Centipede's Dilemma: Difference between revisions

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A trope named for the folk tale of a centipede who had no trouble walking until asked how he managed all those legs. He started thinking about the process and immediately became unable to do it anymore.

Often encountered during the [[Bizarre and Improbable Golf Game]], when one player attempts to induce a dilemma in his (usually winning) opponent by asking, "Do you breathe in or out on the backswing?" That said, this can show up in any context featuring a complex activity that requires one "get into the flow".

The trope is sufficiently well-known that sometimes the writer will just have someone comment, "Oh, he's got Centipede's Dilemma," or the like, rather than actually explaining what the problem is when Mr. Awesome starts messing up.

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== Fan Fiction ==

* Harry Potter from ''[[Harry Potter and ~~The~~ Methods of Rationality|Methods of Rationality]]'' [[Subverted Trope|refused to share the secret]] behind the Patronus V.2, because it is unlikely that the majority of people would be able to reach the mental state necessary, and attempting it could [[Brown Note|destroy their own ability to cast normal Patronuses]].

* Harry Potter from ''[[Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality|Methods of Rationality]]'' [[Subverted Trope|refused to share the secret]] behind the Patronus V.2, because it is unlikely that the majority of people would be able to reach the mental state necessary, and attempting it could [[Brown Note|destroy their own ability to cast normal Patronuses]].

* In Chapter 8 of the ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'' fanfic ''[[It Takes a Village]]'' Spike finally figures out how to fly. He immediately makes it clear that ''no one'' is to ask him ''how'' he managed it, otherwise he might forget.

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== Live Action TV ==

* During the ''[[~~Myth Busters~~]]'' test to see if you could swim through syrup just as fast as you could through water, the team acquired an Olympic gold medalist swimmer for a more accurate result. They ultimately had to ''throw his results out'' due to inconsistency. Why? Because he wasn't used to swimming in syrup, and his focus on what he was swimming through (and how it felt) messed with his technique. In contrast, Adam, who had gotten used to swimming in syrup and didn't have to think about it, had more consistent times.

* During the ''[[MythBusters]]'' test to see if you could swim through syrup just as fast as you could through water, the team acquired an Olympic gold medalist swimmer for a more accurate result. They ultimately had to ''throw his results out'' due to inconsistency. Why? Because he wasn't used to swimming in syrup, and his focus on what he was swimming through (and how it felt) messed with his technique. In contrast, Adam, who had gotten used to swimming in syrup and didn't have to think about it, had more consistent times.

* In ''[[Little Mosque on the Prairie]]'', Sarah spends all day accidentally insulting people after Fatima asks her how she always knows the right thing to say.

* ''[[30 Rock]]''

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[[Category:Fight Scene]]

[[Category:Distraction Tropes]]

[[Category:~~Centipede's Dilemma~~]]

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