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Real Life section maintenance (including NRLEP and LRLEO) (New Crowner 9/20/25)

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Note: If a newly launched trope was already given a No Real Life Examples, Please! or Limited Real Life Examples Only designation while it was being drafted on the Trope Launch Pad, additions to the proper index do not need to go through this thread. Instead, simply ask the staff to add the trope via this thread.

This is the thread to report tropes with problematic Real Life sections.

Common problems include:

Real Life sections on the wiki are kept as long as they don't become a problem. If you find an article with such problems, report it here. Please note that the purpose of this thread is to clean up and maintain real life sections, not raze them. Cutting should be treated as a last resort, so please only suggest cutting RL sections or a subset thereof you think the examples in question are completely unsalvageable.

If historical RL examples are not causing any problems, consider whether it would be better to propose a No Recent Examples, Please! (via this forum thread) for RL instead of NRLEP. If RL examples are causing problems only for certain subjects, consider whether a Limited Real Life Examples Only restriction would be preferable to NRLEP.

If you think a trope should be No Real Life Examples, Please! or Limited Real Life Examples Only, then this thread is the place to discuss it. However, please check Keep Real Life Examples first to see if it has already been brought up in the past. If not, state the reasons and add it to the crowner.

Before adding to the crowner:

  • The trope should be proposed in the thread, along with reasons for why a crowner is necessary instead of a cleanup.
  • There must be support from others in thread.
  • Any objections should be addressed.
  • Allow a minimum of 24 hours for discussion.

When adding to the crowner:

  • Be sure to add the trope name, a link to where the discussion started, the reasons for crownering, whether the restriction being proposed is NRLEP or LRLEO (and in the latter case, which subject(s) the restriction would be for), and the date added.
  • Announce in thread that you are adding the item.
  • An ATT advert should be made as well (batch items together if more than one trope goes up in a day).

In order for a crowner to pass:

  • Must have been up for a minimum of a week
  • There must be a 2:1 ratio
  • If the vote is exactly 2:1 or +/- 1 vote from that, give it a couple extra days to see if any more votes come in
  • Once passed, tropes must be indexed on the appropriate NRLEP or LRLEO index
  • Should the vote fail, the trope should be indexed on KRLE page

Sex Tropes, Rape and Sexual Harassment Tropes, and Morality Tropes are banned from having RL sections so tropes under those indexes don't need a crowner vote.

As per Real Life Troping, we never trope unscripted real life sports — so sports tropes where RL examples would only apply to those scenarios don't need a crowner vote.

Crowner entries that have already been called will have "(CLOSED)" appended to them — and are no longer open for discussion.

After bringing up a trope for discussion, please wait at least a day for feedback before adding it to the crowner.

NRLEP tag:

%% Trope was declared Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease via crowner by the Real Life Maintenance thread: [crowner link]
%%https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13350380440A15238800

LRLEO tag:

%% Trope was declared Administrivia/LimitedRealLifeExamplesOnly via crowner by the Real Life Maintenance thread: [crowner link]
%%The following restrictions apply: [list restriction(s) here]
%%https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13350380440A15238800

Notes:
  • This thread is not for general discussion regarding policies for Real Life sections or crowners. Please take those conversations to this Wiki Talk thread.
  • Do not try to overturn previous No Real Life Examples, Please! or Limited Real Life Examples Only decisions without a convincing argument.
  • As mentioned here, the consensus is that NRLEP warnings in trope page descriptions can use bold text so that they stand out.
  • The [[noreallife]] tag no longer works. This is a deprecated tag that was introduced many years ago — originally, it would have displayed a NRLEP warning banner when you edited the page. Per word of admin as of 2025, any replacement for this system will not use markup, so these tags can be removed.
  • If a newly launched trope was already given a No Real Life Examples, Please! or Limited Real Life Examples Only designation while it was being drafted on the Trope Launch Pad, additions to the proper index do not need to go through this thread. Instead, simply ask the staff to add the trope via this thread.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Aug 3rd 2025 at 6:31:00 AM

badtothebaritone (Life not ruined yet) Relationship Status: Snooping as usual
#15201: Aug 8th 2023 at 1:54:11 PM

Yeah, most (if not all) of those are just coincidence.

Edited by badtothebaritone on Aug 8th 2023 at 3:54:39 AM

UchuuFlamenco Since: Jul, 2017
#15202: Aug 8th 2023 at 2:50:58 PM

I think it's good to note that World of Jerkass, World of Snark and World of Badass are already NRLEP, so it'd make sense to apply the same to World of Ham.

MissConduct (Septatroper)
#15203: Aug 8th 2023 at 6:46:24 PM

[tup] to World of Ham if I haven't said so already.

Re: Betty and Veronica... uh, that trope was NRLEP'd in April. The RL section was removed but someone added new examples only about three weeks later. I'll take care of that RL section send them a message telling them that the trope is NRLEP.

UchuuFlamenco Since: Jul, 2017
#15204: Aug 8th 2023 at 7:30:23 PM

Wrong Side of the Tracks is Too Common. The Real Life section is really long and doesn't feel like it serves a major purpose other than "here's a list of cities with poor neighborhoods"

WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000)
#15205: Aug 8th 2023 at 7:30:40 PM

[up][up] ...Huh. Well then.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
Nen_desharu Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire from Greater Smash Bros. Universe or Toronto Since: Aug, 2020 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire
#15206: Aug 8th 2023 at 7:33:25 PM

[up][up]Almost every single city with over a million people in the world (either by city proper or by metropolitan area) has sketchy neighbourhoods. I agree that the Real Life folder should be cut for being Too Common.

Edited by Nen_desharu on Aug 8th 2023 at 10:35:56 AM

Kirby is awesome.
MissConduct (Septatroper)
#15207: Aug 8th 2023 at 8:46:12 PM

[up][up][up]Wrong Side of the Tracks is the smaller version of the NRLEP Vice City, so I'd crowner on Characterization (yes, real places get called "the wrong side of the tracks", but this is a trope about places designed to be poor and/or dangerous, and, well, arguments about stuff like city planning and gentrification aside, no real place is "designed" to be poor/dangerous in the way a fictional city can be, as in an author pointed to a place on a map and said "that neighborhood is worse than all the others"), Stereotyping/Gossip (since it's about peoples' monetary situation), and, as you've said, Too Common.

There's also The City Narrows, which is similar but it also has criminal connotations.

UchuuFlamenco Since: Jul, 2017
#15208: Aug 8th 2023 at 9:35:58 PM

Gangsterland and Urban Segregation suffer from the same problems (Stereotyping/Gossip, Too Common)

NonexistentYeets The Enforcer from Nightcored Realm (Five Year Plan) Relationship Status: Getting away with murder
The Enforcer
#15209: Aug 9th 2023 at 6:48:53 PM

No objections to the neighborhood stereotype tropes; nobody specifically designs a place to be dangerous.

It Amused Me is morality-adjacent, specifically in that it's used to characterize chaotically amoral characters often of the Jerkass variety, and it points out that the distinction between it and For the Evulz is rather arbitrary since most For The Lolz characters fall under hurting people for said. It's still ascribing moral, or amoral, motivations to real people, making it definitely a characterization trope.

I'd still appreciate more feedback on Becoming the Mask and Emotion Eater, especially before I make the cuts / moves on the former.

Edited by NonexistentYeets on Aug 9th 2023 at 9:49:48 AM

they/them pronouns. Look at my Neocities.
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?
#15210: Aug 9th 2023 at 10:19:21 PM

I object to crownering Wrong Side of the Tracks, and Urban Segregation on characterization. Too common, maybe, but characterization requires a creative misreading of the definitions, particularly for Urban Segregation. No objections on Gangsterland.

In regards to the Becoming the Mask examples, I agree with your assessments above.

Bigotry will NEVER be welcome on TV Tropes.
WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000)
#15211: Aug 9th 2023 at 10:33:09 PM

I do feel we need to hash out what "characterization" means. It's becoming very controversial.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
UchuuFlamenco Since: Jul, 2017
#15212: Aug 10th 2023 at 6:57:26 AM

Uh, I nominated both Wrong Side of the Tracks and Urban Segregation and I said nothing about Characterization.

NonexistentYeets The Enforcer from Nightcored Realm (Five Year Plan) Relationship Status: Getting away with murder
The Enforcer
#15213: Aug 10th 2023 at 10:01:05 AM

[up] x3 Yeah, Characterization is for people. I do think they'd count as Narrative, though, since they're setting worldbuilding tropes. To be honest, a separate crownering category for worldbuilding wouldn't be unreasonable.

they/them pronouns. Look at my Neocities.
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?
#15214: Aug 10th 2023 at 10:21:52 AM

Miss Conduct claimed that they were characterization. Narrative is rather questionable as well for a trope about the rough part of town. Neither trope seems like they require a narrative in order to exist.

Bigotry will NEVER be welcome on TV Tropes.
badtothebaritone (Life not ruined yet) Relationship Status: Snooping as usual
#15215: Aug 10th 2023 at 10:52:06 AM

Too Common I can get behind for both. Wrong Side of the Tracks is bound to pop up wherever there's a large inequality of wealth, which is everywhere, while Urban Segregation has existed for as long as cities and prejudice have.

Edited by badtothebaritone on Aug 10th 2023 at 12:52:53 PM

WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000)
#15216: Aug 10th 2023 at 10:53:31 AM

But... yeah I honestly believe "Characterization" is being overused and misused as much as "Controversial" lately. We can't just slap it on every trope that involves characters or worldbuilding.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
Mrph1 he/him from Mercia (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: This is not my beautiful wife!
he/him
#15217: Aug 10th 2023 at 11:03:17 AM

Some of the modern RL examples have potential for issues (imo) on controversy grounds, given how wary we are of troping civil rights and racism in the 21st century - e.g. when talking about Urban Segregation in Atlanta ("when a majority white northern part of Atlanta split off into the city of Sandy Springs in 2005 (and is even considering splitting off from Fulton County itself), this has caused many black leaders to accuse them of racism").

I think the only one that clearly crosses the line for me may be for Israel and Wrong Side of the Tracks, though:

  • Jerusalem has some neighborhoods like this. Nachlaot is a poor neighborhood that's a mix of Yerushalmi, Mizrahi, and Sephardi Jewish enclaves with a liberal sprinkling of students and misfit expats. Violent crime is rare, but petty crime is rampant. Mind, locals aren't usually targeted, what with the proximity to the Machane Yehuda shuk and its influx of tourists being richer and easier pickings. Mea Shearim on the other hand...they aren't fond of tour groups. Women who enter wearing trousers, skirts above the knee, tops cut too low or with sleeves above the elbow will be yelled at and possibly spit on. And if there are noises about drafting Haredi men into the army, they will hold demonstrations where they burn trash cans. Mea Shearim is also home to the virulently anti-Zionist Neturei Karta and Sikrikim. Neturei Karta has been known to attend Holocaust denial events, and the Sikrikim have clashed with nearby Gerrer Hasidim in what police have called a "gang war," taking credit for numerous acts of vandalism and assault.

Edited by Mrph1 on Aug 10th 2023 at 7:03:38 PM

MissConduct (Septatroper)
#15218: Aug 10th 2023 at 5:51:20 PM

I'll amend my reasonings for The City Narrows, Wrong Side of the Tracks, Urban Segregation, and Gangsterland to being just Too Common and Stereotyping.

Also [tup] to It Amused Me.

randomtroper89 from The Fire Nation Since: Nov, 2010
#15219: Aug 11th 2023 at 5:05:46 PM

I am going to take a crack at Sickeningly Sweethearts

    Real Life 
  • There's always at least one showmance like this in a theatre production. To everyone involved, it's a distraction.
General example General example
  • This trope can be particularly annoying if you're single yourself and your go-to single friend and partner in crime has just seemingly found the person of their dreams. Hell, it can be downright lonely and depressing in that situation. If that's you, don't worry; eventually, your friend will come back around once the relationship stabilizes (assuming they don't break up; love can be fickle).
General example
  • Subverted in the Behind the Music episode about TLC. When Left Eye was dating football player Andre Rison, her bandmates would get annoyed by their sappiness. T-Boz mentioned how they'd always call each other baby: "Hey Baby... Baby... Baby..." and it segued straight to Chilli, interviewed separately, saying the exact same thing. Two years into the relationship Left Eye burned his house downnote  when she thought he was cheating.
Real life subversion
  • This installment of Gothic Charm School provides some useful tips for dealing with people like this.
Web links are not examples
  • Lovebirds are famous for essentially being the Sickeningly Sweethearts of the bird world, to the point that an Urban Legend has it that a lovebird will die of loneliness if kept without a mate.note  Needless to say, the urban legend coupled with the adorableness of these birds cuddling and preening each other is often what leads potential lovebird owners to always buy two of them... only for them to be baffled when they realize that the birds refuse to pay any attention to them because they're so wrapped up in each other.
General example
  • Subverted on Facebook by the dreaded joint profile: "JohnAndMary Parker" for instance. The couple wants you to think they're perfectly happy lovebirds, but it's far more likely that someone got caught cheating. Creating a joint page, where both partners have access to chat history, is a last-ditch compromise to save the relationship.
General example and real life subversion

Edited by randomtroper89 on Aug 11th 2023 at 7:32:44 AM

nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#15220: Aug 11th 2023 at 5:14:35 PM

But... yeah I honestly believe "Characterization" is being overused and misused as much as "Controversial" lately. We can't just slap it on every trope that involves characters or worldbuilding.

I concur, but I don't want to be the only one bumping the NRLEP criteria discussion thread.

MissConduct (Septatroper)
#15222: Aug 12th 2023 at 5:53:28 PM

Before we go forward with the next crowner I have a few questions regarding the inclusion of certain tropes:

  • Our Zombies Are Different: I suggested this on the basis of Impossible to go with similar Our Monsters Are Different tropes like Our Mermaids Are Different. Not certain it got any responses?
  • The Bluebeard and Black Widow: It was suggested to retry them as "Gossip (as murder tropes) and Morality (since they're related to domestic abuse, which falls under Morality)." Are we good with this?
  • Fantasy-Forbidding Father: Suggested by Feel Like Flying as Characterization and Too Common, got no responses (for the record I [tup])
  • Operator Incompatibility and Human Furniture Is a Pain in the Tail: Suggested by Nonexistent Yeets as Impossible, had mixed responses (for the record I'm more sold on HFIAPITT than OI, since the former is more specific, but I think they ought to be tried together or neither is tried since they're closely related)
  • Monster Clown: Suggested by C Wallace on Morality and Too Common, got mixed responses (I'm going to [tup]; usually I would say no but it's attracting enough bad examples I think the section is a problem)
  • Talkative Loon: I suggested this on Gossip, Characterization, and Too Common, got no responses
  • Emotion Eater: Suggested by Non Existent Yeets as Impossible, got no responses
  • Hollywood Hype Machine: Suggested by dsneybuf as being Gossip, Too Common, and generally poor examples, got positive responses but I was concerned that it would need TRS to remove the subpages.

WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000)
#15223: Aug 12th 2023 at 5:58:05 PM

Since you're asking about those, we should honestly just go through the list of everything we may put on the next crowner and make sure everyone agrees with everything — not just these potentially contentious ones.

"Characterization" in particular has caused so much confusion we're discussing it here.

Also, I feel like we need to stop picking multiple categories. It muddles things far too much; these tropes don't go on multiple indexes because only one reason is all that it takes, so I think we should just start choosing the best argument and stick to it instead of throwing every possible reasoning at the wall (for instance, what if I agree that Black Widow is gossip but disagree that it's morality?).

Edited by WarJay77 on Aug 12th 2023 at 9:00:30 AM

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
MissConduct (Septatroper)
#15224: Aug 12th 2023 at 6:05:33 PM

[up]I usually include multiples to cover the bases and prevent people from bringing it up again once the trope's already on the crowner. And, besides, what if we crowner Black Widow on Gossip alone but someone thinks it's not Gossip but is Morality? We don't know what subtypes people prioritize as being important so it's safest to list everything that was brought up for a trope.

WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000)
#15225: Aug 12th 2023 at 6:06:50 PM

I mean, we can discuss it on the other thread as well. It's just something that has bothered me personally, but as we know this is not the thread for policy.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall

Projects: Long Term/Perpetual: Real Life Section Maintenance
20th Sep '25 9:57:50 AM

Crown Description:

Vote UP to cut real life examples; vote DOWN to keep.

Anything marked DONE has been resolved.

In order for a crowner to pass:

  • Must have been up for a minimum of a week
  • There must be a 2:1 ratio
  • If the vote is exactly 2:1 or +/- 1 vote from that, give it a couple extra days to see if any more votes come in
  • Once passed, tropes must be indexed on the appropriate NRLEP or LRLEO index
  • Should the vote fail, the trope should be indexed on KRLE page

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