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Witty, but unclear title: Stalling For Time

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Stratadrake Dragon Writer Since: Oct, 2009
Dragon Writer
#1: Jan 25th 2011 at 5:38:52 PM

Take a guess. Probably not that hard — hint: it's a pun.

If that fails you, well, head meet desk: The Big Bad searches bathroom stalls one by one because he knows The Hero is hiding out there.

At only 12 wicks (article age unknown) I'm not sure this name is working. The pre-existing phrase is unrelated to what's happening in-universe — in some interpretations it's the writer who is the one stalling for time, which strikes me as similar naming logic to Hold Your Horses and Get On With It Already.

edited 25th Jan '11 5:40:21 PM by Stratadrake

An Ear Worm is like a Rickroll: It is never going to give you up.
LouieW Loser from Babycowland Since: Aug, 2009
Loser
#2: Jan 25th 2011 at 6:46:44 PM

Looking at the "related to" links, I think there is a decent amount of misuse that uses the trope name to refer to stalling in general.

  1. Cast A Deadly Spell: I am unfamiliar with the work, but it seems like a correct use to me.
  2. Chase Scene: Correct Index.
  3. Tropers/Circeus: Troper page of the one who is responsible for the trope.
  4. Circeus: Troper page of the one who is responsible for the trope.
  5. Digger: Apparently this is a misuse.
  6. Just For Pun: Talks about how it is a pun.
  7. WMG/Kamen Rider Decade: I think this seems like a misuse, the trope is used to refer to stalling unrelated to bathroom stalls.
  8. Maximum Carnage: This looks like misuse to me, the trope is used to refer to stalling unrelated to bathroom stalls.
  9. Nine To Five: I am not familiar with this work.
  10. Laconic/Stalling For Time: This is just the laconic version of the trope which is basically Hiding In A Bathroom Stall.
  11. Star Trek Specter: I think this is a correct use.
  12. The Warriors: There is no further explanation about this trope on the page that I can see.

Based on the fact that the trope appears to have been misused multiple times despite having so few uses, I think it really would benefit from a rename. Given the misuse, I would think it would be okay to start thinking of alternate names right now, but I could be wrong.

I would suggest Hiding In A Bathroom Stall as at least a straightforward redirect if not a boring obvious new name.

edited 26th Jan '11 4:17:09 PM by LouieW

"irhgT nm0w tehre might b ea lotof th1nmgs i dont udarstannd, ubt oim ujst goinjg to keepfollowing this pazth i belieove iN !!!!!1 d
DrStarky Okay Guy from Corn And Pig Land Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Staying up all night to get lucky
Okay Guy
#3: Jan 25th 2011 at 8:19:20 PM

Stall Stealth? Restroom Refuge? Stall Survival?

Just throwing out names.

Put me in motion, drink the potion, use the lotion, drain the ocean, cause commotion, fake devotion, entertain a notion, be Nova Scotian
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#4: Jan 25th 2011 at 9:29:10 PM

[up][up] Given the apparent recent spate of confusing trope names, boring but precise may be exactly what we're looking for.

Support Hiding In A Bathroom Stall.

Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#5: Jan 25th 2011 at 9:39:32 PM

Reading it, the trope isn't the good guy hiding. It's the villain methodically checking all the stalls.

He's Searching the Stalls.

Atz Since: Jan, 2001
#6: Jan 26th 2011 at 3:21:08 AM

Neither of the uses on Digger are correct. They're both just general stalling. I don't think plumbing is even available in the setting, though I do recall a privy... there's certainly not rows of bathroom stalls, anyway.

Circeus Since: Jan, 2001
#7: Jan 26th 2011 at 11:49:55 AM

"It's the villain methodically checking all the stalls."

No. It's _someone_ methodically checking all the stalls.

And I disagree the name is a problem. The problem is more along the line of people thinking that stalling in general could be a trope to begin with.

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#8: Jan 26th 2011 at 12:05:30 PM

If there's misuse, and the name isn't clear, then there's a problem. The phrase "stalling for time" has a definite meaning, and it's not "hiding in a bathroom stall". Given that people are using improperly, then the name is bad.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
troacctid (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#9: Jan 26th 2011 at 12:35:06 PM

Also, does it have to be bathroom stalls? What if it's, like, dressing room stalls, or cabinets in a cupboard? It's still the same situation, right?

SeanMurrayI Since: Jan, 2010
#10: Jan 26th 2011 at 12:42:38 PM

Reading it, the trope isn't the good guy hiding. It's the villain methodically checking all the stalls.

How it's written, it's "The hero hides in a stall, then the villain starts checking them all."

Like Circeus noted though, I do believe that the description should be written in more general terms when describing the two parties involved—"a man on the run" and "his pursuer," for instance.

edited 26th Jan '11 12:43:35 PM by SeanMurrayI

Trombonista Gumi-chan Since: Sep, 2010
LouieW Loser from Babycowland Since: Aug, 2009
Loser
#12: Jan 26th 2011 at 8:54:38 PM

I made a crowner here which I do not believe is premature given the amount of clear abuse under the current name.

"irhgT nm0w tehre might b ea lotof th1nmgs i dont udarstannd, ubt oim ujst goinjg to keepfollowing this pazth i belieove iN !!!!!1 d
DrStarky Okay Guy from Corn And Pig Land Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Staying up all night to get lucky
Okay Guy
#13: Jan 27th 2011 at 4:15:30 PM

Nobody liked Restroom Refuge ...

sad

edited 27th Jan '11 4:16:19 PM by DrStarky

Put me in motion, drink the potion, use the lotion, drain the ocean, cause commotion, fake devotion, entertain a notion, be Nova Scotian
Leaper Since: May, 2009
#14: Jan 27th 2011 at 4:43:37 PM

I think it's because it's a little too general for the trope. It sounds like it could also encompass the "crying in the shower" trope (which I know we have, but I just can't remember the name of).

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#15: Jan 27th 2011 at 4:50:30 PM

Shower of Angst

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Leaper Since: May, 2009
#16: Jan 27th 2011 at 4:55:37 PM

Ah, yes, thanks.

But if we ever had a supertrope for characters finding isolation or solace in the bathroom, Restroom Refuge would be at the top of my list! :)

Fiwen9430 Since: Apr, 2010
#17: Jan 29th 2011 at 1:26:03 PM

Maybe part of the reason that it isn't getting much attention is that 'stalls' is an American English word? In Britain we call them cubicles, or just plain toilets/loos. If bathroom or restroom were added to the trope title, they still aren't used in the same context in the UK, but at least it would be understood what the trope is about.

edited 29th Jan '11 1:29:29 PM by Fiwen9430

Leaper Since: May, 2009
#18: Mar 6th 2011 at 5:51:13 PM

Over a month later, and +11 vs. 0. I think we can call this one...?

troacctid (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
peccantis Since: Oct, 2010
#20: Mar 6th 2011 at 9:14:08 PM

I witnessed this one's YKTTW and would say it's 2-3 moths old.

Camacan from Australiatown Since: Jan, 2001
#21: Mar 7th 2011 at 11:31:58 PM

Done.

In moving the wicks I found that some of them were incorrect, mistaking it as stalling for time in general, presumably because of the old misleading title, like Louie W said. Not many wicks in total. Some of them provided no details or few details. I moved these ones to discussion since I could not tell if they were mistaken or not.

It seems that this article may not have had a YKTTW, originally. The most recent one is someone proposing a duplicate trope and finding the article already in existence. Given the old discussion page had no YKTTW link, perhaps this one could be tied on to the new discussion page as best-effort. It looks like the main text got a revamp about that time, too.

edited 11th Mar '11 1:48:53 AM by Camacan

Circeus Since: Jan, 2001
#22: Mar 9th 2011 at 6:05:31 PM

As the one who launched it, I distinctly remember there being a YKTTW. However, people easily forget that a lot of those where lost in that data loss back in (IIRC) 2008.

Camacan from Australiatown Since: Jan, 2001
#23: Mar 11th 2011 at 1:41:23 AM

Thanks for the info. The Great Crash echos yet.

Now the rename is complete, should we re-purpose the original name? Stalling for time seems like a widespread trope.

I expected we would already have it under a different name but I can't find it. Is it too common to be interesting? We've got Padding but I'm thinking in-world — like when someone has to keep the health inspector occupied any way they can while frantic activity occurs in the kitchen.

edited 11th Mar '11 1:52:08 AM by Camacan

troacctid (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#24: Mar 11th 2011 at 1:52:21 AM

There's Holding the Floor (stalling by talking) and Scheherezade Gambit (stalling Arabian Nights-style).

edited 11th Mar '11 1:52:56 AM by troacctid

Camacan from Australiatown Since: Jan, 2001
#25: Mar 11th 2011 at 2:04:22 AM

Aha, thanks! No wonder I couldn't find them — Holding the Floor? That sounds more like a focus on good oratory.

Stalling for time in the general sense would be a supertrope to both 'em. But I think Holding the Floor is the one we see most. How about redirecting Stalling For Time to Holding the Floor? Or should we make a supertrope about all stalling?

edited 11th Mar '11 2:08:52 AM by Camacan

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AlternativeTitles: StallingForTime
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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