History Main / ReasonableRequestRejected

Can happen alongside BaitAndSwitch. It's a hallmark of the ObstructiveBureaucracy. A common trait among MeanBoss and CorruptCorporateExecutive types. Sometimes sealed with a StampOfRejection.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': While restrained, Missy goads Osgood into coming close to her, at which point she whispers she's going to kill her. While Osgood doesn't believe her, Missy proceeds to reveal her handcuffs are off, kills the guards and prepares to kill the scientist. Osgood tries convincing the Time Lady not to murder her by pointing out she's of more use alive, which Missy agrees is true and completely reasonable. Unfortunately, [[CardCarryingVillain Missy then explains she's also crazy]] and shoots Osgood anyway.
* ''Series/TheGoodPlace'': [[spoiler:The humans and Michael race against the clock as the Judge aims to reset Earth and humanity as a solution to the dysfunctional points system. They manage to come up with an alternate plan for the afterlife to avoid this outcome, but need Shawn's approval. Despite Shawn admitting their plan is sound and benefits all parties, he rejects it since he'd rather wait around for millions of years than let Michael have his way. Luckily, they are able to convince him when Shawn realizes that fighting Michael made him happy and it would come to an end if the Earth was reset]].
* ''Series/{{MASH}}'': In one episode, Trapper and Hawkeye are lamenting that they have no incubator, meaning that they have to wait days to get results on cultures to find out what illness a patient might have. They arrange a meeting with the Quartermaster's office, who looks up the incubator and what it does. He notes that it would be useful for a medical unit, then promptly denies the request. He would, he notes, be able to give them a jukebox or a pizza oven.

[[folder: Comic Books]]

[[folder:Films-Live Action]]
* ''Film/MyCousinVinny'': Vinny Gambini, serving as legal counsel, objects to the surprise addition of a new witness, and he is sure to explain his reasons clearly due to past history of not being understood by the judge. The judge acknowledges the reasonableness of the request.
--> '''Judge Chamberlain Haller:''' That is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out objection.
--> '''Vinny Gambini:''' Thank you, Your Honor.
--> '''Judge Chamberlain Haller:''' [firm tone] Overruled.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* In ''ComicBook/TransformersLostLight'', there is a flashback to the time Shockwave leaves the Autobot prison Garrus 9 with a handpicked crew and runs into the Decepticon Justice Division. Shockwave points out that ''every single one'' of his crew are wanted by the DJD for various "crimes" and offers them up if they allow him to leave. DJD leader Tarn admits that having so many of their targets in one place offered up to them is extremely convenient and Shockwave probably has some plan in the works that will benefit Cybertron as a whole... but declines and informs Shockwave he'd much rather kill Shockwave anyway. This turns out to be a huge miscalculation on Tarn's part: the DJD are attacked by Shockwave's backup [[TheJuggernaut Bludgeon]] and [[CombiningMecha Monstructor]], forcing them to flee with nothing to show for their efforts.

** When Sarek explains about Spock's katra to Kirk, Kirk goes to Starfleet Command, specifically Admiral Morrow, and makes an earnest request to be allowed to return to Planet Genesis to retrieve Spock's body to fulfill Sarek's request. Because of the controversy surrounding the Genesis Project and its potential to be misused as a weapon, as well as the controversy regarding its [[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan inadvertent deployment]], Kirk is denied permission. He tells his crew, [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight "The answer is 'no'. We are therefore going, anyway."]]

* ''WebAnimation/SonicInXMinutes'': In ''Sonic Forces in minutes Part 2," a newsanchor asks a bear named Mrs. Brown if she has any questions about the oppressive [[BigBrotherIsWatching Eggman Empire]]. Mrs. Brown asks why she should worship Eggman, and what Eggman has done for her. The news anchor says that's a good question, and then it cuts to Mrs. Brown being [[UnwillingRoboticization roboticized]].

* Charles Lamb was a Royal Navy pilot who survived [=WW2=] and fought against all three principal Axis members. In his autobiography ''War In A Stringbag'', he recounts events after crash-landing in the French territory of Algeria. Unfortunately the French colonial administration was Vichy -- allied to Germany -- and Lamb was detained in a prison camp in the Sahara Desert for over a year. He recounts his experience as a prisoner-of-war in a penal camp administered by the French Foreign Legion, and recalled his continual struggle to get better treatment for the inmates. the FFL commanding officer would listen to his requests, acknowledge them, and then flatly refuse. His deputy, a more reasonable man, would grant them where he could but was often forced to say "This is fair. This is reasonable. But it has to get past the colonel."

* ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'': Zigzagged. Walter Peck's request to see the storage facilities for the ghosts caught by the 'Busters would have been reasonable, had he not prefaced it by making it very blatant that he was accusing the Ghostbusters of being snowball artists putting on a fancy light show and deceiving people with nerve agents. Peter rightfully tells him that he'll sue Peck for wrongful prosecution. [[StrawmanHasAPoint Peck's concerns aren't unfounded]], but he addresses them in the most dickish and disrespectful way possible.

Can happen alongside BaitAndSwitch. It's a hallmark of the ObstructiveBureaucracy. A common trait among MeanBoss and CorruptCorporateExecutive types.

You want me to [[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere Reasonable Request Rejected here]]? Well, that is certainly a reasonable expectation on a tropes page. Request denied.

You want me to explain the Reasonable Request Rejected Trope? Well, that is certainly a reasonable expectation on a tropes page. Request denied.

[[folder:Video Games]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]