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Not sure if you really have a Badass Bookworm or just a guy who likes to read?

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Useful Tips:

  • Make sure that the example makes sense to both people who don't know the work AND don't know the trope.
    • Wrong: The Mentor: Kevin is this to Bob in the first episode.
    • Right: The Mentor: Kevin takes Bob under his wing in the first episode and teaches him the ropes of being a were-chinchilla.
  • Never just put the trope title and leave it at that.
    • Wrong: Badass Adorable
    • Right: Badass Adorable: Xavier, the group's cute little mascot, defeats three raging elephants with both hands tied behind his back using only an uncooked spaghetti noodle.
  • When is normally far less important than How.
    • Wrong: Big Bad: Of the first season.
    • Right: Big Bad: The heroes have to defeat the Mushroom Man lest the entirety of Candy Land's caramel supply be turned into fungus.
  • A character name is not an explanation.


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For best results, please include why you think an example is iffy in your first post.

Also, many oft-misused tropes/topics have their own threads, such as Surprisingly Realistic Outcome (here) and Fan-Preferred Couple (here). Tropers are better able to give feedback on examples you bring up to specific threads. We don't discuss Complete Monster or Magnificent Bastard examples; please don't bring them up.

Edited by SeptimusHeap on Jul 17th 2025 at 8:59:01 PM

WhirlRX Since: Jan, 2015
#25801: Feb 10th 2023 at 5:50:06 PM

Im wondering if this fit Don't Shoot the Message for The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

  • In The End Of Innocence, the episode deals with the problem of colorism in which Zoey, a white girl, is asked out by Noah, a black boy who is famous, because she is white. While tackling the issue isn't a problem, the way its handle is. Zoey's friends, with the exception of Penny who was trying to be rational, all become hostile towards Zoey for dating Noah to the point they try to de-invite her to their annual Disney Princess party. They also don't do a good job explaining to Zoey why the issue is so hurtful towards them and they end up looking jealous of Zoey dating Noah.

Edited by WhirlRX on Feb 10th 2023 at 8:51:08 AM

Tacoyogo Since: Aug, 2022
#25802: Feb 10th 2023 at 6:04:48 PM

On Characters.Amphibia Sasha Waybright:

  • Would Hurt a Child: After Sprig calls her out on how she's not a real friend to Anne, just a bully who uses her, Sasha draws her sword on him, and would've cut him down if Anne hadn't blocked her.
    Sasha: I think I've had enough of you, squeaky toy.

Sasha is 13 while Sprig is 11, so the age difference isn't as severe as some other examples of this trope. Plus Sprig is a frog rather than a human.

ForgoLight The Ultimate Lifeform Since: Oct, 2022 Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
The Ultimate Lifeform
#25803: Feb 10th 2023 at 6:13:14 PM

[up] The series makes it clear that Frogs are people too, so I don't see how that is in any way relevant. Also it should still count because he is still younger than her and is in fact a preteen when Sasha isn't.

"Us weirdos have to stick together!"
AegisP Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man
#25804: Feb 10th 2023 at 6:27:36 PM

[up][up] I think you are correct in that they are both kids but the frog thing is not relevant.

As long as this flower is in my heart. My Strength will flow without end.
BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#25805: Feb 10th 2023 at 6:30:50 PM

[up] Oh yes. It’s easy to forget that Sasha is thirteen too.

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
Tacoyogo Since: Aug, 2022
#25806: Feb 10th 2023 at 6:37:49 PM

^ The series doesn't really play up the difference between 11 and 13 though when considering Anne (who's also 13) and Sprig's friendship though since they regularly interact as equals rather than a (interspecies) sibling dynamic. Though considering Sasha both looks and acts older than 13, I guess it's an example due more to her maturity than the chronological age difference?

Edited by Tacoyogo on Feb 10th 2023 at 6:39:05 AM

selkies TOO serious! from Guess, guess, guess Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: Star-crossed
TOO serious!
#25807: Feb 10th 2023 at 6:46:15 PM

So I added this to Literature.Osamake but I'm not sure if it's a correct example of Tempting Apple?

  • Tempting Apple: Apples are repeatedly used as a motif for love in which falling in love is likened to something that "spreads over your body and eats away at it", just like how poison spreads in apples and makes them rot. The apples are golden in the anime, symbolizing the object of desire and temptation.

Uncanny Valley Hot Babes in Your Area Are Looking To Know YOU! Click Here to Sign Up for FREE! | Not quite back tbh. Don't expect much.
AegisP Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man
#25808: Feb 10th 2023 at 6:50:11 PM

[up][up] That works against your argument, they are both equals ergo they are both kids. Sure Anne is sometimes treated like a 17 year old but that's because kids in this sort of cartoons always act like Mini Adults anyway.

As long as this flower is in my heart. My Strength will flow without end.
BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#25809: Feb 10th 2023 at 6:53:26 PM

[up] Totally. And now I gotta see if there’s a trope for mini adults.

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
JankyKong He's finally back to kick some... wait from a Secret Base on the Moon Since: May, 2021 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
He's finally back to kick some... wait
#25810: Feb 10th 2023 at 7:05:20 PM

YMMV.Mario Party has an example of It's Short, So It Sucks! that, as far as I can tell, has nothing to do with the trope.

  • The lack of the official Bowser minigames introduced from Mario Party 4 onward in Mario Party Superstars has become noticeable by fans. In a game celebrating the entire series with a plethora of returning minigames throughout its entire history, Superstars only has three official Bowser minigames: "Face Lift", "Pit Boss", and "Dark n Crispy", the latter two of which are from Mario Party 6. Many fans are disappointed with this lack of variety, citing a missed opportunity to include some of the more notable Bowser minigames from the series to flesh out its library, like "Fruits of Doom" (Mario Party 4), "Rain of Fire" (Mario Party 5), and "Funstacle Course" (Mario Party 7).

Your melody still remains in this room and it rings
AegisP Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man
#25811: Feb 10th 2023 at 7:13:41 PM

This troper (lol!) has basically taken a random trope name and used as carte blanche to complain. Chainsaw that.

As long as this flower is in my heart. My Strength will flow without end.
Ayumi-chan 3rd happiest man in Connecticut from Iacon City (Experienced Trainee) Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
3rd happiest man in Connecticut
#25812: Feb 10th 2023 at 7:41:21 PM

In response to this post, with what you said, while the Lao-Shu do dress in a very stereotypically chinese fashion, they otherwise to don’t show any other physical characteristics with Yellow Peril Villains (being an Otome Yang is portrayed as conventional attractive).

So is it safe to cut or rewrite?

She/Her | Currently cleaning: N/A
BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#25813: Feb 10th 2023 at 8:16:25 PM

Ignore. Had my question answered already.

Edited by BigBadShadow25 on Feb 10th 2023 at 11:17:05 AM

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
ElRise I fix my examples all the time from The Dying City (Life not ruined yet) Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
I fix my examples all the time
#25814: Feb 10th 2023 at 10:44:03 PM

Found these examples in YamatoNadeshiko.Video Games. Do they qualify?

  • Final Fantasy:
    • Final Fantasy VII: Despite having a Japanese Fantasy Counterpart Culture in Wutai, technically does not have a yamato nadeshiko, just Yuffie.
      • If Aerith had been born there she would qualify because she fulfills the other qualifications: more traditionally feminine than the other girls and occupies the 'comforting, mothering figure' aspect - which she comments on in Advent Children). As it stands, she's Silk Hiding Steel and she can be more stubborn, coy and mischievous (specially in the early parts of the original game) than the standard.
      • For the same reason and despite her Ms. Fanservice appearance, Tifa fits this more than Aerith does. She's first seen greeting Cloud after he came back from his mission, is an excellent cook and bartender, and fits Team Mom role all the way to the end.
    • Yuna, from Final Fantasy X, can be seen as this if you squint. She's a gentle and feminine girl who is something like a priestess, wears a dress resembling a kimono, and grew up on an island. She loosens up slightly in the sequel, but still retains her motherly instincts.

Graffiti Wall
AegisP Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man
#25815: Feb 10th 2023 at 10:51:28 PM

Utter Misuse. Feel free to chainsaw.

As long as this flower is in my heart. My Strength will flow without end.
JankyKong He's finally back to kick some... wait from a Secret Base on the Moon Since: May, 2021 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
He's finally back to kick some... wait
#25816: Feb 10th 2023 at 10:58:49 PM

I found when the Mario Party example was first added, and the original editor seemed confused on if it was It's Short, So It Sucks! or Underused Game Mechanic. It feels like it could be the latter, but at the same time, I've never heard this complaint outside of that page. (Personally, I think the complaint makes no sense at all, but that's besid e the point.)

Your melody still remains in this room and it rings
JustNormalMusicLover Just one media nerd (Experienced Trainee) Relationship Status: Abstaining
Just one media nerd
#25817: Feb 11th 2023 at 3:03:54 AM

If most characters have non-animated potraits and one of them has the only potrait that actually is animated (for this case, spinning around), does it count as a trope, or is it not a trope at all?

Nothing solves a day of depression better than a warm smile.
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#25818: Feb 11th 2023 at 3:12:09 AM

Which trope? This trope is about if something fits something specific. Trope Finder is for finding tropes and this thread is for suggesting new tropes.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
Malady (X-Troper)
#25819: Feb 11th 2023 at 3:57:03 AM

[up][up] - Well, Nominal Importance has:

  • Boxxy Quest: The Gathering Storm has a unique visual variant – you can easily tell if a character is going to be important by whether or not their sprite’s eyes blink.

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
Mariofan99 Since: Jun, 2021 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#25820: Feb 11th 2023 at 5:53:49 AM

Would this exchange from Ben 10 S1 E13 "Secrets" count as Saying Too Much or a variant of I Never Told You My Name

Max: Believe me when I say you do not want to pick a fight with Vilgax!

Ben: uh... how did you know his name was Vilgax?

Gwen: Grandpa... what aren't you telling us?

Max: ...

Edited by Mariofan99 on Feb 11th 2023 at 8:54:28 AM

MyFinalEdits Delete message from Parts Unknown (Spin-off Series) Relationship Status: Cast away
Delete message
#25821: Feb 11th 2023 at 7:59:41 AM

I don't think the It's Short, So It Sucks! example from Mario party fits.

135 -> 180 -> 273 -> 191 -> 188 -> 230 -> 300 -> 311
BKelly95 Tame Racing Driver (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Tame Racing Driver
#25822: Feb 11th 2023 at 8:32:07 AM

[up][up] Is Max not supposed to know who that is? If so, it seems more like Saying Too Much. [up] It would probably help if you posted the entry here...or at least tell us which folder it's in.

Edited by BKelly95 on Feb 11th 2023 at 11:47:33 AM

MrMediaGuy2 Since: Jun, 2015
#25823: Feb 11th 2023 at 11:29:00 AM

An example of It Was His Sled was added to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Should it be cut, given the five year waiting period required?

BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#25824: Feb 11th 2023 at 11:37:05 AM

If it’s for what I think it’s for, cut it fast.[up]

Edited by BigBadShadow25 on Feb 11th 2023 at 2:37:16 PM

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#25825: Feb 11th 2023 at 11:59:22 AM

@ Yamato Nadeshiko and Final Fantasy

Yuna actually is an example, she's consciously based off of the Yamato Nadeshiko archetype to the point that I think the flowers on her skirt are supposed to be nadeshiko flowers.

The others are just the "this character is feminine without being useless" era of misuse when Real Women Never Wear Dresses ranting was a lot more common.


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