I'm Standing Right Here: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

Alice and Bob are having a private discussion about their friend Carol. Or, at least, it would be private if Carol weren't standing right there, in plain view, and making no attempt to hide her presence.

 

If Alice and Bob know that Carol is here but don't figure out she is concerned by their commentary, this is an [[Oblivious Mockery]].

{{examples}}

* ''[[Minami-ke]]'''s Touma gets this a lot from her older brothers. The three brothers will regularly hold family meetings between them regarding Touma's behavior, or what to do about a birthday gift or Christmas present, all while Touma is sitting not five feet away from them seemingly ignoring them.

* ''[[Death Note]]'':

'''Matsuda:''' I can hear you, ya'know. }}

** Unlike most examples, Matsuda is actually in another room, watching via surveillance (but he had contacted them moments ago), so it's somewhat natural that they'd forget about him for a moment. Also, this is arguably the kind of thing L would do deliberately.

* In episode 4 of ''[[Pani Poni Dash!]]!'', the girls discuss ways you could slip cheat sheets into a test, while the teacher ''giving'' that test is right there in the room constantly reminding them of her presence.

* In the very first episode of ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam 00]]'', Graham and Billy are observing the Enact mobile suit's first public demonstration. When Billy makes an offhand comment that the Enact is just a cheap knockoff of the Flag with a different exterior design, [[Small Name, Big Ego|the pilot]] loudly objects.

'''Graham:''' ''(amused)'' At least it has a good sound system. }}

* In ''[[Daily Lives of High School Boys]]'' there's a scene in which Mitsuo walks into a room in which his friends are telling embarrassing stories about him. They notice his arrival, pause for a second, and then continue laughing at him as if he isn't there.

 

* In ''Green Lantern #48'', Sinestro offers an allegiance to Atrocitus to destroy the Green Lanterns...while he and the leaders of all the other Corps are supposed to be [[Enemy Mine|banding together to fight the Black Lanterns]]...and Hal Jordan is within ear shot:

'''Hal Jordan''': [[Magnificent Bastard|He knows that, Carol.]] }}

 

'''Byakuya:''' *turns to Ichigo with an indifferent look on his face* Very good. I see that you are able to judge distance. }}

'''Matsuda:''' You guys know I'm right here. }}

 

== Film ==

* There's a scene in ''[[Star Wars]] [[The Phantom Menace|Episode I: The Phantom Menace]]'' where Obi-Wan is trying to dissuade Qui-Gon from training the young Anakin Skywalker, repeating the Jedi Council's premonition that "the boy is dangerous". It's a shame that they're walking ''right past Anakin'' as he's arguing this.

* In the film ''[[Catch-22]]'', the doctor has a habit of putting his name on a certain pilots flight roster but not actually going along, so he can continue to get flight pay without the danger. It backfires horribly when the plane crashes and it's immediately noticed the Doctor was a passenger, as per the flight roster. The Doctor, standing right there watching the plane crash, protests and points out he's standing right in front of them, but the other characters immediately begin ignoring him and lamenting his death.

* This happens in ''[[Collateral]]'' when Vincent, the hitman antagonist, forces the lead character Max to go visit his mother in the hospital like he does every night just to keep up appearances and not appear suspicious when he's being held hostage for the night.

'''Max's mother''': Why yes, you are! }}

* In the short film ''[[Blinky]]'', the protagonist's mother threatens to {{spoiler|order the titular robot to cook and clean him if he makes another mess}}, while the robot is suffering from a [[Logic Bomb]]-generating [[Heroic BSOD]]. {{spoiler|It turns out that, despite his freakout, Blinky was still hearing things and thus receiving orders. So the next time the protagonist made a mess...}}, well, some interesting food was served.

 

== Literature ==

** This happens to Chandler a lot. Hence lines like, "Can you people not ''see'' me?" and "Should I use my invisibility to fight crime or for evil?"

** Also:

'''Rachel's boss:''' I know. }}

** Not a direct example, but same basic principle:

'''Ross:''' Well, I said it ''out loud''! }}

* A magically animated zit got offended in this way in an episode of ''[[Wizards of Waverly Place]]''

* Happens to Special Agent Michelle Lee while McGee and Abbey chat about her relative "hotness" level on [[NCIS]] (''Shalom,'' Season 4).

* [[House (TV series)|House]] does this in the third season finale while talking to Chase.

'''Cameron:''' I'm in the room. }}

* In the ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' episode "Buffy vs. Dracula", Buffy stakes Dracula, who disintegrates. Everyone leaves. Mist swirls around and Dracula re-forms. Standing just offscreen, Buffy stakes him again.

''Mist dissipates.'' }}

** [[Joss Whedon]] and his staff really like this, and play it both for comedy and drama.

'''Xander:''' I'm sorry. But it's true. }}

** And over on ''[[Angel]]''

* ''[[Gossip Girl]]'' has an episode where Blair equates Chuck sleeping with Vanessa (or, as Blair puts it, "the dregs of DUMBO") to she herself sleeping with Chuck's evil uncle. With Vanessa standing right next to them.

** Amusingly enough, Chuck never objects to Blair's point. [[Lampshade Hanging]] of the fact that the viewers [[The Scrappy|hate Vanessa]]?

* ''[[Castle]]'': Beckett and an FBI agent talk about Castle in the car in the episode "Tick, Tick, Tick".

'''Castle:''' You know I can hear you. }}

* ''[[Firefly]]'' plays with this in the pilot.

'''Jayne:''' Yeah, well, but... the transmitter's... }}

* This happens to Rose in the second episode of the relaunched ''[[Doctor Who]]''. When the Doctor tells Jabe that he and Rose aren't married, she makes some more guesses, ending in "prostitute?".

* Played with on ''[[3rd Rock from the Sun]]''. Tommy and Alissa are in the attic when Dick bursts in, loudly complaining about Strudwick.

'''Dick''': Oh, I am so sorry. What was I thinking? Would you please leave so I can trash your father? }}

* From ''[[Boy Meets World]]'':

'''Rachel:''' Stop! Stop planning, and oh stop acting like I can't hear you! }}

* Aunt Agatha from [[Jeeves and Wooster]] has a habit of listing Bertie's faults to others while he's standing there. If he attempts to interject she normally silences him with an offhanded "Oh, be quiet, Bertie"

 

== Newspaper Comics ==

* This [[Running Gag|often happens]] in ''[[Dilbert]]'', usually involving employees insulting the [[Pointy-Haired Boss]] and/or his demands. Most of the time, he either [[Captain Oblivious|completely fails to notice]] or becomes angrier and angrier in each frame, with the implication that he [[Rage Breaking Point|hits his limit]] just after the last panel. In at least one case, he doesn't even ''hear'' the insult:

''(the boss smiles peacefully)'' }}

 

 

== Truth In Television ==

* It's common for parents to talk to other people about their children as if they weren't in the room, even when they in close proximity.

* Disabled people get this a lot too, especially those with expressive language problems.

 

 

**** Of course not. [[Badass|S/he can't dispute something that's true.]]

** Another one of these [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XvLJEWdIT8&feature=related happens] in the sequel, if you bring Tali along to Mordin's personal mission.

'''Tali''': I'm standing right here! }}

** Actually happens twice to Tali. The other one is in the engine room, during one of the non-interactive conversations between the Engineers Gabby and Kenneth.

'''Gabby''': Ha. }}

** Another one appears in the 3rd game if you brought Javik to Thessia.

'''Javik''': [[Deadpan Snarker|Or it could be the Prothean standing next to you.]] }}

* Shows up in another [[BioWare]] RPG as well, ''[[Dragon Age]]''. If the player character romances Morrigan and then puts Alistair and Leliana in the party, they strike up a conversation about what the hell he sees in her. Leliana points out that he's standing about five feet away... which Alistair brushes off with, "Look, he's not even paying attention." Another time, if Zevran is romancing the Warden, Alistair will ask [[Ladykiller in Love|Zevran]] what his intentions towards the Warden are, and Zevran will point out the Warden is in proximity. And then there's this:

'''Alistair:''' I'm right here, you know. }}

** Also happens when you cure Arl Eamon, and the discussion about the Ferelden throne begins, Teagan mentioning Alistair as an option. If you pick the "Alistair, are you serious!?" type of a reply to that, Alistair will protest that he's standing right there.

** If you import a male Human Noble to the expansion pack, when you meet Nathaniel's sister, she comments on how she found a husband on her own, rather than marrying 'that stuck up Cousland lad father wanted to set me up with.' The replies are all variations on 'I'm standing not two feet in from of you with a flaming sword of death, you realize.' You do get an apology from her though.

* [[Heroic Mime|Gordon Freeman]] of ''[[Half Life]]'' is simply born of this trope.

''(Gordon is standing less than five meters from them the whole time)'' }}

* In the [[Neverwinter Nights 2]] module Dark Waters, a male PC who is pursuing a relationship with Heather can cause one of these that doubles as a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]. While trying to recover more of her implanted memories of being Kendra (who was in love with Conley (whose memories were implanted into the PC)), you come across a memory of Kendra cheating on Conley with Sheridan, whose memories were implanted into your other friend Daniel. The exchange immediately following it consists of the player reassuring Heather that he trusts she won't cheat on him, culminating in a discussion of all of Daniel's faults that would make him an unsuitable partner, while he is standing nearby. He complains about it.

* Fairly easy to imagine that this should happen in many games, when the only thing that averts the trope is the game's (or writer's) inability to account for who's around at a given time. For instance, in ''[[Baldur's Gate]] 2'', Phaere wants you (while your party is disguised as drow) to "make an example" of a gnomish patrol. If you have Aerie in your party, she will immediately protest that a murderous act like that is ''wrong''. Thank you, Aerie, [[Sarcasm Mode|I had no idea]]... and saying something like that in front of the daughter of a drow matriarch would be suicide if she actually paid attention.

* A variant about Volke shows up in ''[[Fire Emblem Tellius|Path of Radiance]]''

'''Soren:''' I don't think he minds. }}

 

 

== Webcomics ==

* In ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'' Sam [http://sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/19971103 gets this treatment] from Zoe [http://sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/19971105 twice].

** This is actually a running joke for Sam; even after he {{spoiler|becomes a vampire and spends an arc kicking ass and taking names,}} we get dialogue like the following:

'''Sam:''' Still in earshot... Just moving out of earshot... }}

* In an arc of ''[[General Protection Fault]]'' Fred the Slime Mold is being harassed by [[Smug Snake]] Trent. This culminates in a meeting in Dwayne's office.

'''Fred:''' "That thing" should not be discussed in the third person when it's present. }}

* In ''[[Schlock Mercenary]]'', during Schlocktoberfest 2005, [http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2005-10-24 Shodan comments] on the competence of the local constabulary.

* In ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'', [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-12-20 a girl laments that Justin is gay] [[Not That There's Anything Wrong with That|because she can't ask him out]] despite having her boyfriend standing right next to her.

'''Boyfriend:''' I am less than happy right now. }}

* ''[[Spacetrawler]]'': [http://spacetrawler.com/2011/06/12/spacetrawler-145/ This page.]

'''Krep:''' ''Hey!'' Does it ''look'' like we're talking to you? }}

 

== Web Original ==

* ''[[Awkward]]'':

'''Alex:''' Hey, I just said I'm right here! }}

* [[Red vs. Blue]]:

'''Sarge''': Right where I want you! Within face stabbing range. }}

** Also when the Blues see Donut's new "lightish-red" armor:

'''Tex''': You guys know I'm a chick right? And I'm standing right here. }}

* Happens constantly between Isabel Guerra and Dave Morrison in [[Survival of the Fittest]] v4, mostly involving racist remarks towards Isabel.

'''Isabel''': I can hear you still. }}

 

 

== Western Animation ==

* ''[[Metalocalypse]]'':

'''Skwisgaar:''' So what do you want, a be-able- to-hear-things award? }}

** After ranting and raving about how they hate [[Amazingly Embarrassing Parents|their families]] so much and even [[I Wished You Were Dead|how they wish they were dead...]]

'''Nathan:''' So what do you guys feel like eating? ([[Behind the Black|The camera pans over to show that they were there the entire time...]]) }}

* ''[[Dexter's Laboratory]]'' had a field day with this in "Mock 5", their [[Affectionate Parody]] of ''[[Speed Racer]]''. Since DeeDee is fulfilling the roles of both [[Tagalong Kid|Spritle]] and [[Long Lost Sibling|Racer X]], Dad talks about how he hasn't seen DeeDee since that terrible racing accident...as she sits there at the breakfast table, desperately trying (and failing) to get his attention. At the end of the episode, he finally "finds" her:

'''Dad:''' Oh, you know I never look back there! Ha ha! }}

* ''[[Futurama]]'' has an example where Bender is talking new bureaucrat Morgan, then everyone else goes quiet. He says, "Uh-oh, she's right behind me, isn't she?". '''She''' says "No, I'm right in front of you", and is less than a foot away.

* ''[[Clone High]]'': After Abe wins a drag race by following the advice of his friend Joan, he looks wistfully up to the sky and says:

'''Abe:''' So you are, Joan. So you are. }}

* In ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]'', Principal Skinner tells Homer about his cold feet at Moe's Tavern and makes Homer promise not to tell anyone else ("Don't worry, your secret's safe with me"). Next, we see Homer's face as he exclaims, "Marge, guess what? Skinner wants to bail on his wedding!" But when the camera pulls out, we see that Homer is still in the bar, sitting right next to Skinner in the same configuration as before, presumably just seconds after being told the secret. "Homer, you're still talking to ''me''," says Skinner, to which Homer replies, "Oh man, is this awkward."

** Also:

'''Principal Skinner''': Ah, yes. Uh ... Take a good look at him, Nelson, 'cause that's where you're headed. }}

'''Crocker:''' Then I don't need to repeat myself! I'll be over at six. }}

* [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1987|1987 Shredder]], while he watches footage of the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003|2003 Shredder]] in ''[[Turtles Forever]]'', and Krang stands a foot behind him.

'''Krang:''' I'm right here. I CAN HEAR YOU! }}

* ''[[Xiaolin Showdown]]'': Omi ends up in a Showdown with a Cyclops, who would already be several times his size even if Omi ''hadn't'' been shrunk due to a mishap with the Shen-Gong-Wu. When the other monks mention just how bad the odds are, the tiny Omi has to remind them that he's right next to them.

* ''[[Family Guy]]'':

'''Peter:''' Wait, here he comes. }}

* On ''[[Archer]]'', Lana tells Mallory that Barry is a douchebag. Then Barry points out that he's sitting right next to her. He doesn't seem too bothered, though.

* ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]'', "I Was a Middle-Aged Robot": When Major Monogram tells Perry that there's a more important mission than thwarting Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Doofenshmirtz (who was in the middle of a rant when Monogram interrupted) is understandably affronted.

'''Captain Marvel:''' Hey, I'm sitting right here! }}

 

[[Category:Alice and Bob]]

[[Category:Invisibility Index]]