History Main / BeCarefulWhatYouSay

* ''WesternAnimation/Amphibia'': In one of Marcy’s flashback, during one of her shenanigans created by her clumsiness, Sasha casually says that “One of these days, she’s gonna get herself killed” if she’s not careful at what she’s doing, with Anne finding her claims very offensive as she hears it. [[spoiler:Come Season 2 Finale, “True Colors”, Marcy is stabbed in the back by Andrias’ giant LaserBlade, because she is making sure that Anne and the Plantars are sent to Earth safely, nearly dying in the process because of it.]]

* The Wiki/SCPFoundation has the concept of an [[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/system:page-tags/tag/infohazard#pages infohazard]], an SCP which causes a paranormal effect when it is referenced or described. Many of those effects are dangerous, and Foundation personnel have to be very careful when speaking or writing about them.

* ''WesternAnimation/Amphibia'': In one of Marcy’s flashback, during one of her shenanigans created by her clumsiness, Sasha casually says that “One of these days, she’s gonna get herself killed” if she’s not careful at what she’s doing, with Anne finding her claims very offensive as she hears it. [[spoiler: Come Season 2 Finale, “True Colors”, Marcy is stabbed in the back by Andrias’s giant LaserBlade, because she is making sure that Anne and the Plantars are sent to Earth safely, nearly dying in the process because of it.]]

[[AC:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4484 don't actually read]] [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4483 the words Fuchsia found in Boogle]]. They've got power.

Works using this trope will often discuss The PowerOfLanguage.

In olden times, [[InnocentBystander ordinary people]] would be very careful what they said because words have power. You didn't have to be a priest, oracle or wizard to cast spells with words, anyone, ''anyone'' could potentially [[RealityWarper make something happen just by saying so]].

Speaking in the heat of the moment is doubly dangerous, it's not uncommon for {{Curse}}s to be cast this way to everyone's sorrow.

At the same time and on the other end of the spectrum, taking a vow of silence and undertaking some task or penance can break a curse.

* In a spin-off book of the ''ComicBook/{{WITCH}}'' comics, Taranee's brother, who's been spending lots of time with his girlfriend instead of her, ends up showing up much too late to see a basket game with her favorite team like he promised. She refuses to buy his (heavily implied to be true) excuses about car trouble and snaps that she wishes he'd just disappear. She immediately regrets those words because as a Guardian of the Veil, her words have ''a lot'' of power.

!!Examples not otherwise included in a subtrope

* In a spin-off book of the W.I.T.C.H. comics, Taranee's brother, who's been spending lots of time with his girlfriend instead of her, ends up showing up much too late to see a basket game with her favorite team like he promised. She refuses to buy his (heavily implied to be true) excuses about car trouble and snaps that she wishes he'd just disappear. She immediately regrets those words because as a Guardian of the Veil, her words have ''a lot'' of power.

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* At some point in ''Series/{{Noob}}'' [[CansanovaWannabe Valentin]] tries to pick up a girl in {{MMORPG}} by telling her "I bet you're a bomb in real life". The girl in question is a MadBomber in-game, and not interested at all.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4484 don't actually read]] [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4483 the words Fuchsia found in Boogle]]. They've got power.

<<|FairyTale|>>

* In ''{{Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4484 don't actually read]] [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4483 the words Fuchsia found in Boogle]]. They've got power.

The reasons are both supernatural and mundane. Lending weight to the proverb "you're only as good as your word", you have an obligation to follow through on your promises, lest you face social (or even supernatural) consequences. This is why there is nothing more dangerous than making [[ThePromise promises]] lightly (even [[ImpossibleTask impossible ones]]). Firstly, some fool hero ''will'' complete the task and since your word is binding you'll be compelled to keep your promise. The other is because you are ''never'' alone... someone or some''[[TheFairFolk thing]]'' will be listening, and may well decide to give you [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor exactly what you wish for]]. More than one such tales starts because someone said something they shouldn't have, or started making [[DisproportionateRetribution very]] [[BreakTheHaughty ill advised]] [[{{Pride}} boasts]].

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The reasons are both supernatural and mundane. Lending weight to the proverb "you're only as good as your word", you have an obligation to follow through on your promises, lest you face social (or even supernatural) consequences. This is why there is nothing more dangerous than making {{promise}}s lightly (even [[ImpossibleTask impossible ones]]). Firstly, some fool hero ''will'' complete the task and since your word is binding you'll be compelled to keep your promise. The other is because you are ''never'' alone... someone or some''[[TheFairFolk thing]]'' will be listening, and may well decide to give you [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor exactly what you wish for]]. More than one such tales starts because someone said something they shouldn't have, or started making [[DisproportionateRetribution very]] [[BreakTheHaughty ill advised]] [[{{Pride}} boasts]].

The reasons are both supernatural and mundane. Since "You're only as good as your word" you have to keep your promises or face social (and sometimes supernatural) consequences if you choose to back out. This is why there is nothing more dangerous than making {{promise}}s lightly (even [[ImpossibleTask impossible ones]]). Firstly, some fool hero ''will'' complete the task and since your word is binding you'll be compelled to keep your promise. The other is because you are ''never'' alone... someone or some''[[TheFairFolk thing]]'' will be listening, and may well decide to give you [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor exactly what you wish for]]. More than one such tales starts because someone said something they shouldn't have, or started making [[DisproportionateRetribution very]] [[BreakTheHaughty ill advised]] [[{{Pride}} boasts]].