What Do You Mean It's Not an Index?

Either the work or the audience plays up something in the work as something it's clearly not (mostly).

In the show, it's often Played for Laughs (see Does This Remind You of Anything), Rule of Cool, or the writers just having fun. When it's the viewers, it can be Fan Dumb, or it can be them legitimately assuming something if the show unintentionally makes the thing look like the trope.


 * Faux Horrific, formerly "What Do You Mean, It's Not Horrific?" (horror)
 * Faux Symbolism, formerly, "What Do You Mean, It's Not Symbolic?" (symbolism)
 * Mundane Made Awesome, formerly "What Do You Mean, It's Not Awesome?" (spectacular)
 * What Do You Mean Its Not Didactic (something to analyze)
 * What Do You Mean Its Not for Kids (family friendly)
 * What Do You Mean Its for Kids (for adults)
 * What Do You Mean Its Not Heinous (reprehensible)
 * What Do You Mean Its Not Political (having political tones)
 * What Do You Mean It Wasn't Made On Drugs (made while high)
 * What Do You Mean Its Not for Little Girls (Shoujo)