History Main / DefiantStoneThrow

'''German Old Man:''' ''[stands]'' Not to men like you. \\

'''German Old Man:''' There are ''always'' men like you.

* Taken to a more close up version in ''AnimeAndManga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' when a child mourning for Shuu's death at Thouther charges at him with a knife in a bid to kill him. His blade manages to hit him in the knee in which he was unfazed by the injury before being shouted down by Thouther for showing a futile display of love for Falco and lecturing him on how CompassionIsWeakness.

* Taken to a more close up version in ''AnimeAndManga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' when a child mourning for Falco's death at Thouther charges at him with a knife in a bid to kill him. His blade manages to hit him in the knee in which he was unfazed by the injury before being shouted down by Thouther for showing a futile display of love for Falco and lecturing him on how CompassionIsWeakness.

Please use the Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment when adding RealLife examples.

* Please use the Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment.

* Taken to a more close up version in ''AnimeAndManga/FistOftheNorthStar'' when a child mourning for Falco's death at Thouther charges at him with a knife in a bid to kill him. His blade manages to hit him in the knee in which he was unfazed by the injury before being shouted down by Thouther for showing a futile display of love for Falco and lecturing him on how CompassionIsWeakness.

** In ''Discworld/NightWatch'', where Vimes notes that "unarmed civilians" can be decidedly dangerous once they pry a few cobblestones off the street and a number of tradesman's tools are basically nastier versions of military weapons.

** ''{{Discworld/Thud}}'': When Vimes and company investigate a murder claim in a dwarven compound, a group of unruly dwarves show up to protest. One of them throws a half brick and knocks out the dwarf officer Vimes brought with him [[spoiler:and in a subversion of the "harmless" aspect of the trope, ultimately kills him]].

* ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'' has an astonishing double bonus. Pre-teen girl Marlene tosses a Materia Orb at Yazoo to stop him from finishing off Tifa once he [=KOs=] her. It works, but only because he decides to take the Materia instead.

* In ''Film/SupermanII'', the residents of Metropolis march on the three Kryptonians when it seems like Superman was killed, despite the fact they could wipe them out with a single look.

* In ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', David is captured, and about to be executed in the Flesh Fair. But since David has a sense of self-preservation, he cries out for help. When the crowd starts wondering if he's a real child or not, the circus master gives an impassioned speech about how the machines are starting to replace the children, and therefore, should be destroyed. He ends the speech with a calm "[[AsTheGoodBookSays Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone]]." A man stands up and throws a stone... at the circus master. The rest of the crowd quickly follows suit.
* Leonidas' final scene in ''Film/ThreeHundred'' is an elaborate one of these. While it is debatable whether he meant for the spear to just wound Xerxes or to kill him, he does make good on his earlier statement that "even a God-King can bleed".
* In the Prisoner of War film ''Film/Stalag17'', the Commandant of the camp is standing on some boards to keep his boots nice and clean during the morning speech after [[spoiler:two prisoners were killed trying to escape.]] While the Commandant was speaking ill of them and saying in a condescending tone how he will show how nice he is after this "incident" by letting the men have warm baths for lice, a Christmas Tree, and there might even be snow, one prisoner throws not a stone but an ocarina from another prisoner into the mud puddle to dirty the Commandant's boots he worked to keep nice and clean by walking on planks of wood on the muddy ground set out just for him.
* In ''Film/KungFuHustle'', after getting beaten to a pulp by [[BigBad The Beast]], the hero still manages to whap him on the head with a small piece of wood.
* In ''Film/TheHungerGames'' film, after [[spoiler: Rue's death]] a man starts attacking the peacekeepers (who basically act as an armed force of {{Jerkass}}es). A full-scale riot occurs after that.

See also SpiritBomb, DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu, LeastIsFirst.

->'''Loki:''' [[KneelBeforeZod Kneel before me]]. I said... KNEEL! ''[people in the crowd kneel]'' Is this not simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power. For identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel.\\

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* In ''ComicBook/{{Millennium}}'', a Manhunter is psyching out Franchise/GreenLantern Hal Jordan during a fight at how his cause is worthless and the people he is defending are nothing but sheep to their "superiors." This gets to Jordan as his will begins to fade and thus also his ring's power until it almost goes out. However, one of the humans he is defending blindsides the Manhunter with a thrown snowball noting that she will defy him. From that outburst, Green Lantern's faith in his cause is restored and the ring's power shifts from fading out to blazing fury, [[CurbStompBattle curb stomping]] the Manhunter.

[[folder: Fan Works ]]

* In ''FanFic/OriginStory'', Typhoid Mary smacks down Louise first, knowing that it's Alex who is the true threat. Mary then proceeds to put a serious hurt on Alex and completely ignoring the fact that Louise is even still in the room. This turns out to be a big, big mistake on Typhoid Mary's part.

[[folder: Films -- Animated ]]

[[folder: Films -- Live-Action ]]

* In the Prisoner of War film ''Film/{{Stalag 17}}'', the Commandant of the camp is standing on some boards to keep his boots nice and clean during the morning speech after [[spoiler:two prisoners were killed trying to escape.]] While the Commandant was speaking ill of them and saying in a condescending tone how he will show how nice he is after this "incident" by letting the men have warm baths for lice, a Christmas Tree, and there might even be snow, one prisoner throws not a stone but an ocarina from another prisoner into the mud puddle to dirty the Commandant's boots he worked to keep nice and clean by walking on planks of wood on the muddy ground set out just for him.

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder: Music ]]

[[folder: Professional Wrestling ]]

* When the Wrestling/{{n|ewWorldorder}}Wo debuted in Wrestling/{{WCW}} fans (or [[AstroTurf employees disguised as fans]]) responded by throwing lots of trash into the ring.

[[folder: Theatre ]]

* In the Swedish version of ''Theatre/{{Chess}}'', a flashback to the 1956 Budapest Revolution shows Hungarians throwing rocks at an approaching Soviet tank.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* In ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale'' Episode 49, Leann Hart throws Sara Sultan, president of the Night Vale Community College, at some of the [[spoiler:attacking Strex workers]], to great effect. It falls under this trope because Sara Sultan happens to be a smooth, fist-sized river rock.
** This trope is also played straight with twelve-year-old Tamika Flynn in Episode 36. The rock actually does something there too, in this case taking down a [[spoiler:yellow Strex Corp helicopter.]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* "Stone, the weapon of the proletariat", a famous Soviet monumental sculpture by Ivan Shadr, depicting an angry emaciated man grabbing the titular boulder and preparing to throw it. The title phrase itself became a proverb in Russian.

* In ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', David is captured, and about to be executed in the Flesh Fair. But since David has a sense of self-preservation, he cries out for help. When the crowd starts wondering if he's a real child or not, the circus master gives an impassioned speech about how the machines are starting to replace the children, and therefore, should be destroyed. He ends the speech with a calm "[[AsTheGoodBookSays Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone]]." A man stands up and throws a stone... at the circus master. The rest of the crowd [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome quickly follows suit.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' has a second season episode show this prominently. The {{Muggles}} in a subway car spend most of the episode berating ComicBook/CaptainAmerica for betraying humanity (it was a Skrull) ''as [[UngratefulBastard he is leading them to safety]]''. However, by the end when he's about to fall to the Serpent Society (who've pretty much said they want to kill the muggles}) they [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments all pelt the villains]] and distract them enough with supportive cries to give Cap a chance.

* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'', the heroes enter the town square of Palmacosta to find the oppressive Desians there, about to hang one of the townsfolk. After her "crimes" (refusing to sell them supplies on the basis that they're evil oppressors) are announced publicly, a little boy starts throwing stones at their leader. [[StupidEvil He orders the kid executed]], at which point the party steps in to save both townspeople and drive off the Desians.

Please use the RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement when adding RealLife examples.

* Please use the RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement.

->'''Loki:''' Kneel before me. I said... KNEEL! ''[people in the crowd kneel]'' Is this not simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power. For identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel.\\

Despite the trope name stones aren't always used, sometimes it's trash or even ProducePelting. If even ''that'' is hard to come by, the (at this point) HeroicBystander may just use a well timed ShutUpHannibal, saying that they reject their rule, believe in the hero, and that even TheHero's defeat will only embolden them to fight for themselves. This may lead to the rock thrower getting killed, [[SparkOfTheRebellion a pro-hero riot starting]], the villain getting distracted (and the hero taking advantage) or the release of the hero to finish the battle. In some cases, the civilian has no rock and instead uses trash, or does something equally impressive like standing during a KneelBeforeZod exchange.

* ''Anime/{{Scryed}}'' done by a little kid against a teenager with super powers fits the spirit of the trope, but its also done to show the teen's HiddenDepths.
* Happens in ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' with a side order of ValuesDissonance: Rossiu is surrounded by armed guards telling a angry crowd to calm down, when a rock hits him in the head. We never see who threw it, but a shot in the next episode shows a man in a crowd with a BadassMustache doing the BicepPolishingGesture (the page image). The fandom thought he was giving Rossiu an "Up yours!" gesture, named him [[FanNickname Bruce]] [[AwesomeMcCoolname Ironstaunch]], and made it {{fanon}} that he threw the rock.

[[folder: Comic Book ]]

* In ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', David is captured, and about to be executed in the Flesh Fair. But since David has a sense of self-preservation, he cries out for help. When the crowd starts wondering if he's a real child or not, the circus master gives an impassioned speech about how the machines are starting to replace the children, and therefore, should be destroyed. He ends the speech with a calm "[[AsTheGoodBookSays Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone]]." A man stands up, and throws a stone... at the circus master. The rest of the crowd [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome quickly follows suit.]]

* The angry mob unit in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerGenerals'' throws rocks and molotovs before being upgraded to wield AK-47s.
* In ''VideoGame/InFamous'', random passer's by will either do this to [[PlayerCharacter Cole]] (if he's evil, or in the begining when he's been framed for causing the accident which gave him his powers) or enemies (if you have a HundredPercentHeroismRating).

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has this in the first season episode "Imprisoned". Earthbenders are being kept prisoner in an ocean rig / TailorMadePrison devoid of all stone and earth to keep them from [[DishingOutDirt Earthbending]]. After Aang and then Katara give an inspirational speech, no one acts because of their broken spirits. However Haru tosses the first stone in defiance and soon all the Earthbenders rise up to resist. And since Aang and co had previously supplied a huge pile of coal for them to Earthbend, [[{{Pun}} things got very dirty very fast]] for their captors.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' has one second season episode show this prominently. The {{Muggles}} in a subway car spend most of the episode berating ComicBook/CaptainAmerica for betraying humanity (it was a Skrull) ''as [[UngratefulBastard he is leading them to safety]]''. However, by the end when he's about to fall to the Serpent Society (who've pretty much said they want to kill the muggles}) they [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments all pelt the villains]] and distract them enough with supportive cries to give Cap a chance.

* In the first ''VideoGame/{{Assassins Creed|I}}'' game, there are beggar women that constantly move around in front of you while pleading for coins. Attempts to escape them by climbing a nearby wall causes them to pelt Altair with rocks until he either climbs out of view or falls to the ground again so they can resume pestering him.
** In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreed2'' DLC Bonfire of the Vanities, Ezio can throw a stone at fundamentalist preacher (and [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade Templar ally]] Savonarola while he's preaching in Florence.

* In ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', David is captured, and about to be executed in the Flesh Fair. But since David has a sense of self-preservation, he cries out for help. When the crowd starts wondering if he's a real child or not, the circus master gives an impassioned speech about how the machines are starting to replace the children, and therefore, should be destroyed. He ends the speech with a calm "[[AsTheGoodBookSays Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone]]." A man stands up, and throws a stone... at the circus master. The rest of the crowd [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome quickly follows suit.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' has one second season episode show this prominently. The {{Muggles}} in a subway car spend most of the episode berating ComicBook/CaptainAmerica for betraying humanity (it was a Skrull) ''as [[UngratefulBastard he is leading them to safety]]''. However, by the end when he's about to fall to the Serpent Society (who've pretty much said they want to kill the muggles}) they [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming all pelt the villains]] and distract them enough with supportive cries to give Cap a chance.

* In ''ComicBook/{{Millennium}}'', a Manhunter is psyching out Hal Jordon Green Lantern during a fight at how his cause is worthless and the people he is defending are nothing but sheep to their "superiors." This gets to Jordon as his will begins to fade and thus also his ring's power until it almost goes out. However, one of the humans he is defending blindsides the Manhunter with a thrown snowball noting that she will defy him. From that outburst, Green Lantern's faith in his cause is restored and the ring's power shifts from fading out to blazing fury, [[CurbStompBattle curb stomping]] the Manhunter.

* In ''FanFic/OriginStory'', Typhoid Mary smacks down Louise first, knowing that its Alex who is the true threat. Mary then proceeds to put a serious hurt on Alex and completely ignoring the fact that Louise is even still in the room. This turns out to be a big, big mistake on Typhoid Mary's part.

* When the Wrestling/{{n|ewWorldorder}}Wo debuted in Wrestling/{{WCW}} fans (or [[{{Astroturfing}} employees disguised as fans]]) responded by throwing lots of trash into the ring.

* ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'' has an astonishing double bonus. Pre-teen girl Marlene tosses a Materia Orb at Yazoo to stop him from finishing off Tifa once he [=KOs=] her. It works, but only because the Materia is fully powered and what the setting's magic runs on.

->'''[[Characters/MCULoki Loki]]:''' Kneel before me. I said... KNEEL! ''[people in the crowd kneel]'' Is this not simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power. For identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel.\\

->'''[[Characters/MCULoki Loki]]:''' Kneel before me. I said... KNEEL! ''[people in the crowd kneel]'' Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power. For identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel.\\

->'''Loki:''' Kneel before me. I said... KNEEL! ''[people in the crowd kneel]'' Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power. For identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel.\\

->'''Loki:''' [[KneelBeforeZod Kneel before me]]. I said... KNEEL! ''[people in the crowd kneel]'' Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power. For identity. [[ServantRace You were made to be ruled]]. In the end, you will always kneel.\\

->'''Loki:''' [[KneelBeforeZod Kneel before me]]. I said... KNEEL! (''people in the crowd kneel'') Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power. For identity. [[ServantRace You were made to be ruled]]. In the end, you will always kneel.\\
'''German Old Man:''' (''stands'') Not to men like you. \\

* In ''TheWitcher'' short story ''The Lesser Evil'', after Geralt kills Renfri in defense of the villagers of Blaviken, they, quite ironically, proceed to pelt him with stones, thinking him nothing more than a murderer. Geralt survives unscathed due to a timely [[DeflectorShields Quen Sign]], however, he is forced out of Blaviken and awarded with the epithet [[HeroWithBadPublicity "The Butcher of Blaviken"]].

* The Palestinians are/were famous for this during [[UsefulNotes/ArabIsraeliConflict the two Intifadas]] (the First in TheEighties and the Second at the TurnOfTheMillennium), throwing stones at [[UsefulNotes/IsraelisWithInfraredMissiles Israeli tanks and heavily armed and armored Israeli soldiers]], as well as the bulldozers and other construction equipment brought in to build IDF fortifications and Israeli settlements. These days it doesn't happen as much, since the West Bank is walled off and is in an uneasy peace with Israel, while Gaza fights with the occasional (or during major operations, not-so-occasional) rocket. Also, the Palestinians did fight with standard weaponry and, of course [[SuicideAttack suicide bombs]], (particularly in the Second Intifada), so the [[PoliticallyCorrectHistory "rocks v. tanks" image some like to paint]] isn't exactly what you'd call accurate.

->'''Loki:''' Kneel before me. I said... KNEEL! (''people in the crowd kneel'') Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power. For identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel.\\