Good Is Not Dumb: Difference between revisions

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[[Good Is Not Dumb]] is the trope where a [[Nice Guy|sincerely good, kind, and polite character]] is [[Good Is Dumb|underestimated by others because of their kind nature]].

Unlike [[Obfuscating Stupidity]], [[Good Is Not Dumb]] does not involve any deception at all -- the subject is ''genuinely'' nice and honest, but the [[Cynicism Tropes|cynicism of others]] lead them to misread the character as [[The Ditz]], a [[Gentleman Thief]], or some other [[Wide Eyed Idealist|gullible]] or [[Bitch in Sheep's Clothing|deceptive archetype]]. After all, no one ''really'' [[Silly Rabbit Idealism Is for Kids|gets through life being kind and trusting to everyone]], right?

Unlike [[Obfuscating Stupidity]], [[Good Is Not Dumb]] does not involve any deception at all -- the subject is ''genuinely'' nice and honest, but the [[Cynicism Tropes|cynicism of others]] lead them to misread the character as [[The Ditz]], a [[Gentleman Thief]], or some other [[Wide Eyed Idealist|gullible]] or [[Bitch in Sheep's Clothing|deceptive archetype]]. After all, no one ''really'' [[Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids|gets through life being kind and trusting to everyone]], right?

Almost inevitably, the [[Incorruptible Pure Pureness|genuine goodness]] of the character will triumph, often accompanied by the [[Hoist By His Own Petard|comeuppance]] of the disbeliever. The [[Con Man]] will be thwarted, the [[Jade Colored Glasses|sceptical cynic]] will be surprised by [[The Power of Trust]], and everyone will discover that [[Let's Get Dangerous|"good" is not a synonym for "clueless victim"]].

Almost inevitably, the [[Incorruptible Pure Pureness|genuine goodness]] of the character will triumph, often accompanied by the [[Hoist By His Own Petard|comeuppance]] of the disbeliever. The [[Con Man]] will be thwarted, the [[Jade-Colored Glasses|sceptical cynic]] will be surprised by [[The Power of Trust]], and everyone will discover that [[Let's Get Dangerous|"good" is not a synonym for "clueless victim"]].

A direct inversion of [[Good Is Dumb]] and [[Dumb Is Good]]. The ultimate stage of this is the [[Guile Hero]] who can play [[The Chessmaster]]'s game without falling into the ambiguity at best, clear villainy at worst of the [[Magnificent Bastard]].

Compare and contrast with [[Wide-Eyed Idealist]], [[Good Is Not Nice]], [[Gentleman and A Scholar]], [[Beware the Nice Ones]], [[Crouching Moron Hidden Badass]], [[Evil Cannot Comprehend Good]], and [[Good Is Old Fashioned]]. Also see [[Rousseau Was Right]] and [[Incorruptible Pure Pureness]].

Compare and contrast with [[Wide-Eyed Idealist]], [[Good Is Not Nice]], [[Gentleman and A Scholar]], [[Beware the Nice Ones]], [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass]], [[Evil Cannot Comprehend Good]], and [[Good Is Old-Fashioned]]. Also see [[Rousseau Was Right]] and [[Incorruptible Pure Pureness]].

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== Comic Books ==

* The original [[Captain America]], Steve Rogers. Super-soldier, tactical genius, inspirational leader, unfailingly polite and incorruptibly idealistic.

* [[Superman]] sometimes invokes this trope, often when an [[Anti Hero]] claims that [[Good Is Old Fashioned]].

* [[Superman]] sometimes invokes this trope, often when an [[Anti-Hero]] claims that [[Good Is Old-Fashioned]].

** ...except when [[Frank Miller|certain writers]] depict him as an idiot on the assumption that anyone that powerful ''must'' be [[Dumb Muscle]].

** It's ''because'' of his peerless strength that Superman is one of these by default. The only way to give him interesting stories is to give him opponents that work around his strength and test his wits. More often than not, Superman has to solve problems by ''highly specific and concentrated'' applications of force. In fact, he has as many if not more characteristics of a [[Guile Hero]] as an [[Action Hero]], especially when faced with foes stronger than him.

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{{quote| "You're not the anti-Christ. You're just a malcontent who knows how to spell." }}

* Georgia Byrd from ''[[Last Holiday]]'' might seem naïve, but she is a very good saleswoman and gives some solid advice to other characters. Despite all of Kragen’s attempts to humiliate her, Georgia is usually one step ahead of him.

* Batman is portrayed as such in [[The Dark Knight Saga (Film)|The Dark Knight Saga]]. In fact, most of the plot of ''The Dark Knight'' revolves around the Joker trying to get Batman to break his moral code and prove that, deep down, everybody is just like him and that [[Silly Rabbit Idealism Is for Kids|Batman's idealism is misplaced]]. He fails miserably.

* Batman is portrayed as such in [[The Dark Knight Saga (Film)|The Dark Knight Saga]]. In fact, most of the plot of ''The Dark Knight'' revolves around the Joker trying to get Batman to break his moral code and prove that, deep down, everybody is just like him and that [[Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids|Batman's idealism is misplaced]]. He fails miserably.

* In ''[[Cars 2]]'', Mater's simple nature belies the fact that he's a genius at recognizing obscure car parts at a glance. {{spoiler|He later uses this to identify Sir Miles Axelrod as the mastermind behind the efforts to sabotage the World Grand Prix.}}

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* [[Brother Cadfael (Literature)|Brother Cadfael]] from the [[Ellis Peters]] mystery novels is a very intelligent man, quite good at medicine, reading people and bringing the most unnoticeable clues together. He is also remarkably kind and compassionate. Hugh Beringar is also a good and honorable person -- and a [[Magnificent Bastard]] on top of that.

* In [[Timothy Zahn]] [[The Thrawn Trilogy|novels]], Luke is written this way. While he may be one of the strongest Jedi, he is also able to outsmart his opponents when necessary.

* Wedge Antilles, in his [[Star Wars|film]] and early [[Star Wars Expanded Universe|EU]] appearances, was just an [[Ace Pilot]], leader of Rogue Squadron, and loyal to his friends and cause. His [[A Day in The Limelight|day in the limelight]], the [[X Wing Series]], showed some promising hints of interpersonal savvy, tactical insight, and further loyalty to principles rather than organization. This is turned [[Up to Eleven]] by the time of his [[Aaron Allston]]-written appearances in the ''[[New Jedi Order]]'' and ''[[Legacy of the Force]]''. He's adept at [[Xanatos Speed Chess]], an incredibly quick thinker, adept at cutting past what people are saying to what they ''mean'' and their underlying goals, [[Arson Murder and Jaywalking|and a loving husband and father who is deeply principled and moral]]. Somehow, people keep [[Underestimating Badassery|underestimating him]].

* Wedge Antilles, in his [[Star Wars|film]] and early [[Star Wars Expanded Universe|EU]] appearances, was just an [[Ace Pilot]], leader of Rogue Squadron, and loyal to his friends and cause. His [[A Day in The Limelight|day in the limelight]], the [[X Wing Series]], showed some promising hints of interpersonal savvy, tactical insight, and further loyalty to principles rather than organization. This is turned [[Up to Eleven]] by the time of his [[Aaron Allston]]-written appearances in the ''[[New Jedi Order]]'' and ''[[Legacy of the Force]]''. He's adept at [[Xanatos Speed Chess]], an incredibly quick thinker, adept at cutting past what people are saying to what they ''mean'' and their underlying goals, [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|and a loving husband and father who is deeply principled and moral]]. Somehow, people keep [[Underestimating Badassery|underestimating him]].

* In ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Frodo makes it very clear to Gollum that he is well aware that Gollum is trying to think of a way to betray the hobbits and take back the ring. Sam is surprised at this because he had assumed Frodo was far too good a person to be able to understand deception and treachery. Sam admits that he (and probably Gollum as well) "had confused kindness with blindness."

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*** The renegade option, for the six billion of you who didn't take it, has Shepard leave David with his brother, but s\he still smacks him around and tells him he's a sick bastard who's only spared because the project might prevent a war.

* Does not even begin to describe [[Disgaea|Sereph Lamington]], a [[Chessmaster]] grade example.

* [[Mega Man X]], a [[Neutral Good]] [[Reluctant Warrior]] who lives in an increasingly [[Crapsack World]] infested with [[The Virus]], capable of turning even his best friend against him. Often referred to as 'too trusting' in-universe and 'emo' outside of it because he doesn't like killing people. He's also an [[Sealed Good in A Can]] [[Super Prototype]] [[One Man Army]] with ''lots'' of combat experience and what he can't handle his aforementioned [[Mega Man Zero|best friend]] ''will.'' He also ends up ruling the world, basically because he's the only person that could manage it. There was talk of having him hit the [[Despair Event Horizon]], [[Knight Templar|lose that compassion]] and become the [[Big Bad]] of the [[Mega Man Zero|sequel series]]. That would have been ''bad.''

* [[Mega Man X]], a [[Neutral Good]] [[Reluctant Warrior]] who lives in an increasingly [[Crapsack World]] infested with [[The Virus]], capable of turning even his best friend against him. Often referred to as 'too trusting' in-universe and 'emo' outside of it because he doesn't like killing people. He's also an [[Sealed Good in A Can]] [[Super Prototype]] [[One-Man Army]] with ''lots'' of combat experience and what he can't handle his aforementioned [[Mega Man Zero|best friend]] ''will.'' He also ends up ruling the world, basically because he's the only person that could manage it. There was talk of having him hit the [[Despair Event Horizon]], [[Knight Templar|lose that compassion]] and become the [[Big Bad]] of the [[Mega Man Zero|sequel series]]. That would have been ''bad.''

* Garlot of ''[[Blaze Union]]'' may not be very smart to begin with, but he has a very sensitive nature that allows him to accurately read and understand his rivals and enemies' motivations. As his adventures start to gain him more and more street cred, it's his overwhelmingly gentle and compassionate heart that manages to win the hearts of his entire country--including those very rivals and enemies, more often than not. We get to see in [[Yggdra Union|the future]] just how much Bronquia [[Hundred Percent Adoration Rating|really appreciates]] having a leader who's kind, just, and ''competent.''

* Duessel from ''[[Fire Emblem the Sacred Stones (Video Game)|Fire Emblem the Sacred Stones]]''.

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** He doesn't build a [[Death Ray]], he builds a device that can summon forth energy from the environment. ''[[Street Fighter (Film)|LIKE LIGHTNING!]]''

*** This is apparently accepted under Europa's cultural definition of 'death ray.'

{{quote| '''Castle Heterodyne:''' [[Does This Remind You of Anything|Wulfenbach sparks are known for their oversized machinery, you know.]] [Agatha blushes.]}}

{{quote| '''Castle Heterodyne:''' [[Does This Remind You of Anything?|Wulfenbach sparks are known for their oversized machinery, you know.]] [Agatha blushes.]}}

** When he does flip out and [[Lampshade Hanging|brings this up]], he scares some very hard to scare people, while delivering an [[Curb Stomp Battle|incredible beatdown]] to the oversized war criminal sent to retrieve him. And at the end:

{{quote| '''Gil:''' Well, you '''know what'''? I can '''do''' crazy. I '''really can'''. And it looks like I'm going to '''have''' to. Agatha is in danger. This '''whole town''' is in danger. If I'm going to be able to help her '''at all''', I'm going to have to give up all this '''"being reasonable"''' garbage and show you '''idiots''' what kind of madboy you're '''''really dealing with!''''' [Smashes Vole apparently through a wall, [[Beat]], sudden wide eyes] ...oh. Oh, ''no.'' This must be [[Knight Templar|how my]] '''[[Knight Templar|father]]''' [[Knight Templar|feels]] - '''''all the time!'''''}}

** Gil's probably just as much of a case of '[[Beware the Nice Ones|nice is not harmless]],' though. You could even make a case for filing him under '[[Good Is Not Nice]],' especially lately, despite being an [[Overlord Jr]]. The...[[Webcomic Time|three-year day]]...since the above incident has not been easy on him.

** Gil's probably just as much of a case of '[[Beware the Nice Ones|nice is not harmless]],' though. You could even make a case for filing him under '[[Good Is Not Nice]],' especially lately, despite being an [[Overlord, Jr.]]. The...[[Webcomic Time|three-year day]]...since the above incident has not been easy on him.