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Severe Misuse: The King Of Town

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Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#1: Jan 3rd 2011 at 8:18:40 PM

I just cleared about 30% of the examples on King Of Town's own page, they were just plain wrong.

The trope is about someone who claims to holds/claims to hold a position of power (Mayor, King, whatever) but has no authority or legitimacy.

Several of the example are just incompetent examples (Mayor West from Family Guy, the Mayor from Powerpuff Girls) or corrupt examples of people who bribed or corrupted their way to a legitimate position where they hold true powers (The mayor from Tom Goes To The Mayor, Mayor Quimby). Other examples focus on politicians obsessed with being re-elected.

Haven't gone through the wicks, but wondering how many wicks are similarly bad. Eitherway, perhaps somethings should be done to keep the misuse down. Like rewriting the description.

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#2: Jan 3rd 2011 at 8:25:29 PM

The description is a bit bare bones and focuses a bit too much on Homestar. There's actually more about the trope namer than the trope.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
troacctid (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#3: Jan 3rd 2011 at 8:26:42 PM

The description is pretty bad anyway. Give it a rewrite and add a Laconic while you're at it.

Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#4: Jan 3rd 2011 at 8:40:54 PM

Re-wrote the definition to this:

Being the mayor of Tropetown is a pretty sweet gig. You get 100% job security with 0% competence, and have neither checks nor balances to keep you in check. Of course, the question is, is there a mayor of Tropetown to begin with? It's one thing to give yourself a fancy title, but does the title mean anything? Named after the King of Town from Homestar Runner, who is quoted above, A King Of Town is someone who claims to hold a title, but that title is a sham. Either it is a purely symbolic function with no actual power, or the title itself is made up, and it has no genuine authority over it's "subjects". As such most Kings of Town have no one (except for the occasional Yes Man or Professional Butt Kisser) who actually respects their inexistent authority.

(I left the related to stuff the same). Either, can use more fine tuning. Also, made a Laconic entry.

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#5: Jan 3rd 2011 at 8:45:35 PM

Much better. I fixed a couple of typos, but the trope itself is much clearer.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#6: Jan 3rd 2011 at 8:53:10 PM

Removed more bad example, seriously, the page itself has almost 60% misuse. Can someone double check, coz alot of the remaining examples I can't tell if they are accurate due to lack of knowledge on the works in question.

Ironically, and perhaps in a T Vtropes first EVER. The Real Life section is the most accurate of the entire page with no only one bad example! (As all but two examples are Leaders of Micro Nations who are not recognized by any actual country, the remaining one is someone using a title that no longer has any meaning, and a made up title.)

edited 3rd Jan '11 8:57:16 PM by Ghilz

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#7: Jan 3rd 2011 at 9:08:11 PM

It is rather amusing actually. For once the Real Life examples actually do a good job of explaining the trope without being take that's or nattering. They're actually good solid examples. It's almost eerie.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Prfnoff Since: Jan, 2001
#8: Jan 3rd 2011 at 9:35:03 PM

Is there a good reason why the description shouldn't be expanded? Mayors with "100% job security [but] 0% competence" seems to be a trope, but if this isn't I don't know what is.

Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#9: Jan 3rd 2011 at 9:40:29 PM

A politician that can't be fire might be a trope, but it's not this one. Would be a Subtrope of Ultimate Job Security. We can always YKTTW it.

Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#10: Jan 3rd 2011 at 9:50:17 PM

And I have YKTTW that trope, moved the bad examples that fit it from The King Of Town there too. Assuming don't already have it this trope can be developed into it's own.

Deboss I see the Awesomeness. from Awesomeville Texas Since: Aug, 2009
I see the Awesomeness.
#11: Jan 3rd 2011 at 9:52:08 PM

My advice for a new name (if one is needed) would be King Of Nothing.

Fight smart, not fair.
DoktorvonEurotrash Lex et Veritas from Not a place of honour (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#12: Jan 4th 2011 at 2:18:25 AM

Thanks for clearing up the description, Ghilz!

[up]Why not King of Nowhere? grin

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#13: Jan 4th 2011 at 8:03:54 AM

Whoa there, I think you've changed the meaning of the trope. I Thought It Meant when a position of authority is treated all out of proportion with its actual power. When the mayor is capable of exerting authority over any and all aspects of his town — nevermind county, state, or (God forbid) federal government, the King of Town is the ultimate ruler of his particular domain. If folks who outrank him do show up, it will only ever be for a single episode and things will return to normal by beginning of the next. Most of the examples removed fit this mold — Powerpuff Girls, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs all do, and a handful (Osmosis Jones, Nightmare Before Christmas) don't only because there isn't actually a higher authority, but the trope is played straight anyway.

There seem to be at least three tropes here. One is the one I just described. One is what it's been changed to, where the position a character claims to hold either doesn't exist or has zero actual authority. A third, which seems to be covered by Ghilz's YKTTW, is where an elected official never gets voted out or replaced, even if they're horrendously incompetent.

I'd suggest that King Of Town be used for the first (they only "rule" a town, but they act/are treated like a king), and the third is currently going through YKTTW, so we need a name for the second one. Powerless Official?

edited 4th Jan '11 8:04:18 AM by NativeJovian

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
Zulfiqar Since: Dec, 2010
#14: Jan 4th 2011 at 8:24:10 AM

NativeJovian, how about King Mayor or Mayor King for the first?

As for the second, how about Ruler In Name Only or Ruling In Name Only? Or even De Jure Ruler (though it's a bit obscure imho)? Or even Nominal Ruler?

Gerkuman Hotel detective. from Sitting on a cornflake Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
Hotel detective.
#15: Jan 4th 2011 at 8:27:38 AM

@Jovian: Personally, I think that your idea should be swapped around a little. The trope itself was always created to be meaning #2, with meaning #1 creeping in. So I think maybe you could create a YKTTW for meaning #1 and leave meaning #2 to be called King of Town.

But that's just me.

Quote of the Week: 'I used to be indecisive, but now I'm unsure'
joeyjojojuniorshabadoo Since: Nov, 2010
#16: Jan 4th 2011 at 8:28:55 AM

^^ Thing is, the Trope Namer might sound like your first trope (I don't know, I knew about Homestar Runner long before finding this site, so I didn't make that assumption) but he definitely is the second one. I think whatever we decide this trope to be a rename is in order.

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#17: Jan 4th 2011 at 8:46:50 AM

Well, I like King Of Town as the name for the first version because of the phrase itself, not the Trope Namer. A King Of Town has abosolute, unquestioned authority like a king, but only within their town. It is somewhat confusing with the Homestar Runner character, but I think it's workable anyway. If we're going to change it, I'd suggest Ultimate Authority Mayor or something like that for the first one, Overblown Authority (for people who act like their position is more important than it is — a meter maid acting like an FBI agent) or Imaginary Authority (for people whose supposed position doesn't actually exist) for the second, and Elected Incompetent for the third (though that doesn't really get across the idea that they'll stick around forever — Eternally Reelected Incompetent?).

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
Zulfiqar Since: Dec, 2010
#18: Jan 4th 2011 at 9:09:39 AM

I like Native Jovian's name suggestions.

edited 4th Jan '11 9:10:04 AM by Zulfiqar

Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#19: Jan 4th 2011 at 9:42:07 AM

Just clarifying why I went with the current definition Going by what the original desc said (barely) it mentioned the position has no legetimacy/power. Also, going by the tropenamer, which the description was focused on (and the page quote): The King of Town has no real power. No one respects his authority, beyond those that live in his castle. Neither the original desc or quote or trope namer really show any real support for meaning #1 (an authority figure with way more power than it should have). Heck, only one or two of the removed examples went that way too explicltly with how they were written.

I also think the title of King Of Town works for the actual trope, as it does sound like a made up position. Shouldnt a town be led by a mayor or maybe a chief? But a King? It does sound like the kind of title one would invent to give themself a semblance of authority.

Still, you can YKTTW meaning #1 :)

edited 4th Jan '11 9:50:17 AM by Ghilz

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#20: Jan 4th 2011 at 9:52:42 AM

Yeah, the previous definition had nothing to do with Jovian's description for all that some of the examples did. He should probably take it to YKTTW.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#21: Jan 4th 2011 at 12:42:45 PM

Well, that's the problem — the original condition was vague. Here it is, for the record:

Being the mayor of Tropetown is a pretty sweet gig. You get 100% job security with 0% competence, and have neither checks nor balances to keep you in check. Named after the King of Town from Homestar Runner, who is quoted above. It should be noted, though, that for the most part the KOT's position and authority are recognized by absolutely no one.

That can be read to support all three of the definitions I mentioned... which is why I mentioned them. More powerful than they should have been? "neither checks nor balances", check. Claiming to hold a position that doesn't exist? "position and authority recognized by no one", check. Holds the position despite being terrible at it? "100% job security with 0% competence", check. The name suggests all three as well.

Honestly, given how confused and intertwined it all is, we should probably just cutlist King Of Town and YKTTW all three derivative tropes.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
Zyffyr from Portland, Oregon Since: Apr, 2010 Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
#22: Jan 4th 2011 at 3:47:25 PM

"It should be noted, though, that for the most part the KOT's position and authority are recognized by absolutely no one."

That sentence alone eliminates your #1 and #3 as legitimate readings.

eX 94. Grandmaster of Shark Since: Jan, 2001
94. Grandmaster of Shark
#23: Jan 4th 2011 at 7:20:10 PM

Doesn't the phrase "King Of Town" generally refer to a person who technically doesn't hold any power, e.g. is no elected official- but controls it anyway? Like the Rich Cattle Baron.

edited 4th Jan '11 7:20:16 PM by eX

Zulfiqar Since: Dec, 2010
#24: Jan 5th 2011 at 1:27:47 AM

So, to summarize, the tropes we've already got:

  • X has a legitimate title (Mayor), but acts as if he is ultimate supreme authority (King).
  • X has a legitimate title (Mayor), but is never re-elected or fired, no matter how incompetent he/she is.
  • X has a legitimate title (Mayor), but is de facto powerless (or almost powerless).
  • X has a phony title (e.g., he created it himself), and is de facto powerless.
  • X has no title, and Y holds the legitimate title of Mayor. But Y is de facto powerless (or almost powerless), and X is the de facto ruler.
  • X has no title, and no one holds the legitimate title of Mayor. But X is the de facto ruler.

edited 5th Jan '11 1:29:17 AM by Zulfiqar

Shale Since: Jan, 2001
#25: Jan 5th 2011 at 5:18:13 AM

I've never heard "King of Town" used in any way that's not referring to either this trope page or the Homestar Runner character, who had no power whatsoever.

AlternativeTitles: TheKingOfTown
20th Apr '10 12:00:00 AM

Crown Description:

Vote up names you like, vote down names you don't. Whether or not the title will actually be changed is determined with a different kind of crowner (the Single Proposition crowner). This one just collects and ranks alternative titles.

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