History PlayingWith / HumanityOnTrial

** It turns out the the 'judgment' is an outright imperialistic farce with a deliberate MortonsFork. Being too much of any extreme be it warlike, scientific advancement pace, or a [[TakeAThirdOption middle ground]] even will draw their judgment with a sentence of becoming second-class citizens or being wiped out. The Galactic Federation is just a collective group of arrogant [[CantArgueWithElves space elves]] who consider themselves above everyone else, and they have done this to thousands of other species.

--> '''Advisor''': Um, Xorbax, I don't mean to be ''that'' guy, but don't you think holding a powerless species uninvolved in intergalactic affairs on life-or-death trial just for mere crimes against itself that don't concern the Federation is, you know, [[FridgeLogic kind of a dick move?]] We're only just being smug, holier-than-thou bullies at this point by doing so.
--> '''Xorbax''': Silence! We're doing this because [[MostWritersAreHuman the writer]] [[AuthorTract is just another edgy misanthrope]]. Don't provoke his wrath by making sense!

* '''Exploited''': The Grobgobnon Horde, the main enemy of The Galactic Federation, sends a massive fleet to [[TalkToTheFist reduce the judge, jury, and executioners into space dust]]. Humanity is so grateful that they join these new allies, and are forever after an important part of the Horde.

* '''Enforced''': The story is an adaptation of colonial influence with [[WarOfTheWorlds the colonizers being colonized by an outside force treating them the exact same way]].

* '''Justified''': There were already several instances when violent species were given technology too advanced for their own godd and either wiped themselves out or even waged a war on the rest of the galaxy. Therefore, the galactic community needs to know for certain whether humans should be uplifted, left to their own devices or wiped out before they become a threat to everyone else.

** There are concerns that the trial will be this but is more akin to the Nuremberg Trials and explicitly of the former apparatus of power after they [[BullyingADragon started a war they couldn't win]] as opposed to the bulk of its civilians. At very worst if literally everyone in the government was fully responsible it would only affect 10% of humanity. Mostly it is holding leaders responsible for their travesties, with lesser punishments for those who [[JustFollowingOrders obeyed orders they knew were wrong]] - notably duress is held as an absolute defense, and a new government sharply limited in potential for abuse.
* '''Double Subverted''': ...for being violent that is. Human reality shows are so bad that they have earned humanity "extermination" verdict right away.

* '''Averted''': Aliens never attempt to judge humanity in such a way. Even ones aggressive ones pushing their moral standards just make demands to ban 'barbaric' practices. No trials, just demands from superior force.

* '''Invoked''': Xorbax sees humanity as corrupted and gets the idea from browsing human media to try to get their act together.

* '''Reconstructed''': There is a lengthy discussion about why have a trial in the first place? The purpose wasn't to make humanity suffer - if they wanted that they would [[JustShootHim use a relativistic asteroid]]. If it was to take over they would just conquer with superior arms. The point of the trial was to both guide the judge in their decisions and to help humanity reform - along with making sure that their own ideas of right and wrong truly apply in their situation despite first blush. Harsh environments and BizzareAlienBiology has made some abhorrent behavior the only option for instance.

--> '''Xorbax''': Silence! We're doing this because [[MostWritersAreHuman the writer]] [[AuthorTract happens to be an edgy misanthrope]] Don't provoke his wrath by making sense!

--> '''Xorbax''': Silence! We're doing this because [[MostWritersAreHuman the writer]] [[AuthorTract wants to show that humans are horrible compared to everyone else in the universe and must be anihilated!]] Don't provoke his wrath by making sense!

* '''Deconstructed''': Humanity is found guilty and as a result Earth is wiped out. The only surviving humans, living in space, devote their existence to revenge. They live as a race of scavengers, bandits, and pirates before finally building strength to launch a massive attack on The Galactic Federation and totally dismantle it. Before being executed, the last Federation Chancellor is told by his human executioners that humans would have been friends of the Federation if it hadn't been for the trial.

** It turns out the 'judgment' is an outright farce for imperialists with a deliberate MortonsFork. Being too much of any extreme be it warlike, scientific advancement pace, or a [[TakeAThirdOption middle ground]] even will draw their judgment with a sentence of becoming second-class citizens or being wiped out. They have done it to thousands of other species.

--> '''Advisor''': Um, Xorbax, I don't mean to be ''that'' guy, but don't you think holding a powerless species uninvolved in intergalactic affairs on life-or-death trial just for mere isolated issues that don't concern the Federation is, you know, [[FridgeLogic kind of a dick move?]] We're only just being smug, holier-than-thou bullies at this point by doing so.

--> '''Xorbax''': Silence! We're doing this because [[MostWritersAreHuman the writer]] [[AuthorTract wants to show]] that humans are horrible compared to everyone else in the universe! Don't provoke his wrath by making sense!

--> '''Xorbax''': Silence! We're doing this because [[MostWritersAreHuman the writer]] [[AuthorTract wants to show]] that humans are horrible compared to everyone else in the universe! Don't provoke their wrath them by making sense!

--> '''Xorbax''': Silence! We're doing this because the writers wants to show how horrible humans are compared to everyone else in the universe! Don't provoke their wrath them by making sense!

--> '''Advisor''': Um, Xorbax, I don't mean to be ''that'' guy, but don't you think holding a powerless species uninvolved in intergalactic affairs on life-or-death trial just for mere isolated issues that don't concern the Federation is, you know, [[FridgeLogic kind of a dick move?]] We're only just being [[Ssmug jackasses at this point by doing so.
--> '''Xorbax''': Silence! We're doing this because the writers wants to show how horrible humans are compared to everyone else in the universe! Don't anger them by making sense!

* '''Lampshaded''': Alex responds to the arrival of Xorbax with 'this judgemental alien shit'?

** There are concerns that the trial will be this but is more akin to the Nuremberg Trials and explicitly of the former apparatus of power after they [[BullyingADragon started a war they couldn't win]] as opposed to the bulk of its civilians. At very worst if literally everyone in the government was fully responsible it would only affect 10% of humanity. Mostly it is holding leaders their travesties, lesser punishment for those who [[JustFollowingOrders obeyed orders they knew were wrong]] - notably duress is an absolute defense, and a new government sharply limited in potential for abuse.

* '''Played Straight''': Xorbax the Chancellor of [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien The Galactic Federation]] arrives on Earth to inform humanity that they are on trial for their wicked and unevolved ways.

* '''Inverted''': Humans decide to put alien races on trial after finding their behavior abhorrent even from their standards of their own historical lows while trying to decide what is the most ethical course.

* '''Subverted''': Upon arriving, Xorbax tells humans that they are extremely violent, destroy their own environment and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking make terrible reality shows]]... but then he says that it is only natural for primitive species to act this way and his people have no right to judge humanity for its failings.

* '''Defied''': Earth's governments unite and mount a desperate defense of their planet.

* '''Played for Drama''': ???

* '''Enforced''': ???

* '''Reconstructed''': ???

* '''Downplayed''': Being found guilty isn't really all that bad for a race. All it means is that Galactic Federation Peacekeepers will be deployed to the planet to prevent any more violence or environmental destruction while a Galactic Federation Mission will be established to enlighten humanity by teaching them about technology and ethics.

* '''Zig Zagged''': The "trial" was a HiddenTestOfCharacter: when the human representative points out the sheer, abject hypocrisy on display, they've proven themselves to have the critical thinking and courage needed to join the galaxy. Of course, that may or may not be an equally condescending and arrogant "trial" in of itself, with characters debating both possibilities.

* '''Zig Zagged''': ???

* '''Exploited''': ???
* '''Defied''':
** Earth's governments unite and mount a desperate defense of their planet.
** [[AlwaysChaoticEvil The Grobgobnon Horde]], the main enemy of The Galactic Federation, sends a massive fleet to rescue Earth from the Federation Exterminators. Humanity is so grateful that they join these new allies, and are forever after an important part of the Horde.

** It turns out the 'judgment' is an outright farce for imperialists with deliberate MortonsForks. Being too much of any extreme be it warlike, scientific advancement pace, or a [[TakeAThirdOption middle ground]] even will draw their judgment with a sentence of becoming second-class citizens or being wiped out.

* '''Inverted''': ???
* '''Subverted''': Upon arriving, Xorbax tells humans that they are extremly violent, destroy their own enviroment and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking make terrible reality shows]]... but then he says that it is only natural for primitive species to act this way and his people have no right to judge humanity for its failings.

* '''Parodied''': ???

* '''Averted''': ???
* '''Implied''': ??

* '''Lampshaded''': ???
* '''Envoked''': ???

* '''Played for Laughs''': ???

* '''Justified''': ???

* '''Double Subverted''': ???

* '''Subverted''': ???

* '''Played Straight''': Xorbax the Galactic Chancellor arrives on Earth to inform humanity that they are on trial for their wicked and unevolved ways.

* '''Played Straight''': ???
* '''Exaggerate''': ???
* '''Downplayed''': ???

* '''Deconstructed''': ???
* '''Reconstructed''': ???

* '''Defied''': ???

* '''Deconstructed''': ???