Metaphorically True: Difference between revisions

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'''Obi-Wan''': Luke, you will find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.|''[[Return of the Jedi]]''}}

This trope is [[Blatant Lies]] ~~-- at~~ least from a certain point of view. The statement has a justification that rests on a very, very shaky technicality which most people would not consider valid. Usually this entails some feeble excuse or [[Exact Words]]. It may require a [[Personal Dictionary]] or outright [[Insane Troll Logic]].

This trope is [[Blatant Lies]]—at least from a certain point of view. The statement has a justification that rests on a very, very shaky technicality which most people would not consider valid. Usually this entails some feeble excuse or [[Exact Words]]. It may require a [[Personal Dictionary]] or outright [[Insane Troll Logic]].

This is most commonly used by oracles who are trying to create a [[Prophecy Twist]] but haven't sufficiently mastered the art of [[Double Entendre|double meanings.]] Instead of taking advantage of a non-obvious but [[Ambiguous Syntax|genuine]] [[Exact Words|ambiguity of phrasing]], or relying on [[What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic|elaborate symbolism]], the oracle takes an unambiguous statement and tries to pretend that there was another valid meaning. It is also what separates a [[Literal Genie]] from a [[Jackass Genie]], as the latter stretches the interpretation of the wish beyond the bounds of credibility just to get the wisher into trouble.

Less commonly, it is used in the wake of a [[Retcon]], in an effort to smooth over the inconsistencies introduced by that [[Retcon]]. In the [[Trope Namer|original example]] shown at the top of the page, the line from the third movie practically [[Hand Wave~~|Hand Waves~~]] the fact that the line from the first movie was originally intended to be describing two people, [[Lying Creator|despite any of]] Lucas' [[Word of God|belated claims to the contrary]].

Less commonly, it is used in the wake of a [[Retcon]], in an effort to smooth over the inconsistencies introduced by that [[Retcon]]. In the [[Trope Namer|original example]] shown at the top of the page, the line from the third movie practically [[Hand Wave]]s the fact that the line from the first movie was originally intended to be describing two people, [[Lying Creator|despite any of]] Lucas' [[Word of God|belated claims to the contrary]].

Compare [[Yes Except No]], [[Double-Speak]], [[False Reassurance]], [[Loophole Abuse]], [[Keeping Secrets Sucks]], [[Both Sides Have a Point]] (or contrasting, depending on the circumstances), [[Stealth Pun]], [[Visual Pun]].

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== Fanfiction ==

* Kyon, in ''[[Kyon: Big Damn Hero]]'', tells a Yakuza that his PDA is custom <ref>Yuki made it from Asakura's junk data remnants</ref>, and says that he got Akasaka's picture because if you do it right, people just look right through you. <ref>He made himself invisible</ref>

* Kyon, in ''[[Kyon: Big Damn Hero]]'', tells a Yakuza that his PDA is custom,<ref>Yuki made it from Asakura's junk data remnants</ref> and says that he got Akasaka's picture because if you do it right, people just look right through you.<ref>He made himself invisible</ref>

** {{spoiler|Achakura}} invokes this in order to get {{spoiler|Nonoko}} to bring Kyon his gear after he [[We Have Forgotten the Phlebotinum|left it behind at home]].

{{quote|'''{{spoiler|Nonoko}}:''' And it's going to [[Jumped At the Call|turn me into a magical girl]]?<br />

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* ''[[Star Wars]]''

** In ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'', Obi-Wan tells Luke that the statement "Darth Vader betrayed and murdered your father" is, indeed, true "from a certain point of view." This is a [[Retcon]], but it's a [[Tropes Are Tools|pretty good]] [[Retcon]]. It's true Vader killed scads of Jedi, it's true Obi Wan feels betrayed and horrified and hates him for it, and it's believable that the old man would put off telling Luke his daddy is actually an evil Sith Lord as long as possible (for Luke's sake, if for no other reason). In the ''original'' draft writen by Leigh Brackett, Anakin and Darth Vader were different persons, and indeed Vader killed Anakin after turning to the dark side. Also, Anakin was supposed to be a force ghost that would help Luke (that role was later filled by Obi-Wan). However, Brackett died, and Lucas and Brackett's substitute Lawrence Kasdan rewrote the script, adding the famous twist, so it's obvious that they had to fix "Darth Vader betrayed and killed your father" somehow. In a clear case of [[Fridge Brilliance]] upon rewatching [[A New Hope]], before Alec Guinness delivers the original line he fractionally hesitates with a considering look. You can practically see him considering what would be the best thing to tell Luke. That hesitation is amazingly lucky for the [[Retcon]].

** While this looks weaselly, it does fit later hints that the Jedi see the Sith as something like the walking dead, former people who've been turned into monsters by the Dark Side. Mace Windu says "which was ''destroyed'', the master or the apprentice?" ~~-- not~~, say, ''slain''. Obi Wan and Qui Gon referred to Darth Maul as "[[It Is Dehumanizing|it]]", while Yoda later warns Obi Wan that Anakin is "gone" and has been "consumed" by Darth Vader - a line probably written for the purpose of bolstering the point-of-view of Obi Wan's original statement to Luke.

** While this looks weaselly, it does fit later hints that the Jedi see the Sith as something like the walking dead, former people who've been turned into monsters by the Dark Side. Mace Windu says "which was ''destroyed'', the master or the apprentice?"—not, say, ''slain''. Obi Wan and Qui Gon referred to Darth Maul as "[[It Is Dehumanizing|it]]", while Yoda later warns Obi Wan that Anakin is "gone" and has been "consumed" by Darth Vader - a line probably written for the purpose of bolstering the point-of-view of Obi Wan's original statement to Luke.

*** Palpatine/Sidious does something similar, but to more sinister intent, when he tells the newly-suited Vader that in his anger he killed Padme. It wasn't Anakin/Vader's force-choke that really killed her, but it ''was'' her shock at Anakin's betrayal that caused her to lose the will to live. So, from a certain point of view, Palpatine was telling the truth.

*** According to the novelization, and as far as Palpatine knows, the damage to her windpipe ''is'' what killed her. The explanation for the whole "lost the will to live" thing is that the robot doctors were built by the alien race that run the base she dies on and just made something up to cover for not actually knowing what they were doing when dealing with a human.

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*** Non-Black Ajah Aes Sedai using the Oath Rod to remove the Oaths? [[Flat What|What.]] Not if every single Aes Sedai's reaction to the idea of unBinding themselves (either forever, or just at retirement) is any guide: "When I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming Aes Sedai. From the day I reached the White Tower, I tried to live as an Aes Sedai. I have lived as an Aes Sedai, and I will die as an Aes Sedai. This [unBinding at retirement] cannot be allowed!"

* In a novel by [[Albert E Cowdrey]], a megalomaniacal criminal wants revenge on the human race for his imprisonment. Before he's allowed out of prison, he's asked a few questions, and there's a machine that can tell whether he's telling the truth or not. When asked if he regrets his behavior, he says yes (meaning he regrets that his mistakes got him caught). When asked if he wants to harm anyone, or something like that, he says "I do not wish to harm any human individual."

* In the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Drona is convinced to lay down his weapons after hearing that his son, Ashwatama, is dead. Before doing so, he asks Yudhishtara, who notably cannot tell a lie, if this is true. Yudhishtara replies, "Yes, Ashwatama {{spoiler|the elephant}} is dead" ~~-- with~~ the key words muttered under his breath. You see, {{spoiler|the son was still alive, but the Pandavas had killed an elephant with the same name.}} Before the start of the battle, the Pandavas proposed a number of rules, on which both armies agreed, that would ensure that everyone would fight honorable. About every single rule is broken within the first days of battle by the heroes of both sides.

* In the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Drona is convinced to lay down his weapons after hearing that his son, Ashwatama, is dead. Before doing so, he asks Yudhishtara, who notably cannot tell a lie, if this is true. Yudhishtara replies, "Yes, Ashwatama {{spoiler|the elephant}} is dead"—with the key words muttered under his breath. You see, {{spoiler|the son was still alive, but the Pandavas had killed an elephant with the same name.}} Before the start of the battle, the Pandavas proposed a number of rules, on which both armies agreed, that would ensure that everyone would fight honorable. About every single rule is broken within the first days of battle by the heroes of both sides.

* In ''The Legend of Luke'' from the ''[[Redwall]]'' series, Vilu Daskar (evil pirate captain) promises to let some of the prisoners free if they tell him where treasure is, neglecting to mention that the last time he made this promise, he set them free by tying weights to them and throwing them overboard. {{spoiler|Fortunately, the heroes don't fall for it, and the whole treasure story was just a plan to trick Vilu Daskar anyway.}}

* The ''[[Inheritance Cycle]]'' has the elves, who, as Brom says, are masters of saying one thing but meaning another. They are able to do this because speaking in the ancient language prohibits one from lying, though they can still say something that they believe to be true. [[The Hero|Eragon]] uses this technique at one point in an attempt to conceal his actual feelings regarding [[Our Elves Are Better|Arya]].

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*** Still, he didn't tell about the wishsong, or that Grianne's destiny was to succeed him. And he certainly didn't tell Grianne that the Sword of Shannara would work on her so well.

** Also done in the second book of the series, ''Elfstones of Shannara'', in a very sympathetic way. The dying King Eventine Elessidil asks his son about Amberle, his beloved granddaughter, who he has learned has just returned from her quest with Wil Ohmsford to prevent [[The End of the World as We Know It]]. His son hesitates, then tells his father, "She's safe. Resting." {{spoiler|While this isn't exactly a lie, she's actually been turned into a ''tree''.}} The old king, relieved, is able to die peacefully.

* In ''[[Forgotten Realms|The Knights of Samular]]'' by Elaine Cunningham [[Knight Templar|Renwick Caradoon]] used such tricks to twist the Abyss out of [[Deal with the Devil|his contract]] with an incubus lord ~~and -- after~~ this bright idea gone bad anyway and he needed ~~help -- fool~~ already suspicious Blackstaff (which may be more impressive).

* In ''[[Forgotten Realms|The Knights of Samular]]'' by Elaine Cunningham [[Knight Templar|Renwick Caradoon]] used such tricks to twist the Abyss out of [[Deal with the Devil|his contract]] with an incubus lord and—after this bright idea gone bad anyway and he needed help—fool already suspicious Blackstaff (which may be more impressive).

{{quote|"A prideful wizard, a summoning gone awry," Renwick said, genuine sorrow and regret painting his tones. "But before her death, my niece gave me the means to banish the demon."

Khelben gave him a searching look, and Renwick felt the subtle tug of truth-test magic. It slid off him easily; few spells recognized a lie fashioned by placing two truths next to each other. Let Khelben think Nimra was the prideful wizard who had summoned the demon. }}

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* On ''[[Penn and Teller Bullshit]]'', the duo use this trope to get environmental activists to sign a petition to ban water. They sent someone to a gathering of them to get names for a petition to abolish the use of "dihydrogen monoxide" - which means water. They went around saying all kinds of technically true things about water while making it sound like a toxin. They got lots of names. The point of the exercise was to demonstrate how many people in the environmental movement would sign a petition without bothering to check any of the facts first.

* Adam and Jimmie of ''[[The Man Show]]'' got dozens of women to sign a petition to end Women's Suffrage (the right to vote) by phrasing it to sound like they meant "suffering". Things like, "Women have been suffraging in this country for decades, and nobody's done anything to stop it!"

* [[Aquila]] has a scene where an archaeologist explains, referencing the [[~~Ancient~~ Africa~~|ancient African~~]] proverb about truth being an elephant surrounded by three blind men, that he simply gave the boys a point of view not involving copious amounts of money.

* [[Aquila]] has a scene where an archaeologist explains, referencing the [[ancient Africa]]n proverb about truth being an elephant surrounded by three blind men, that he simply gave the boys a point of view not involving copious amounts of money.

* On ''[[Misfits]]'', a show about a bunch of "problem teens" on community service <ref> who develop superpowers</ref>, the inevitable conversation soon arises - "what did you do to end up here?" While most of them admit to plausible-sounding crimes (drunk-driving, arson, drug possession etc) Nathan constantly insists - to the point where it becomes a [[Running Gag]] - that all he did was steal some "pick'n'mix". As we later find out, the incident actually did ''start'' with him stealing some sweets. He neglected to mention, however, that (in a [[Crowning Moment of Funny]]) he subsequently ran riot in the bowling alley, trying to hurl himself down the back of one of the bowling lanes and causing a fair bit of criminal damage. When he was finally restrained he refused to pay for the damages (or co-operate in the slightest), persistently mocked the security guard and eventually attacked the guy with a stapler.

* On ''[[Misfits]]'', a show about a bunch of "problem teens" on community service,<ref>who develop superpowers</ref> the inevitable conversation soon arises - "what did you do to end up here?" While most of them admit to plausible-sounding crimes (drunk-driving, arson, drug possession etc) Nathan constantly insists - to the point where it becomes a [[Running Gag]] - that all he did was steal some "pick'n'mix". As we later find out, the incident actually did ''start'' with him stealing some sweets. He neglected to mention, however, that (in a [[Crowning Moment of Funny]]) he subsequently ran riot in the bowling alley, trying to hurl himself down the back of one of the bowling lanes and causing a fair bit of criminal damage. When he was finally restrained he refused to pay for the damages (or co-operate in the slightest), persistently mocked the security guard and eventually attacked the guy with a stapler.

** However, it's entirely possible that Nathan really doesn't think he did anything wrong beyond eating the pick'n'mix.

* In ''[[Blake's 7|Blakes Seven]]'', the crew gets captured by an enemy that can keep them from lying, so they resort to evasions to prevent them from finding out that Orac is a computer.

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** It's also worth pointing out that while Marisa claims the youkai can have their books back when her human life ends, in some games' backstories it's mentioned that she's working on an Elixer of Life, to prolong her life ''without losing her humanity''. Trust Marisa to pair a [[Half Truth]] with [[Loophole Abuse]].

* In the [[Roguelike]] game [[Game/Ragnarok|Ragnarok]], an Amulet of Eternal Life turns you to stone. That makes a certain kind of mythic sense, but it's not "life" as we'd recognize it.

* [[ADOM]], another [[Roguelike]], has the gauntlets of ~~peace -- and~~ their artifact counterpart, [[The Same but More|the Gauntlets of Eternal Peace]] --, which make it almost impossible to hit anything while you're wearing them. The "peace" either means you can't kill anything, or you will die quickly and be at peace since (duh) [[Everything Trying to Kill You|Everything Is Trying To Kill You]] and you won't be able to fight back. Even better, the gauntlets are [[Clingy MacGuffin|autocursing]]. At least they give you a moderate defense and armor boost while you search desperately for that scroll of uncursing.

* [[ADOM]], another [[Roguelike]], has the gauntlets of peace—and their artifact counterpart, [[The Same but More|the Gauntlets of Eternal Peace]] --, which make it almost impossible to hit anything while you're wearing them. The "peace" either means you can't kill anything, or you will die quickly and be at peace since (duh) [[Everything Trying to Kill You|Everything Is Trying To Kill You]] and you won't be able to fight back. Even better, the gauntlets are [[Clingy MacGuffin|autocursing]]. At least they give you a moderate defense and armor boost while you search desperately for that scroll of uncursing.

* If you haven't played the ''[[Knights of the Old Republic]]'' it wouldn't be much of a spoiler to say that you shouldn't fully trust ''anything'' that ''any'' Jedi has to say to you. Indeed, their self-serving tendencies of filtering truth through "certain points of view" is significantly responsible for their eventual downfall.

** In the first game, on the other hand, the only real example of this trope is Jolee's claim that "the Jedi left me" (and he doesn't consider himself a Jedi any more at this point). The other Jedi certainly do tell some outright lies, but don't continue to defend them as 'true' once they're exposed as lies.

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** At one point, Game Master Konishi tells Neku and Beat that she's going to hide in the same place for seven days, while they try to find her. However, she's able to move all over the city, because the "one place" she chose was {{spoiler|Beat's shadow.}}

* In ''[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni]]'', the [[Language of Truth|Red Truth]] can be twisted in this manner.

* A rare positive version courtesy of ''[[Another Century's Episode|Another Centurys Episode]]'': When it was announced that the [[PlayStation 3]] installment would be limited to three [[Humongous Mecha|mecha]] per series, fans were upset - until the game's director posted on his blog, revealing that [[Mid-Season Upgrade~~|Mid-Season Upgrades~~]] and [[Mecha Expansion Pack~~|Mecha Expansion Packs~~]] would fall under the heading of their base machine and therefore only count as one, meaning they can fit in more playables while still maintaining the whole "three per series" idea.

* A rare positive version courtesy of ''[[Another Century's Episode|Another Centurys Episode]]'': When it was announced that the [[PlayStation 3]] installment would be limited to three [[Humongous Mecha|mecha]] per series, fans were upset - until the game's director posted on his blog, revealing that [[Mid-Season Upgrade]]s and [[Mecha Expansion Pack]]s would fall under the heading of their base machine and therefore only count as one, meaning they can fit in more playables while still maintaining the whole "three per series" idea.

* ''[[Castlevania]] Order of Ecclesia'' has Death's Ring, whose description is "One hit kills instantly." It is indeed true. Take one hit and ''you'' will instantly die.

* Might as well be named "Kirei Truth" after the I-tell-no-direct-lies priest from [[Fate/stay night]]. Spending 3 routes while only telling one direct lie (which is a joke, and he's instantly called out on it) while still {{spoiler|manipulating the protagonist and turning out to be the [[Big Bad]] in two routes and [[The Dragon]] in a third}}? Yeah, he's very good at this.

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** Most notably, he tells Rose that The Tumor has sufficient power to destroy the Green Sun (the main villain's power source), that setting it off at the site of the Green Sun would lead to his death, and that destroying the Green Sun would kill him. Then she and Dave go to the site of the Green Sun and [[Stable Time Loop|find it empty, and the Tumor opens to reveal it channels exactly the amount of mass-energy the Green Sun contains]]...

** Aradia, who admits she's taking a page from Doc Scratch's book, likewise never lies "[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=003985 but thr0ugh 0missi0n]." She tells the other trolls that playing Sgrub is their only hope of surviving the end of the world; she doesn't tell them it's ''causing'' the same, and never did say they would ''win''.

** The narrator gets in on it, too. As Gamzee watches Jade's second prototyping from the CRITICAL MOMENT, the caption reads "[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=005119 The most important character in Homestuck fondly regards the miracle of a new beginning.]" [http://www.mspaintadventures.com/cascade.php?s=6&p=6009 [S] Cascade] reveals that he has Li'l Cal (used to make Doc Scratch) in his lap, and is ''also'' watching Doc Scratch's body, which [http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=006011 soon after] rises as Lord English.

* ''The Repository of Dangerous Things'' have [http://www.drunkduck.com/The_Repository_of_Dangerous_Things/4863929/ Davis trying to write a resume].