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We must start a letter writing campaign over this outrage!
(...where exactly were you going with this?)
Edited by DracMonster
What are you asking?
Other websites apparently don't agree with TV Tropes or each other on what constitutes a MacGuffin...so what? The term MacGuffin isn't a TV Tropes invention—the page clearly states it was popularized by Alfred Hitchcock—so the definition used here isn't any more definitive than someone else's interpretation of Hitchcock's concept, nor is theirs more definitive than TV Tropes'.
If there's a McGuffin entry on the work/trope page that doesn't fit the criteria as defined by the TVT page, it should be fixed. If it doesn't fit some other site's definition, that's irrelevant to the wiki. No more worrisome than that.
Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. -Terry Pratchett
The core of the concept is a MacGuffin drives the plot by being something or someone to pursue (or keep away from the bad guys.) In general, if you could substitute a bag of money without affecting the plot much, it's a MacGuffin.
How "active" a MacGuffin has to be to stop being a MacGuffin is a subject of debate. (Our definition is a little more strict than some on this.)
Edited by DracMonster
my main reason for asking is whether it would be a legitimate thing to add to the Hateful Eight - but Iooking at the tv tropes discussion, I dont think ti is - but I thought I would ask other, more experienced writers
Thank you, sorry to bother you ... on reading all of this I think that as you say - the TV Tropes definition of a McGuffin is a bit more refined and disciplined than on some other sites - a) I'll run with your definition and b) its not worth adding to the Hateful Eight pages due to its non-informative status
Edited by BebeJumeau
this site http://movies.stackexchange.com/questions/49231/who-or-what-could-be-considered-a-macguffin-in-the-hateful-eight?answertab=oldest
considers Daisy Domergue to be a McGuffin - but she does not fully fit the criteria as outlined in this wiki - she is not a persona as a revealed McGuffin, she could be a hostage McGuffin - but overall her position and her pivotal energy to the plot is central and not taken for granted or something that is revealed on the side - the Washington Times believes that Jennifer Jason Leigh lifts Daisy from ever being a McGuffin http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/dec/23/hateful-eight-review-film-showcases-quentin-tarant/?page=all