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What it says in the title. EDIT: Link to auxiliary sandbox page

Some trope descriptions suffer from problems. Some possible ones:

  1. Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!. A paragraph starts explaining element X of the trope, then it wanders off to explain element Y. Two paragraphs after that we're back at element X again. Nary a conjunction is in sight.
  2. Too long. Stuff that should go in analysis, or maybe in another trope, or maybe nowhere, going in the main space. Too much scrolling required before you can get to the examples.
  3. Fan Myopia. Some "this is how it happens in WRESTLING!" dissertation is taking up half of the page on a trope about white t-shirts. We already have a thread on that one - discussion about the general phenomenon goes there, specific candidates to deal with go here.
  4. General lack of balance and order. Something is emphasized at the expense of the other aspects of the trope, even though it has no right to be. Consequences of the trope come first, then related tropes, then a mention of the Trope Codifier, then common scenarios where it comes into play...
  5. Failure to answer the fundamental question up front: What is this trope? Not what it "might" be or what can "possibly" happen - what is it?
  6. Not enough meat. Juicy stuff is missing, like: When is the trope likely to turn up? Why would an author use it? In what ways does the audience often react? Which tropes are related to it and how?
  7. Spelling and grammar issues.
  8. The first line which makes honest-to-god sense is below the fold. e.g. Example as a Thesis that makes you go "huh?" instead of "ooooh".
  9. Bad Writing. Purple Prose, pitching the trope, Wanton Cruelty to the Common Comma.
  10. Egregiously Fan-Myopic quote.
  11. Jaywalking.

Bring up trope pages here so we can work on them. If no one does in a while, I'll try to dig something up.

edited 22nd Sep '11 10:48:59 AM by TripleElation

Thecommander236 Tower Commander (Ancient one) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Tower Commander
#551: Feb 3rd 2013 at 1:24:49 PM

Yes, I understand that just fine, but anyone who is casually browsing will look at and skip to the next page. With Elemental Powers I have done that several times. Plus, a Super-Trope should list its subtropes, not explain them.

MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#552: Feb 3rd 2013 at 3:08:48 PM

The longwided explanation seems to be a holdover from a past era where supertropes were expected to explain their subtropes clearly, though probably not to the extent taken by whoever wrote Elemental Powers' description. Plus, besides the main four elements, only a handful of the other elements had a designated subtrope of their own; most of them are quite new, compared to the main four.

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.
Thecommander236 Tower Commander (Ancient one) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Tower Commander
#553: Feb 3rd 2013 at 3:26:10 PM

Earth, Wind, Fire, and water I assume.

CompletelyNormalGuy Am I a weirdo? from a place where folks put cream cheese on hot dogs (Oldest One in the Book)
Am I a weirdo?
#554: Feb 4th 2013 at 2:57:11 AM

Sauna of Death is kind of a mess. If someone wants to work on it, then great. If not, then I can get to it when I'm more awake and coherent.

Bigotry will NEVER be welcome on TV Tropes.
Telcontar In uffish thought from England Since: Feb, 2012
In uffish thought
#555: Feb 14th 2013 at 2:06:53 AM

The Fair Folk has a very long description that pulls in more historical context and examples above the example line than any other page I've seen. Whilst that's contributed to the 2,266 inbounds, I think some should be moved to Analysis/. A sandbox of the old and new pages is here, and will be swapped in at some point if no feedback is given.

edited 14th Feb '13 2:08:21 AM by Telcontar

That was the amazing part. Things just keep going.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#556: Feb 14th 2013 at 10:37:23 AM

Go ahead.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Xtifr World's Toughest Milkman Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
World's Toughest Milkman
#557: Feb 18th 2013 at 3:25:02 PM

Failed Dramatic Exit (just launched, but seems like a good trope otherwise) relies entirely on Example As Thesis.

Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.
Catbert Since: Jan, 2012
#558: Feb 18th 2013 at 3:37:15 PM

Personally, I think it works in this case. The example isn't that long, and the second paragraph provides a pretty clear description of the defining features of the trope.

Catbert Since: Jan, 2012
#559: Feb 18th 2013 at 3:56:09 PM

Battle in the Rain: Starts off good, and all of a sudden I get a paragraph on the effect of rain on Real Life military battles. Who cares?

Permission to cut that whole Real Life section of the description? It isn't even descent Analysis material because it is entirely unrelated to the fictional use trope, which appears to be using the weather to set the mood for a battle.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#560: Feb 19th 2013 at 12:53:03 AM

Ax it.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
nemui10pm from outer space Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#562: Feb 19th 2013 at 5:44:43 PM

Floating Head Syndrome kinda suffers from a serious case of "This trope is bad and people who use it are evil" (What happened to Tropes Are Not Bad?)

Seriously, with gems like "Generally felt to be a lazy approach (...)" (Okay, by who?)

edited 19th Feb '13 5:45:02 PM by Ghilz

Xtifr World's Toughest Milkman Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
World's Toughest Milkman
#563: Feb 19th 2013 at 6:03:46 PM

[up]Agreed. If it's a derogatory term (as the first sentence claims), then it should probably be an example-free fanspeak page. If it is actually (as I suspect), simply a term for a certain style of cover art, then the description should be neutral.

I've never heard the term outside of this wiki, and frankly have no problem with the style in general, so I'd support a neutral rewrite.

Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#564: Feb 19th 2013 at 6:22:06 PM

[up]If it is a derogatory term, I think it would make more sense to rename it than to turn it into a fanspeak page, because this is a real cover style.

Stratadrake Dragon Writer Since: Oct, 2009
Dragon Writer
#565: Feb 19th 2013 at 7:31:33 PM

@561: Lists of types are not a problem in and of themselves, it's the numbered arrangement (and the in-page examples are sorted by media, not type). I'll swap it out for a generic unordered list.

edited 19th Feb '13 7:33:15 PM by Stratadrake

An Ear Worm is like a Rickroll: It is never going to give you up.
spacemarine50 Since: Mar, 2012
#566: Feb 19th 2013 at 8:41:38 PM

Shameless Self-Promoter: It's better if I simply delete the current description. (In TRS for another issue)

edited 19th Feb '13 8:47:18 PM by spacemarine50

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#567: Feb 19th 2013 at 11:16:07 PM

We do not "delete" descriptions.

Re Floating Head Syndrome: Just ax the complainy bits.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
spacemarine50 Since: Mar, 2012
#568: Feb 19th 2013 at 11:44:01 PM

^^ The description describes nothing relevant about the trope. Still, need a complete restart. Maybe worth a YKTTW.

Catbert Since: Jan, 2012
#569: Feb 20th 2013 at 4:48:37 AM

Please don't bring things up here when they are in TRS already.

CobraPrime Sharknado Warning from Canada Since: Dec, 1969 Relationship Status: Robosexual
Sharknado Warning
#570: Feb 20th 2013 at 6:14:21 AM

Re Floating Head Syndrome: Just ax the complainy bits.

That'd be the entire description.

lu127 Paper Master from 異界 Since: Sep, 2011 Relationship Status: Crazy Cat Lady
#571: Feb 20th 2013 at 6:20:07 AM

Well, the results from googling Floating Head Syndrome in regards to movie posters reveal that it is not regarded as a good technique. Almost all of them are complaining.

"If you aren't him, then you apparently got your brain from the same discount retailer, so..." - Fighteer
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#572: Feb 20th 2013 at 7:02:43 AM

It's not all of the description. I'll fix it as soon as I get home.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Voyd211 (Edited uphill both ways)
#573: Feb 21st 2013 at 12:14:35 PM

I think I brought this up before, but no one did anything with it.

I wrote the description for Animalistic Abomination, but I feel like it's somewhat lacking, especially compared to the two other Abomination tropes.

Unfortunately, I don't see any way I can improve on it. What about you guys?

nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#574: Feb 21st 2013 at 7:04:33 PM

I suspect this may be a TRS issue, but the description of Villainy Discretion Shot appears to be at odds with the quote, examples, and itself.

Noaqiyeum we must dissent (it/they) from across the gulf of space (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
we must dissent (it/they)
#575: Feb 21st 2013 at 10:03:07 PM

[up][up] Humanoid Abomination is in TRS right now having its description fixed. Eldritch Abomination's description needs a drastic paring-down, and that's the least of its problems.

...in other words, Animalistic Abomination is less problematic than either, so it is better by default.

(NB: There's actually a fourth Abomination trope.)

edited 21st Feb '13 10:04:29 PM by Noaqiyeum

ERROR: The current state of the world is unacceptable. Save anyway? YES/NO

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