History Main / TheGadfly

The trope codifier is the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates [=(470–399 BC)=], who took his self-appointed role as critic of the state so seriously that he refused to take back his criticism even when authorities threatened him with the death penalty. During his trial, Socrates, said that criticism and "dissent, like the gadfly, was easy to swat, but the cost to society of silencing individuals who were irritating [the authorities] could be very high." Socrates' metaphor with the "gadfly" reference is to him acting like a horsefly that is is giving stinging bites to a big horse (the state). Socrates death from drinking a cup of poison Hemlock after the trial shows the risks of being a gadfly to a powerful government. Even in modern times, a gadfly in a totalitarian state or junta may find themselves imprisoned in a BlackSite or "[[DeadlyEuphemism disappeared" by the SecretPolice.

The trope codifier is the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates [=(470–399 BC)=], who took his self-appointed role as critic of the state so seriously that he refused to take back his criticism even when authorities threatened him with the death penalty. During his trial, Socrates, said that criticism and "dissent, like the gadfly, was easy to swat, but the cost to society of silencing individuals who were irritating [the authorities] could be very high." Socrates' metaphor with the "gadfly" reference is to him acting like a horsefly that is is giving stinging bites to a big horse (the state).

Contrast the BlitheSpirit and ManicPixieDreamGirl, who often use a very similar M.O. [[note]]modus perandi[[/note]] to ''improve'' people's lives. The DevilsAdvocate will do this in serious discussion to point out flaws in a stated position.

The trope codifier is the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates [=(470–399 BC)=], who took his self-appointed role as critic of the state so seriously that he refused to take back his criticism even when authorities threatened him with the death penalty. During his trial, Socrates, said that criticism and "dissent, like the gadfly, was easy to swat, but the cost to society of silencing individuals who were irritating [the authorities] could be very high."

The Gadfly is a character who often says things that make fun of, or provoke, other people. The Gadfly isn't afraid to say blunt truths about sensitive issues that everyone else [[ElephantInTheLivingRoom discreetly tiptoes around]], and they are quick to weigh in with critical remarks.

Usually they're not really bad people. They can be quite witty, amusing and insightful as long as they're not going after ''you'', but their main targets seem to be their allies, who understand that it's all a joke to them. In the UsefulNotes/ForumPeckingOrder, they may be a member of the Old Guard or BlueBlood, and thus are relatively safe from reprisals. Their amicable nature makes them fairly benevolent but they can set off difficult conversations and startarguments.

[[NoSocialSkills Maybe they have a poor social skills]], so its hard for them to express themselves diplomatically. [[ItAmusedMe Or it could be they just like to watch others get annoyed, confused or angry at them.]] Or maybe the impolite behavior is a SecretTestOfCharacter for the other party.

The Gadfly is a character who often says things that make fun of, or provoke, other people. The Gadfly isn't afraid to say blunt truth is that everyone else [[ElephantInTheLivingRoom discreetly tiptoes around]], and they are quick to weigh in with critical remarks.

The Gadfly is a character who often says things that make fun of, or provoke, other people. The Gadfly isn't afraid to say blunt truth is that everyone else [[ElephantInTheBedroom discreetly tiptoes around]], and they are quick to weigh in with critical remarks.

The Gadfly is a character who often says things that make fun of, or provoke, other people. The Gadfly isn't afraid to say blunt truths that everyone else [[TheElephantInTheBedroom discreetly tiptoes around]], and they are quick to weigh in with critical remarks.

The Gadfly is a character who often says things that make fun of, or provoke, other people. The Gadfly isn't afraid to say blunt truths that everyone else [[TheElephantInThebedroom discreetly tiptoes around]], and they are quick to weigh in with critical remarks.

The Gadfly is a character who often says things that make fun of, or provoke, other people.

[[NoSocialSkills Maybe they have a hard time really expressing themselves.]] [[ItAmusedMe Or it could be they just like to watch others get annoyed, confused or angry at them.]] Or maybe the impolite behavior is a SecretTestOfCharacter for the other party.

Usually they're not really bad people. They can be quite amusing as long as they're not going after ''you'', but their main targets seem to be their allies, who understand that it's all a joke to them. In the UsefulNotes/ForumPeckingOrder, they may be a member of the Old Guard. Their amicable nature makes them fairly benevolent but they can set off strange conversations and arguments.

The Gadfly varies in its subject matter, of course. Sometimes they are TheTease, forever raunchy, or they love political arguments, or they are flat-out ''crazy.'' Others are a variant of the AttentionWhore, and encourage aggression towards themselves. To keep them in line requires a Mod who has a long leash and a big stick.

Contrast the BlitheSpirit and ManicPixieDreamGirl, who often use a very similar M.O. to ''improve'' people's lives. The DevilsAdvocate will do this in serious discussion to point out flaws in a stated position.

* Hyeon from ''Roleplay/DawnOfANewAgeOldportBlues'' has fun messing with people, particularly his ex-girlfriend Nadine. When their mutual friend Eddie is lead to believe that the two have gotten back together, Hyeon hams it up and tells Eddie that they're getting married, and encourages him at every opportunity to talk to Nadine about it (even while fully aware that Nadine's mother will [[OverprotectiveDad kill him]] if she ever finds out what he's doing).

See also RefugeInAudacity, IShallTauntYou, ArmorPiercingQuestion, DevilsAdvocate, CryingWolf. MischiefFace.

* ''LightNovel/KagerouDaze'': Kano. It really doesn't help that he's a ShapeShifter. Most of his lines are meant to fluster ''someone'' in some way, whether it is to break Kido's cool exterior, reading Mary's poetry aloud for everyone, or making comments suggesting he's attracted to Momo [[MySisterIsOffLimits in front of Shintaro]]. [[spoiler:Once his status as TheResenter is revealed, it's clear he's more of a {{Troll}} instead]].

* ''Literature/{{Safehold}}'': [[TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask When she can get away with it]], Empress Sharleyan can be this. A specific example involves informing a man of his elevation to a Grand Duke ''just'' as the man in question is opening her carriage door for her purely to see the look on his face when the news hits him.

* Chelsea from ''Manga/AkameGaKill'' loves to make fun of [[{{Tsundere}} Mine]] [[ShanaClone and]] [[ACupAngst her flat chest]].

* Miette and Serena are rival ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' performers and cooks. They get along just as any rivals would, but Miette also likes to mess with Serena by pretending to be a ''romantic'' rival as well, "threatening" to take Ash away from Serena every chance she gets.

* ComicBook/{{Diabolik}} is a criminal, but once in a while he does something annoying and apparently pointless just to rile up [[SympatheticInspectorAntagonist Ginko]] or whoever exposed himself to whatever he's in the mood of doing.

See also RefugeInAudacity, IShallTauntYou, ArmorPiercingQuestion, DevilsAdvocate, CryingWolf.

* Monkey D. Luffy from ''Manga/OnePiece'' does this to the villains, often pointing out their physical features ('''BIG RED NOSE!!!'''), seemingly just to make them mad. Fittingly, his number one fanboy Bartolomeo ''lives'' to piss every non-Strawhat off, delighting in their enraged reactions and keeping any reprisals at bay with his BarrierWarrior powers.

* Shinnosuke from ''LightNovel/ApocalypseAlice'', who lives to press people's buttons. It also helps to push them [[IneffectualLoner away from him]].

* By episode 12 of ''LightNovel/{{Bakemonogatari}}'', Senjogahara admits she likes to troll Koyomi.

* Motoharu Tsuchimikado and Misaka Worst from ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex''. The former is a SelfProclaimedLiar, the latter does her best trying to troll Accelerator.

* Korone (Green) in ''LightNovel/DemonKingDaimao'' loves yanking Akuto's chain.

* Half the time when Koizumi and Kyon from ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' talk, Koizumi will explain some theory to explain Haruhi and Kyon will start getting very involved in the conversation and thinking about it deeply - at which point he says "Just kidding, I made the whole thing up." Annoying!

* [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Kazuma]] of ''LightNovel/KazeNoStigma'' is a DeadpanSnarker with a hobby: {{Troll}}ing his distant cousin [[{{Tsundere}} Ayano]].

* ''Toys/EverAfterHigh'': Kitty Cheshire is willing to mess with anybody to get a reaction. She provokes a food fight after Legacy Day just for her own amusement, but slides towards {{troll}} territory when she attempts to reveal [[spoiler:the identity of Cerise's father]].

** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'': Rocket has a habit of stealing prosthetic limbs and eyes for his own amusement. In ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', he freaks out the aforementioned Banner and Stark with a JumpScare, just for a laugh.

* Robin/Nightwing in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' loves messing with people in season 1, though by season 2 he's become considerably more mature.

** When Mugi tried to simulate her [[spoiler:to get more popular]], she came off as JerkAss.

* ''Literature/CradleSeries'': Eithan Aurelius uses his incredible power and [[TheOmniscient nigh-omniscience]] to constantly troll everyone around him, reminding them that he's extremely powerful and they can't interfere with his plans no matter what they do. While he ''is'' genuinely a good person who constantly works to make the world better in both major and minor ways, due to the AsskickingEqualsAuthority nature of the world everyone assumes he's secretly hiding some nefarious plan and the constant jokes are just a cruel mask. Of course, even people who really do agree that he's a good person still find his behavior exasperating at best.

* ''Manga/TalesOfWeddingWings'': Morion Ravri Nokanatika spends most of her time teasing her brother-in-law Satou and his harem (especially her elder sister Krystal) for her own amusement. She once tricked Krystal into using a [[FantasyContraception birth control spell]] that wasn't infallible, deliberately waiting for a suitably amusing moment to reveal its 70% success rate. Krystal and Satou, understandably, didn't find this as funny as she did.

* ''TalesOfWeddingWings'': Morion Ravri Nokanatika spends most of her time teasing her brother-in-law Satou and his harem (especially her elder sister Krystal) for her own amusement. She once tricked Krystal into using a [[FantasyContraception birth control spell]] that wasn't infallible, deliberately waiting for a suitably amusing moment to reveal its 70% success rate. Krystal and Satou, understandably, didn't find this as funny as she did.