# Pop Culture tropes that infuriate you. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269 "2018-06-17T17:13:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/61 "2018-06-18T18:51:29Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Nothing new to contribute but a hearty seconding of the fat, dopey husband kept from disaster by his unrealistically hotter and smarter wife. Always bugged me. I love the quote from _King of Queens_ The wife complains that he’s a fat slob and she can’t figure out why she married him. The guy says “I may be fat, but you’re mean, it all evens out.” If Marge Simpson was a real person she’d be nominated for sainthood. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/62 "2018-06-18T18:54:00Z")
another one ……people playing video games that have no clue what their doing or the writer has no idea about the game so they just make up bs as they go along look up the clip of murder she wrote where Jessica and claude adkins try spyhunter for the best example ……… oh also when someones playing a ps4 with a xbox 360 controller and the sound is atari 2600’s pacman ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/63 "2018-06-18T19:22:52Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Monsters, Dinosaurs, Beasts, Bears, Lions, any big scary thing always ALWAYS stands there, opens their big mouth and ROARSCREAMS. Over and over again. Sorry, nope. My beef with Creatures (especially giant galumphing monsters) is that they have a tropism for large cities. In real life, animals tend to avoid cities. even big, dangerous animals. With few exceptions (and those pretty late ones), monsters didn’t come into cities in Greek myth (whatever both versions of _Clash of the Titans_ may tell you) – monsters were generally enciountered in the wilderness. (Think of Oedipus encountering the Sphinx on his way to Thebes). Even though they’re big, you’d think that a Godzilla would tend to keep away from cities. Occasionally the filmmakers actually come up with a reason for the creatures to be in the city. In _King Kong_, the big ape is there because Carl Denham brought him there\*. The same with the benign sort-of remake _Mighty Joe Young_ In _the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms_ a highly implausible but at least intriguing storyline has the titular Beast going to New York City because it’s built on the site when the creature used to come back to spawn, like modern-day salmon. (They copied the idea in the 1998 _Godzilla_, which is in many respects a remake of Beast). In _Gorgo_ , again, people bring the captured beast into the city to display him. This time he doesn’t break free, but his much larger and very protective mother comes into the city to get him. (The movie was made by the same director who did Beast from 20,000 fathoms). Pretty unlikely for a giant prehistoric reptile, but at least they’re giving it some thought. (They stole the idea , kinda, for _Jaws III_. Not to mention, of course, _Jurassic Park II_) But most of the time there’s no rhyme or reason to it. Godzilla and Rodan and all those _kaiju_, right down to the _Pacific Rim_ crowd, seem to attack cities because of pure cussedness, and they Can. And all those giant bugs in the 50s – \*Them!, Beginning of the End, The Black Scorpion, \* not to mention \*The Giant Behemoth, Dogora, X-the Unknown, etc. \*Ditto _the Arctic Giant_ from a Fleischer Superman cartoon. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/64 "2018-06-18T19:24:44Z")
> [@Lizard](#): > > This thread was inspired by my answer to the other one in this forum about offensive ads. Something I have always found annoying is the Big Dumb Average Guy, who appears in both the sitcoms and ads. This is a very old thing, going all the way back to _The Honeymooners_, which makes me wonder just how old it really is (perhaps vaudeville?) It’s actually seen before then in early 50s sitcoms like “Beulah” and “The Trouble with Father”. “Father Knows Best”, which launched in 1954, was a reaction to already cliched dumb dad and smart kids shows. The funny thing is everything thinks it was what 50s sitcoms were like–hyperidealized family where the dad is always right. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/65 "2018-06-18T19:26:18Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Monsters, Dinosaurs, Beasts, Bears, Lions, any big scary thing always ALWAYS stands there, opens their big mouth and ROARSCREAMS. Over and over again. Sorry, nope. Even better when they do it while stalking/leaping on their prey. Nothing says “sharp hunting instinct” like an alarm siren that there’s 800lbs of rabid tiger coming at you. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/66 "2018-06-18T19:44:32Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Mine is the where the detective has successfully solved EVERY SINGLE crime he’s been given to investigate, usually showing great skill and imagination, but his supervisor and fellow officers don’t believe him THIS time. “So, you think you know better than us, Detective 100-Percent-Clearance? Just because you’ve been right every week so far doesn’t mean you’re right this week!” In a similar vein, there is the hereo who has saved the world or helped the buffoonish police department a dozen times, but the first time a bad buy sets up a feeble attempt at a frame the authorities immediately abandon the hero who has to clear his or her name. When they do, the authorities say my bad. The hero at this point should say “screw you, solve the next one by yourselves and see how you like it” but never does. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/67 "2018-06-18T19:47:45Z")
My daughters read cozy mysteries, and they all have heroines who live a nice middle class existence on the proceeds of a muffin or candle store in a small town. Right. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/68 "2018-06-18T19:58:01Z")
The “turn on the radio or TV to the story that is just starting and is applicable to the situation” has been replaced by “goggle the most outlandish things and get the exact sight you need the first try.” I wish I had their search engines. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/69 "2018-06-18T20:35:40Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > The CPU may not be in the head, but at least with humanoid robots, the cameras are, and in many cases the microphones are too. Knocking a robot’s sensors out is a good way to disable it. The trope I’m talking about is “killing” the robot by shooting it in the head, not just knocking out its sensors. In any case, unless you are trying to make a robot that’s intended to pass as human, there is no reason to limit the sensors to where they are on humans, even if you make it in humanoid form. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/70 "2018-06-18T20:38:19Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > another one ……people playing video games that have no clue what their doing or the writer has no idea about the game so they just make up bs as they go along look up the clip of murder she wrote where Jessica and claude adkins try spyhunter for the best example ……… > > oh also when someones playing a ps4 with a xbox 360 controller and the sound is atari 2600’s pacman The worst unsuspension of disbelief I’ve had was during Greatest American Hero when the protagonist is playing Zaxxon when someone interrupts him with something “important” and he _simply walks away_. I’ve _never_ seen someone do this while playing an arcade game. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/71 "2018-06-18T20:53:30Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > This may be too obvious because I think it gets complained about fairly frequently, but bad guys who corner the good guy and then stand around talking instead of shooting him in the guts and/or head immediately. Don’t do this: Do this instead: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JrYtD7gSWsI/maxresdefault.jpg "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (10/12) Movie CLIP - When You Have to Shoot, Shoot (1966) HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrYtD7gSWsI) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/72 "2018-06-18T21:02:16Z")
If you’re going to have a [Viewer-Friendly Interface](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ViewerFriendlyInterface), at least be consistent about it. [Don’t switch partway through.](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/JumpinJackFlash) ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/73 "2018-06-18T21:32:47Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > But most of the time there’s no rhyme or reason to it. Godzilla and Rodan and all those _kaiju_, right down to the _Pacific Rim_ crowd, seem to attack cities because of pure cussedness, and they Can. Godzilla and crew were dreamed up in the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They were the result of the Earth responding to the danger with something of destructive power of its own. So their explicit reason is “because Nature is fighting back”. It’s a different trope, but it’s a reason. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/74 "2018-06-18T21:51:06Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > It’s actually seen before then in early 50s sitcoms like “Beulah” and “The Trouble with Father”. “Father Knows Best”, which launched in 1954, was a reaction to already cliched dumb dad and smart kids shows. The funny thing is everything thinks it was what 50s sitcoms were like–hyperidealized family where the dad is always right. The Dumb Guy trope in sitcoms is somewhat double-edged. Yeah, Tim Allen’s character in _Home Improvement_ was an ass, but Tim Allen got top billing and probably the biggest paycheck. There’s a long tradition in sitcoms to have the star be an utter dolt. It was the same dynamic in _I Love Lucy_. That it’s usually a man could be taken as evidence of male-centrism in the TV industry. Not all sitcoms follow that mold, of course. There’s also the calm, rational central character dealing with a host of eccentrics. Bob Newhart excelled at that. I find it more troubling in commercials. The actors are almost never recognizable or have any star power, and the messages are focus-grouped and analyzed with a fine tooth comb. I sometimes wonder if the prevalence of Dumb Guys in commercials is because of how many purchasing decisions are made by women. > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The “turn on the radio or TV to the story that is just starting and is applicable to the situation” has been replaced by “goggle the most outlandish things and get the exact sight you need the first try.” > > I wish I had their search engines. It appears that [whatbadgerseat.com](http://whatbadgerseat.com) is no longer active. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/75 "2018-06-18T21:55:54Z")
The noisy gun drives me crazy. I don’t mean the sound of firing or working the action. I mean the metal on metal sound added when a character is merely moving the thing around or pointing it at someone. Stun guns causing unconsciousness. Writers used to use the roofie in the drink or the knockout punch while ignoring all the very serious effects. That was bad enough. At least they could actually render someone unconscious. Writers have since stepped down to something that doesn’t even do what they need it to. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/76 "2018-06-18T22:24:26Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The “turn on the radio or TV to the story that is just starting and is applicable to the situation” has been replaced by “goggle the most outlandish things and get the exact sight you need the first try.” You could fix the first by merging it with the second: Go to CNN’s website and be instantly assaulted with auto-play videos about the news. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/77 "2018-06-18T22:46:39Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Godzilla and crew were dreamed up in the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They were the result of the Earth responding to the danger with something of destructive power of its own. So their explicit reason is “because Nature is fighting back”. It’s a different trope, but it’s a reason. History has shown, again and again, how nature points out the folly of man. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/78 "2018-06-18T22:51:39Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Not all sitcoms follow that mold, of course. There’s also the calm, rational central character dealing with a host of eccentrics. Bob Newhart excelled at that. _The Jack Benny_ show was something like that. Not that Jack didn’t have his own eccentricities, but he was mostly the straight man to various looneytunes he encountered. ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/79 "2018-06-18T22:54:58Z")
If a Native American shows up, he’s always a mystic who can commune with nature. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-culture-tropes-that-infuriate-you/816269/80 "2018-06-18T22:56:33Z")
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