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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

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
#1476: Mar 29th 2022 at 11:10:15 AM

That's a good option. We did that option.

Suddenly I'm... still rotating Fallen London in my mind even though I've stopped actively playing it.
Malady (X-Troper)
#1477: Mar 30th 2022 at 9:38:43 AM

Laconic.Inugami is just:

"Parasyte meets Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin."

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
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
#1478: Apr 2nd 2022 at 6:01:20 PM

Laconic.Cut And Paste Note reads "WhAT do YoU wAnT fOR yOuR biRtHday?"

That's not a laconic, that's a (made-up) example.

How about something more like "Note made from cut-up pieces of other media"?

Suddenly I'm... still rotating Fallen London in my mind even though I've stopped actively playing it.
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)
#1479: Apr 2nd 2022 at 6:02:14 PM

Yeah, the "return to the unabridged version" can be the self demonstrating part.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#1480: Apr 2nd 2022 at 6:05:42 PM

The issue I've brought up about Laconic.Difficulty Spike may suit that more.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
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)
#1481: Apr 2nd 2022 at 6:07:31 PM

Y'know, maybe.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
TheLivingDrawing Lucas the Dreamer from The Town of Clayton Since: Apr, 2019 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Lucas the Dreamer
#1482: Apr 4th 2022 at 1:26:45 PM

I accidentally Edit Warred on BioShock 2. I saw the old Laconic was on the page even though I rewrote it not long ago (the old one wasn’t very good) and I just assumed I had forgotten to publish the edit. It turns out someone reverted the edit. Here’s the Laconics. Current:

A Super Prototype sets out across the ruins of Rapture to save his daughter figure from her mother, who plans to exploit her power.
Original-
A custody battle from hell set in Rapture between a lone Super Prototype father and a Utopian mother with an army over the fate of their daughter.
First Edit-
A Super Prototype with free will fights his way through the ruins of Rapture to save the child he was bonded to from her evil mother.

Once Upon A Time.
Malady (X-Troper)
#1483: Apr 4th 2022 at 7:23:12 PM

[up] - I like Original more because it's funnier, but maybe that's a bad thing for a Laconic, being an accurate context shift.


Laconic.Shining Force has an "Or" dual laconic.

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
MyFinalEdits Delete message from Parts Unknown (Spin-off Series) Relationship Status: Cast away
Delete message
#1484: Apr 4th 2022 at 7:59:18 PM

The second one should be zorched, as it's less explanatory on what the work is about.

135 -> 180 -> 273 -> 191 -> 188 -> 230 -> 300 -> 311
Synchronicity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#1485: Apr 7th 2022 at 2:20:04 PM

I think Laconic.Chocolate Baby could be more accurate:

The child looks nothing like their supposed parents, implying infidelity.

It's not just about lack of resemblance, but a glaringly obvious giveaway that the child isn't the "father's". How about:

Something about a baby's appearance strongly implies they are the product of an affair.

MyFinalEdits Delete message from Parts Unknown (Spin-off Series) Relationship Status: Cast away
Delete message
#1486: Apr 7th 2022 at 4:14:23 PM

I support the suggestion.

135 -> 180 -> 273 -> 191 -> 188 -> 230 -> 300 -> 311
Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#1487: Apr 9th 2022 at 7:32:25 AM

Seconded.

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.
themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#1489: Apr 13th 2022 at 9:16:44 AM

Is Laconic.DoctorWho now a bit misleading? The protagonist is not a medical or academic doctor, and the police box isn't magical. (e: oopsie)

Edited by Amonimus on Apr 13th 2022 at 11:23:51 AM

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
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)
#1490: Apr 13th 2022 at 1:16:28 PM

Also it's not a phone box, but a police box.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#1491: Apr 13th 2022 at 7:36:52 PM

Yes, that's a bad Laconic.

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.
TPPR10 Craving for fish from up north Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Craving for fish
#1492: Apr 15th 2022 at 7:38:39 AM

Stationary Enemy has the laconic text be the exact same sentence used in the beginning of the trope page.

Only sometimes posts
TheLivingDrawing Lucas the Dreamer from The Town of Clayton Since: Apr, 2019 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Lucas the Dreamer
#1493: Apr 15th 2022 at 4:01:50 PM

The Bioshock 2 edit war is still going. The troper in question, Anti Hero 276, reverted my edit from this

A Super Prototype sets out across the ruins of Rapture to save his daughter figure from her mother, who plans to exploit her power.
back to this for the third time.
A custody battle from hell set in Rapture between a lone Super Prototype father and a Utopian mother with an army over the fate of their daughter.

Once Upon A Time.
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
TheLivingDrawing Lucas the Dreamer from The Town of Clayton Since: Apr, 2019 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Lucas the Dreamer
#1495: Apr 15th 2022 at 4:05:51 PM

I’ll move it there.

Once Upon A Time.
TheLivingDrawing Lucas the Dreamer from The Town of Clayton Since: Apr, 2019 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Lucas the Dreamer
#1496: Apr 16th 2022 at 10:01:15 AM

Which of the two Laconics for Bioshock 2 should be kept?

Once Upon A Time.
MyFinalEdits Delete message from Parts Unknown (Spin-off Series) Relationship Status: Cast away
Delete message
#1497: Apr 16th 2022 at 1:13:10 PM

The previous one. I'm not sold on Antihero's revision.

135 -> 180 -> 273 -> 191 -> 188 -> 230 -> 300 -> 311
TheLivingDrawing Lucas the Dreamer from The Town of Clayton Since: Apr, 2019 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Lucas the Dreamer
#1498: Apr 16th 2022 at 2:32:59 PM

The one on top is mine. The one below it is Anti-Hero’s.

Edited by TheLivingDrawing on Apr 16th 2022 at 5:33:31 AM

Once Upon A Time.
MyFinalEdits Delete message from Parts Unknown (Spin-off Series) Relationship Status: Cast away
Delete message
#1499: Apr 16th 2022 at 4:27:08 PM

I think that's what I meant. Your version is better in my opinion.

Unfortunately, since Antihero has essentially reverted your edit, and the edit before yours was also theirs, this likely became an Edit War on their part. You should take this case to Ask The Tropers in case you haven't done so yet.

135 -> 180 -> 273 -> 191 -> 188 -> 230 -> 300 -> 311
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle

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