' be disintegrated in mid-fall.
** This seems pretty typical of the Andalite sense of humor (assuming they have one. Jury's still out). Ax makes comments like this all the time. "You're worried that a passing Z-Space craft might collide with our extruded mass and splatter it all over Z-Space? Don't worry. That's impossible. The ship's shields would just disintegrate it."

** In ''Discworld/{{Maskerade}}'', Nanny Ogg asks the other people (reluctantly) sharing a stagecoach with her if they have a light. After the group proffer an array of matches, she asks if anyone happens to have any tobacco.
** ''Discworld/MenAtArms'' has a bit where Detritus the troll needs to find something to write on. Then he needs to find something to write with. Then, once he finds something to write with, he needs to find someone who can teach him how to write.
** ''Discworld/UnseenAcademicals'': Everyone is entitled to vote, unless disqualified by reason of age or ''not being Lord Vetinari''.

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-->'''Cat:''' Why don't we drop the defensive shields?\\
'''Kryten:''' A superlative suggestion, sir, with just two minor flaws: One, we don't have any defensive shields. And two, we don't have any defensive shields. Now, I realise that technically speaking that's only one flaw, but I thought it was such a big one that [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment it was worth mentioning twice]].\\
'''Cat:''' Good point, well made.

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* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':

'''Leela''': (''upon seeing Bender stomping a killer whale carcass down a manhole'') Bender! Cut it out! First of all, the sewer mutants will be mad. Second, everything else that's horribly wrong with what you're doing!

-->'''Zoidberg''': Oh joy, a coupon! Two oil changes for the price of one! Now if only I could afford the one. And a car...\\
\\

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