Line #34 Main/MediationBackfire


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3	%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
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6	%% Image revised per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1623901261037331800
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9	[[quoteright:231:[[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/peace_09.jpg]]]]
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11	->''"And just like that, all the hatred they had for each other was instantly directed at me."''
12	-->-- '''[[ButtMonkey J.D.]]''', ''Series/{{Scrubs}}''
13
14	Everyone knows when you see two dogs tearing into each other, the last thing you should do is try to [[StandingBetweenTheEnemies get between them]]. What some don't realise is that the same can be true of people, too.
15
16	This trope is when two characters in the middle of a bitter argument make up their differences over a common love of abusing someone else -- usually the first person who intervenes to get them to make up. They'll tend to start out with grudging DumbassHasAPoint and ActuallyPrettyFunny's, before really warming to the tag-team beatdown.
17
18	Can cross over with TruthTellingSession.
19
20	It may be the result of the failed efforts of a ThirdPartyPeacekeeper.
21
22	Subtrope of NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished, and related to UnwantedAssistance, PacifismBackfire and ContemptCrossfire. Inversion of AppleOfDiscord, when a third party makes two allies ''start'' arguing - this is about making two arguers temporarily join forces against the intruder. Compare/contrast EnemyMine (when two mortal enemies join forces to defeat a mutual threat) and GenghisGambit (where the mediator deliberately invokes this). Contrast ReconcileTheBitterFoes and ThreateningMediator (where the belligerents are united in their fear of the mediator).
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24	----
25	!!Examples:
26	[[foldercontrol]]
27
28	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
29	* In the ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'' comic strip, [[KindheartedCatLover Sakaki]] once sees two cats about to fight. She instantly rushes in to stop them, but since [[AnimalsHateHim the affection is one-sided]] [[TheWoobie on Sakaki's part]], they both settle for chomping her hands instead.
30	* As Revy and Roberta are beating the nine hells out of each other in ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', Rock gets the bright idea to try to get them to talk about their problems. Being as both of them are in full-on violent mode, the response from the two is unsurprising:
31	-->'''Revy and Roberta:''' ''(simultaneously)'' STAY THE FUCK OUT OF THIS!
32	* In the ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'' episode "Showdown at Dark City," Ash and his friends decide to break up a gang war between rival gyms that's destroying the titular city. After he gives them TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, the leaders of both gyms bury the hatchet--and decide to attack Ash. Good thing [[HospitalHottie Nurse Joy]] [[ItMakesSenseInContext was there to save the day]].
33	* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'': When Gosunkugi gets ahold of paper dolls capable of controlling anyone he wishes, he tries to use this opportunity to win Akane's heart. Unfortunately, after he test-drives a few of his dolls on Ranma to see if they actually work, Ranma's suspicions are raised to the point where he openly confronts him about it. Akane immediately rushes to Gosunkugi's defence and our two opposing sides begin to bicker.
34	-->'''Ranma:''' How come you're bein' so stupid, stupid?!\
35	'''Akane:''' Speaking of stupid, look in a mirror!\
36	'''Gosunkugi:''' Um, Akane? Ranma? Please calm down. I haven't put the doll on, so can you not fight until I--\
37	''(both Ranma and Akane send him airborne)''\
38	'''Ranma:''' You stay outta this!\
39	'''Akane:''' This is between me and Ranma!
40	* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'': This is a pretty common fate for anyone who steps in between Ryoko and Ayeka. The biggest one comes towards ''Tsunami'', who finds her explanation about herself and Sasami interrupted because the two are more worried that [[SheIsAllGrownUp Tsunami is gonna be Sasami in the future]] and when she tries to get their attention, they both tell her to shut up!
41	[[/folder]]
42
43	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
44	* In an early ''ComicStrip/{{Doonesbury}}'' comic strip, activist Mark Slackmeyer tries to quiet down an unruly crowd of disorganized and divided protesters by having them unite under a common goal, and they end up shouting "KILL THE MODERATOR!"
45	* In one ''Webcomic/DorkTower''/''Shop Keep'' strip in ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'', Bill is tired of the wargamers, roleplayers, boardgamers and cardgamers calling each other "freak" and "weirdo", and explains to them all that they can all get on, as illustrated by the fact he enjoys playing ''all'' those games. The shop concludes that he's a freak and weirdo.
46	* One ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' strip had Garfield and Odie facing each other, ready to fight, when Jon comes in and tells them that they should get along by focusing on something they have in common. They face Jon and angrily leer at him.
47	* One ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' [[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/21/1d/8f/211d8f8955850921439eb311355deacc.jpg strip]] sees an exchange of snowballs over Snoopy's dog house while he's lying on it. He stands up and gently cautions, "peace." Cue a ''hail'' of snowballs striking him from both sides.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Fan Works]]
51	* Overlaps with NeutralityBacklash in ''Fanfic/TheLastSon''. Thousands of years ago, the [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Kryptonians]] came across the [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Kree-Skrull]] conflict, and attempted to mediate between them to end it peacefully. Neither side wanted to yield, and instead they tried to sway the Kryptonians to their side, [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere so they ultimately gave up and abandoned the conflict altogether.]] It's partially subverted because, when the Kree and Skrulls tried to destroy Krypton in revenge, they were utterly ''[[CurbStompBattle decimated]]'' by their Battlestation Sentrius.
52	* Implicitly defied by Ash in Chapter 16 of ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines''. He overhears Misty and Iris having an argument about clothes, and decides not to get between them presumably for fear of this happening.
53	[[/folder]]
54
55	[[folder:Literature]]
56	* ''Literature/TheBible'':
57	** In [[Literature/BookOfExodus Exodus chapter 2]], when Moses sees two Israelites fighting with each other, he tries to break it up through mediation, and one of them ends up shouting, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" That resulted in Moses running for his life and hiding out in the wilderness of Midian for forty years.
58	** [[Literature/BookOfProverbs Proverbs 26:17]] states, "A passerby who gets embroiled in someone else’s quarrel is like one who seizes a dog by its ears."
59	* In ''Literature/DresdenFiles'', Harry tries to defuse what's about to go down between Ebenezer [=McCoy=] and Jaren Kincaid. He ends up with a gun pointed at his face and his spine.
60	%%* {{Invoked\|Trope}} by Creator/{{Saki}} in "Excepting Mrs. Pentherby".
61	* Discussed and defied by the Feegles in ''Literature/IShallWearMidnight'' - "Any man who interferes with the arguin' of women is gonnae find himself with both of them jumpin' up and doon on him in a matter of seconds".
62	* Invoked by Phule in the first ''Literature/PhulesCompany'' book, where he tells his feuding lieutenants to find common ground "even if it's just what an unreasonable son-of-a-bitch your commanding officer is".
63	* In the Creator/RobertAsprin book ''[[Literature/MythAdventures The Sweet Myth-tery of Life]]'', Guido describes this as an inevitable result of getting involved in a domestic dispute. As previously shown by Skeeve in ''Hit or Myth'', when he got the reluctantly married king and queen to get along by telling off both of them. (And wisely brought bodyguards when he did it.)
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
67	* In ''Series/BlackBooks'', Bernard and Mannie take time out from an argument to insult Fran, and end up resolving their own differences in the process. Until Fran leaves the room, at which point things go back to normal.
68	* PlayedWith on ''Series/{{Frasier}}''; Frasier sits Roz and Julia down in the cafe to try to get them to make nice, and when they find common ground insulting him, he graciously leaves them to it. The moment he's gone, though, they both get up to leave, and are bickering again before they reach the door.
69	* In the ''Series/{{Friends}}'' episode "The One With The Racecar Bed", Ross' attempts to endear himself to Rachel's father (who already didn't like Ross ''before'' he found out he'd gotten Rachel pregnant out of wedlock) aren't going well. Rachel's attempts to get them to try and warm up to each other segue into a conversation about Rachel's "specialty" chiropractor, and the two soon find common ground... criticizing Rachel's questionable life choices.
70	-->'''Ross:''' Wow, this is going so well! Did ya see us? Did ya see?\
71	'''Rachel:''' ''(miffed)'' Yeah, honey, I was standing right there. [[SarcasmMode Why don't you just tell him about the mole I haven't gotten checked yet?]]\
72	'''Ross:''' ...Excellent! ''(walks off)''
73	* In the ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'' episode where [[EvilOldFolks Grandma Ida]] loses a leg [[PetTheDog after saving Dewey, one of her grandsons, from being run over by a truck,]] Lois forces her oldest son, Francis, to take care of Ida until she fully recovers, citing that since he's unemployed at the time he has plenty of time to do so. Francis tells Lois that's a terrible idea because of how much they hate each other, but Lois responds that she doesn't care what it takes for them to get along but he's going to stay with Ida no matter what. When Francis starts pointing out Lois' flaws, Ida adds several other flaws that she's noticed while raising her.
74	* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'':
75	** After J.D. intervenes in an argument between [[BelligerentSexualTension Dr. Cox and Jordan]];
76	--->'''[[ButtMonkey J.D.]]:''' And just like that all the hatred they had for each other was instantly directed at me.
77	** In a ColdOpen, J.D. gets an earful from Carla and Elliot after commenting on their argument. When he realizes what he's gotten into, an ImagineSpot shows him pulling a lever that rewinds time to before he to involved. [[HereWeGoAgain He makes the same comments and gets roped in again]].
78	* In the ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'' episode "Been There, Done That", Joxer attempts to invoke this trope in order to stop the feuding families. He gets a couple dozen arrows to his face for his trouble (but again, this being a GroundhogDayLoop, he gets better).
79	[[/folder]]
80
81	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
82	* In the ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' forum, [[http://www.atomicthinktank.com/viewtopic.php?p=329077#p329077 one post]] about a crossover setting notices that between the {{Fandom}} "Odds and Ends of the [[TabletopGame/FreedomCity Freedomverse]]" and ''Fires of War'' for ''The Algernon Files'', there are two incompatible [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] heroes with a connection to the Count of Cagliostro. According to the post, supporters of both heroes in-universe claim the other one was lying:
83	-->At which point the conversation gets much, much less civil, and some folks try to smooth the waters by noting that as neither was exactly a shining figure of honesty, so really, we can never be sure that either of them was telling the truth, so it's silly to argue.\
84	This statement usually goes over far less well than they imagined it would, and generally ends with everyone going home in a foul mood.
85	[[/folder]]
86
87	[[folder:Theater]]
88	* ''Theatre/WestSideStory'': Tony's attempt to break up the rumble between the Jets and Sharks at Maria's request only serves to raise everyone's tempers, until the situation devolves from what could have been a begrudgingly-honorable, non-lethal fistfight to a knife fight that leaves both Bernardo and Riff dead and sets of the tragic chain reaction of the final act.
89	* This trope, along with TheMasochismTango, is the point of the Edward Albee play ''Theatre/WhosAfraidOfVirginiaWoolf''. George and Martha attack each other at every turn, but take more delight in ganging up to tear apart the innocent young couple they invite round for drinks, ([[TheAlcoholic lots and lots]] [[HardDrinkingPartyGirl of drinks]]). It's heavily implied they do this all the time to keep from killing each other.
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Stand-Up Comedy]]
93	* Simon Munnery's character Alan Parker, Urban Warrior, told a story about how he found himself in a pub in Glasgow and witnessed an argument between two men, fans of bitter rivals Rangers and Celtic. Alan stepped in, telling them that they shouldn't be fighting each other, but instead unite against the capitalist oppressors. He then took their scarves off them, tore them in half and then tied them back together so that they now read "Celgers" and "Rangtic". And do you know what those men did? They attacked him: Together! To be clear, Alan considered this a success.
94	[[/folder]]
95
96	[[folder:Web Comics]]
97	* In the ''Webcomic/ArthurKingOfTimeAndSpace'' [[http://www.arthurkingoftimeandspace.com/1622.htm version]] of the scene in Arthurian myth where Sir Beloberis de Ganis gets between Lamorak and Meliagrant, who are dueling over whether Morguase or Guenevere is fairer, pointing out that any knight would consider his own love to be the fairest, they both take this as an insult and turn their lances towards ''him''.
98	* In ''WebComic/TheClassMenagerie'', Tony at one point tries to get his best friend Kevin and his roommate Brad to stop flinging YourMom jokes at each other by pointing out that neither of them even ''likes'' their mothers. They promptly switch to flinging "your roommate" jokes and "your best friend" jokes (respectively) at each other instead. (which is admittedly a sort of stealth compliment, but Tony still clearly wishes that he'd never gotten involved)
99	* ''Webcomic/MenageA3'': When Sonya and Yuki are fighting over which one should get to be Gary's girlfriend, Gary's suggestion of "both" instantly redirects their anger towards each other at him.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Web Original]]
103	* WebVideo/ThreeDBotMaker: During the first race of the second round of the all-truck event for the 2021 DRC season, Travis Wheeler crashes into the [=3DBotMaker=] merchandise stand at trackside after getting launched off the finish line jump at an awkward angle, causing him to land on the first person in line. 3D forces the director to cut to a commercial. 2D, however, believes that 3D is disrespecting Wheeler's opponent, Truck Norris, whom 2D believes is actually Creator/ChuckNorris. During the break, various clips of different ads for [=3DBotMaker=] merchandise are interspersed with continuous cut-ins to replay footage, and 2D's hot mic can be heard, ripping 3D for his perceived disrespect. 3D, busy with the situation at the merch stand, asks Susan to step in:
104	--> '''Susan:''' OK, 2D, I'm gonna need you to try using "I" statements...
105	--> '''2D:''' OK.
106	--> '''Susan:''' ...like, "I feel...because...when," "What I need is..."
107	--> '''2D:''' What I need...is for 3D...to keep Truck Norris's name out of his mouth!
108	--> '''3D:''' I'm a commentator! How is that even possible?
109	--> ''[cut to another quick clip of a merch ad, then right back to the live feed]''
110	--> '''2D:''' And that's why your mom won't buy any of your merch!
111	--> '''Susan:''' You're not helping the situation.
112	--> '''3D:''' That's not true. [[GoodParents She bought a decal and a coffee mug from the link in the description.]]
113	* ''Flame Warriors''' typically verbose description of forum users has this to say about the archetype they call Diplomat:
114	-->Diplomat butts into hot disputes, presuming that the combatants will welcome and appreciate his even-handed and eminently reasonable mediation. Frankly, he gets what he deserves.
115	* Invoked by ED-tan in [[http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/gaia-community-projects/2k7-summer-plot-serious-business-part-2-complete/t.31360233/ this]] user-created Website/GaiaOnline comic episode.
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Western Animation]]
119	* In ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', Peter is upset that he can't find way to bond with Stewie, until he discovers that [[RefugeInAudacity beating up Lois]] is the perfect way to do it. CrossesTheLineTwice when they lock her in the trunk of a car and ''sink it in a lake''.
120	* [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig Zagged]] in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "Over A Barrel": Pinkie Pie tries to settle tensions between the settlers and the buffalo with a song-and-dance number. They briefly agree... that it's the worst song they've ever heard... and then go back to fighting. Later, just as the buffalo are about to give up their stampede, she reprises it... and they decide to go through with the stampede as a result.
121	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
122	** When Marge went after Itchy and Scratchy, the series staff did an episode where a squirrel character based on Marge tries to stop a fight, but the duo decides to knock her head off instead. Given that the only other time they've worked together against someone else was an old wartime special where they beat up Hitler...
123	** In "Treehouse of Horror XIX", Marge nags at a group of Autobots and Deceptions expies to end their war. TimeSkip to a short time later where it's revealed that they teamed up to ''conquer the planet''.
124	* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' episode "The Other Patty", Mr. Krabs and Plankton grudgingly team up to try and steal a new competitor's secret formula. Throughout the episode, the two spend their time disagreeing and bickering with each other. It's eventually revealed that [=SpongeBob=] started the competing restaurant to help Krabs and Plankton's friendship. The two respond by chasing after him, with intent to beat him up.
125	** In the pilot, "Help Wanted", Squidward attempts to calm down a huge mob of rampaging anchovy customers with a BigShutUp, and then asks them to form a neat single-file line in front of the register. They proceed to rampage ''harder'' and wreck the place. [[FridgeHorror And they possibly would have killed Squidward and Mr. Krabs and if [=SpongeBob=] hadn't shown up.]]
126	* ''WesternAnimation/TucaAndBertie'': In "The Sex Bugs", two squabbling birds smash their grocery carts together when arguing over smoothies. When a worker interrupts them to claim that smoothies aren't food, the birds promptly start smashing ''him'' with their carts. (The man is later seen in casts and a wheelchair.)
127	[[/folder]]
128
129	[[folder:Real Life]]
130	* Both ''Radio/TheNewsQuiz'' and ''Magazine/PrivateEye'' pointed out that William Hague made it his mission to unite the factions of the Conservative party and succeeded; UsefulNotes/MargaretThatcher and UsefulNotes/EdwardHeath both hated him.
131	[[/folder]]

Context Main / MediationBackfire