History Main / DirtyCoward

The Dirty Coward is the slime of the earth, working exclusively for themselves and shamelessly retreating from harm's way even if that harm is about to hit the AllLovingHero that [[AFriendInNeed just saved their life two seconds ago]]. They'll take every advantage, [[CombatPragmatist are not above using dishonorable tactics and dirty tricks]], and [[PushedAtTheMonster they'll be more than happy to push someone (including their friend) at the danger just to save their own skin]] but [[OriginalPositionFallacy they'll cry and moan every time the tables are turned]] and [[MoralMyopia someone uses the same tactics against them]], [[WhoWillBellTheCat asks for a volunteer]], or reminds them of [[ThePromise that promise they made]]. Often full of vicious plans for anyone they dislike, [[NotInThisForYourRevolution as long as they aren't in need of that person's skills at the moment]].

Though the Dirty Coward may be a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] (or a SocialDarwinist), they're certainly not [[SociopathicHero heroic]] [[HeroicComedicSociopath or]] {{comedic|Sociopathy}}. And if they're a bastard, they're ''certainly'' not meant to be {{magnificent|Bastard}}. [[SmugSnake They're usually only marginally competent to start with, and even the cleverest of them tends to be short-sighted]]. Even when they know that breaking ranks will leave a hole in the defenses that will let the enemy in, leading to far more danger for them in the long term, they will generally run for it anyway (and get shot InTheBack). Their allegiance almost always lies with whoever can cause them the most immediate harm, even if that threat isn't likely to last. They'll be happy to badmouth people to their faces when they can not immediately hurt them, only to attempt to curry favor when the roles reverse. Dirty Cowards are especially prone to suffering a KarmicDeath, usually at the hands of whatever they were trying to run from, and are similarly likely to suffer a VillainousBreakdown. Dirty Cowards often flipflop from smugness to groveling depending on whether they have the advantage at the moment. An arrogant villain might beg for his life when the heroes have him at their mercy, only to take advantage of the heroes' lowered guard to escape or strike back, then mock them for their carelessness.

Usually a villain unless [[PlayedForLaughs used comically]], although they may sometimes be a certain type of civilian that gets in the way. When used as a villain, this is a cheap way to make the heroes look good in comparison, [[BlackAndGrayMorality even if they're not]] [[DesignatedHero everything they should be]]. Villainous Dirty Cowards tend to fall squarely into NeutralEvil, since they are first and foremost out for their own hides at the expense of others. One of the best ways to demean the BigBad is by making them out to be a coward. It's doubly ironic if [[TheDreaded the one who brings fear into the hearts of others]] [[PaperTiger turns out to be a pathetic scaramouch]] who [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritically]] makes others feel weak because they are really the weak one and try to hide it. After all, only TheBully can bring the "dirty" into the Dirty Coward trope.

May be the MilesGloriosus, and even believe his own brags when out of danger. The FearlessFool may invoke this to persuade his companions to [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb act like idiots]]. A FairWeatherFoe could be considered a social form of this, acting mean to their enemies if they can afford to, but are willing to act nice if acting mean could have consequences. Not to be confused with the CombatPragmatist, who may employ tactics that can be considered dirty and cowardly but does so out of cold calculation rather than fear. Contrast the LovableCoward, who numbers among the good guys and has foibles portrayed far more sympathetically, generally due to [[AtLeastIAdmitIt their not trying to pose]] as anything ''but'' a coward, and even then will often face their fears and ultimately still risk their lives if the chips are really down (as will the CowardlyLion). TheSoCalledCoward is by definition mistaken for one of these; if they don't want to be, they'll say "NobodyCallsMeChicken." See also TheBully (characters who are brave enough when tormenting those weaker than they are, but [[ThinSkinnedBully showing their true colors]] in the face of those equal to or stronger than they are), OriginalPositionFallacy (where one holds a moral position on the assumption that they will recieve the benefits, without considering that they may be among the ones to suffer from said beliefs), SoreLoser (where someone isn't afraid of death or injury so much as they are of losing, though many Dirty Cowards are also Sore Losers) and OpportunisticBastard. Does not apply when [[KnowWhenToFoldEm retreating really is the most practical option one has]]. Often overlaps with ScrewThisImOuttaHere, where someone enters a situation that they don’t want to be a part of, so they decide to just leave.

** Kaine falls into this during the "Grim Hunt" arc. He's so terrified of the Kravinoffs that after they capture Araña and Arachne, he insists to Peter that they can't win and their best option is to "run and screw the rest." Spidey responds by decking Kaine in the face and giving him a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, absolutely disgusted that Kaine shares his DNA and memories yet acts like a selfish coward. This actually reaches Kaine, who subsequently knocks Peter out, dons his costume, and dies fighting the Kravinoff family in his place.

!This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16920782530.85713400 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.

May be the MilesGloriosus, and even believe his own brags when out of danger. The FearlessFool may invoke this to persuade his companions to [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb act like idiots]]. Not to be confused with the CombatPragmatist, who may employ tactics that can be considered dirty and cowardly but does so out of cold calculation rather than fear. Contrast the LovableCoward, who numbers among the good guys and has foibles portrayed far more sympathetically, generally due to [[AtLeastIAdmitIt their not trying to pose]] as anything ''but'' a coward, and even then will often face their fears and ultimately still risk their lives if the chips are really down (as will the CowardlyLion). TheSoCalledCoward is by definition mistaken for one of these; if they don't want to be, they'll say "NobodyCallsMeChicken." See also TheBully (characters who are brave enough when tormenting those weaker than they are, but [[ThinSkinnedBully showing their true colors]] in the face of those equal to or stronger than they are), OriginalPositionFallacy (where one holds a moral position on the assumption that they will recieve the benefits, without considering that they may be among the ones to suffer from said beliefs), SoreLoser (where someone isn't afraid of death or injury so much as they are of losing, though many Dirty Cowards are also Sore Losers) and OpportunisticBastard. Does not apply when [[KnowWhenToFoldEm retreating really is the most practical option one has]]. Often overlaps with ScrewThisImOuttaHere, where someone enters a situation that they don’t want to be a part of, so they decide to just leave.

** The minute Simba has Scar cornered at the pinnacle of Pride Rock, he pathetically begs for mercy, [[ISurrenderSuckers then viciously attacks Simba when the latter falls for his pleas]].

* ''WebAnimation/MangaSoprano'': Near the end of ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8-gfzT4b0c I was forced to enter the contest, but my brother, a former yakuza, helped me out]]'', [[spoiler:when Kairi showed up to the swimsuit contest his sister Kanade was forced into, Maria's "friends" both run off and throw her under the bus when they found out his tattoos.]]

* ''WebAnimation/MangaSoprano'': Near the end of ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8-gfzT4b0c I was forced to enter the contest, but my brother, a former yakuza, helped me out]]'', [[spoiler:when Kairi showed up to the swimsuit contest his sister Kanade was forced into, Maria's both run off and throw her under the bus when they found out his tattoos.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'', when the Omnidroid figures out Syndrome's remote was giving him an advantage, it blasts it off and Syndrome flees very quickly while screaming, even pushing a man out of the way.

* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames'', while everyone else pitches in to help others during the climax, Principle Abacus Cinch instead attempts to escape. Afterwards, she [[NeverMyFault refuses to accept responsibility]] for causing the disaster in the first place.

The Dirty Coward is the slime of the earth, working exclusively for themselves and shamelessly retreating from harm's way even if that harm is about to hit the AllLovingHero that [[AFriendInNeed just saved their life two seconds ago]]. They'll take every advantage, [[CombatPragmatist are not above using dishonorable tactics and dirty tricks]], and [[PushedAtTheMonster they'll be more than happy to push their friend at the danger just to save their own skin]] but [[OriginalPositionFallacy they'll cry and moan every time the tables are turned]] and [[MoralMyopia someone uses the same tactics against them]], [[WhoWillBellTheCat asks for a volunteer]], or reminds them of [[ThePromise that promise they made]]. Often full of vicious plans for anyone they dislike, [[NotInThisForYourRevolution as long as they aren't in need of that person's skills at the moment]].

The Dirty Coward is the slime of the earth, working exclusively for themselves and shamelessly retreating from harm's way even if that harm is about to hit the AllLovingHero that [[AFriendInNeed just saved their life two seconds ago]]. They'll take every advantage and [[CombatPragmatist are not above using dishonorable tactics and dirty tricks]], but [[OriginalPositionFallacy they'll cry and moan every time the tables are turned]] and [[MoralMyopia someone uses the same tactics against them]], [[WhoWillBellTheCat asks for a volunteer]], or reminds them of [[ThePromise that promise they made]]. Often full of vicious plans for anyone they dislike, [[NotInThisForYourRevolution as long as they aren't in need of that person's skills at the moment]].

* [[http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-2365-i-was-psych-nurse-who-abused-patients-with-chokeholds.html This]] Cracked Article describes a nurse in a psych ward named [[VillainProtagonist Clyde]] and how he came to hate his patients]], [[KickTheDog how he looked the other way while they were being abused, and how he regularly abused them as well]]. While he claims he regrets it and that it was wrong, [[NeverMyFault the constant excuses he makes by mostly blaming the system instead of himself and his fellow nurses]], makes him extremely hard to sympathise. Especially when he reveals that his TheLastStraw for him happened when he walked in on two of his coworkers ''[[ColdBloodedTorture force-feeding a patient shaving cream]]'', which nearly killed the patient, but instead of doing anything to intervene, [[WhatYouAreInTheDark Clyde just locked himself in the bathroom]]. For obvious reasons, the interviewer doesn't agree with him.

May be the MilesGloriosus, and even believe his own brags when out of danger. The FearlessFool may invoke this to persuade his companions to [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb act like idiots]]. Not to be confused with the CombatPragmatist, who may employ tactics that can be considered dirty and cowardly but does so out of cold calculation rather than fear. Contrast the LovableCoward, who numbers among the good guys and has foibles portrayed far more sympathetically, generally due to [[AtLeastIAdmitIt their not trying to pose]] as anything ''but'' a coward, and even then will often face their fears and ultimately still risk their lives if the chips are really down (as will the CowardlyLion). TheSoCalledCoward is by definition mistaken for one of these; if they don't want to be, they'll say "NobodyCallsMeChicken." See also TheBully (characters who are brave enough when tormenting those weaker than they are, but [[ThinSkinnedBully showing their true colors]] in the face of those equal to or stronger than they are), OriginalPositionFallacy (where one holds a moral position on the assumption that they will recieve the benefits, without considering that they may be among the ones to suffer from said beliefs), SoreLoser (where someone isn't afraid of death or injury so much as they are of losing, though many Dirty Cowards are also Sore Losers) and OpportunisticBastard. Does not apply when [[KnowWhenToFoldEm retreating really is the most practical option one has]].

** Raven Branwen's philosophy is that [[TheSocialDarwinist the weak die and the strong live]]; she'll only ever save a person once -- they must save themselves if they find themselves in danger again. She also refuses to get involved in the [[SecretWar conflict]] between [[BigGood Ozpin]] and [[BigBad Salem]], stating that anyone foolish enough to trust Ozpin will die for a lost cause. [[spoiler:By the end of volume 5, Yang makes Raven aware that she's willing to risk other people's lives whenever a danger arises; Yang declares that she is willing to fight Salem despite her fear while Raven would rather run despite being more powerful than her daughter; when Yang gives her the option of fleeing once again, she does so with a tearful apology, leaving her daughter to take the heat from Salem for possessing the [[ArtifactOfPower Relic of Knowledge]].]]