A thread discussing similar tropes. If thread 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.
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.
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 Tabs on Nov 1st 2022 at 10:57:37 AM
the Retromancer
One is morality the other is mannerism. I don't see how they relate.
TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
A Soft-Spoken Sadist can be Faux Affably Evil, but not all Faux Affably Evil people are soft spoken sadists (consider, a jovial upbeat villain who engages in lots of Baddie Flattery but is still a sociopath, like Nui Harime from Kill la Kill). There's overlap, but not the same.
Police Brutality Gambit seems like a The Same, but More Specific for Wounded Gazelle Gambit.
Edited by randomtroper89 on Apr 22nd 2023 at 4:16:52 AM
it's explicitly a subtrope of Wounded Gazelle Gambit so by definition this is true, so what remains up to debate is whether or not it's a unique/specific enough variation worthy of it being a trope. I would argue yes, since the police is an institution whereas WGG is more focued on interpersonal issues, which makes the legal ramifications and stakes much higher than with just your run of the mill Malicious Slander.
But that's just my opinion on the matter.
I don't see the difference.
Kids Are Cruel vs. Enfant Terrible?
The universe is under no obligation to make sense to us.
(she/her)
Kids Are Cruel is about children being portrayed as mean bullies while Enfant Terrible is about an evil child.
Macron's notes
being a jerk vs. genuinely malevolent
- run of the mill school bullying = Kids Are Cruel
- demonic possessed child (Rosemary's Baby), psychopathic/murderous child (The Bad Seed) = Enfant Terrible
Edited by amathieu13 on Apr 22nd 2023 at 4:45:14 AM
The Needless vs. Perpetual-Motion Monster?
Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
I'm helping!
The Needless might not be a monster. Though this distinction might not be worth keeping.
Trouble Cube continues to be a general-purpose forum for those who desire such a thing.
What is the difference between Won't Do Your Dirty Work and Sudden Principled Stand?
Sudden Downer Ending vs. Diabolus ex Machina?
The universe is under no obligation to make sense to us.
A Diabolus ex Machina is not necessarily an ending. It's any contrivance that makes things worse for the protagonists.
Edited by badtothebaritone on Apr 23rd 2023 at 3:58:44 AM
^^^ Those sound very much alike.
(she/her)
I know the difference between Animation Bump and Animation Evolution is that the former is temporary and that the latter is permanent but I am not sure if that's a significant difference in practice and seeing some permanent/long term animation changes on Animation Bump's page.
Edited by MacronNotes on Apr 23rd 2023 at 11:03:57 AM
Macron's notes
Now a lurker. Thanks for everything. | he/him
Maybe do a wick check on Animation Bump to see how it's being used? I could see a merge argument.
the Retromancer
Animation Bump is used for series with limited budget to use only in climax scenes. Even budget aside, sometimes even done deliberately to bank off a Signature Scene. Animation Evolution is gradual change between installments or over time. I wouldn't merge.
Edited by Amonimus on Apr 23rd 2023 at 8:29:23 PM
TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
Officially intimidated
Neither would I.
135 - 169 - 273 - 191 - 188 - 230 - 300
Now a lurker. Thanks for everything. | he/him
Perhaps a merge argument wouldn't be good then.
I still wonder what a wick check would show.
TRS Queue | Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
(she/her)
I don't know if I'd do the wick check but Animation Evolution only being a year old probably explains why some examples on Animation Bump belong better on the former.
Macron's notes
Now a lurker. Thanks for everything. | he/him
Maybe I'll do a wick check some time. Maybe a rename would be a good idea? Animation Bump is a little vague as a name.
TRS Queue | Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
A couple months ago, I asked on this threat what the difference between Break the Haughty and Humble Pie was, and although I got multiple responses
, I couldn't tell which was supposed to be a more profound version of the other trope.
Looking back at the original query's responses and at the trope pages, the best I can decipher is that a Humble Pie is a single event which embarrasses the subject character to a point which humbles their behavior for a time, whereas Break the Haughty is Humble Pie Exaggerated so that several Pies come in all at once and there's often a permanent/profound impact on the character's life. Is that about right?
the Retromancer
Another personal take.
- Humble Pie: Jerkass screws up and stops being a Jerkass in reflection.
- Break the Haughty: A Prideful character suffers karma and have nothing to be prideful of left.
Only Mostly Dead is when a hero appears to be dead, but it turns out they're merely unconscious or comatose or something. Disney Death is when a character appears to have died, but they actually didn't. Is this meaningfully distinct?
I guess on a side note, Not Quite Dead is for villains that appear to have died, but they actually didn't, but that one usually has different connotations, like the not-dead villain preparing a sneak attack or something, but it gets misused a lot for heroes because the name both says nothing about villains and is very similar to Only Mostly Dead.
Edited by badtothebaritone on Apr 24th 2023 at 2:39:42 PM
What about Faux Affably Evil vs Soft-Spoken Sadist?
Graffiti Wall