History SchmuckBait / Literature

** Again in the ''Thief of Time'' where the concept is inverted, played-with, subverted, taken out behind the Mended Drum, kneed in the groin and thrown in the River Anhk: The heroes set up a series of possible schmuck baits to confuse the literal-minded auditors--"Do not feed the elephant" ''when there is no elephant to not feed'', for example.

* Creator/CSLewis' ''Literature/TheMagiciansNephew''

** Occurs in the backstory, too. Uncle Andrew tells Digory the story of how his godmother gave him a box before she died making him promise to destroy it without opening it after she died. Opening it started him on his quest to be a magician, which eventually was the cause of Digory and Polly traveling to other worlds in the first place.

* ''Literature/ChooseYourOwnAdventure'' books had this often. Notable examples include chewing gum that just happens to be plastic explosive (which you learn only ''after'' you try to chew it), and jumping overboard on a ship in a theme park, only to learn that the water 30 feet below you is actually just concrete with a shimmering water-like effect.

** In ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'', Archchancellor Ridcully discovers a hidden door, which his predecessor had had sealed off, leaving a sign saying, "Do not, under any circumstances, open this door." So, naturally, Ridcully has it unsealed. One of his subordinates asks if he'd seen the sign, and Ridcully says, "Of course I've read it. Why d'yer think I want it opened?" When it's sealed again at the end, the worker makes sure to leave the nails loose.

** Perhaps not coincidentally, in the novel ''Discworld/ThiefOfTime'', Lu-Tze reasons that he should go to Ankh-Morpork, a veritable city of schmucks, because "the day someone pulls the plug out of the bottom of the universe, the chain will lead all the way to Ankh-Morpork and some bugger saying 'I just wanted to see what would happen.'" Guess what city the Unseen University is in?

** In ''Discworld/TheLastContinent'', the wizards discover a window that has been turned into a portal to a desert island. The Archchancellor props it open and attaches a warning that 'showed some thought has gone into the wording: "Do not remove this wood. Not even to see what it does. IMPORTANT!"' It half-works, as somebody later removes it... accidentally.
** In ''Discworld/SoulMusic'', the Librarian picks up on the beat that is infecting the world, and pulls out all the stops on the University's mighty organ, including the ones "with faded labels warning in several languages that they were on no account to be touched, ever, in any circumstances" before he begins to play. This is mostly to illustrate the magnitude of the music, since nothing extraordinarily bad actually happens when he plays. There's the wall of noise and the explosion afterwards, but that's par for the course when it comes to musical instruments designed by Bloody Stupid Johnson. Considering it was a Johnson, they were lucky it didn't blow up when you stepped on the pedals.
*** The reason for the labels may have been provided in ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'', in which the existence of the [[spoiler: "Organ Interlock" mechanism in the sealed Archchancellor's Bathroom is demonstrated,]] to Ridcully's great distress.
** The circle of stones up on the moor in Lancre, mentioned in ''Discworld/LordsAndLadies''. They're there partly to keep the elves out, and partly "in the hope that enough daft buggers would take it as a warning, and stay away." Guess what happens. Subverted in that the circles are described as safe and stable (except for the very rare times when the universe barriers are weak) and thus the villagers of Lancre specifically don't forbid the children to hang around the circles, simply because they know that this way, the kids will quickly lose interest.

** In ''Discworld/TheLastHero'', it's revealed that mysterious treasure maps, and accompanying tales of how perilous the treasures' locations are, were placed in the paths of gullible heroes by the gods, who consider Schmuck Baiting a spectator sport.
** In ''Discworld/CarpeJugulum'' the vampire Count de Magpyre and his ancestral home, Dontgonearthe Castle. People came from all over the country to see what the fuss was about, eventually necessitating the installation of road signs along the lines of "Last chance not to go near the castle, 100 metres on your left" and directions on how not to go near the carriage park. At the end of the book the count is having a gift shop installed. This is something of a Lampshading/Subversion as it's [[ContractualGenreBlindness part of an unspoken agreement between Vampires and Humans]]: As long as heroes continue to be schmucks (and vice-versa), Vampires will continue to stock their castles with convenient crosses, bundles of garlic, easily-pulled-aside curtains and breakable wooden furniture -- as opposed to enslaving humanity, while villagers will continue to pretend to believe that the old vampire that they killed a century ago couldn't possibly have returned, for at least another century or so, before killing him for another century or so.
** ''Discworld/GoingPostal'' has Vetinari offer a nice cushy job to two former criminals as an alternative to execution. He tells them that if they like they can simply walk out the door behind them, and never hear from him again. One man is smart enough to look first, and sees that a quick death lurks beyond that door. The other is never heard from again....
*** Also subverted in ''Discworld/MakingMoney'', where Moist expects the missing floor and is surprised when it is now a normal room.
** In ''Discworld/MakingMoney'', Aimsbury the chef is allergic to the word garlic. Not actual garlic, but the ''word''; if someone says "garlic" near him, he briefly goes catatonic before throwing anything he might be holding and shouting in [[GratuitousFrench fluent]] [[FantasyCounterpartCulture Quirmian]] for eight seconds straight. People often find themselves with an inexplicable urge to say it, which can actually be dangerous for anyone standing directly in front of him while he's holding a knife.

* The cursed lamp in AruShahAndTheEndOfTime.

--> “And how do we do that, sergeant? ‘Sir, everything is nice and clear with no problems. We need to retreat at once!’”

** In ''Literature/TheShadowOverInnsmouth'' the eponymous town's bad reputation is precisely the reason the narrator decides to visit.
-->A town able to inspire such dislike in it its neighbors, I thought, must be at least rather unusual, and worthy of a tourist's attention.

[[index]]
* SchmuckBait/ChooseYourOwnAdventure and other gamebooks
[[/index]]

*** A footnote says, 'this exchange contains almost all you need to know about human civilization. At least, those bits of it that are now under the sea, fenced off or still smoking.'

** In ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'', Archchancellor Ridcully discovers a hidden door, which his predecessor had had sealed off, leaving a sign saying, "Do not, under any circumstances, open this door." So, naturally, Ridcully has it unsealed. One of his subordinates asks if he'd seen the sign, and Ridcully says, "Of course I've read it. Why d'yer think I want it opened?" When it's sealed again at the end, the GenreSavvy worker makes sure to leave the nails loose.

* One book in the ''Literature/EnchantedForestChronicles'' mentions a well full of Water of Healing, which has hanging nearby two dippers: an ordinary one, and a golden, jewel-encrusted one that turns to stone anyone who touches it. One of the characters in the book is a prince who was GenreSavvy enough to know not to use the gold dipper, but still picked it up to take a look at it (after all, it's not every day you see a golden, jewel-encrusted dipper); when he started turning to stone, he thought quickly and dipped his arm into the water, making him a ''living'' statue.

* Invoked in epically GenreSavvy fashion in ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' ([[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory and possibly]] RealLife): [[TheStrategist Zhuge Liang]] does not have nearly enough men to defend the city he's in from his rival Sima Yi's massive advancing army. So he orders all the doors to be opened, all the soldiers to hide, and [[CrazyAwesome sits on the top of the wall playing the zither]]. Sima Yi takes one look at this setup, declares it to be Schmuck Bait, and immediately retreats.

* Lord Petyr Baelish aka "Littlefinger" of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is Schmuck Bait personified, as no matter how many times [[SelfProclaimedLiar he informs other characters]] of his being an untrustworthy liar either [[ILied quite directly]], through SarcasticConfession, by using paid proxies, by [[SimpleYetOpulent expensively dressing]] like one of the [[{{Bookworm}} most blatantly indoorsy clerks ever]] (a Braavosi style of display that ''should'' be a [[ApparentlyPowerlessPuppetmaster a humongous, red flag]] for the GenreSavvy, such as Tyrion, in Westeros) or just through pointing them at general gossip, they ''still'' manage to trust him. Or, at least, believe they can use him ''enough'' for ''this'', one, ''particular'' instance, even if they don't trust him in [[SleazyPolitician general terms]] or [[DevilInPlainSight think they are wise]] [[OpportunisticBastard to him]] and, therefore... safeish. The rational is usually that [[VetinariJoBSecurity he's good at his job]], [[LovableRogue amusing company]] and [[GoodWithNumbers rather]] [[NotSoHarmlessVillain harmless]], or failing that, [[NonActionGuy is weak to physical threats]] and can be reined in later. [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder Very]] [[BestServedCold bad]] [[MagnificentBastard move]]. The list of people he's disarmed/ set-up by doing this to is steadily growing.

* Played with and lampshaded in a mission in ''Literature/InvasionOfKzarch''; where the heroes get steadily more and more nervous as they approach their destination, ''because nothing's happening''. Almost there, [[GenreSavvy one suggests to the other]] they tell their commander to retreat; the other's only objection is that it would sound ridiculous [[spoiler:(Although he goes ahead and does it anyway, too late to be of any good)]]:

* In ''The {{Belgariad}}'', the nomadic Algars have one massive self-sustaining fortress for the sole purpose of acting as bait for invading armies. Being nomads, they never actually are there, but over the centuries nobody's caught on. They do ''visit'' the place, they just don't ''stay'' there long. They temporarily (did we mention ''nomadic''?) set up housekeeping ''around'' it while Gareth and company are visiting, mainly for the purpose of, essentially, doing minor repairs and light weeding so that it doesn't start to look ''too'' abandoned.

* There is a failed bit of Schmuck Bait in ''Literature/TheRoad'' by CormacMcCarthy. The man finds a jar of preserved fruit in an abandoned house. It looks very nice, but "other people hadn't trusted it, and in the end, neither did he."

* Lord Petyr Baelish aka "Littlefinger" of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is Schmuck Bait personified, as no matter how many times [[SelfProclaimedLiar he informs other characters]] of his being an untrustworthy liar either [[ILied quite directly]], through SarcasticConfession, by using paid proxies, by dressing like one of the most blatantly indoorsy [[NonActionGuy clerks]] ever (a red flag in Westeros) or just through pointing them at general gossip, they ''still'' manage to trust him. Or, at least, believe they can use him ''enough'' for ''this'', one, ''particular'' instance, even if they don't trust him in [[SleazyPolitician general terms]] or [[DevilInPlainSight think they are wise]] [[OpportunisticBastard to him]] and, therefore... safeish. The rational is usually that [[VetinariJoBSecurity he's good at his job]], [[LovableRogue amusing company]] and [[ApparentlyPowerlessPuppetmaster rather]] [[NotSoHarmlessVillain harmless]], or failing that, [[NonActionGuy is weak to physical threats]] and can be reined in later. [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder Very]] [[BestServedCold bad]] [[MagnificentBastard move]]. The list of people he's disarmed/ set-up by doing this to is steadily growing.

* In Creator/CSLewis' ''Literature/TheMagiciansNephew'', kid protagonists Digory and Polly explore the ruined world of Charn and find a bell inscribed "Make your choice, adventurous Stranger; Strike the bell and bide the danger, or wonder, till it drives you mad, what would have followed if you had." [[WhatAnIdiot Digory then proceeds to waltz right up to it and hit the damn thing, despite the fact that Polly is physically trying to stop him.]] Cue the BigBad [[SealedEvilInACan getting uncanned.]]

* In ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'', Arthur Dent spots a big red button next to a sign that temptingly reads, "Please Do Not Press This Button". He presses the button only to have a warning message appear that says, "Please Do Not Press This Button Again".

* Arguable, but the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer has a page in it that has a large blanks space labeled, "Do not deface. ON PAIN OF DEATH!" Nearly every owner of the Primer has scribbled something in that space.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': The Headmaster of Hogwarts would like to remind you that the corridor on the third floor is off-limits to absolutely everyone. As well as the Forbidden Forest.

** ''Discworld/GoingPostal'' has Vetinari offer a nice cushy job to two former criminals as an alternative to execution. He tells them that if they like they can simply walk out the door and never hear from him again. Both men are smart enough to guess that a quick death lurks beyond that door, and make informed decisions.

* Lord Petyr Baelish aka "Littlefinger" of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is Schmuck Bait personified, as no matter how many times [[SelfProclaimedLiar he informs other characters]] of his being an untrustworthy liar either [[ILied quite directly]], through SarcasticConfession, by using paid proxies or just through pointing them at general gossip, they ''still'' manage to trust him. Or, at least, believe they can use him ''enough'' for ''this'', one, ''particular'' instance, even if they don't trust him in [[SleazyPolitician general terms]] or [[DevilInPlainSight think they are wise]] [[OpportunisticBastard to him]] and, therefore... safeish. The rational is usually that [[VetinariJoBSecurity he's good at his job]], [[LovableRogue amusing company]] and [[ApparentlyPowerlessPuppetmaster rather]] [[NotSoHarmlessVillain harmless]], or failing that, [[NonActionGuy is weak to physical threats]] and can be reined in later. [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder Very]] [[BestServedCold bad]] [[MagnificentBastard move]]. The list of people he's disarmed/ set-up by doing this to is steadily growing.
** Speaking of Petyr, let's discuss the semi-habitable [[BigFancyCastle castle-complex]] that is [[AwesomeButImpractical Harrenhal]], the title to which he's managed to wrangle. It's humongous, the lands are great and the titles usually attached to the lot (there has been ''some'' change over time over the specifics) practically shine with promises of further political and social advancement, if you can play your cards right in the game of thrones. [[TheMillstone Lies]], [[{{Curse}} lies]], [[HauntedCastle lies]], [[HighTurnoverRate lies]]. Sure, it has ''a bit'' of a bad reputation and needs a lot of TLC, but... [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane it's just superstition]] and [[DIYDisaster nothing a bit of elbow grease won't fix]], [[TemptingFate right]]? Unlike most poor saps, however, Petyr's staying as far away as possible from the sodding thing while using his title's perks, given he sees it for [[WhiteElephant exactly what it is]]. He's even got wrecking balls in mind. We've yet to find out which one will win, or if they'll each manage to scupper each other. Or, worse, if they'll join baity forces, somehow.

** Speaking of Petyr, let's discuss [[AwesomeButImpractical Harrenhal]], the title to which he's managed to wrangle. It's humongous, the lands are great and the titles usually attached to the lot (there has been ''some'' change over time) practically shine with promises of further advancement, if can you play your cards right in the game of thrones. [[TheMillstone Lies]], [[{{Curse}} lies]], [[HauntedCastle lies]], [[HighTurnoverRate lies]]. Sure, it has ''a bit'' of a bad reputation, but... [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane it's just superstition]], [[TemptingFate right]]? Unlike most poor saps, however, Petyr's staying as far away as possible from the sodding thing while using his title's perks, given he sees it for [[WhiteElephant exactly what it is]]. He's even got wrecking balls in mind. We've yet to find out which one will win, or if they'll each manage to scupper each other. Or, worse, if they join baity forces somehow.

** Speaking of Petyr, let's discuss [[AwesomeButImpractical Harrenhal]], the title to which he's managed to wrangle. It's humongous, the lands are great and the titles usually attached to the lot (there has been ''some'' change over time) practically shine with promises of further advancement, if can you play your cards right in the game of thrones. [[TheMillstone Lies]], [[{{Curse}} lies]], [[HauntedCastle lies]], [[HighTurnoverRate lies]]. Sure, it has ''a bit'' of a bad reputation, but... [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane it's just superstition]], [[TemptingFate right]]? Unlike most poor saps, however, Petyr's staying as far away as possible from the sodding thing, given he sees it for exactly what it is. He's even got wrecking balls in mind. We've yet to find out which one will win, or if they'll manage to scupper each other.

** Speaking of Petyr, let's discuss [[AwesomeButImpractical Harrenhal]], the title to which he's managed to wrangle. It's humongous, the lands are great and the titles usually attached to the lot (there is some change over time) practically shine with promises of further advancement, if you play your cards right in the game of thrones. [[TheMillstone Lies]], [[{{Curse}} lies]], [[HauntedCastle lies]], [[HighTurnoverRate lies]]. Unlike most, however, he's staying as far away as possible from the thing, given he sees it for exactly what it is. He's got wrecking balls in mind. We've yet to find out which one will win, or if they'll manage to scupper each other.

** Speaking of Petyr, let's discuss [[AwesomeButImpractical Harrenhal]], the title to which he's managed to wrangle. It's humongous, the lands are great and the titles usually attached to the lot practically shine with promises of further advancement, if you play your cards right in the game of thrones. [[TheMillstone Lies]], [[TheCurse lies]], [[HauntedCastle lies]], [[HighTurnoverRate lies]]. Unlike most, however, he's staying as far away as possible from the thing, given he sees it for what it is. He's got wrecking balls in mind. We've yet to find out which will win.

* Lord Petyr Baelish aka "Littlefinger" of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is Schmuck Bait personified, as no matter how many times [[SelfProclaimedLiar he informs other characters]] of his being an untrustworthy liar either [[ILied quite directly]], through SarcasticConfession, by using paid proxies or just through pointing them at general gossip, they ''still'' manage to trust him. Or, at least, believe they can use him ''enough'' for ''this'', one, ''particular'' instance, even if they don't trust him in [[SleazyPolitician general terms]] or [[DevilInPlainSight think they are wise]] [[OpportunisticBastard to him]] and, therefore... safeish. The rational is usually that [[VetinariJoBSecurity he's good at his job]] and [[ApparentlyPowerlessPuppetmaster rather]] [[NotSoHarmlessVillain harmless]], or failing that, [[NonActionGuy is weak to physical threats]] and can be reined in later. [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder Very]] [[BestServedCold bad]] [[MagnificentBastard move]]. The list of people he's disarmed/ set-up by doing this to is steadily growing.

** In ''TheShadowOverInnsmouth'' the eponymous town's bad reputation is precisely the reason the narrator decides to visit.

* Robert Evans gives a RealLife example in his autobiography ''The Kid Stays in the Picture'' in which he was offered pharmaceutical grade cocaine during the early 1980's, which he described was "mythical" at the time. [[TropeNamer He even]] ''[[TropeNamer labels]]'' [[TropeNamers it schmuck bait]], and castigates himself, "How could I be so ''fucking'' stupid?!"

* Played with and lampshaded in a mission in ''Literature/InvasionOfKzarch''; where the heroes get steadily more and more nervus as they approach their destination, ''because nothing's happening''. Almost there, [[GenreSavvy one suggests to the other]] they tell their commander to retreat; the other's only objection is that it would sound ridiculous [[spoiler:(Although he goes ahead and does it anyway, too late to be of any good)]]:

* Played with and lampshaded in a mission in ''Literature/InvasionOfKzarch'', the heroes get steadily more and more nervus as they approach their destination, ''because nothing's happening''. Almost there, [[GenreSavvy one suggests to the other]] they tell their commander to retreat; the other's only objection is that it would sound ridiculous [[spoiler:(Although he goes ahead and does it anyway, too late to be of any good)]]:

* Lord Petyr Baelish aka "Littlefinger" of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is Schmuck Bait personified, as no matter how many times [[SelfProclaimedLiar he informs other characters]] of his being an untrustworthy liar either [[ILied quite directly]], through SarcasticConfession, by using paid proxies or just through general gossip giving them the heads-up, they ''still'' manage to trust him. Or, at least, believe they can use him ''enough'' for ''this'', one particular instance, even if they don't trust him in [[SleazyPolitician general terms]] or think they are wise [[OpportunisticBastard to him]]. The rational is usually that [[VetinariJoBSecurity he's good at his job]] and [[ApparentlyPowerlessPuppetmaster rather]] [[NotSoHarmlessVillain harmless]], or failing that, [[NonActionGuy is weak to physical threats]]. [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder Very]] [[BestServedCold bad]] [[MagnificentBastard move]]. The list of people he's done this to is steadily growing.