History Main / StrangerSafety

* TheSimpsons MusicalEpisode "[[AStreetcarNamedDesire Oh, Streetcar]]" featured a song which had a message of "A stranger's just a friend you haven't met yet!" This is a parody of the same line's darkly ironic use in the original play.

* In ''MobyDick'', Ishmael isn't put off by having to share a bed with a complete stranger, until he discovers the stranger in question is a WildSamoan. An example of ValuesDissonance, as that was how inns and guest houses worked back then. A bed to yourself was very, very expensive.

** Subverted in the second game, where [[spoiler:a Drowzee kidnaps Azumarill, the game's resident CuteShotaroBoy]].

In stories where this trope applies, it's usually a near unheard of and an unspeakable crime to actually lull someone into a sense of security and rob them blind. Doing so in such a story is sure to send the character straight over the MoralEventHorizon and into CompleteMonster territory. Why else would it be pounded into most of the children of RealLife that talking to complete strangers is usually ''bad''?

* Ayla and Jondoloar from the ''EarthsChildren'' series are constantly meeting new people, who are (almost) always helpful and friendly.

* In ''TheLegendOfZelda,'' many fans have commented on Link's ability to ''just'' walk into anyplace. Few [=NPCs=] will care that much about you breaking pots and taking the goodies inside, or just walking around. Bedrooms aren't off-limits. ''Some'' places can only be entered during the day, though.

* In an episode of ''CardCaptorSakura'', a strange old man befriends ten-year-old Sakura. [[spoiler:It turns out to be her great grandfather, but she didn't know it at the time and went off with what could very well have been a creep showing unnatural interest in her]]. MoralGuardians were ''so'' very unamused.

* Ayla and Jondoloar from the EarthsChildren series are constantly meeting new people, who are (almost) always helpful and friendly.

* In an episode of CardCaptorSakura, a strange old man befriends ten-year-old Sakura. [[spoiler:It turns out to be her great grandfather, but she didn't know it at the time and went off with what could very well have been a creep showing unnatural interest in her]]. MoralGuardians were ''so'' very unamused.

* In MobyDick, Ishmael isn't put off by having to share a bed with a complete stranger, until he discovers the stranger in question is a WildSamoan. An example of ValuesDissonance, as that was how inns and guest houses worked back then. A bed to yourself was very, very expensive.

* An aspect of this fits into the general aspect of hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers. Hitchhiking was once considered a perfectly reasonable way for young people to travel, and it was considered bad hospitality to not pick up stranded travelers along the way. Now, the general feeling is to lock one's doors, as both the hitchhikers and the drivers expect the other to be scumbags who will take advantage of them, attack them, or [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs take advantage of them and then attack them]].

* An aspect of this fits into the general aspect of hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers. Hitchhiking was once considered a perfectly reasonable way for young people to travel, and it was considered bad hospitality to not pick up stranded travelers along the way. Now, the general feeling is to lock one's doors...

* In ''TheLegendOfZelda,'' many fans have commented on Link's ability to ''just'' walk into anyplace. Few NPCs will care that much about you breaking pots and taking the goodies inside, or just walking around. Bedrooms aren't off-limits. ''Some'' places can only be entered during the day, though.

* In an episode of CardCaptorSakura, a strange old man befriends Sakura. [[spoiler:It turns out to be her great grandfather, but she didn't know it at the time and went off with what could very well have been a creep showing unnatural interest in her]].

* Happens all the time in ''HighwayToHeaven''. After meeting Jonathan (the angel) and Mark (his sidekick), people rarely suspect any danger of any kind from these two. In one rare instance (in the episode ''Monster'') where a boy does distrust strangers, the episode is about tolerance of those who are diffent. The boy turns out to be a liar who can't be trusted. Within a day or two of knowing someone Mark and Jonathan will be granted full access to loved ones and personal property beyond what a normal person would trust his own spouse or chldren to do. In some episodes, Jonathan has convinced near complete strangers to:

* Played straight in TheOdyssey, where ''many'' characters take care of main hero Odysseus.

* Happens all the time in ''HighwayToHeaven''. After meeting Johnathan (the angel) and Mark (his sidekick), people rarely suspect any danger of any kind from these two. In one rare instance (in the episode ''Monster'') where a boy does distrust strangers, the episode is about tolerance of those who are diffent. The boy turns out to be a liar who can't be trusted. Within a day or two of knowing someone Mark and Johnathan will be granted full access to loved ones and personal property beyond what a normal person would trust his own spouse or chldren to do. In some episodes, Johnathan has convinced near complete strangers to:

* An aspect of this fits into the general aspect of hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers. Hitchhiking was once considered a perfectly reasonable way for young people to travel, and it was considered bad hospitality to not pick up stranded travelers along the way. Now, the general feeling is to lick one's doors...

** [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], via ValuesDissonance. The concept of xenia, the relationship between a host and guest, was considered paramount in Greek culture. To turn a guest away, or treat them less than generously, would be a very grievous sin.

!!Examples

* TheSimpsons MusicalEpisode "[[AStreetcarNamedDesireOh, Streetcar]]" featured a song which had a message of "A stranger's just a friend you haven't met yet!" This is a parody of the same line's darkly ironic use in the original play.

[[AC:{{Anime and Manga}}]]
* In an episode of CardCaptorSakura, a strange old man befriends Sakura. [[spoiler:It turns out to be her great grandfather, but she didn't know it at the time and went off with what could very well have been a creep showing unnatural interest in her.]]

* In MobyDick, Ishmael isn't put off by having to share a bed with a complete stranger, until he discovers the stranger in question is a WildSamoan.
**I call ValuesDissonance on this one, that was how inns and guest houses worked back then. A bed to yourself was very, very expensive.

[[AC:{{Video Games}}]]

** Subverted in the second game, where [[spoiler: a Drowzee kidnaps Azumarill, the game's resident CuteShotaroBoy.]]


[[AC:{{Western Animation}}]]

* TheSimpsons MusicalEpisode "Oh, [[AStreetcarNamedDesire Streetcar]]" featured a song which had a message of "A stranger's just a friend you haven't met yet!" This is a parody of the same line's darkly ironic use in the original play.

A JustifiedTrope, as in ancient Greece, accepting aid from and giving aid to complete strangers was shown to be a virtuous characteristic. Even in relatively recent times and stories it was not improbable for these sorts of events to occur; strife at them is likely to be due to ValuesDissonance.

**I call ValuesDissonance in this one, that was how inns and guest houses worked back then. A bed to yourself was very, very expensive.

* TheSimpsons MusicalEpisode "Oh, [[AStreetcarNamedDesire Streetcar]]" featured a song which had a message of "A stranger's just a friend you haven't met yet!"

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