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A thread discussing similar tropes.

Note that two tropes being distinct in theory does that mean they are distinct in practice. If participants agree that two (or more) tropes really don't seem distinct enough to be separate, one can start a thread in the Trope Repair Shop for further discussion. A a wick check demonstrating redundancy will likely be required, though.

Before asking "What's the difference between these tropes?", check the Canonical List of Subtle Trope Distinctions and Laconical List of Subtle Trope Distinctions lists. They may contain the answer. Feel free to contribute to them, too.


    Original OP 

I've decided to start a new cleanup thread dealing with trope similarities. This thread is for discussing tropes that appear to be a duplicate of another trope, and if it's agreed upon that the two tropes talked about are similar enough, one should start a thread about it in the Trope Repair Shop.

I'll start with my issue...


Asian Hooker Stereotype and Mighty Whitey and Mellow Yellow are pretty much the same trope—they both involve a white man and an Asian woman.

Edited by Synchronicity on Aug 8th 2024 at 5:29:57 AM

Malady (X-Troper)
#2701: Jul 26th 2023 at 5:26:31 AM

Compilation Re-release vs. Omnibus? Especially since the former has Literature examples?

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
NoUsername she's only programmed to be very nice Since: May, 2012
she's only programmed to be very nice
#2702: Jul 26th 2023 at 8:14:11 AM

they're essentially the same but Omnibus is the existing off-wiki term for literature. Compilation Re-release seems to have been defined as primarily about video games (so there was no overlap when they were created) but the definition has slightly decayed to make it any form of media. under the current definitions the literature examples on compilation rerelease should be moved to omnibus, but it likely wouldn't be a bad idea to merge them into one trope at this point

Edited by NoUsername on Jul 26th 2023 at 8:19:16 AM

bwburke94 I am mad scientist! It's so cool! from 1.048596% (Y2: Electric Boogaloo) Relationship Status: She does the things you do, but she is an IBM
I am mad scientist! It's so cool!
#2703: Jul 26th 2023 at 7:30:49 PM

Probably under the Compilation Re-release name, as it's more media-inclusive.

2025: the year it all ends?
fullmusicbard from Virgil, Texas Since: Aug, 2022 Relationship Status: Married to the music
#2704: Jul 26th 2023 at 8:42:01 PM

Edited by fullmusicbard on Sep 2nd 2023 at 2:37:40 AM

Adept (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#2705: Jul 27th 2023 at 6:12:22 AM

One-Hit Wonder vs. Two-Hit Wonder?

"A creator only has one notable work" vs. "A creator only has two notable works" seems to be really splitting hairs.

Malady (X-Troper)
#2706: Jul 27th 2023 at 8:13:18 AM

[up] - Well, some of these seem to happen close to each other in time, 2006 and 2008, or in consecutive years.

Sorta like a Flash-in-the-Pan Fad? If they had more distance between the Wonders, then maybe that's the real important bit? I don't want to get into the Sorites paradox on what number of Wonders is important, but now we're on "How long between Wonders" is important. [lol]

Edited by Malady on Jul 27th 2023 at 8:14:31 AM

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
Adept (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#2707: Jul 28th 2023 at 7:49:44 AM

[up]I'm still not sure how that adds to any meaning to the distinction.

Malady (X-Troper)
#2708: Jul 28th 2023 at 7:57:21 AM

[up] - I guess folding One and Two Hit Wonders into something with a name like No Lasting Power, focus on the temporary nature of their fame instead of specific numbers.

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him
#2709: Jul 28th 2023 at 8:27:50 AM

[up][tdown] One-Hit Wonder is an established term offsite. I’ve heard Two-Hit Wonder before but honestly I’m not sure if it’s as noteworthy.

Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
Malady (X-Troper)
#2710: Jul 28th 2023 at 6:31:47 PM

[up] - If Two isn't noteworthy, then cutting it would solve the issue, yes.

Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
BlackMage43 Since: Jun, 2014 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
bwburke94 I am mad scientist! It's so cool! from 1.048596% (Y2: Electric Boogaloo) Relationship Status: She does the things you do, but she is an IBM
I am mad scientist! It's so cool!
#2712: Jul 28th 2023 at 9:22:20 PM

Muscles Are Meaningless is the more general of the two. Waif-Fu has the additional connotations of the character initially appearing to be a defenseless woman.

2025: the year it all ends?
Adept (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#2714: Jul 28th 2023 at 10:29:41 PM

Jerk with a Heart of Gold is a person who seems rude, abrasive, or violent, but has a secret soft spot underneath. Good Is Not Nice is a character who fights for a good cause, but doesn't necessarily behave in a pleasant manner.

PurpleEyedGuma Since: Apr, 2020
#2715: Jul 29th 2023 at 6:27:58 PM

I’m having trouble parsing the difference between BSoD Song & Melancholy Musical Number.

eroock Since: Sep, 2012
#2716: Jul 29th 2023 at 7:28:43 PM

[up] from the latter page: Not to be confused with B So D Song, which is about someone singing about how sad they are, rather than what they are sad over.

Sounds like splitting hairs to me.

Tabs Since: Jan, 2001
#2718: Jul 30th 2023 at 6:11:32 PM

The latter is a crook who attempts to antagonize ("mug") someone not realizing the would-be target is more dangerous than they assume ("monster"). Underestimating Badassery is someone mistakenly underestimating an opponent's ability to fight.

amathieu13 Since: Aug, 2013
#2719: Jul 30th 2023 at 6:29:50 PM

[up]I'd say it's a Super-Trope, Sub-Trope relationship. In order to Mug the Monster, you have to Underestimate Badassery, but not every example of Underestimating Badassery involves Mugging the Monster.

Edited by amathieu13 on Jul 30th 2023 at 9:30:05 AM

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
#2720: Jul 31st 2023 at 5:51:05 AM

Just out of curiosity: What separates Town Girls with Masculine, Feminine, Androgyne Trio. Cause when I suggested a Gender-Inverted version of Town Girls in the Trope Idea Sounding Board, I saw some comments on whether if this a case of The Same, but More Specific (in this case, a feminine person, a masculine person and someone who in between those two identities but applied to women).

She/Her | Currently cleaning: N/A
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#2721: Jul 31st 2023 at 9:58:13 AM

I think Town Girls incorporates an element of class (the feminine girl is well-to-do and respectable, the neutral is poor/working-class, the tomboy is usually an outsider to symbolize her defiance of social norms) that the latter doesn't.

StalkerGamer That's All, Folks! Since: Dec, 2021 Relationship Status: Love is an open door
molokai198 Since: Oct, 2012
#2723: Jul 31st 2023 at 2:17:00 PM

[up][up] There is nothing in the page for Town Girls that seems to suggest that, and the example used in the trope page from Encanto is one where both the more masculine and more feminine ones are considered ideal and upstanding members of their society and they are sisters living in the same household so there is no social class difference.

Edited by molokai198 on Jul 31st 2023 at 5:19:09 AM

WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (3,795/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (3,795/50,000)
#2724: Jul 31st 2023 at 2:19:07 PM

In the examples I've seen, social class is never mentioned or even implied.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
randomtroper89 from The Fire Nation Since: Nov, 2010
#2725: Jul 31st 2023 at 5:39:19 PM

@Tabs: I initially put Everett Starr dismissing The Kingpin as Bullying a Dragon, however I changed it to Underestimating Badassery due to the fact that Kingpin had provoked the confrontation by having Starr and the other bosses arrested and forced into a Protection Racket.

Compare that to Dutton who goes out of their way to antagonize The Kingpin and pays the steep price for it.

By the way I realized halfway through writing this that you were talking about Mugging the Monster not Bullying a Dragon, but I think my point still stands.

Edited by randomtroper89 on Jul 31st 2023 at 7:49:57 AM


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