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]] |
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