History Main / UnacceptableTargets

* On many websites and message boards, [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem the admins, moderators, and any of their friends]] are very Unacceptable Targets.

Dead people? This Trope.

This is UnacceptableTargets, a sacred cow that you dare not tip. Doing so may result in anything from [[DudeNotFunny "Dude, Not Funny"]] to the entire audience staring at you in [[StunnedSilence shocked silence]] [[{{Beat}} for a split second before]] [[DisproportionateRetribution breaking out the]] TorchesAndPitchforks. Comedians that gladly cross all the lines will still stop at this one, no matter how bold they are. In short, some things are just sacred.

** [[FoxNews Fox & Friends]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29lmR_357rA cite a University study]] regarding MisterRogers and, essentially, say he ruined the children watching by giving them a sense of entitlement. All you need do is read the comments on the video for just how much hatred viewers had for the hosts by the end of it.

* Really, anything can be an Unacceptable Target in some places. For example: in an Anime related forum or circle, it is best not to invoke AnimationAgeGhetto or proclaim hatred to anime by itself. In other places, this might be okay although YourMileageMayVary.

* Anything can be an Unacceptable Target in some places. For example: in an Anime related forum or circle, it is best not to invoke AnimationAgeGhetto or proclaim hatred to anime by itself.

* [[NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead The deceased]] in general, especially if the person died tragically and/or recently. Even if they were formerly an AcceptableTarget, it's best not to say "[[AssholeVictim They deserved it!]]" or such. [[hottip:Incidentally this page itself was created on the 9th anniversary of 9/11, whom the victims of that tragedy are good examples of this trope.]]

9/11 victims? This Trope.

* [[NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead The deceased]] in general, but particularly if the person died tragically or recently. Even if they were formerly an AcceptableTarget, it's best not to say "[[AssholeVictim They deserved it!]]" or such.

* [[NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead Anyone that is dead]], especially anyone who died in a tragedy. Even if they were formerly an AcceptableTarget, it's best not to say "[[AssholeVictim They deserved it!]]" or such.

* TheNostalgiaCritic felt the power of this in his review of ''[[SesameStreet Follow That Bird]]''.
** Also, he should ''[[NeverLiveItDown not have messed with Mako]]!''

Can sometimes be difficult to separate from OnceAcceptableTargets in cases where the subjects in question were mocked at one time by one people in the dark annals of history. Perhaps a good rule of thumb to distinguish between the two is ''"Oh, you're mocking the OnceAcceptableTarget? [[ValuesDissonance How behind-the-times you are.]] I will laugh derisively at you."'' vs. ''"You're mocking the Unacceptable Target? [[CompleteMonster YOU MONSTER]]!!!"''

* On many websites and message boards, [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem the admins, moderators, and any of their friends]] are very UnacceptableTargets.

Some situations can result in heavily UnfortunateImplications, DoubleStandards, PositiveDiscrimination and ValuesDissonance in which TheRival or the counterpart of the Unacceptable Target can become an AcceptableTarget.

If Unacceptable Targets is somehow made funny, it almost always belongs to CrossesTheLineTwice category. Contrast AcceptableTargets. Compare EvenEvilHasStandards. JesusWasWayCool may be a SubTrope.

A DeadBabyComedy will demonstrate its meanness (depending on the writers behind it) by mocking these mercilessly; this can cause the cancellation of particular episodes considered too offensive or tasteless.

Can sometimes be difficult to separate from OnceAcceptableTargets in cases where the subjects in question were mocked at one time by one people in the dark annals of history. Perhaps a good rule of thumb to distinguish between the two is ''"Oh, you're mocking the OnceAcceptableTarget? [[Values Dissonance How behind-the-times you are.]] I will laugh derisively at you."'' vs. ''"You're mocking the Unacceptable Target? [[CompleteMonster YOU MONSTER]]!!!"''

Related to, but differs from OnceAcceptableTargets in which that the subjects in question were mocked at one time by one people in the dark annals of history. Perhaps the basic rule of thumb between the two is ''"Oh, you're mocking the OnceAcceptableTarget? How behind-the-times you are. I will laugh derisively at you."'' vs. ''"You're mocking the Unacceptable Target? [[CompleteMonster YOU MONSTER]]!!!"''

A DeadBabyComedy will demonstrate its meanness (depending of the writers behind it) mocking these mercilessly, this can cause the cancellation of particular episodes considered too offensive or tasteless.

Related to, but differs from OnceAcceptableTargets in which that the subjects in question were mocked at one time by one people in the dark annals of history. Perhaps the basic rule of thumb between the two is ''"Oh, you're mocking the OnceAcceptableTarget? How behind-the-times you are. I will laugh derisively at you."'' vs. ''"You're mocking the UnacceptableTarget? [[CompleteMonster YOU MONSTER]]!!!"''

If Unacceptable Targets is somehow made funny, it almost always belongs to CrossesTheLineTwice category. Contrast AcceptableTargets. Compare EvenEvilHasStandards. JesusWasWayCool may be a SubTrope.

A DeadBabyComedy will demonstrate its meanness (depending of the writers behind it) mocking these mercilessly, this can cause the cancellation of particular episodes considered too ofensive or tasteless.

See also AcceptableTargets, OnceAcceptableTargets, DoubleStandard, PositiveDiscrimination and ValuesDissonance.

* In any site, [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem the admins, moderators, and any of their friends]] are very UnacceptableTargets.
* Anything can be an Unacceptable Target in some places. For example: in an Anime related forum or circle, it is best not to invoke AnimationAgeGhetto or proclaim hatred to anime by itself.
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<<|SubjectiveTropes|>>

* Women are ''usually'' Unacceptable Targets, or at least more unacceptable than men are. Ironically, both condescendingly chivalrous males and militantly feminist females often agree on this point.

** Those who died via the death penalty, SuicideByCop, or by sheer stupidity (see the DarwinAwards, most of the victims on OneThousandWaysToDie, etc.) may be an exception, but YourMileageMayVary there.

A DeadBabyComedy will demostrate its meanness (depending of the writers behind it) mocking these mercilessly, this can cause the cancellation of particular episodes considered too ofensive or tasteless.

* [[NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead Anyone that is dead]], especially anyone who died in a tragedy. Even if they were formerly an AcceptableTarget, it's best not to say "[[AssholeVictim they deserved it]]" or such.

* {{Tropers/ANONYMOUS}} and their affiliated websites (4chan, EncyclopediaDramatica, SomethingAwful, etc.) has a nearly unlimited list of AcceptableTargets. Yet even in their circles they have Unacceptable Targets, like {{Yotsuba}}...and cats.

*** Speaking of ''TheElderScrolls'', there's also one particular Unacceptable Target in the modding community - if you ''ever, in any way'' criticise [=AlienSlof=] (a female modder responsible for creating much of the game's male-oriented {{Rule 34}} and fetish mods), you are a CompleteMonster and you ''will'' have every member of the community against you. [[DoubleStandard Saying that female-oriented Rule 34 mods are perverted is okay, though.]]

** Examples of these include ''TopGear'', ''TheOffice'', ''TheHurtLocker'', ''AnnieHall'', ''SystemShock 2'', ''TheElderScrolls'', (But only ''Daggerfall'' and ''Morrowind'' depending on where you go.) ''BaldursGate'', ''StarCraft'' (The first one especially), ''DungeonsAndDragons'', anything ''{{Warhammer}}'', and anything made by ''{{Valve}}'' (Especially ''HalfLife'').

** Examples of these include ''TopGear'', ''TheOffice'', ''TheHurtLocker'', ''HalfLife'', ''SystemShock 2'', ''TheElderScrolls'', (But only ''Daggerfall'' and ''Morrowind'' depending on where you go.) ''BaldursGate'', ''StarCraft'' (The first one especially), ''DungeonsAndDragons'', and anything ''{{Warhammer}}''.

** Examples of these include ''TopGear'', ''TheHurtLocker'', ''HalfLife'', ''SystemShock 2'', ''TheElderScrolls'', (But only ''Daggerfall'' and ''Morrowind'' depending on where you go.) ''BaldursGate'', ''StarCraft'' (The first one especially), ''DungeonsAndDragons'', and anything ''{{Warhammer}}''.