*sigh* It's still broken...: Nerds Are Sexy

Despite the admonishment that this trope is for in-story reactions ONLY, there are way, way, way too many characters listed because the audience/troper thinks they're sexy.

We could just delete the bad examples and bad wicks, but I am 100% absolutely positively CERTAIN that there will just be more added in the future.

I propose (not sure how seriously, but I propose anyway) we give up. Just give up. Allow characters audience/tropers think are sexy on this page. It's Trope Decay to be sure, but a lot less work than constant patrolling.

Thoughts?

(Although I suppose it's still less broken than when the Laconic directly contradicted the main trope description... and no one noticed or cared.)

edited 27th Nov '10 10:55:09 PM by Leaper

Dump them on the Troper Tales.

Two problems with that:

1) Many entries are written in such a way that one can't really tell if there's any in-story reaction to the character's looks. Are we to assume that every one that doesn't belongs in Troper Tales?

2) Once they're gone, who's going to police the page for the inevitable endless readditions of "Doctor Who is hawt ["to me" implied]"?

If it's unclear, dump the example on the discussion page with a note "these examples need to be clarified by adding when they were specifically mentioned to be attractive because of their nerdiness". Curate the page for a while so that people start catching on.

1) Yes. The example is off the page, unless someone identifies it as a good example and moves it back to the page.

2) "It's hard" is not a good reason to quit doing something (for "we" anyway, of course you personally should do whatever you want). Maybe a good reason to find an easier way, though. Added a commented-out note ("...Examples should be IN-UNIVERSE ONLY...").

edited 27th Nov '10 11:53:09 PM by rodneyAnonymous

OK, so where should the commented-out note go? I ask because by the time I (or whoever) am done with taking out the non-in-story examples, the page is gonna look gutted compared to what it looks like now.

If I were you, I'd put the comment at the very top of the markup, and include a bolded notice at the end of the description along these lines:

Only add examples here which are acknowledged in-universe. If it's just you thinking a character is hot because they're nerdy, take it to Troper Tales.

Phew, okay, purge made. Everything inappropriate moved to either Discussion or Troper Tales. Now let's see how long it takes for the bad examples to return...

(Does this mean this thread can be closed now, or...?)

You've still got it checked out. Also, since you've got it checked out, pull the image for JAFAAC.

Yeah, I missed one of the examples (Myth Busters) - you must've opened it just as I was editing for that.

Pic pulled.

ETA: I just noticed that it was Madrugada who just recently added the "this must be in-story" requirement. Is that because this was never meant as an audience reaction trope, and/or because AS an audience reaction trope, there's nothing stopping the page from becoming bloated with every slightly nerdy and attractive character ever?

edited 28th Nov '10 1:12:56 AM by Leaper

It's because it was never meant to be an audience reaction trope, but it's the sort of article that's prone to become one if left unchecked.

edited 28th Nov '10 1:24:38 AM by shimaspawn

I've just edited the policy notices so they stand out better, especially the one at the very start of the page source. If this blatant placement of the policies doesn't get the message across, then there is no hope for some of our editors.

Hmm. Anything more to discuss here?

(Apart that someone added an example that I just had to scrub for lack of explanation of in-story-ness, despite the warnings?)

That's normal. Some people don't check the description to see if there's been a change. Others are just thick.

Hmm. One final bump to plead for tropers to please delete inappropriate wicks when you see them... I'm assuming about 75% or so are probably bad.

Otherwise, I think this thread can be closed! Mods?

Ugh, took a look at the Related To page... all those wicks... most likely most of them misuse...

I could use some help here...!

Bump!

One last bump to ask for aid in wick-checking...? If not, is there anywhere else it'd be appropriate to ask?

Hopefully there'll be enough volunteers to divvy them up in a useful way.

Post about this is the Special Projects area. That's for exactly what this is — a job that's too big for one or two people to do alone.

Cool. In that case, this thread can finally be closed. :) I'll shout.