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Laconic Description Improvement

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For a list of bad laconics, see Sandbox.Pages Needing Better Laconics.

For generally accepted guidelines for laconics, see Sandbox.Laconic Wiki Template.


Today I found out an interesting fact from troper Ironeye:

Don't ever make the mistake of using the Laconic version as the canonical trope meaning—the laconics are often written by people who don't actually understand the drop. In this case, the laconic only corresponds to one possible cause of Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy.

The Laconic Description for DIAA states as follows:

The thing is, these descriptions are supposed to make it easier to understand what the page is about. If they can't be accurate as well as short and sweet, then there's a problem.

So for starters, what would be a better description for DIAA?

Edited by MacronNotes on Jan 29th 2023 at 6:23:45 AM

Delibirda from Splatsville Since: Sep, 2020 Relationship Status: I wanna be your dog
#901: Jun 3rd 2021 at 3:15:15 AM

Ship Tease laconic:

Teasing the fandom with some Will They or Won't They subtext.


Will They or Won't They? laconic:

Characters are constantly the targets of Ship Tease, but they keep dancing around the point.


Using each other for reference does not make us any wiser, and too hard to figure out much about the tropes from the laconics alone.

Edited by Delibirda on Jun 3rd 2021 at 12:15:36 PM

"Listen up, Marina, because this is SUPER important. Whatever you do, don't eat th“ “DON'T EAT WHAT?! Your text box ran out of space!”
Malady (X-Troper)
#902: Jun 3rd 2021 at 4:58:03 AM

Will They is In-universe, Ship Tease is meta.

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
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
#903: Jun 3rd 2021 at 2:05:55 PM

Laconic.Elemental Embodiment says this:

Elemental Powers based on location.

This laconic needs to go, as the trope is about beings that embody an element rather than location-based superpowers.

Cave Johnson, we're done here.
wingedcatgirl mys. minty from the silly dimension from lurking (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Oh my word! I'm gay!
mys. minty from the silly dimension
#904: Jun 3rd 2021 at 2:18:45 PM

That laconic was made by ~Trending Toon 1... Feel like we've seen that name recently.

Suddenly I'm... still rotating Fallen London in my mind even though I've stopped actively playing it.
Malady (X-Troper)
#905: Jun 3rd 2021 at 3:52:43 PM

[up][up] - Yeah, it's not Geo Effects.

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
underCoverSailsman Peeks from Under Rocks from State of Flux Since: Jan, 2021 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Peeks from Under Rocks
#906: Jun 3rd 2021 at 6:01:10 PM

Laconic.Surprisingly Realistic Outcome was copied over wholesale when TRS decided to transplant Reality Ensues.

Shortly thereafter, a troper added a clause onto the end. The current version stands thus:

  • When a moment in a work is unexpectedly realistic compared to the norm for its genre.

The TRS thread decided to drop the requirement of a genre-based expectation in favor of a broader "Narrative surprises the audience" approach, with little or no limit on how the narrative sets up the expectation.

What would be a better way to express this?

Edited by underCoverSailsman on Jun 3rd 2021 at 8:01:23 AM

WackyPancake from My computer. Since: May, 2011
#907: Jun 9th 2021 at 8:46:10 PM

Laconic.Space Jam A New Legacy has seven different laconics dumped in, leading to an effect that is very much not laconic. Is this allowed?

"I like girls, but now, it's about justice."
MyFinalEdits Delete message from Parts Unknown (Spin-off Series) Relationship Status: Cast away
Delete message
#908: Jun 9th 2021 at 9:01:53 PM

Nope...

EDIT: After reading those seven laconics, I vote for the first one. It's the only one that doesn't attempt to be a tired memetic "X Meets Y" or "X in SPACE" joke.

Edited by MyFinalEdits on Jun 9th 2021 at 12:05:29 PM

135 -> 180 -> 273 -> 191 -> 188 -> 230 -> 300 -> 311
wingedcatgirl mys. minty from the silly dimension from lurking (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Oh my word! I'm gay!
mys. minty from the silly dimension
#909: Jun 9th 2021 at 10:38:24 PM

Yeah same. We just cut the other ones.

Suddenly I'm... still rotating Fallen London in my mind even though I've stopped actively playing it.
PurpleEyedGuma Since: Apr, 2020
#910: Jun 10th 2021 at 7:30:42 AM

Speaking of Space Jam, I changed the original film’s laconic to be more about the movie itself, not its production.

Delibirda from Splatsville Since: Sep, 2020 Relationship Status: I wanna be your dog
#911: Jun 10th 2021 at 9:52:32 AM

Good idea.

"Listen up, Marina, because this is SUPER important. Whatever you do, don't eat th“ “DON'T EAT WHAT?! Your text box ran out of space!”
Unicorndance Logic Girl from Thames, N.Z. Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Logic Girl
#912: Jun 10th 2021 at 3:25:04 PM

Laconic.Bully is another one of those "This work but different" ones.

For every low there is a high.
PurpleEyedGuma Since: Apr, 2020
#913: Jun 10th 2021 at 3:26:22 PM

It’s also about the video game, when there’s a film of the same name.

MurlocAggroB from the second-most ridiculous province of Canada Since: May, 2015
#914: Jun 10th 2021 at 4:06:27 PM

Laconic.The Binding Of Isaac recently had a second entry added, and it's pretty bad. I'm also not a fan of the original either. Maybe this works instead:

"Zelda-inspired Roguelike with heaps of Religious Horror and poop."

regulation pigeon
WackyPancake from My computer. Since: May, 2011
#915: Jun 10th 2021 at 6:53:27 PM

I support that one, simply because it both contains the word "poop" and is accurate.

"I like girls, but now, it's about justice."
MurlocAggroB from the second-most ridiculous province of Canada Since: May, 2015
#916: Jun 12th 2021 at 7:16:02 PM

Bump. Don't want to replace it without at least one more opinion.

regulation pigeon
MyFinalEdits Delete message from Parts Unknown (Spin-off Series) Relationship Status: Cast away
Delete message
#917: Jun 12th 2021 at 7:46:09 PM

If it helps, I support your suggestion as well. [tup]

135 -> 180 -> 273 -> 191 -> 188 -> 230 -> 300 -> 311
Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#918: Jun 13th 2021 at 8:09:53 AM

The Laconic for Theatre.Cats and Film.Cats is shared. It seems to be based on someone's personal joke and needlessly muddles the description.

Musical play about cats that may upset or confuse the family dog.

I propose changing it to:

A musical production about what happens at the annual gathering of a tribe of cats.

The other problem with the page is that the unabridged statement is this:

—>The unabridged version's not there!

It only potholes the theatre production despite servicing both the theatre and film versions. Since the statement is a parody of a catchphrase that appears in the villain's song, I propose spoofing another line in the same song:

—>You may meet the unabridged version in a cinema, you may see it in the theatre.

Edited by Wyldchyld on Jun 13th 2021 at 4:29:59 PM

If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
MyFinalEdits Delete message from Parts Unknown (Spin-off Series) Relationship Status: Cast away
Delete message
#919: Jun 13th 2021 at 9:07:15 AM

I support your suggestions. [tup]

135 -> 180 -> 273 -> 191 -> 188 -> 230 -> 300 -> 311
Delibirda from Splatsville Since: Sep, 2020 Relationship Status: I wanna be your dog
#920: Jun 13th 2021 at 9:08:51 AM

[up]

"Listen up, Marina, because this is SUPER important. Whatever you do, don't eat th“ “DON'T EAT WHAT?! Your text box ran out of space!”
Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#921: Jun 13th 2021 at 10:13:05 AM

Thanks. Page updated.

If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
XFllo There is no Planet B from Planet A Since: Aug, 2012
There is no Planet B
#922: Jun 14th 2021 at 10:04:22 AM

Hi guys.

So... I try to keep an eye on some tropes to make sure they don't get misused/trope-decayed.

English Rose is a rather specific, narrow concept — an archetype of young English woman who has certain appearance and personality. Laconic.English Rose is too broad and I fear might lead to misuse.

The ideal English Nice Girl.

I'd even suggest cutting the laconic. Would you agree?


[down] Thank you! I like that suggestion.

Edited by XFllo on Jul 4th 2021 at 5:22:02 PM

Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#923: Jun 15th 2021 at 5:18:21 PM

The best I can suggest for a Laconic would be:

A nostalgic stereotype of a young, beautiful English lady who conforms to certain appearance and personality traits.

That would then require reading the main article to see the list of traits.

If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
ShinyCottonCandy Everyone's friend Malamar from Lumiose City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Everyone's friend Malamar
#924: Jun 17th 2021 at 10:13:52 AM

From Laconic.You Look Like Youve Seen A Ghost:

If a person is frightened, it looks like he or she saw a ghost.

Seems like the person who added it didn't understand the trope, which is the stock phrase being uttered by someone who has no idea that it's literally true. Anyone have a suggestion for a new laconic? This one needs to go either way.

My musician page
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#925: Jun 17th 2021 at 10:15:59 AM

Maybe use a quote?

"Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost! ...What do you mean you did?"

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.

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