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Acceptable Hard Luck Targets: Difference between revisions
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Of course, in some cases there's some circular logic here - they're only unlucky because they happen to be [[Acceptable Targets]].
'''[[Fat Bastard]]'''
'''Overweight'''
You must be dumb. End of story. Or lazy. Or greedy. Or gluttonous (in some TV shows fat characters never appear in a ''single scene'' without shoving food into their mouths). Or low-class trailer trash. Or a slob. Or sweaty, stinky, or otherwise sub-human. Or, in an inversion, if you're American you must be a disgusting fat slob.
'''[[Crazy Homeless People]]'''
'''[[The Mentally Disturbed]]'''
'''[[Evil Albino]]'''
Though with some luck this just might be heading for [[Discredited Trope]] status, though there's still a very long way to go yet. See [[Heroic Albino]]—compare how short is next to the [[Evil Albino]] one.
'''People with [[
Common speech problems such as the lisp, stutter, pronunciation of "r" as "w", or even funny accents, are still regularly used for comic effect. This can even extend all the way up to damaged vocal cords requiring the use of an external electronic voicebox, or complete loss of speech, which usually results in jokes about people having to [[Talking with Signs|write down everything they say]]. Most [[Looney Tunes]] characters had "[[Elmuh Fudd Syndwome|amusing]]" speech impediments, but the classic examples have to be Michael Palin's portrayal of Pontius Pilate in ''[[Monty Python's Life of Brian]]'', and Peter Cook's Impressive Clergyman in ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]''.
'''People with non-disabling deformities'''
Especially with the increase in the availability and use of plastic surgery, people who have noticeable disfigurements that are not actually disabling (or at least don't appear to be, regardless of whether they actually are) are subject to ridicule, if they're ever shown on television at all.
'''People with "mild" disorders such as [[Attention Deficit Ooh Shiny|ADHD]], [[Super OCD|OCD]] or [[Aspergers Syndrome|Asperger's]]'''
[[Encyclopedia Dramatica]]'s favorite target. Portrayed as completely incompetent, whiny, stupid, abnormal, subhuman, and/or with strange interests. Then again, try to find an Unacceptable Target for Encyclopaedia Dramatica. Good luck. Except possibly cats (even then there is conflict over that). [[Accentuate the Negative|Accentuating The Negative]] in just about everything makes it pretty much equal to everybody, disorders or not.
For the most part, people with Asperger's, ADHD, OCD, depression, etc. will get smacked from two angles. On the one hand, they'll be portrayed as stupid, incompetent, and foolish - the traditional way to do it. Then, they'll get attacked from the opposite angle - that they're actually perfectly fine and are either whiny or suffer from [[Special Snowflake Syndrome]]. Drama queens in other words. Or that they're just trying to get special advantages on tests. There is a grain of truth here, like there is in a lot of things that gain public traction. There has been an over-diagnosis of various disorders over the years, with ADHD probably being the most notorious. In addition, ADHD medicine often gets abused by people in high schools and on college campuses in order to stay up and study later. That said, people who actually have ADHD are often just as troubled by this behavior as everyone else, if not more, since the medicine that they actually need is at risk of being stolen and abused.
'''[[Tourettes Shitcock Syndrome|Tourette's Syndrome]]'''
The "swearing disease", despite the fact that swearing tics occur maybe ten percent of the cases.
'''Mouth Breathers'''
It's ''always'' used to describe people who are dumb in some way. Admit it...you've heard it used to describe that [[Jerk Jock]] or that bigass Bully with more muscle than brain in high school, or those stupid customers who ask stupid questions. Some of us have to breathe through our mouth because we have a cold, sinus infection, the flu, or really bad allergies. (And we all know 90% of Allergy Medications don't work) OI!
'''Amputees'''
'''People in wheelchairs'''
'''People with allergies'''
Especially ones that cause them to develop cold or flu - like symptoms from plants, animals, dust, etc. Like overweight people, their suffering and awkwardness is often just plain funny. It's often depicted as just one more indication that the character isn't Mr. or Miss Right for the protagonist. However, if a secondary protagonist is a [[Loser Protagonist|Loser]], an allergy sufferer rejected by [[The Hero]] may be his last hope for wedded bliss. There's also a tendency to give nebbishy characters allergies in order to reinforce their wimpiness.
'''[[Perpetual Poverty]]'''
There's usually a good reason for it in [[Real Life]], but in sitcoms they're often depicted as lazy, ignorant, etc., or else the [[Butt Monkey]] / [[Cosmic Plaything]]. It's really interesting when the lower-class (usually) guy falls for the [[Rich Bitch]] and has to deal with the vast ocean of differences between the social classes. [[Hilarity Ensues]].
'''People who were held back a year in school'''
Commonly portrayed as a [[Jerkass]] Bully, being ''much'' bigger than the class, being ''incredibly'' stupid, and most fiction examples won't cover any potential examples for being held back (such as how they were held back because they spent too much of the school year in the hospital recovering from a severe illness or injury). They also are ''never'' shown as taking school seriously; frequently giving up and not even ''trying'' to do their schoolwork so they can catch up.
'''Community college'''
The ultimate butt of education jokes. Whether a series takes place in high school, "real" college, or the outside world, expect at least one joke about a character attending community college. Despite the fact that many educational professionals agree attending community college for two years and then transferring to a four-year school is an excellent financial decision, pop culture and society at large have not gotten over the fact that "anyone can get into community college." Community college students are seen as A) poor, B) lazy, C) stupid, or D) all of the above. This is one of the few fiction-based acceptable targets that also applies completely in real life—it is perfectly acceptable to insult the community college system and its students in most social situations.
* And this despite the fact that many community colleges offer an excellent education with some even offering programs not available at the local universities.
'''Trade School'''
By people who have not been to trade schools.
'''Male Harassment victims'''
Did you know that Sexual Harassment can actually happen to ''men'' too? Or that women can actually commit Sexual Harassment...and actually do it to ''a man'' and not another woman? Or that men can actually commit Sexual Harassment against ''other men''? Most places don't actually realize this and force men who are targets of harassment to "take it like a man" and that anyone who tries to do something about the harassment is "PC Bullshit" or "a wimp."
'''Males with small penises'''
Guys with a [[Teeny Weenie]]. As the popular perception goes, [[Bigger Is Better in Bed]], and a large penis is symbolic of virility and all-around masculinity. Those that have smaller-than-average "equipment" are usually perceived as weak, pathetic, and not truly a man. This main perception is the core reason why [[Compensating for Something]] is widely considered an insult.
'''Minimum Wage Employees'''
Anyone who works a low-paying job. Bonus points if it's "menial" labor or customer service.
'''[[Silent Majorities]]'''
To many, the term "[[Vocal Minority]]" doesn't exist, they forget it exists, or they are too ignorant to say it exists. If there is a "[[Vocal Minority]]" in your group causing havoc to society, oftentimes much of everyone else will lump you and the other innocent people in your group and [[Mis Blamed|you will be lambasted for your group's]] [[Vocal Minority]] regardless if you were never apart of it or were even against it. This goes double for fandoms, triple if it involves politics, race, nationality, and/or religion. For example: If you are American, [[Eagle Land|you are a stupid fat slob who disgraces society]]. If you are an American who is smart, slim, and nice, you do not exist to these people. No exceptions.
'''People with physical features that some just don't happen to personally find attractive'''
If someone finds a person unpleasant for any reason, it's not uncommon for the complainer to, while ranting about this person they find unpleasant, also throw in "[[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|Oh, and they also have a big nose/a weird chin/creepy eyebrows/chubby cheeks/are fat/too hairy/etc]]".
-----
{{examples}}
==
* Kill Moves from ''[[Everybody Hates Chris]]''.
* [[Bum Reviews|Chester A. Bum.]]
* The "Crazy Cat Lady" from [[The Simpsons]].
== Evil Albino ==
=== [[Literature]] ===
* The treatment of albinism in fiction is startlingly harsh. The condition seems to have been declared officially creepy with ''[[Moby Dick]]''. There are no ordinary people who happen to be albino; instead there are an assortment of insidious operatives and psychotic killers. There is a sense of albinos [[Disability Superpower|having some kind of otherworldly powers]], when all they can really claim is poor vision and susceptibility to skin cancer. And, of course, there's the [[White-Haired Pretty Boy]].
* Played with in ''[[The Princess Bride (novel)|The Princess Bride]]''. The Albino in that really only takes care of the Zoo of Death.
* In ''[[The Da Vinci Code]]'', it seems like Silas is this. Turns out, {{spoiler|that's ''exactly'' what he is.}}
=== [[Real Life]] ===
* Horrible truth in television since the persecution of albinos is still widespread, especially in areas of Africa where witch doctors pay a fine fee for albino limbs to use in their concoctions.
== People with Speech Impediments ==
=== [[Film]] ===
* Foreign/unusual accents and dialects are also typically considered speech impediments, and therefore become subjects of mockery. Examples include Borat, Inspector Clouseau, Ricky Ricardo, "Fes," ''[[King of the Hill]]'''s "Boomhauer," etc.
* Essentially the entire point of ''[[The King's Speech]]'', in which George VI is humiliated by his stutter.
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* Worth noting that the actor who played the stuttering public attorney in ''[[My Cousin Vinny]]'' actually had a speech impediment in real life for years and only recently beat it before signing up for the role. He thought of his character having a speech impediment as a "sick joke."
* Subverted in ''[[Pan's Labyrinth]]'', in which {{spoiler|the character who stutters is told that he will not be tortured if he can count to three without stuttering. He can't, and is tortured.}}
=== [[Live Action TV]] ===
* Averted in ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]''. Kripke is a jerk to the main characters, but they never pick on his rhotacism. Of course, it's still pretty clearly intended.
** Sure? "What accent is that?"
** The character that asks that was born in India and moved to America, it seems like the writers were re-asking a fan question.
* Played with in ''[[M*A*S*H (television)|M*A*S*H]]'', when a wounded soldier with a bad stutter treated as an idiot by his commanding officer. However, the normally snobbish and rude Charles was very sympathetic and mentions that many very intelligent people also had stutters, at the end of the episode it was revealed that Charles's sister also has a stutter.
=== [[Web Animation]] ===
* Going off on that, '''people with funny accents''', like ''[[Homestar Runner]]'''s Coach Z or Zoidberg from ''[[Futurama]]''.
=== [[Western Animation]] ===
* As mentioned above, [[King of the Hill|dang ol' Boomhauer, man]].
== People with non-disabling deformities ==
=== [[Film]] ===
* ''[[Red Dragon]]'' was about a man teased all his life for his cleft palate, and [[Freudian Excuse|eventually driven]] to become a [[Serial Killer]]. However, the few chapters about his childhood make him extremely sympathetic.
{{quote|'''Graham''': As a child, my heart bleeds for him. As an adult, he's irredeemable.}}
=== [[Real Life]] ===
* Women with flat chests ''and'' women with huge breasts are often the subject of ridicule. The former are often accused of being immature, while the latter are often accused of being slutty.
=== [[Western Animation]] ===
* An episode of ''[[Family Guy]]'' at one point featured Stewie having a recollection about a man with a cleft lip, who he referred to as a harelip - an offensive term for the condition.
** Not to mention Jake Tucker and his upside down face.
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** Zuko is an interesting example, as his scar doesn't prevent him from being [[Mr. Fanservice]].
== Tourette's Syndrome ==
* [[Western Animation]] In an episode of ''[[South Park]]'', Cartman encounters a child whose Tourette's causes him to swear, Cartman sees this as an opportunity to swear all he wants and use Tourette's as an excuse. Kyle sees through Cartman's ruse right away and sets out to disprove him. Other children are shown in the episode with different kinds of ticks that do not involve swearing.
** It's worth noting that the Tourette Syndrome Association called the episode "surprisingly well-researched" and were generally happy with the way people with Tourette's were portrayed in the episode.
== Mouth Breathers ==
=== [[Film]] ===
* Uhura calls Kirk one in ''[[Star Trek (film)|Star Trek]]'', although considering her talented ears, it may just have been an accurate descriptor.
=== [[Literature]] ===
* Mentioned in ''[[Discworld/Hogfather|Hogfather]]'', with the stupid thug Banjo who "looked as though he was living on invisible plankton".
** Who is, [[Subverted Trope|in fact,]] a sympathetic [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|- and surprisingly well-treated]] - character.
=== [[Real Life]] ===
* Not to mention when it's caused not by a temporary sickness or allergy, but a permanent deformation of the internal sinus passages.
* Take one look at [http://peoplewhodeserveit.com/2009/03/16/129-heavy-mouth-breather/ This link]. Wow, I hope those guys ''NEVER'' have allergies or a bad cold.
==
* ''[[King of the Hill]]'': "Bobby is breathing through his mouth, I'm afraid if I feed him he'll suffocate!"
== Amputees ==
=== [[Real Life]] ===
* One particularly grating recent example being [http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2440740.ece/Disabled_poster_boy_banned_from_rail_stations Dutch Rail's refusal to display] posters that show one of Marc Quinn's ''Complete Marbles'' sculptures at railway stations across the country. Before you ask, no, it wasn't the nudity they objected to. To put matters into perspective, this is a company that will happily plaster [http://www.israbox.com/uploads/posts/2009-11/1257702410_anouk-for-bitter-or-worse-2009.jpg a close-up of a bloody face] across its billboards.
== People with allergies ==
=== [[Western Animation]] ===
* Carl [[Meaningful Name|Wheezer]] from ''[[The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron]]''.
=== Film ===
* Walter, Annie's fiance from [[Sleepless in Seattle]], has many allergies including some foods. While he's not unsympathetically treated on the whole, it is presented as if it's a nerdy and less-than-sexy trait.
=== [[Real Life]] ===
* See also, Mouth breathers. Some people ''have'' to breathe through their mouth because they can't clear their nose out thanks to allergies. It's a Catch 22 allaround...the second you clear it out, within 10 minutes, your nasal passages are blocked again and you ''have'' to breathe through your mouth.
* This one is perhaps less offensive and more idiotic in that pretty much ''everyone'' has some allergy- it's just the severity and specifics of the allergy that people start a fuss over. Really, to say someone has no allergies is to say that they have a superhuman immune system.
** A lot are played through laughs, at least hayfever. Allergies like Nuts or Shellfish? ''No laughing matter''. Even people who complain about not being able to eat peanuts in an area that has a large no nuts sign is more than often shut up when they learn how ''severe'' peanut allergies can be.
*** People who loudly and/or obnoxiously inform others -- especially strangers -- of their allergies are perfectly acceptable targets, regardless of the severity of said allergies.
== People who were held back a year in school ==
=== [[Live Action TV]] ===
* Kelso on ''[[That '70s Show]]'' was held back as a kid and kept it secret out of shame. It fits the role of Kelso as the group's resident idiot, and he takes some shots at him when they hear it. The main joke however is that he was old enough to legally buy beer for them and told nobody.
=== [[Real Life]] ===
* This seems to differ a lot the higher up you go - high-school may show seniors who didn't graduate and are there an extra year, but sometimes the lines of what is acceptable for a sophomore and the like will be shown as blurring; such as how a junior will be taking chemistry. This also changes a ''lot'' more for the "Honors" students.
** Differs from country to country. In [[German Education System|Germany]], it's not exactly uncommon to repeat a year, while in other countries it rarely happens - so if it does, expect students doing so to stick out.
=== [[Video Games]] ===
* The protagonist and the main [[Love Interest]] in ''[[Clannad]]'' were both held back a year. While one was held back for delinquency, the other was held back for illness.
** Likewise the Brain from ''[[Arthur (animation)|Arthur]]'' who was left back in ''kindergarten'' due to not being emotionally ready for first grade, although as his nickname suggests he ''is'' [[Child Prodigy|much smarter than most of his classmates]].
=== [[Anime]] ===
* [[Cool Big Sis|Millay Ashford]] in ''[[Code Geass]]'' deliberately held herself a back a year so she could be with her friends longer. She was unwilling to leave home and join the [[Real Life|real world]].
== Community college ==
=== [[Live Action TV]] ===
* Played with in the episode of ''[[CSI: Miami]]'', with Richard Speight Jr guest-starring as an intelligent guy who didn't get into a great college because his classmate stole the test, got a really high score and offset everything. The classmate then lorded it over him at a reunion.
* Played for laughs on the TV sitcom ''[[Community]]'', set in a community college.
** The show lampshaded this in one episode where the main characters try to find a way to get
* In ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', Sheldon looks down on Penny for attending (and dropping out of) a community college. Though in this case, it's less that the show itself attacks community colleges and more that Sheldon is an [[Insufferable Genius]] who looks down on ''everyone'' -
=== [[Film]] ===
* While not a comedy example, ''[[Rudy]]'' is told that he must build his academic record at a community college before he will be eligible to apply to Notre Dame. The inference is that these institutions are dumping grounds for Ivy League rejects.
=== [[Real Life]] ===
* Bonus Points as sometimes, community colleges are better in some courses than "real" colleges, only cost ''much'' less. (For example, the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education, arguably one of the best culinary arts schools in the country, is part of Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.)
* Laney College in Oakland, [[California]] is increasingly regarded as one of the best theater schools in Northern California, as its actors frequently land top spots in universities—or, you know, get picked by theaters ''as soon as they graduate''. Unfortunately it has the double-whammy of being a community college in ''Oakland,'' which is stereotyped as being dangerous, poor, and riddled with drug dealers.
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* Hayley on ''[[American Dad]]'' attends a community college, which is often the butt of some jokes ("I got a check-plus. That's like a C at Arizona State!").
== Trade School ==
=== [[Real Life]] ===
* Astronauts actually ''did'' get people understanding them, before [[wikipedia:Lisa Nowak|Lisa Nowak]] went after that woman her boyfriend was having an affair with.
== Male Harassment victims ==
=== [[Manga]] ===
* Averted in ''[[Kinou Nani Tabeta]]'', the lawyer protagonist took a case in which a big guy is abused by his small girlfriend, it is portrayed realistically.
=== [[Live Action TV]] ===
* An episode of ''[[What Would You Do]]'' tested peoples' reactions to abuse by different sexes, by having two actors playing a couple alternate being abusive. When the man was the one yelling and being rough, more often than not people stepped in to stop it. When the woman was the abuser, most people did nothing—in fact, several women who saw it happening looked satisfied, including one who did a little fist-pump after she passed them. When asked her about her reaction, she said [[Death by Woman Scorned|she assumed he had it coming]].
=== [[Literature]] ===
* Pretty much the whole message of Michael Crichton's ''[[Disclosure]]'' and the [[MacGuffin]] for the book. He also waxes at length on the (presumably correct for the time) statistics and what they mean.
==
* In an episode of ''[[King of the Hill]]'', Hank Hill's reaction to being told he can sue for "Male on Male Sexual Harassment" is... "BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!" followed by his shocked expression. The other person he shows it to also is too afraid to admit it. It's amazing how [[Truth in Television|real]] it can be.
** Another episode had him being borderline-stalked by a female cop with the hots for him, which wasn't shown as being the least bit acceptable. Yet still played for laughs.
== People with physical features that some just don't happen to personally find attractive ==
* ''Naruto'' has Gai and Lee, who are frequently made fun of for their large eyebrows and their oddly shaped eyes and lashes, in canon, fanon, and just the fandom in general. The jumpsuit, haircut and poses are all their own choices, though, so those don't count.
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