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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.


Other Resources:


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

RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#24201: Dec 1st 2022 at 2:12:01 PM

[up](x4) I'd take that to Trope Finder.

[up]Maybe zigzaged since, before it hits level 3, it takes away one advantage yet gives another.

MaeBea from Satan's basement Since: Jul, 2021 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#24202: Dec 1st 2022 at 2:16:31 PM

So I found this on WebAnimation.Supermarioglitchy4s Super Mario 64 Bloopers The Waluigi Arc. Is this correct usage? I'm unsure what the policy on fan media examples is. For reference, the poster it's referring to was never officially used by the creators.



Should it stay or be removed?

"Squid has to go to market. He's had to go to market for as long as he's sucked water."
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#24203: Dec 1st 2022 at 2:30:56 PM

[up]That's not what Ascended Extra is about and we're not supposed to cover fan-made content like that, so cut.

Malady (X-Troper)
#24204: Dec 1st 2022 at 9:43:45 PM

Lineage Comes from the Father's Video Game examples list many "aversions", but aren't they just Gender-Inverted Trope of a presumably Always Male (maybe) trope?

Deriving from Pokemon, this should be fine?


From YMMV.The Elder Scrolls In Universe Books, is this not a In-Universe entry?

  • What Do You Mean, It Wasn't Made on Drugs?: Ruminations on the Elder Scrolls in Skyrim was actually written by an author who was on something. An actual Elder Scroll is, apparently, one hell of a drug. If you use the Elder Scroll you get during Skyrim any other time besides learning the Dragonrend Shout, you find out that it is indeed one hell of a (fortunately brief) trip.

Edited by Malady on Dec 1st 2022 at 9:49:52 AM

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
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
#24205: Dec 1st 2022 at 10:48:40 PM

[up] Some people confuse Averted Trope (a trope that is simply not present and not mentioned) and Inverted Trope (a flip side of a trope). For the trope Lineage Comes from the Father, any example that is summed up as "Lineage Comes From The Mother" would be an Inverted Trope, not an Averted Trope.


Found this example in Main.I Owe You My Life.
  • Zaalbar to the main character in Knights of the Old Republic.
    • For the evil players, Zaalbar's life-debt is, in fact, a form of slavery, as he will do anything you tell him to if you remind him of the life-debt. This includes killing Mission if she angers you or gets in your way, even though he's extremely protective of her.
      • However, he won't do it unless you use Force Persuade on him, and if you take him on the Star Forge afterwards he'll attack you.
    • Hanharr in Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is a subversion, or possibly Deconstruction: he despises the Wookiee tradition of life-debts but feels obliged to honor it, so he seeks to kill anyone who saves his life to relieve himself of the debt.
      • But exploited like everything else by Kreia, who resurrects a mortally-wounded Hanharr and gloats "I saved your life, beast. That makes it mine." Hanharr does not make a move to kill Kreia for this, realizing she is way out of his league. Kreia was cooked up by the same author as The Nameless One (see below).
    • Defied in the MMO spinoff of the first two games by Jakarro and Bowdaar. Players can try to invoke the life debt with Jakarro after they free him and his droid companion from a Manaan prison, but he'll completely refuse to do anything of the sort. Bowdaar, meanwhile, joins the Smuggler's crew after receiving some back-up from them during a tough fight, but while he's grateful for the help, he'll make it clear that he doesn't owe the Smuggler a life debt (and since he just got freed after spending a century as a slave, it's understandable why he wouldn't want someone else owning his life).
There's indentation issues, thread mode, Weasel Words, and misuse of both "subversion" and "deconstruction". How to fix?

Graffiti Wall
Bullman Enid Sinclair Since: Jun, 2018 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Enid Sinclair
#24206: Dec 2nd 2022 at 5:48:29 AM

From YMMV.Wednesday:

  • Romantic Plot Tumor: The Love Triangle between Wednesday, Tyler and Xavier was quickly labelled as one of the worst parts of the show, that too often slowed down the plot. Not only many fans argued that it didn't fit the usual themes of the Addams family, but they also pointed out that Xavier and Tyler's interest for Wednesday came out of nowhere, and there was no chemistry between the three of them. Even if Tyler working with the Big Bad all along at least justifies his behavior, there is neither a similar justication for Xavier nor any buildup to Wednesday falling in love with Tyler.

Now I have heard a lot of these complaints about the romance but there is one singular point that this entry doesn't seem to make. That it eats up unnecessary amounts of screentime. Like isn't that what Romantic Plot Tumor is supposed to be about.

Fan-Preferred Couple cleanup thread
Malady (X-Troper)
#24207: Dec 2nd 2022 at 6:57:42 AM

More Lineage Comes from the Father: This is not even this trope for the Watchers, but do the Slayers count, even though it's not a family and it's just "Magic just picks a girl somewhere"?

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Averted by the Watchers. Giles' father was a Watcher before him, but he inherited the job from his mother. While it's not a family, the Slayer title always passes from one woman to another.

Edited by Malady on Dec 2nd 2022 at 6:58:05 AM

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#24208: Dec 2nd 2022 at 10:34:23 AM

[up] As El Rise already mentioned it:

"...any example that is summed up as "Lineage Comes From The Mother" would be an Inverted Trope, not an Averted Trope."

If you find more example like this one, just change to Inverted Trope

Valdo
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.
#24209: Dec 2nd 2022 at 10:54:52 AM

Okay, so would this example from Film.Violent Night Count for Holiday Motif?

The mercenaries who take over the Lightstone compound all use Christmas themed code names such as Candy Cane, Krampus, Frosty, and Mr. Scrooge. The codenames are meant to be ironic due the heist being held on Christmas Eve and ringleader Scrooge’s hatred of Christmas.

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
RandomTroper123 She / Her from I'll let you guess... (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
She / Her
#24210: Dec 2nd 2022 at 11:12:43 AM

[up](x5) I'd combine the first ** point with the first ***. I'd also do the same with the second ** and the second ***. Also, that example that speculates whether or not it's a subverted or deconstructed example of I Owe You My Life doesn't sound like either to me.

[up](x4) I'm unsure about that one, though I'm leaning on saying it counts; I don't recall the main page of Romantic Plot Tumor saying the sub-plot must have an unneeded amount of screentime.

[up]That sounds like an example of Holiday Motif to me since they're themed after the holiday Noel.

Malady (X-Troper)
#24211: Dec 2nd 2022 at 11:36:21 AM

[up] - Plot Tumor has the "Takes Up Screentime" bit though?

[up]x4 - I'm saying the Watcher is a Family Business at worst, and that it doesn't count. The Slayer, does it count? It's not a familial inheritance.

Edited by Malady on Dec 2nd 2022 at 2:13:41 AM

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
MaeBea from Satan's basement Since: Jul, 2021 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#24212: Dec 2nd 2022 at 12:55:58 PM

Any new word on this?

- Libraryseraph + Twiddler: Twiddler is correct, it was meant as a video, not text. In the efforts of making the example easier to view, I attempted to organise the description and moved it out of a note so that it is easier to read. Also, perhaps it's just different views, but I thought from this that the trope was more about the browser history being something that should be embarrasing, less about the character actually being embarrased. I admit I'm still a little confused on the trope myself.

"Squid has to go to market. He's had to go to market for as long as he's sucked water."
Libraryseraph uu~ from Canada (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: Raising My Lily Rank With You
uu~
#24213: Dec 2nd 2022 at 1:02:33 PM

I think both "Browser history contains embarrassing content" and "we don't see the content but character is embarrassed" both fit, personally, so it would qualify for Embarrassing Browser History. Sorry about the confusion re: where your example is going

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FOR MARIA
Vandagyre I think I just got AC team loyalty from Dacardia (Fifth Year at Tropey's) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
I think I just got AC team loyalty
#24214: Dec 2nd 2022 at 4:48:06 PM

Does anyone have any idea what this example from Hollow Kingdom (2019) is trying to say?

  • Anvilicious: Majuscule-'N' Nature is at least sort-of an intentional or at least reactive being as per the unproved 'Gaia Hypothesis', humans are somehow attacking Nature by doing as we do, and Nature will get back at us for it.

Cave Johnson, we're done here.
Malady (X-Troper)
#24215: Dec 2nd 2022 at 5:01:54 PM

Something something about Nature attacking humanity back for having technology, since the novel is about technology smart phones being the sudden vector of a Zombie Apocalypse?

Edit: They're totally trying to talk about Gaia's Vengeance.

Edited by Malady on Dec 2nd 2022 at 5:26:28 AM

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
SoyValdo7 I mainly fix indentation issues from La tierra de lagos y volcanes Since: Sep, 2022 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
I mainly fix indentation issues
#24216: Dec 2nd 2022 at 5:20:39 PM

[up][up] It is really confusing. It needs a serious rewritten or cut it all together.

Valdo
Anarchist2 Confounded by avatar changes Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Confounded by avatar changes
#24217: Dec 2nd 2022 at 6:51:31 PM

Is this a valid example of You Know the One?

  • Spoofed in Nodwick, which featured at one point She Who Must Be Obeyed stealing That Which Man Was Not Meant To Know and taking it to The Lands Which Know No Name.
    Nodwick: Let me know if we find any proper nouns in all this mess.

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
#24218: Dec 2nd 2022 at 10:35:10 PM

[up]x11 Cut.


Found this example in Main.Celibate Hero.
  • Yuno in Black Clover, despite being a massive Chick Magnet, has no interest in women or dating whatsoever. Asta is in a similar position. He either ignores it or looks uncomfortable when women flirt with him, averts his eyes at revealing sights that give his male companions nosebleeds, and flat-out refuses to peep on the girls in the bath. This is because he has such a powerful crush on Sister Lily from his home village that he refuses to consider other romantic prospects. He's also oblivious to Noelle and Mimosa.
The last two sentences blatantly contradict what this trope is about. Fix or cut?

Edited by ElRise on Dec 3rd 2022 at 2:36:00 AM

Graffiti Wall
Malady (X-Troper)
#24219: Dec 2nd 2022 at 10:39:02 PM

Just cut my Lineage stuff, thanks. Also did more. There's <20 Averteds to check out, goodnight.

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
Rhapsody Since: Jun, 2014
#24220: Dec 2nd 2022 at 11:37:15 PM

[up][up] Yeah cut out Asta since he has a very obvious crush on Sister Lily and always tries to woo her. Yuno's entry is accurate I think, he doesn't show interest in romance and I recall him blatantly rejecting/ignoring his fairy companion's frequent flirting attempts with him.

isoycrazy Lord of the Blue Star Since: May, 2011 Relationship Status: Abstaining
Lord of the Blue Star
#24221: Dec 3rd 2022 at 2:46:14 AM

I posted this here on the Asshole Victim clean up forum four days ago but no one has even added more to it. Reposting here:

This is from Knives Out. I removed the spoilers for ease of assessment:

  • Asshole Victim: Many, or none, depending on your views. In order:
    • spoiler:Harlan behaves like a jerk to his whole family on his birthday (firing Walt seems particularly low) and then dies. He may be doing the "Cruel to Be Kind" thing, or he's just a prick]].
    • spoiler:Walt worked for his Dad his whole adult life, and is left shocked and bereft twice when he's fired and cut out of the will. He's also the first to threaten Marta under a thin veneer of friendliness and familiarity]].
    • spoiler:All of the family are cut out of the will and behave like roaring jackals to try and get what they see as their share back]].
    • spoiler:Joni and Meg are supposed to be the most likable of the family, but the first is robbing her father-in-law and the second turns on her friend (Marta) at the first opportunity. Meg does seem to feel guilty immediately; but they're both still assholes who get left with nothing anyway.]]
    • spoiler:Linda is one of the quickest to rage over whatever situation the family is in, but she's on good terms with her Dad. He disinherits her anyway; her son is (correctly) arrested for murder and she finds out her husband is cheating on her.]]

I don't know if any qualify. The opening line seems to play these as arguable, which tropes are not. And the "victims" I don't think meet the standard. Harlan was a jerk but that doesn't meet the repugnant standard.

NitroIndigo ♀ | Small ripples lead to big waves from West Midlands region, England Since: Jun, 2021 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
♀ | Small ripples lead to big waves
#24222: Dec 3rd 2022 at 4:59:23 AM

On Trivia.Pokemon Scarlet And Violet under Distanced from Current Events:

  • Pokerus is mysteriously absent from the games, possibly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This feels like a stretch. These are the first normal Pokémon games developed by Game Freak since 2019, but...

Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
NitroIndigo ♀ | Small ripples lead to big waves from West Midlands region, England Since: Jun, 2021 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
♀ | Small ripples lead to big waves
#24224: Dec 3rd 2022 at 5:07:29 AM

Removed it.

Malady (X-Troper)
#24225: Dec 3rd 2022 at 6:01:17 AM

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/article_history.php?article=GameBreaker.SuperSmashBros

The Zelda removal edit reason sounds like a rant from someone who didn't know how to use Zelda? Or is this better in the SSB thread?

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576

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