Line #11 DarthWiki/WhatAnIdiot


1	[[quoteright:350:[[ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ransom_7.png]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:A little word to the wise: never sign your name on a ransom note.]]
3
4	->''"Any first-day chemistry student could have told Ragby never to put sparks near a mystery gas. Unfortunately, Ragby had never met any first-day chemistry students, so it came as a complete surprise to him when the gas passed by Mulch Diggums ignited in a chain of miniature explosions."''
5	-->-- ''[[Literature/ArtemisFowl Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex]]''
6
7	Because most viewers have basic common sense, one would usually expect the same from fictional characters. [[IdiotBall Any negative deviation from such]] usually prompts a FacePalm and the comment "[[TitleDrop What an idiot!]]" or similar, hence the entry name.
8
9	Can cause ATragedyOfImpulsiveness, if the situation becomes more serious. It is also the usual reaction to a character demonstrating especially severe GenreBlindness.
10
11	And please, as tempting as it is to defend your favorite work from forcing the IdiotBall into its characters' hands, refrain from making Administrivia/{{Justifying Edit}}s. With a CardCarryingVillain, SmugSnake, or IdiotHero, a few of these are to be expected. Also, ''[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools do not assume that something listed here automatically makes it a bad work]]''; it is usually more along the lines of "something else that is better could have been done". As explained on IdiotBall, characters being idiotic can often serve as a weakness to them and sometimes make them more-or-less well-developed. And, of course, some characters are ''supposed'' to be idiots (or outright naïve at best), in which case we probably don't need a full and complete list of every stupid thing they do; a brief summing up would be more helpful. Characters making foolish decisions can also result in [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments funny]] or [[RuleOfDrama dramatic]] moments, and therefore add to the enjoyability of a work; so writers can and have invoked this trope intentionally.
12
13	[[folder:Non-YMMV tropes commonly associated with "What an Idiot!"]]
14	[floatboxright:
15	Categories:
16	+ StupidityTropes
17	]
18	* OneDimensionalThinking: A character tries to avoid a non-sentient object hurtling towards them by outrunning it, instead of simply jumping to the side and letting it pass.
19	* BecauseISaidSo: An authority figure believes they are entitled to unquestioning obedience without having to explain why the rules they set should be obeyed, obliviously creating a ForbiddenFruit effect.
20	* BetterToKillThanFrighten: Why bother [[ManipulativeBastard using fear and manipulation]] to ensure compliance when you can just [[OffingTheAnnoyance murder dissenters]] instead? [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge It creates far more]] [[CycleOfRevenge problems than it solves]].
21	* BondVillainStupidity: An antagonist has the opposing side at their mercy... and stops to [[EvilGloating gloat]] about their imminent victory instead of just [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim dispatching the opposing side while they have the chance]], usually resulting in an easily-avoidable escape.
22	* BossArenaIdiocy: This video game boss is completely undefeatable... or at least they ''would'' be, if not for convenient circumstances [[HoistByHisOwnPetard within their own arena that can be used against them]].
23	* BullyingADragon: See that person/animal that can seriously injure and/or kill us? [[SmugSnake Pfft, what an inferior being!]] [[TooDumbToLive Let's insult and throw rocks at them!]]
24	* DeerInTheHeadlights: A character freezes in fear as they're being attacked.
25	* DevilInPlainSight: A character is ObviouslyEvil to the audience, but only [[OnlySaneMan a select few other characters]] distrust them; [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter the rest]] suspect nothing.
26	* DickDastardlyStopsToCheat: This antagonist would have [[VillainBall succeeded if they hadn't tried to do something evil]].
27	* DidntThinkThisThrough: A character comes up with a [[ThePlan plan]] which has a serious flaw they don't realize until it's too late.
28	* DrunkDriver: A character drives after drinking alcohol, [[LethallyStupid to disastrous results]].
29	* FailedASpotCheck: A character doesn't notice something important or obvious, even when it's ''right in front of them''.
30	* ForgotAboutHisPowers: A character who is in trouble has powers that could get them out of it or at least help a lot, but they don't think to use them.
31	* GreedMakesYouDumb: A character is so focused on gaining more money, power, etc. that they make short-sighted decisions.
32	* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: Idiotic guards make it easier for the imprisoned to escape.
33	* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: This character trusts someone who others suspect is not trustworthy (at best)[[labelnote:*]]for example, a LovableRogue might be [[ChaoticGood well-intentioned]], but they're still a ''rogue'' and you still shouldn't ''trust'' them, especially if you happen to fit the profile of their typical marks[[/labelnote]] and/or is ObviouslyEvil (at worst).
34	* IdiotBall: An otherwise-competent character does something stupid for the sake of plot convenience or CharacterDevelopment.
35	* LeeroyJenkins: An impulsive combatant decides to make a full frontal assault when the situation doesn't call for one, ignoring orders and/or more pragmatic tactics.
36	* LethallyStupid: A character makes a decision that is so idiotic it causes others to get seriously injured and/or [[CharacterDeath killed]].
37	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: The hero's actions unwittingly help the villains.
38	* NiceJobFixingItVillain: The villain's actions unwittingly help the heroes.
39	* PaperThinDisguise: A (usually shady) character does such a poor job at disguising themselves that their identity is ''incredibly'' obvious to the audience. However, the other characters don't recognize them.
40	* PoorCommunicationKills: A character doesn't disclose -- or worse, actively withholds -- important information, with disastrous results.
41	* RevengeBeforeReason: This character has suffered a lot[[note]][[IrrationalHatred or perhaps not]][[/note]], but they allow the desire for {{Revenge}} against those who have hurt them to override their common sense, creating far more problems than it solves.
42	* SkewedPriorities: When someone prioritizes something when there's clearly another matter that they should be focusing on instead.
43	* TacticalSuicideBoss: This video game boss is completely undefeatable... or at least they ''would'' be, if not for [[HoistByHisOwnPetard one (or more) of their own attacks exposing]] their [[AchillesHeel weak point]] which you can [[VideoGame/{{Genji}} attack for]] [[MemeticMutation massive damage]].
44	* TooDumbToLive: A character makes a decision that is so idiotic it causes themselves to get seriously injured and/or [[CharacterDeath killed]].
45	* VillainBall: An otherwise-competent antagonist does something stupid for the sake of being evil.
46	** StupidEvil: This antagonist, on the other hand, grabs the VillainBall so often that it's a surprise they haven't [[TooDumbToLive caused their own death]] already, and it's not a surprise if they eventually do.
47	* WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong: This character is far too confident in ThePlan's success for their own good, neglecting to take any precautions.
48	* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: A character tries to dispose of another in an AwesomeButImpractical way.
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	There are also other examples that do not fit the standard idiocy.
52
53	'''Warning: Spoilers ahead!'''
54	[[noreallife]]
55	----
56	[[index]]
57	* WhatAnIdiot/AnimeAndManga
58	* WhatAnIdiot/ComicBooks
59	* WhatAnIdiot/ComicStrips
60	* WhatAnIdiot/{{Disney}}
61	* WhatAnIdiot/FanWorks
62	* [[WhatAnIdiot/AnimatedFilms Films — Animation]]
63	* [[WhatAnIdiot/LiveActionFilms Films — Live-Action]]
64	* WhatAnIdiot/{{Literature}}
65	* WhatAnIdiot/LiveActionTV
66	* WhatAnIdiot/ProWrestling
67	* WhatAnIdiot/{{Theatre}}
68	* WhatAnIdiot/VideoGames
69	* WhatAnIdiot/WebOriginal
70	* WhatAnIdiot/WesternAnimation
71	* WhatAnIdiot/OtherMedia
72	[[/index]]

Context DarthWiki / WhatAnIdiot