Reed Richards Is Useless: Difference between revisions

Line 17:

# The idea that technology which could solve serious human problems ''does'' exist, but is either repressed from the public, or otherwise not used.

This trope is often associated with the [[Fantastic Aesop]] that these problems don't have easy solutions in the real world, and any proposed sci-fi solutions will have negative side-effect or potential for abuse that justifies completely abandoning all hope of trying to solve the problem. However, as superhero comics especially have begun to explore the ramifications of their characters on real-world settings more closely over the years, this question has been raised and addressed more frequently. It is sometimes [[Lampshade|lampshaded]] as making people "[[Holding Out for A Hero|too dependent]]" on superheroes.

This trope is often associated with the [[Fantastic Aesop]] that these problems don't have easy solutions in the real world, and any proposed sci-fi solutions will have negative side-effect or potential for abuse that justifies completely abandoning all hope of trying to solve the problem. However, as superhero comics especially have begun to explore the ramifications of their characters on real-world settings more closely over the years, this question has been raised and addressed more frequently. It is sometimes [[Lampshade|lampshaded]] as making people "[[Holding Out for a Hero|too dependent]]" on superheroes.

Smaller-scale continuities such as newly-created [[Superhero]] universes with a single author to explore the fictional world in 1 or 2 titles are more likely to avert and examine the concept of super-technology's effect on modern society, especially if the writer is trying to make a geopolitical statement. Larger superhero continuities, such as Marvel and DC (with an average 24 titles per month), are established to have upheld this trope as their Earths have been explored in extensive detail. The trope can be inverted by having a hero "inventing" a technological revolution that already exists (for example, the [[Ultimate Universe]] Iron Man apparently invented the [[MP 3]] player). Recently, Marvel and DC have been making baby steps in averting this trend (i.e. having the current Venom use his powers to cure addicts, Barbara Gordon regaining her mobility etc.).

Line 33:

== Anime & Manga ==

* In ''[[Neko De Gomen ~~(Manga)~~|Neko De Gomen]]'', the inventions made by both Kuroda and Yayori's father could change the world in many ways and make them very rich if they were to patent them and sell the designs to the proper company or the government.

* In ''[[Neko-de Gomen!|Neko De Gomen]]'', the inventions made by both Kuroda and Yayori's father could change the world in many ways and make them very rich if they were to patent them and sell the designs to the proper company or the government.

Line 43:

** World Peace would require eliminating free will, eliminating all disease would result in essentially immortal humans or at least greatly longer living and fewer infant mortalities, superb in notion except now the world population will be exploding and what to do with the even MORE geriatrics the developed world is already struggling with (even without disease, people being retired for longer than they worked is a problem), eliminating crime might also have to involve eliminating free will or greatly upset world economies. While there are certainly ways around these problems with a friendly, intelligent genie that grants infinite wishes, they aren't trivially easy to solve for a reason and this has been touched upon in the comics.

** There was a storyline where he started to feel bad that he wasn't doing more to solve people's non-crime-related problems and - against the advice of his elders in the [[Justice Society]] - he decided to start granting wishes for anyone who wanted his help. Lines formed around the block, near riots broke out if he tried to take a break; it soon occured to him that if he kept it up, he would be spending the rest of his life granting other people's wishes 24/7 (hey, he can wish to not have to sleep, right?). The people waiting in line for wishes considered this an acceptable sacrifice; Jakeem, not so much.

* [[~~Superman (Comic Book)|~~Superman]] in general has often wrestled with the fact that he can't use his superpowers to simply force away wide-ranged problems plaguing humanity. Attempts to bring about world peace by disposing of nuclear weapons didn't fare too well in ''[[Superman IV]]'' or the premiere of ''[[Justice League]]''. His attempt to cure starvation in third-world countries is detailed in the graphic novel "Peace On Earth". This results in [[An Aesop]] being that these are things that will only be solved when all of humanity chooses to solve them. There are often short-lived [[Alternate Universe]] depictions of him going too far in forcing humanity to follow his ideals to solve these problems, thus becoming a [[Knight Templar]].

* [[Superman]] in general has often wrestled with the fact that he can't use his superpowers to simply force away wide-ranged problems plaguing humanity. Attempts to bring about world peace by disposing of nuclear weapons didn't fare too well in ''[[Superman IV]]'' or the premiere of ''[[Justice League]]''. His attempt to cure starvation in third-world countries is detailed in the graphic novel "Peace On Earth". This results in [[An Aesop]] being that these are things that will only be solved when all of humanity chooses to solve them. There are often short-lived [[Alternate Universe]] depictions of him going too far in forcing humanity to follow his ideals to solve these problems, thus becoming a [[Knight Templar]].

** This [http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/12/30/worst-comics-2010-superman-grounded/ review] of the ''Grounded'' story arc makes a good case [[Tropes Are Not Bad|why this trope exists in the first place]]. ''This is the problem with trying to tackle "real world" problems in a "serious" way with a character like Superman. He's basically God. He can walk into a neighborhood full of drug dealers and just magically destroy all their drugs and drive them off. In order to explain why he doesn't just do this all the time, or any number of other things that he could do with minimal effort that would drastically change the lives of every single person in the country, if not the world, writers like Straczynski resort to utter inanity. "Over there has to stand for itself, has to speak for itself, because it's only when over there becomes here that we can stop this once and for all." Read that sentence again. It means [[Meaningless Meaningful Words|nothing]].''

** Linkara's review of the Superman Grounded storyline took a further look at how the story applies to this trope and story's general stupidity. At the beginning of Grounded, one woman publicly criticizes Superman for not saving her husband from a brain tumor while Superman was saving Earth. Linkara points out that not only was Superman busy with saving millions of lives, but that there is no indication that Superman's heat/x-ray vision can treat cancer nor does Supes have the necessary medical training. http://atopfourthwall.blogspot.com/2012/04/superman-701.html

Line 63:

* In the ''Hawkworld Armageddon'' 2001 annual, the corporate backers of the Chicago PD offer to build [[Hawkman]] and Hawkwoman more efficient jet packets. In order to do this, the company says that they need access to Thangarian technology. Hawkman says that Earth is [[You Are Not Ready|not ready for Thangarian technology]].

* The super-speed teenage superhero Impulse should have had no problem with most of the villains he faced and could have rendered his base of operations, Manchester, Alabama, free of all crime. However his [[Incredibly Lame Pun|impulsive]] behavior often rendered him his own worst enemy.

* One of the biggest examples in the DC Universe is The Brain, of the original Fatal Five lineup, who remains [[Brain In A Jar|a bodiless disembodied brain]], despite the wide variety of cybernetic body parts. Although, back in the 1960's, he did have a body made out of pure energy for a while.

* One of the biggest examples in the DC Universe is The Brain, of the original Fatal Five lineup, who remains [[Brain In a Jar|a bodiless disembodied brain]], despite the wide variety of cybernetic body parts. Although, back in the 1960's, he did have a body made out of pure energy for a while.

* One of the barriers to having the [[Elongated Man]] releasing his gingold extract (enabling his super-elasticity) to the public is that a large percentage of humans are allergic to the substance.

* There was this one Batman storyline (reprinted in Batman from the 1970's) where one of Alfred's relatives, a heart surgeon, develops a revolutionary surgical procedure. However, Alfred's uncle is so depressed with all the inhumanity in the world that he thinks about destroying information on the procedure. He promises to share it with the public if Batman successfully captures this one criminal. Batman succeeds in capturing the criminal.

Line 76:

=== DC's ALTERNATE UNIVERSES: ===

* The beginning of the animated movie ''[[Superman Doomsday]]'' lampshades this, as it shows Supes unsuccessfully trying to cure cancer; he comments how odd it is that, even with all of Kryptonian technology at his disposal and all of the unbelievable things he's done, he's never been able to help Earth beyond "being its resident strong man". Of course, his immediate reaction to every threat the movie throws at him after that is "hit it with my fists until it stops moving", so maybe that's his own fault. Contrast with [[Lex Luthor]] in the film, who is shown having completed a one-dose cure for muscular dystrophy... then starts working on a way to make it a life-long treatment so he can get more money for each dose.

* The beginning of the animated movie ''[[Superman: Doomsday]]'' lampshades this, as it shows Supes unsuccessfully trying to cure cancer; he comments how odd it is that, even with all of Kryptonian technology at his disposal and all of the unbelievable things he's done, he's never been able to help Earth beyond "being its resident strong man". Of course, his immediate reaction to every threat the movie throws at him after that is "hit it with my fists until it stops moving", so maybe that's his own fault. Contrast with [[Lex Luthor]] in the film, who is shown having completed a one-dose cure for muscular dystrophy... then starts working on a way to make it a life-long treatment so he can get more money for each dose.

=== [[Marvel Universe~~|MARVEL UNIVERSE~~]]: ===

=== [[Marvel Universe]]: ===

* The [[Trope Namer]] is Reed Richards, better known as Mr. Fantastic, leader of the [[Fantastic Four]]. While Marvel has attempted to justify his lack of [[Buffy-Speak|world-changiness]] in various ways, including that his inventions are too expensive and that nobody else can understand them, the real reason is that allowing him to make a real difference would make the world far too different to reality.

** The current justification, being used in Jonathan Hickman's run on [[Fantastic Four]] and F.F. and by Bendis in the [[Ultimate Marvel]] universe, is that it's his family which prevents Reed from putting all his efforts into changing the world. He has to choose between being a loving father and husband and devoting himself to advancing humanity. It's implied that the world is ''lucky'' when Reed takes the first option since, if he doesn't or if things don't work out between him and Sue, he becomes a [[Knight Templar]] (Hickman's books) or full on villain (the Ultimate 'verse).

Line 97:

* In ''Dark Reign: The Hood'', several of the Hood's operatives get to wondering just why they do like they do instead of what they could. "Chemistro. Centurious. Controller. A veritable think tank of geniuses. But why do we follow?" Yeah, you know things are messed up when Dr. Demonicus is the voice of reason.

* This premise is partly explained by the Marvel Universe's Watchers' intention not to interfere in the affairs of other races. They originally shared their scientific knowledge with a primitive alien race who used the newfound knowledge to become spacefaring. Eventually this alien race with abundant technological gains declared war on a race far more powerful than them and were obliterated as a result. This led the Watchers to being non-interventionists.

* Naturally, all of Marvel's brains turn up useless if the plotline calls for it. In ''[[One More Day]]'', none of Marvel's brains were able to prevent Aunt May's death (or remember the things which have healed much worse injuries). Including [[Doctor Strange]], who (in addition being Sorcerer Supreme), was a ''neurosurgeon.'' Enter [[Deal ~~With~~ the Devil|Mephisto.]] And at the end of [[Joss Whedon]]'s run on ''[[Astonishing X Men]]'', Cyclops said that he had contacted Reed, Hank Pym and the other brain trust members, who were unable to rescue Kitty from the giant bullet. In both cases, the writer wanted to set up a specific plot resolution which wouldn't have been possible if Reed Richards (and the other brains) weren't useless.

* Naturally, all of Marvel's brains turn up useless if the plotline calls for it. In ''[[One More Day]]'', none of Marvel's brains were able to prevent Aunt May's death (or remember the things which have healed much worse injuries). Including [[Doctor Strange]], who (in addition being Sorcerer Supreme), was a ''neurosurgeon.'' Enter [[Deal with the Devil|Mephisto.]] And at the end of [[Joss Whedon]]'s run on ''[[Astonishing X Men]]'', Cyclops said that he had contacted Reed, Hank Pym and the other brain trust members, who were unable to rescue Kitty from the giant bullet. In both cases, the writer wanted to set up a specific plot resolution which wouldn't have been possible if Reed Richards (and the other brains) weren't useless.

* The presence of Captain America and the Invaders didn't make World War II turn out any differently, even though Cap punches out [[Hitler]] and Tojo on at least one cover along with the Invaders routinely decimating Axis forces. Nowadays it's assumed that those super-heroes mostly served to cancel out the efforts of the equally fantastic Red Skull and other Axis supervillains, resulting in a war that played out exactly as though neither of them had existed.

* In the case of [[Storm]] and other characters with weather-manipulation powers, it's been suggested that continual use of their powers would destabilize weather patterns (as demonstrated in one battle between the X-Men and Alpha Flight where one members self-generated blizzard wrecked havoc on the weather cycle). Most weather controllers aren't creating weather out of nothingness, they're manipulating the existing environment, and drawing resources such as airborne moisture towards one location simply draws those resources away from other areas in need.

Line 104:

* Unlike Oracle, no one wonders why the [[X-Men]]'s Professor X is still in a wheelchair. This is because he doesn't seem to really ''care''. He was moved to a healthy clone body under highly unusual circumstances, but his spine was broken later.

** Originally, Professor X used his telepathy to prevent him from feeling pain coming from his crippled legs. This in turn, caused his clone body to remain crippled.

** He hasn't been in a wheelchair for years now, thanks to a combination of [[Blessed ~~With~~ Suck]] and [[Cursed ~~With~~ Awesome]].

** He hasn't been in a wheelchair for years now, thanks to a combination of [[Blessed with Suck]] and [[Cursed with Awesome]].

* In ''X-Men Legacy'' #242, Hellion, angrily, invokes this trope when, after witnessing many incredible events during his run with the X-Men, they are just trying to replace his lost hands with robotic hands instead of finding a way to grow new ones for him.

{{quote| '''Hellion''': Seriously. We bring people back from the dead. FROM THE DEAD! So how hard can a pair of hands be?}}

Line 112:

* During the ''[[Secret Invasion]]'' storyline, Norman Osborne creates a weapon to kill Deadpool that could also theoretically cure cancer. In an absolutely spectacular display of idiocy, he never thinks to release this to the public and thus generate obscene amounts of money and good publicity.

* Given the reckless use of their superpowers in early appearances, it is a surprise that the X-Men and Fantastic Four were not "useless" if not downright dangerous as superheroes (http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/linkara/at4w/33215-all-star-comics-8-and-the-fantastic-four-1 and http://atopfourthwall.blogspot.com/2010/11/x-men-1.html).

* In the comic book review show ''[[~~Atop the Fourth Wall (Web Video)|~~Atop the Fourth Wall]]'' host Linkara points out that Reed Richards seems too busy with inventing useless stuff like air signals that can change their own writing as opposed to something useful like curing cancer.

* In the comic book review show ''[[Atop the Fourth Wall]]'' host Linkara points out that Reed Richards seems too busy with inventing useless stuff like air signals that can change their own writing as opposed to something useful like curing cancer.

* Doesn't Professor X occasionally use his telepathy powers to help bring people out of comas?

* In New Avengers 19, some AIM agents stole some of Wolverine's blood to make manufacture bio-weapons. Iron Man then replied, "Do you realize how far we would advance as a technological species if we didn't have to put up with this every ten minutes?"

Line 131:

* In ''[[Judge Dredd]]'', the availability of superscience to the public varies from storyline to storyline. In some issues, organ theft/traficking are major crime operations. In other issues, hospitals regularly provide cloned organ transplantations to patients (thus making organ theft/traficking redundant).

* In ''Supreme Power: Nighthawk vs. Hyperion'', Nighthawk lures Hyperion to Darfur in hopes that Hyperion will become more proactive on the country's suffering. Hyperion kills Sudanese President Al-Hamas, although the disposed President assures Hyperion that another brutal ruler will just replace him. The story ends with superpowered Africans ordering the titular characters to leave, saying that two people can't fix a country of millions of people.

* Gyro Gearloose from the [[Disney Ducks Comic Universe]]. Over the course of time, [[Depending On the Writer|the many different writers]] did let him invent just about ''anything'', from simple mechanical contraptions which could theoretically also work in [[Real Life]], to [[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness|ultra-soft science fiction stuff]] like e.g. [[Time Machine|Time Machines]]. In spite of all this, Duckburg does always stay at the contemporary tech level.

* Gyro Gearloose from the [[Disney Ducks Comic Universe]]. Over the course of time, [[Depending on the Writer|the many different writers]] did let him invent just about ''anything'', from simple mechanical contraptions which could theoretically also work in [[Real Life]], to [[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness|ultra-soft science fiction stuff]] like e.g. [[Time Machine|Time Machines]]. In spite of all this, Duckburg does always stay at the contemporary tech level.

* In ''Sultry Teenage Super-Foxes'', the US military develops an "alchemy ray", which they test by turning dog poop into gold...and then the head scientist remarks that it's considered "too theoretical" for them to get more funding. [[Atop the Fourth Wall ~~(Web Video)~~|Linkara]] flips out at this, pointing out that such a device is '''infinitely''' useful since it could be used to safely dispose of nuclear waste (among other uses). Of course, the machine is destroyed in the accident that creates the titular heroes, rendering the whole debate moot.

* In ''Sultry Teenage Super-Foxes'', the US military develops an "alchemy ray", which they test by turning dog poop into gold...and then the head scientist remarks that it's considered "too theoretical" for them to get more funding. [[Atop the Fourth Wall|Linkara]] flips out at this, pointing out that such a device is '''infinitely''' useful since it could be used to safely dispose of nuclear waste (among other uses). Of course, the machine is destroyed in the accident that creates the titular heroes, rendering the whole debate moot.

* Interestingly averted with Donald Duck and Scrooge [[McDuck]], whose discoveries were later discovered in the real world. Donald Duck discovered a carbene called methylene (along with a particular reaction it caused) 20 years before scientists in the real world did. Scrooge [[McDuck]] also created a method of retrieving sunken ships that was later duplicated in the real world. Furthermore, Scrooge [[McDuck]] served as a major inspiration for Osamu Tekuza's (father of anime and manga) art style. http://www.cracked.com/article_19021_5-amazing-things-invented-by-donald-duck-seriously.html

* In the comic book commentary show "Atop The Fourth Wall" host Linkara asks that why the scientist in Brute Force (who can grant human intelligence to animals and create transforming battle suits) doesn't use this technology to benefit people in wheelchairs.

Line 157:

== Film ==

* Discussed throughout [http://www.cracked.com/article_19037_7-movies-that-ignored-world-changing-discoveries.html this] [[Cracked]] article.

* In the ''Superman'' [[Superman (~~Film~~)|films]] our hero has a Fortress of Solitude filled with "the accumulated scientific knowledge of dozens of different worlds". Rather than flying around stopping accidents and robberies, wouldn't he make a far greater contribution to mankind if he just used that technology, to, say, cure cancer? Looks like Luthor was right about him: "Gods are selfish beings who fly around in capes don't share their power with mankind."

* In the ''Superman'' [[Superman (film)|films]] our hero has a Fortress of Solitude filled with "the accumulated scientific knowledge of dozens of different worlds". Rather than flying around stopping accidents and robberies, wouldn't he make a far greater contribution to mankind if he just used that technology, to, say, cure cancer? Looks like Luthor was right about him: "Gods are selfish beings who fly around in capes don't share their power with mankind."

** The first film has Jor-El's order to not interfere in human history, giving reasons like over-reliance from humanity and making a target out of his loved ones. And the one time he tried a direct approach was in ''Superman 4'', the lesson here apparently that trying to force humanity forward will result in people trying to capitalize on your attempts.

* Discussed in the ''[[Iron Man]]'' [[Iron Man (~~Film~~)|movie]]. Tony Stark's power cell is stated as being able to generate 3 gigajoules per second of energy -- which is, of course, 3 gigawatts of power generation. This is about as much power as produced by the largest man-made nuclear reactor and about 15 times the power of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier (and two and a half times the power required to [[Back to The Future|travel through time]]). The movie makes it clear that the Arc Reactor is incredibly valuable, and Obidiah Stane wants to use it for profit, but Tony is adamant that the technology stays in his hands and ''his alone'', because he's seen what happens when his technology ends up in unsupervised hands.

* Discussed in the ''[[Iron Man]]'' [[Iron Man (film)|movie]]. Tony Stark's power cell is stated as being able to generate 3 gigajoules per second of energy -- which is, of course, 3 gigawatts of power generation. This is about as much power as produced by the largest man-made nuclear reactor and about 15 times the power of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier (and two and a half times the power required to [[Back to The Future|travel through time]]). The movie makes it clear that the Arc Reactor is incredibly valuable, and Obidiah Stane wants to use it for profit, but Tony is adamant that the technology stays in his hands and ''his alone'', because he's seen what happens when his technology ends up in unsupervised hands.

** The second film averts this trope though - in the opening sequence shows Ivan Vanko [[Hard Work Montage|building the first Whiplash suit]], and various newspaper clippings are shown that mention, among other things, new technological advances developed by Stark Industries made available to the general public. Tony Stark's [[Badass Boast|claims]] that he has privatized world peace and created the most peaceful time in human history further cements this aversion.

*** Additionally, the real reason for Justin Hammer's entire plan, which included breaking an [[Evil Genius]] out of jail to develop his [[Mecha Mooks|Hammer Drones]] is to [[Cut Lex Luthor a Check|secure a defense contract.]]

*** Additionally, the real reason for Justin Hammer's entire plan, which included breaking an [[Evil Genius]] out of jail to develop his [[Mecha-Mooks|Hammer Drones]] is to [[Cut Lex Luthor a Check|secure a defense contract.]]

** The ''Iron Man'' anime, based heavily off the continuity of the films, averts this; the plot begins with Tony going to Japan to build what he hopes will be the first of countless arc reactor power plants around the world, to help with the energy crisis.

** In ''[[The Avengers (~~Film~~)|The Avengers]]'', Tony shows that he is preparing to spread his Arc Reactor technology around the globe, but on his terms. It is also implied that his releasing of the Arc Reactor in the War Machine suit is what helps SHIELD develop all those advanced toys that they use in the film. Nick Fury also mentions that SHIELD plans to use the Tessaract to bring clean, sustainable energy to the entire world, though both Stark and Bruce Banner become suspicious that SHIELD didn't call in Stark, the world expert on clean energy. {{spoiler|SHIELD is actually developing Tesseract-based weaponry to fight extraterrestrial enemies with power comparable to the Asgard.}}

** In ''[[The Avengers (film)|The Avengers]]'', Tony shows that he is preparing to spread his Arc Reactor technology around the globe, but on his terms. It is also implied that his releasing of the Arc Reactor in the War Machine suit is what helps SHIELD develop all those advanced toys that they use in the film. Nick Fury also mentions that SHIELD plans to use the Tessaract to bring clean, sustainable energy to the entire world, though both Stark and Bruce Banner become suspicious that SHIELD didn't call in Stark, the world expert on clean energy. {{spoiler|SHIELD is actually developing Tesseract-based weaponry to fight extraterrestrial enemies with power comparable to the Asgard.}}

* In ''[[Bruce Almighty]]'', not only is Bruce [[Too Dumb to Live|incredibly stupid]] but he seems to have no desire to use God's power to make this a better world. His only attempt at this really involved more of "how can I get people to quit bothering me" and even that was [[Idiot Ball|handled so stupidly]] it defies belief. However, the whole ''point'' of the movie is that Bruce is essentially not cut out to be God in the first place.

* The ''[[~~Ghostbusters (Film)|~~Ghostbusters]]'' movies (and [[Ghostbusters the Video Game ~~(Video Game)~~|the 2009 video game]]) play with this. While, they ''do'' use the technology they've created for personal profit, the game has them as licensed contractors for New York, they do ignore the potential profit they could make from developing that tech for other uses.

* The ''[[Ghostbusters]]'' movies (and [[Ghostbusters the Video Game|the 2009 video game]]) play with this. While, they ''do'' use the technology they've created for personal profit, the game has them as licensed contractors for New York, they do ignore the potential profit they could make from developing that tech for other uses.

** One of the upgrades for one of the weapon modes in the video game sort of [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] the use of the tech by saying that while it can punch small holes in the fabric of reality, the holes can't even be used to dump away trash.

* In ''[[The Prestige]],'' [[Nikola Tesla]] makes magician Robert Angier a machine which was intended to be a teleporter but turns out to be a matter replicator. It could be used to make unlimited quantities of food, clothing, machine parts, construction materials... it could put an end to hunger and material poverty for all time. And Angier can think of no better use for it than a stage-magic act.

Line 171:

** But why won't Tesla make use of the technology, especially since his lab was just destroyed by [[Thomas Edison|Edison]]'s goons? He considers it an abomination, even though it could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. Factories would be unnecessary. You would just need to make 1 of everything and then keep copying it, as long as you have enough power.

*** So the machine - if available everywhere - would actually create something akin to a post-scarcity economy (endlessly replicating fuel would create endless power) and change society beyond recognition in ways we still find hard to fathom. If enough people had the machines, Tesla wouldn't even really be "rich" in our sense of the word.

* [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in ''[[Back To The Beach]]'' where Bob Denver -- clearly playing [[~~Gilligans~~ Island|Gilligan]] -- is working as a bartender, and complains to a customer about being stranded on a deserted island with a guy so smart he could make a nuclear reactor out of a couple of coconuts... but who couldn't fix a two-foot hole in a boat.

* [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in ''[[Back To The Beach]]'' where Bob Denver -- clearly playing [[Gilligan's Island|Gilligan]] -- is working as a bartender, and complains to a customer about being stranded on a deserted island with a guy so smart he could make a nuclear reactor out of a couple of coconuts... but who couldn't fix a two-foot hole in a boat.

* The ''[[Men in Black (~~Film~~)|Men in Black]]'' possess enormous amount of confiscated advanced technology. While they ''do'' release some of the technology to the public, holding the patents on numerous alien technologies sold to the public -- velcro, microwave ovens and CDs, to name a few -- they are doing great deal of constant memory erasing to hide alien existence to avoid possible panic.

* The ''[[Men in Black (film)|Men in Black]]'' possess enormous amount of confiscated advanced technology. While they ''do'' release some of the technology to the public, holding the patents on numerous alien technologies sold to the public -- velcro, microwave ovens and CDs, to name a few -- they are doing great deal of constant memory erasing to hide alien existence to avoid possible panic.

* In ''[[Star Trek (~~Film~~)|Star Trek]]'', Scotty (with a little help from the future) quickly modifies a transporter so it can send people across vast interstellar distances. This is used, of course, to get Scotty and Kirk onto the Enterprise (which has been travelling away from their starting point for hours at [[Faster-Than-Light Travel|high warp speeds]]). So the transporter modification is used to resolve a dramatic point in the plot, but no-one seems to realise it could also be used for [[Casual Interstellar Travel|mundane travel between star systems]].

* In ''[[Star Trek (film)|Star Trek]]'', Scotty (with a little help from the future) quickly modifies a transporter so it can send people across vast interstellar distances. This is used, of course, to get Scotty and Kirk onto the Enterprise (which has been travelling away from their starting point for hours at [[Faster-Than-Light Travel|high warp speeds]]). So the transporter modification is used to resolve a dramatic point in the plot, but no-one seems to realise it could also be used for [[Casual Interstellar Travel|mundane travel between star systems]].

** In ''[[Star Trek Insurrection]]'', [[Perfect Pacifist People|the]] [[Space Amish|Bak'u]] had discovered and settled down on a planet with incredible rejuvenating powers, but rather than considering sharing it, they keep it for themselves for... some reason. To many, this [[Designated Hero|makes them look more unsympathetic]] than [[Designated Villain|Starfleet Admiral Dougherty and the Son'a]], who ''are'' planning on bringing these powers to billions of people.

** In ''[[Star Trek: Insurrection]]'', [[Perfect Pacifist People|the]] [[Space Amish|Bak'u]] had discovered and settled down on a planet with incredible rejuvenating powers, but rather than considering sharing it, they keep it for themselves for... some reason. To many, this [[Designated Hero|makes them look more unsympathetic]] than [[Designated Villain|Starfleet Admiral Dougherty and the Son'a]], who ''are'' planning on bringing these powers to billions of people.

* In ''[[Flubber]]'', the [[Robin Williams]] remake of ''[[The Absent Minded Professor]]'', Professor Braniard (Williams) has to come up with some sort of scientific breakthrough to secure enough funding to keep his college solvent. If only he had some sort of supertech available to show potential investors... like a flying, self-aware [[Robot Buddy]]. Oh, wait... Seriously, the patents on whatever lets Weebo fly around would secure funding for the next decade, let alone true [[Artificial Intelligence|A.I.]] But he ignores that expediency in search of the eponymous Flubber.

** Justified as Brainard remarks that her creation was a "[[No Plans, No Prototype, No Backup|happy accident]]" he couldn't replicate. There is a back-up, but it was made by Weebo and promptly hidden from the professor.

* In her review of ''[[Teen Witch (~~Film~~)|Teen Witch]]'', [[The Nostalgia Chick]] points out Louise could use her magic powers to fix the world but instead uses it on petty gain.

* In her review of ''[[Teen Witch (film)|Teen Witch]]'', [[The Nostalgia Chick]] points out Louise could use her magic powers to fix the world but instead uses it on petty gain.

* In [[Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas|Raoul]] [[That Guy With ~~the~~ Glasses|Puke's]] review of ''[[~~Were~~ Back a ~~Dinosaurs~~ Story]]'', Puke has this to say:

* In [[Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas|Raoul]] [[That Guy With The Glasses|Puke's]] review of ''[[We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story]]'', Puke has this to say:

{{quote| '''Raoul Puke''': So the Neweyes fart tells them that he can use the time machine to travel back in time to grant the wishes of all the children of the world. I would have used it to stop 9/11... unethical jackass. I mean, the Kennedy assassination? The bombing of Pearl Harbor? Really? None of these are more important than entertaining whiny little bastard children? Well, while you're taking requests, [[Godwin's Law|here's a kid named Hitler]]. He just wants to start his own Third Reich and bring joy and happiness to the world. Why don't you grant him that wish? Huh? HUH?}}

* ''[[Charlie and ~~The~~ Chocolate Factory (~~Film~~)|Charlie and The Chocolate Factory]]'': Willy Wonka can make an entire meal come out of gum, an ice cream that stays cold and doesn't melt in the sun, build a chocolate palace without a metal framework, teleport things into TV screens, and has anti-gravity technology - yet he only applies his know-how to candy. [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] by Mike Teavee in the 2005 movie: "Don't you realize what you've invented? It's a teleporter! It's the most important invention in the world! And all you think about is ''chocolate''!"

* ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|Charlie and The Chocolate Factory]]'': Willy Wonka can make an entire meal come out of gum, an ice cream that stays cold and doesn't melt in the sun, build a chocolate palace without a metal framework, teleport things into TV screens, and has anti-gravity technology - yet he only applies his know-how to candy. [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] by Mike Teavee in the 2005 movie: "Don't you realize what you've invented? It's a teleporter! It's the most important invention in the world! And all you think about is ''chocolate''!"

* [[Scooby Doo]] and the Cyber Chase has a plot built around a couple of these moments.

** The gang goes to visit a friend who has made a video game based off their adventures only for them to discover that he has invented a laser that can digitize and rebuild matter (ala [[Tron]]) but instead of testing it as a possibility to solve world problems like hunger or extended/more efficient space travel he store real items in his game for lazy coding; {{spoiler|And eventually Mystery Inc. is transported in and out as well showing that even living things could be moved over great distances.}}

Line 188:

* Averted in ''[[The Incredibles]]'', where [[Big Bad|Syndrome's]] evil plot is to sell his inventions to the public, thus making super-powered beings obsolete.

** He also says he's made his fortune already selling some of his inventions.

* In defence of the ''[[Transformers (~~Film~~)|Transformers]]'' series, Optimus Prime says explicitly that [[You Are Not Ready|humanity is not ready]] for the Autobots' advanced ''weaponry''. The same is ''not'' said about the Autobots' ''other'' significant technologies, such as (apparently) FTL travel, mindblowingly advanced computer miniaturisation, robotics, and fabrication. This is particularly egregious since in the first film Simmonds ''expressly'' says that ''much of humanity's'' best 20th century technologies -- from the CD player to the microwave to the internal combustion engine -- derives from what they learned studying a trapped and ''unconscious'' Transformer. Imagine how far they could have pushed if they had a consenting friendly one around to fill in the gaps.

* In defence of the ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'' series, Optimus Prime says explicitly that [[You Are Not Ready|humanity is not ready]] for the Autobots' advanced ''weaponry''. The same is ''not'' said about the Autobots' ''other'' significant technologies, such as (apparently) FTL travel, mindblowingly advanced computer miniaturisation, robotics, and fabrication. This is particularly egregious since in the first film Simmonds ''expressly'' says that ''much of humanity's'' best 20th century technologies -- from the CD player to the microwave to the internal combustion engine -- derives from what they learned studying a trapped and ''unconscious'' Transformer. Imagine how far they could have pushed if they had a consenting friendly one around to fill in the gaps.

** In the prequel comics (of arguable canonicity), it's revealed that there are hostile alien races out there that were able to threaten ''Cybertronians''. Naturally, Optimus would rather humans avoid going out there before they're ready to defend themselves.

** There is also a non-canonic novel that actually has the US launch an advanced spacecraft based on Megatron's tech simultaneously with Apollo 11. While Armstrong is busy crawling to the Moon, the other spacecraft accidentally discovers a wormhole and is sent halfway across the galaxy. {{spoiler|They don't make it back, though}}.

Line 195:

** In the sequel short, he proceeds to {{spoiler|sell all his evil inventions at a garage sale}}.

* [http://www.cracked.com/video_18175_why-batman-secretly-terrible-gotham.html This video] by [[Cracked]] Dan, Katie, Michael and Soren not only made a case of batman’s [[Superhero Paradox]], but implies that Bruce Wayne Is Useless Too: In all his comics, animated and movie incarnations, he is an entrepreneur who is part of Fiction500. If he really wanted to stop crime, he could have tried to boost Gotham’s economy and then crime would naturally fall. They remember the monorail that Bruce’s father built (and Batman himself destroyed) in Batman Begins and the [[Sinister Surveillance]] implemented to stop Joker in [[The Dark Knight]]. They compare Bruce Wayne to an Enron [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]] that is using the corporation’s winnings to finance his hobbies (fight crime in his own terms).

* The premise for [[Batman ~~the~~ Movie]] and [[Batman (TV)|the Batman TV Series]] is that that incarnation of Batman only is useful to fight supervillains (and nothing more). At the end of the movie, Batman quickly refuses Robin's idea to better the world by making a [[Freaky Friday Flip]] with the United World Organization security council, arguing that they shouldn't try to tamper with the laws of mother nature. Then happens exactly that, (but arguably, the [[Status Quo Is God]] still applies) and Batman takes responsibility just before going out inconspicuously throught the window.

* The premise for [[Batman: The Movie]] and [[Batman (TV series)|the Batman TV Series]] is that that incarnation of Batman only is useful to fight supervillains (and nothing more). At the end of the movie, Batman quickly refuses Robin's idea to better the world by making a [[Freaky Friday Flip]] with the United World Organization security council, arguing that they shouldn't try to tamper with the laws of mother nature. Then happens exactly that, (but arguably, the [[Status Quo Is God]] still applies) and Batman takes responsibility just before going out inconspicuously throught the window.

{{quote| '''Batman''': Who knows, Robin? This strange mixing of minds may be the greatest single service ever performed for humanity! Let's go, but, inconspicuously, through the window. We'll use our Batropes. Our job is finished. }}

* In the movie ''[[Dungeon Master]]'', the main character has invented a pair of glasses that can control numerous electronic devices such as traffic lights, and ATM machines. He doesn't bother to market the invention, and remains stuck as a low-paid IT assistant.

Line 202:

== Literature ==

* The ''[[Tortall Universe]]'' series, where it is noted that, should Numair want to put out a candle, he would have to do so with his fingers or a snuffer because using his Gift would cause it to explode, making his range of use slightly limited.

* In the ''[[Harry Potter (~~Literature~~)|Harry Potter]]'' novels, the Ministry of Magic keeps the existence of wizards secret from [[Muggles]] because, as Hagrid puts it, "They might want magical solutions to their problems." It never seems to occur to any wizard to ask, "Well, why not?" In the Muggle world, wizards could become simply one more category of useful, respected, highly-paid professionals... Of course, it could go horribly wrong. The prejudice against so-called "witches" -- that for some reason ''still infests the real world'' -- shows how badly that could go.

* In the ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]'' novels, the Ministry of Magic keeps the existence of wizards secret from [[Muggles]] because, as Hagrid puts it, "They might want magical solutions to their problems." It never seems to occur to any wizard to ask, "Well, why not?" In the Muggle world, wizards could become simply one more category of useful, respected, highly-paid professionals... Of course, it could go horribly wrong. The prejudice against so-called "witches" -- that for some reason ''still infests the real world'' -- shows how badly that could go.

** While their desire to be left alone is understandable, they are being rather selfish in withholding things that, while relatively common for them, could solve most of the world's problems. Some examples: healing magic that can cure most diseases and regenerate limbs, spells capable of multiplying the world's food and natural resources, fuel-independent means of transportation... just imagine if all that were available to the general public.

** [[Word of God]] has said that this explanation is just the wizards lying to themselves; they had lived openly amongst ''muggles'' for most of history without any trouble. They only went into hiding because, in a wand vs. shotgun fight, you should bet on the shotgun.

Line 220:

** The great danger in ''Final Watch'' is a group of Others hiring human mercenaries and giving them enchanted weapons. Anton is a Light mage Beyond Categories (i.e. extremely powerful). Even he is powerless when a merc is aiming a submachinegun at him with bullets that kill anything up to three [[Magical Dimension|Gloom]] levels. The only thing that saves him is {{spoiler|a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] by a female werewolf, a Dark Other}}. Also, the same Others start using top-of-the-line human weapons like remote-controlled turrets to take out powerful Others.

** The Others also don't shun human technology. Oftentimes, they live just like regular people, owning houses and apartments with all the appropriate amenities. They drive cars and fly on planes. Even those who are hundreds of years old have no trouble adapting. Anton's original job within the Moscow Night Watch was in the IT department. Field work is a recent promotion. One of the stories even mentions that Others' customs have scanners that can detect a low-level magical "passport" of sorts.

* On the ''[[Discworld]]'', Lord Vetinari keeps Leonard of Quirm under lock and key for the express purpose of ensuring that Reed Richards Remains Useless. It also helps that inventors like Urn realize that they're better off being useless, and that the magical equivalents of things like movies, rock and roll, and guns are [[Powered By a Forsaken Child|powered by evil or destructive forces.]]

* On the ''[[Discworld]]'', Lord Vetinari keeps Leonard of Quirm under lock and key for the express purpose of ensuring that Reed Richards Remains Useless. It also helps that inventors like Urn realize that they're better off being useless, and that the magical equivalents of things like movies, rock and roll, and guns are [[Powered by a Forsaken Child|powered by evil or destructive forces.]]

* Similarly, from [[Terry Pratchett|Pratchett]] and [[Neil Gaiman|Gaiman]]'s ''[[~~Good Omens (Literature)|~~Good Omens]]'':

* Similarly, from [[Terry Pratchett|Pratchett]] and [[Neil Gaiman|Gaiman]]'s ''[[Good Omens]]'':

{{quote| "Think of all the things you could do! Good things!"<br />

"Like what?" said {{spoiler|Adam}} suspiciously.<br />

Line 230:

* The main character of ''[[The Witches of Bailiwick]]'' controls weather, noted as a perfect example of [[Reed Richards Is Useless]] at the top of this page. Even stranger, the protagonist's weather control ability is ''always'' treated as mundane and relatively useless.

* At the end of the ''[[Wild Cards]]'' novel ''Suicide Kings'', Mark Meadows decides to start defying this trope by devoting his pharmacological genius to curing disease rather than continuing to turn himself into a superpowered [[Knight Templar]].

* Attempted in the [[Roald Dahl]] story ''[[~~Georges~~ Marvelous Medicine]]'' where the titular character ''does'' somehow come up with a medicine that increases the size of livestock that could in theory end world hunger. However, he never knew the recipe for the medicine, since he made it out of dozens of random items by pure accident, and all his attempts to recreate it result in increasingly bizarre results.

* Attempted in the [[Roald Dahl]] story ''[[George's Marvelous Medicine]]'' where the titular character ''does'' somehow come up with a medicine that increases the size of livestock that could in theory end world hunger. However, he never knew the recipe for the medicine, since he made it out of dozens of random items by pure accident, and all his attempts to recreate it result in increasingly bizarre results.

* In ''[[Wearing the Cape]]'', Verne-types (gadgeteers) are superhumans whose power is the ability to create Weird Science stuff, like powersuits and antigravity pods--but only for themselves; nothing can be mass-produced from the designs and formulas they create.

== Live Action TV ==

* Magician scientist Zelda Spellman from ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch (TV)|Sabrina the Teenage Witch]]'' tried to make a machine that would somehow, using de-ionization and ''the Hanta virus,'' to process dirt into edible protein pellets and end the suffering of millions. When the first prototype blew up she became frustrated and quit trying, blaming her disinterest on a lack of electricity in the poorest areas... Yeah, right.

* Magician scientist Zelda Spellman from ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch (TV series)|Sabrina the Teenage Witch]]'' tried to make a machine that would somehow, using de-ionization and ''the Hanta virus,'' to process dirt into edible protein pellets and end the suffering of millions. When the first prototype blew up she became frustrated and quit trying, blaming her disinterest on a lack of electricity in the poorest areas... Yeah, right.

** Played with in one episode where Mr Kraft buys a magic box that he discovers can copy items. He uses it to duplicate his gold bars and wonders whether it can be used for other resources as well, then promptly forgets about it.

* To name just a few of a hundred examples from ''[[The 4400]]'':

Line 252:

** The same goes for the [[Deflector Shields|force field]] technology demonstrated in one episode. Justified, as it is designed to be a missile shield and, so far, only works in a highly-ionized atmosphere (i.e. a thunderstorm), which can't be created on demand.

*** Strange that a medical doctor appears to be an [[Omnidisciplinary Scientist|expert on particle physics]] as well.

* In ''[[Heroes (TV)|Heroes]]'', the [[Healing Factor]] is so powerful and so intrinsic to an individual's cells that a single blood transfusion is shown to be able to cure a ''bullet wound to the head''. There are currently three main characters possessing this power (although admittedly one of them is a sociopath), yet neither them nor anyone else has even considered that they could literally save thousands of lives ''every single day'' with nothing more than a needle, a tube, and a constant supply of plastic bags.

* In ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'', the [[Healing Factor]] is so powerful and so intrinsic to an individual's cells that a single blood transfusion is shown to be able to cure a ''bullet wound to the head''. There are currently three main characters possessing this power (although admittedly one of them is a sociopath), yet neither them nor anyone else has even considered that they could literally save thousands of lives ''every single day'' with nothing more than a needle, a tube, and a constant supply of plastic bags.

** Claire at one point ''wants'' to use her power for just this purpose, but is convinced otherwise by her father. Remember, Them What Have Powers in the ''Heroes'' universe have good reason for remaining incognito, and such activity would attract dire attention.

** During the eclipse, Claire started dying because of an extremely large buildup of bacteria and viruses. Apparently, her powers prevent her from getting sick, but the high concentration of bacteria and such would certainly show up in any blood she donates, even if it wouldn't harm the recipient.

Line 264:

* As mentioned in the page intro, ''[[Star Trek]]'' is rife with missed opportunities and blindness regarding the application of the technology available. There usually end up being more rationalizations and justifications as to why something '''doesn't''' do something useful than techo-babble about how it works in the first place.

** The original series had an episode involving a plant that could cure any disease, and regrow severed limbs. The plant was conveniently forgotten in all future episodes.

** In the ''[[Star Trek ~~the~~ Next Generation]]'' episode "Rascals", they accidentally discover the secret of eternal life (by turning four crewmembers into children via the [[Transporters and Teleporters|transporter]], while they still retain their memory). No one ever tries to find out how that worked.

** In the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode "Rascals", they accidentally discover the secret of eternal life (by turning four crewmembers into children via the [[Transporters and Teleporters|transporter]], while they still retain their memory). No one ever tries to find out how that worked.

*** This also occurred in the second season episode "Unnatural Selection". After being artificially aged, the crew is able to revert Dr. Pulaski to her normal age using a DNA sample and the transporter. Ironically, earlier in the episode as she was experiencing accelerated aging, she commented that she was getting a better understanding of Geriatrics. Considering that they seem to have found a cure for old age this new understanding ought to be irrelevant.

*** Although transporters can filter out pathogens and other substances, they seem unable to filter out Borg spyware implanted on people being beamed aboard the Enterprise along with unknown contaminants.

** In literally dozens of episodes over the course of the many series, there have been face-to-face hostage situations with the good guys carrying sidearms that will [[Stun Guns|safely and (mostly) reliably (almost) instantly render unconscious any number of targets]]. Yet the option of simply hosing down the entire situation, victim and aggressor together, and sorting it out when everything's safe isn't even discussed. ''[[Star Trek Enterprise]]'' thankfully averted this by having Reed just shoot T'Pol and the guy holding her hostage in one episode.

** In literally dozens of episodes over the course of the many series, there have been face-to-face hostage situations with the good guys carrying sidearms that will [[Stun Guns|safely and (mostly) reliably (almost) instantly render unconscious any number of targets]]. Yet the option of simply hosing down the entire situation, victim and aggressor together, and sorting it out when everything's safe isn't even discussed. ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' thankfully averted this by having Reed just shoot T'Pol and the guy holding her hostage in one episode.

*** Phaser technology regresses considerably over the course of the various ''Star Trek'' series. In the original series it was shown that a handheld phaser could be used to flood an entire room with a stun field. The ship could even stun an entire city block from orbit. In later series the phasers gradually seemed to first become limited to absolutely specific narrow beams that had to hit individual targets, and then further on large phaser rifles appeared to be only capable of firing little bursts of energy. They only seem to remember wide beams when they want to tunnel through rock.

*** Versions of the 'stun everyone' tactic have been used in real life hostage situations, for instance in the [[wikipedia:Moscow theater hostage crisis/|2002 Moscow hostage crisis]].

** Time travel seems to be a side effect of [[Faster-Than-Light Travel|Warp Drive technology]] under special but not uncommon conditions, all the way "back" to the [[Star Trek Enterprise|chronologically-first series]] having an entire story arc based around time travel. Yet every time it's encountered, it comes as a complete surprise to the characters in question, with a "How is this ''possible''?" attitude, instead of a more-expected "Oh no, not ''again!''" There's [[wikipedia:Category:Star Trek time travel episodes|no less than 41]] episodes that deal with time travel in some way, which indicates that the average Starfleet crew probably runs across an incident of time travel a couple of times per year.

** Time travel seems to be a side effect of [[Faster-Than-Light Travel|Warp Drive technology]] under special but not uncommon conditions, all the way "back" to the [[Star Trek: Enterprise|chronologically-first series]] having an entire story arc based around time travel. Yet every time it's encountered, it comes as a complete surprise to the characters in question, with a "How is this ''possible''?" attitude, instead of a more-expected "Oh no, not ''again!''" There's [[wikipedia:Category:Star Trek time travel episodes|no less than 41]] episodes that deal with time travel in some way, which indicates that the average Starfleet crew probably runs across an incident of time travel a couple of times per year.

*** [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in [[Deep Space Nine|Trials and Tribble-ations]] (in the novelization, at least), which has a dedicated branch of Starfleet/the Federation to clean up the mess left by all the time travel and other weird incidents. They complain about having to deal with an inordinate amount from the crew of the ''Enterprise''...

** Geordi LaForge's visor: Geordi claimed to have been blind since birth and everything including cloned implants has been a failure. He also claims that the VISOR causes intense pain but he will not take drugs to dull the pain because "It would affect how these work". However, the ''Star Trek'' Universe has proven able to cure just about every current illness, let alone alien diseases. This includes genetically correcting deformities prior to birth. This anomaly, of course, is retained so that Geordi can act as a role model for the physically challenged. Geordi did eventually get some nice robot eyes in the movies, though.

Line 276:

** Replicator technology. Every sophont and his dog seems to get it shortly after developing warp drive (it's a logical spin-off from [[Teleporters and Transporters|transporter technology]], after all), and yet there are still traders who deal in small, easily portable, ''mass-produced'' items (which were probably made in a replicator in the first place). Artwork and particularly obscure substances/items a replicator can't (currently) produce make sense as trade goods, as do items too large to be produced by one, but given the ubiquity of replicators, the only reason that trading [[Deep Space Nine|self-sealing stem bolts]] makes any sense is because the writers want a point of familiarity.

*** Strangely, this technology is conspicuously absent for most of the races in the Delta Quadrant, except for the most advanced (like the [[The Virus|Borg]] and the [[Lizard Folk|Voth]]).

** Interactions with the [[Mirror Universe]] tend to occur under anomalous conditions, and traveling back from whence one came is usually a matter of [[No Ontological Inertia|reversing a problem]]. However, one episode of ''[[Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'' sees Mirror!O'Brien abducting and returning Sisko to and from his universe, seemingly completely at will. Since this is possible, this poses the questions of why no regular avenue of transit is established between the two universes, and why the regular universe does not see an inundation of Mirror Universe refugees (given the [[Slave Race]] status of humans there).

** Interactions with the [[Mirror Universe]] tend to occur under anomalous conditions, and traveling back from whence one came is usually a matter of [[No Ontological Inertia|reversing a problem]]. However, one episode of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' sees Mirror!O'Brien abducting and returning Sisko to and from his universe, seemingly completely at will. Since this is possible, this poses the questions of why no regular avenue of transit is established between the two universes, and why the regular universe does not see an inundation of Mirror Universe refugees (given the [[Slave Race]] status of humans there).

* In ''[[Power Rangers]]'', humanity made [[First Contact]] in ''[[Power Rangers in Space]]'', fielded an interstellar colony in ''[[Power Rangers Lost Galaxy]]'', and mastered Ranger technology by ''[[Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue]]'', with giant robots, plasma weaponry, and miniaturized antigravity backing it up. State universities offer courses in Galactic History and Mythology. And civilian technology remains exactly the same as real life, down to the four-wheeled road-bound fossil-fuel-powered internal-combustion-engine driven cars. Then again, it's implied that Ranger tech has a massive energy cost; outside of the supernatural power sources that most Rangers use you'd need the output of a nuclear power plant or more (like the megareactors seen in ''In Space'' and ''Lightspeed Rescue'') just to field a five- or six-man team.

* Invoked in a later episode of ''[[~~Charmed (TV)|~~Charmed]]'', when Paige's newest romantic interest discovers the fact that she's a witch, and, upon parsing the reality that magic exists in the world, he wonders why the supposedly 'good' witches don't use their powers to better mankind. By the end of the episode, however, he understands the evil that also exists has to be held back by said witches.

* Invoked in a later episode of ''[[Charmed]]'', when Paige's newest romantic interest discovers the fact that she's a witch, and, upon parsing the reality that magic exists in the world, he wonders why the supposedly 'good' witches don't use their powers to better mankind. By the end of the episode, however, he understands the evil that also exists has to be held back by said witches.

Line 284:

* Mentioned explicitly in ''[[GURPS]]'' with the "Gadgeteer" advantage, which allows characters to invent new gadgets more easily. While Gadgeteer allows characters to make gadgets for themselves or to solve problems that arise during an adventure, in order to sell their gadgets for money (or even outfit their teammates with gadgets) they must purchase additional advantages which cost more [[Character Points]].

* This is a general rule for superhero gadgets in ''[[Hero System]]'' as well. Devices cost character points to have; while other people are allowed to borrow them once or twice, they can't keep one unless they pay the character point cost as well.

* Both averted and played straight in White Wolf's superhero deconstruction ''[[Trinity Universe (~~Tabletop Game~~)|Aberrant]]''. "Project Utopia" is dedicated to using the new superheroes for the betterment of mankind, including greening the sahara, patching the hole in the ozone layer, getting rid of pollution, inventing new technology, toppling dictators, etc. However it is also dedicated to regulating technology, especially that created by those super-beings who are hyper-intelligent, and hiding away those it deems society can't handle.

* Both averted and played straight in White Wolf's superhero deconstruction ''[[Trinity Universe (game)|Aberrant]]''. "Project Utopia" is dedicated to using the new superheroes for the betterment of mankind, including greening the sahara, patching the hole in the ozone layer, getting rid of pollution, inventing new technology, toppling dictators, etc. However it is also dedicated to regulating technology, especially that created by those super-beings who are hyper-intelligent, and hiding away those it deems society can't handle.

** Naturally, there is a thriving black market for such technology as a result; the Yakuza, and in no small way, Japan as a whole, make excellent profits that way.

** ''Aberrant'''s Player's Guide provides options for keeping "super-science" from changing things excessively; basically, provides those running games the means to enforce this trope as they see fit.

** Prequel game ''Adventure!'' also has super-science. In this case, only the Inspired, the pulp heroes of the setting (not to be confused with ''Genius'''s Inspired, below), can create super-science inventions, but plenty of them are attempting to use said inventions to change the world. By canon, they largely fail; when the supers of ''Aberrant'' arrive on the scene, the world looks much the same as it does in our timeline.

* ''[[~~Genius: The Transgression (Tabletop Game)|~~Genius: The Transgression]]'' features many of the [[Mad Scientist|Inspired]] ''trying'' to stop being useless, but it's not going well because normal humans cause Wonders to break, dissolve, or start hungering for their creator's blood.

* ''[[Genius: The Transgression]]'' features many of the [[Mad Scientist|Inspired]] ''trying'' to stop being useless, but it's not going well because normal humans cause Wonders to break, dissolve, or start hungering for their creator's blood.

** This trope was played with in the [[Old World of Darkness]]. Spectacular changes like a Universal Translator or a superpowered healing magic were certainly available to player characters, especially in [[Mage: The Ascension]]. However, they were prone to malfunction because the world was a [[World Half Empty]] running on [[Clap Your Hands If You Believe]] and humanity just didn't believe in the super-tech or old magic. Many supernaturals and human groups also had very good reasons to enforce [[The Masquerade]], and would make sure any Reed Richards who drew too much attention was discredited and then buried in a shallow grave. However, using your power to make the world subtly better was certainly possible. Running around the hospital ward curing folks like a [[Dungeons and Dragons]] cleric was right out, but having a "health spa" that believably helped assuage sicknesses was possible. The Technocratic Union from Mage, in particular, were creating super-science and trickling it out to normal humans when "reality" could handle it, averting this trope.

** The fundamental question of Genius is "what does Reed Richards think of [[Reed Richards Is Useless]]?"

Line 302:

*** There are a damn good reasons for this however. Alien technology has a tendency to drive users insane, transform them into aliens, or just plain turn out to be incompatible with humans. As for innovation, well; apart from the constant and omnipresent threat of demonic corruption, there's also the fact that Imperial technology is already Sufficiently Advanced, in accordance with Clarke's Third Law, that no one outside of the Magos of Mars have a freaking clue how they actually operate. Finally, good luck coming up with something more efficient and reliable than the technology that has been tried, tested and refined by the greatest minds of the galaxy over the last ten thousand years.

*** Averted with the Tau, who do innovate and have managed to get several worlds to peacefully join their empire/alliance by showing them all the benefits their more advanced technology would bring. Of course, the only reason they can innovate is because they are immune to demonic corruption.

* In the [[~~New World of Darkness (Tabletop Game)|~~New World of Darkness]] sourcebook ''Immortals'', this trope is justified with regard to the procedures used to keep the Patchwork People alive: the book acknowledges that these techniques would revolutionize health care across the world, but points out that they were developed through horrific experiments on unwilling subjects and require [[Human Resources|forcible extraction of necessary parts from live donors]]. The doctors who developed them are [[Genre Savvy]] enough to realize that if what they had done ever came to light, they'd be trying to outrun the [[Torches and Pitchforks]], not stopping by Stockholm to pick up their Nobels. So they prefer to keep it a secret and sell their services to the rich and immoral.

* In the [[New World of Darkness]] sourcebook ''Immortals'', this trope is justified with regard to the procedures used to keep the Patchwork People alive: the book acknowledges that these techniques would revolutionize health care across the world, but points out that they were developed through horrific experiments on unwilling subjects and require [[Human Resources|forcible extraction of necessary parts from live donors]]. The doctors who developed them are [[Genre Savvy]] enough to realize that if what they had done ever came to light, they'd be trying to outrun the [[Torches and Pitchforks]], not stopping by Stockholm to pick up their Nobels. So they prefer to keep it a secret and sell their services to the rich and immoral.

* Being a superhero RPG, [[Mutants and Masterminds]] can often turn into this. Given powers are scaled (logically enough) to value combat uses, a character could very well make 'world problem solver' a gimmick with a fairly light investment of points.

** In the first edition of the game the standard form of the Creation power could create any inanimate objects. Given the rate at which it can be used, even a low-level hero could probably have solved world hunger if he wasn't off using it to make anvils over villains heads.

Line 316:

* In ''[[Raidou Kuzunoha VS King Abaddon]]'' you can find an "element #115", which matches to the atomic number of [[wikipedia:Ununpentium|Ununpentium]] an element where all known isotopes have a half life measured in ''milliseconds'', that can stay in your items for the entire game. What do you do with this seemingly stable form of an element too short lived to research? Make swords!

** This is a [[Shout-Out]] to ''[[X-COM]]'', a game made before the element physically existed.

* In ''[[Portal (~~Video Game~~)|Portal]]'', Aperture Science developed several technologies that, with proper application, would have revolutionized the world. Just one, the portal gun, could have, in an instant, solved nearly every transportation and logistical problem on the planet, enabled [[Casual Interstellar Travel]], and incidentally made the company trillions. They also developed [[Brain Uploading]], [[AI Is a Crapshoot|true AI]], [[Hard Light]], some really amazing hardware to prevent [[Not the Fall That Kills You|injury from falling]], and a variety of other things. The only justification for why they did all this and still went bankrupt is that they were so into testing all their [[Mad Science]] inventions that they utterly failed to market them properly -- or marketed them for entirely the wrong things. It also doesn't help that they ignored even the most basic of safety standards, to the point where their facilities would have given [[No OSHA Compliance|OSHA inspectors]] a heart attack. And then, of course, they were all [[Turned Against Their Masters|killed by the AI]] that they put in charge of the facility, which happened around the same time as the [[Half Life|Combine invasion of Earth]].

* In ''[[Portal (series)|Portal]]'', Aperture Science developed several technologies that, with proper application, would have revolutionized the world. Just one, the portal gun, could have, in an instant, solved nearly every transportation and logistical problem on the planet, enabled [[Casual Interstellar Travel]], and incidentally made the company trillions. They also developed [[Brain Uploading]], [[AI Is a Crapshoot|true AI]], [[Hard Light]], some really amazing hardware to prevent [[Not the Fall That Kills You|injury from falling]], and a variety of other things. The only justification for why they did all this and still went bankrupt is that they were so into testing all their [[Mad Science]] inventions that they utterly failed to market them properly -- or marketed them for entirely the wrong things. It also doesn't help that they ignored even the most basic of safety standards, to the point where their facilities would have given [[No OSHA Compliance|OSHA inspectors]] a heart attack. And then, of course, they were all [[Turned Against Their Masters|killed by the AI]] that they put in charge of the facility, which happened around the same time as the [[Half Life|Combine invasion of Earth]].

** In summary, Aperture doesn't change the world because [[Reed Richards Is Useless|Cave Johnson is loony]].

* In almost any RPG with an onscreen plot-related death, you will have at least one healing character -- in some particularly absurd cases the majority of your party -- present who has up till now cured everything up to and including most minor forms of death, and they do precisely dick this time for some reason. Sometimes justified with whatever kind of magic killed them, but usually not. Some games actually do a better job of explaining it: a common theory is that they're not exactly dead but ''almost'' dead, or just incapacitated.

** This is true, as seen in Final Fantasy V, where one of the main characters dies on a onscreen plot-related death and the rest of the party tries to use curative spells and items on him, but they turn out to be useless, as he dies anyway. Also, many Japanese [[RPG|RPGs]] use the word "K.O.'d" or "Wounded," oddly even after being hit by a spell that says "Death."

** IIRC the original Pokemon in Japanese were "Dead" rather than K.O.ed. But this is from the series that describes a slug as hotter than the sun...

** This is not the case in many Western RPGS, however common a trope in Eastern RPGS. In [[Planescape Torment]], for example, once the protagonist [[Meaningful Name|The Nameless One]] can raise party members at the end of the very first dungeon, he can ''always'' do so if that party member hasn't been removed entirely from the game by the player. Even the plotline deaths can be undone in the [[Golden Ending]], except for the {{spoiler|Nameless One's own death and acceptance of damnation.}} Given the [[Eldritch Abomination]], [[World Half Empty]], [[The Undead]], [[The Legions of Hell]], and all the other things arrayed against The Nameless One and cohorts, this isn't a [[Game Breaker]]. It's not even a [[Disc One Nuke]].

** This is not the case in many Western RPGS, however common a trope in Eastern RPGS. In [[Planescape: Torment]], for example, once the protagonist [[Meaningful Name|The Nameless One]] can raise party members at the end of the very first dungeon, he can ''always'' do so if that party member hasn't been removed entirely from the game by the player. Even the plotline deaths can be undone in the [[Golden Ending]], except for the {{spoiler|Nameless One's own death and acceptance of damnation.}} Given the [[Eldritch Abomination]], [[World Half Empty]], [[The Undead]], [[The Legions of Hell]], and all the other things arrayed against The Nameless One and cohorts, this isn't a [[Game Breaker]]. It's not even a [[Disc One Nuke]].

** ''[[~~The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim (Video Game)|~~The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim]]'' features a quest in the Mage's College story arc where the player comes upon a dying NPC who sputters out his last words and then bites the dust. No amount of healing spells, regardless of how powerful your magical ability, will prevent his death.

** ''[[The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim]]'' features a quest in the Mage's College story arc where the player comes upon a dying NPC who sputters out his last words and then bites the dust. No amount of healing spells, regardless of how powerful your magical ability, will prevent his death.

== Web Original ==

* Justified in ''[[~~Fine Structure (Literature)|~~Fine Structure]]'', which makes this a plot point. Scientists would like to use The Script for teleportation and other discoveries, but they'll only work until the ''the fundamental laws of the universe'' are changed by Something so it can never be used again.

* Justified in ''[[Fine Structure]]'', which makes this a plot point. Scientists would like to use The Script for teleportation and other discoveries, but they'll only work until the ''the fundamental laws of the universe'' are changed by Something so it can never be used again.

* The ''[[~~SCP Foundation (Wiki)|~~SCP Foundation]]'' could have changed the world with the SCPs...[[Justified Trope|if they weren't so dangerous]] and most of those that aren't are mostly used to help containing other SCPs. And the Serpent's Hand still consider the Foundation enemies, because they do not want to improve the world with [[[SC Ps]]=].

* The ''[[SCP Foundation]]'' could have changed the world with the SCPs...[[Justified Trope|if they weren't so dangerous]] and most of those that aren't are mostly used to help containing other SCPs. And the Serpent's Hand still consider the Foundation enemies, because they do not want to improve the world with [[[SC Ps]]=].

* ''[[~~Superdickery (Website)|~~Superdickery]].com'' presents [http://www.superdickery.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=846:superman-joins-the-army the most inefficient use] of ''[[Superman]]''. "Again, couldn't he pretty much instantly win the war if he wanted to?"

* ''[[Superdickery]].com'' presents [http://www.superdickery.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=846:superman-joins-the-army the most inefficient use] of ''[[Superman]]''. "Again, couldn't he pretty much instantly win the war if he wanted to?"

* [[Chuck Norris Facts|Chuck Norris' tears can cure cancer]]. Too bad [[Reed Richards Is Useless|Chuck Norris has never cried]]. [[Do Not Taunt Cthulhu|Selfish bastard]].

Line 337:

* ''[[Girl Genius]]'' serves as a good example of why anachronistic world-reshaping technology isn't going to do anything good. An awful lot of inventions [[Mad Scientist|come from insane epiphanies]] that can't be reproduced, most of them are dangerously unstable (e.g. most things remotely self-aware [[Turned Against Their Masters|try to maim their creators]]), and many of them are built and used for the express purpose of destroying the inventions of rival mad scientists. Scientific miracles abound, but most of Europe seems to be stuck in a Dark Age most of the time. Commoners have little access to all the technological wonders but plenty of exposure to many technological horrors, and many see the Sparks as "witches" (you can't really blame them if you consider what a Spark can do), so even if Richard tried to be useful they would just give him the [[Burn the Witch]] treatment. Furthermore, [[Super Dickery|Reed Richards Is A Dick]].

** That's was stabilized only recently. Europe ended up dominated by the [[Mad Scientist]] who mostly curbed the usual [[Control Freak]] streak and got the special talent for... reverse engineering. Instead of building whole armies upon powerful, but one-gimmick inventions he found in his and others' crazy gadgets material for a few robust and mass-produceable systems and still had time for refining them. By the same token, found good use for a wild variety of monsters.

* In ''[[~~The Adventures of Dr. McNinja (Webcomic)|~~The Adventures of Dr. McNinja]]'', Dracula found the cure for cancer. He hid it on Mars. Also, he lives on the moon and has a teleporter.

* In ''[[The Adventures of Dr. McNinja]]'', Dracula found the cure for cancer. He hid it on Mars. Also, he lives on the moon and has a teleporter.

* Justified in ''[[~~Mindmistress~~]]'' -- the title heroine has the most advanced technology in the world, but is afraid that released it could change our society for the ''worse''.

* Justified in ''[[Mind Mistress]]'' -- the title heroine has the most advanced technology in the world, but is afraid that released it could change our society for the ''worse''.

** It's a good thing Louis Pasteur and Jonas Salk didn't feel this way.

*** The Universe wasn't so determined to convince them they should keep their inventions for themselves as is for her - every time she tries to improve the world [[Gone Horribly Wrong|it ends badly]]. She once took two kids as her studends, so they could revolutionize modern physics. One of them turned into [[Omnicidal Maniac]] and the other killed him and ran away. There is probably one attempt that didn't ended in something terrible and it was to [[Crazy Awesome|give bunch of chimps human intellect]]. That is, if you ignore that one who turned to murder. And [[Ax Crazy|the Elephant]].

** On the other hand, Forethought, the only person smarter that Minidmistress, is actively trying to save the humanity from [[The End of the World As We Know It|self-destructing war]] he forseen. Too bad his first idea was to create more people like him, well aware that humanity would turn on them. And lost.

** On the other hand, Forethought, the only person smarter that Minidmistress, is actively trying to save the humanity from [[The End of the World as We Know It|self-destructing war]] he forseen. Too bad his first idea was to create more people like him, well aware that humanity would turn on them. And lost.

* A side-story of ''[[~~PS 238~~]]'' explores the logical extension of this trope, with NASA outsourcing the design of their new space rocket to Herschel Clay, a metahuman [[Gadgeteer Genius]] with a love of tinkering. Problem is, by the time their own engineers have had a chance to try to comprehend his designs Clay has already found a way to improve it. In other words, they get a new design in the mail that becomes obsolete by the time they're ready to take that one off the drawing board, and so on: They simply can't keep up with his constant improvements.

* A side-story of ''[[PS238]]'' explores the logical extension of this trope, with NASA outsourcing the design of their new space rocket to Herschel Clay, a metahuman [[Gadgeteer Genius]] with a love of tinkering. Problem is, by the time their own engineers have had a chance to try to comprehend his designs Clay has already found a way to improve it. In other words, they get a new design in the mail that becomes obsolete by the time they're ready to take that one off the drawing board, and so on: They simply can't keep up with his constant improvements.

** [[~~PS 238~~]] also averts this trope with the Rainmaker Project, a section of the school where students with powers that don't lend themselves well to combat are trained on how to use them in civilian life, like a kid with the ability to turn anything into food was trained to turn things like rocks into nutritious but low calorie diet foods that tasted like high quality chocolate. It's also shown that many superhumans use their powers in a variety of ways for the civilian sector; the previously mentioned Herschel, for example, has his own company that apparently produces a large number of superscience inventions for everyday life.

** [[PS238]] also averts this trope with the Rainmaker Project, a section of the school where students with powers that don't lend themselves well to combat are trained on how to use them in civilian life, like a kid with the ability to turn anything into food was trained to turn things like rocks into nutritious but low calorie diet foods that tasted like high quality chocolate. It's also shown that many superhumans use their powers in a variety of ways for the civilian sector; the previously mentioned Herschel, for example, has his own company that apparently produces a large number of superscience inventions for everyday life.

* In alternate dimensions of ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'' the [[Plot Technology]] of the usual mad scientists ''were'' used to change the world, sometimes for the better and getting themselves canonized, sometimes just improved what might've been a [[Crapsack World|crappier-sack world]], and in the latest storyline what looks like a change for the worst. And in the main dimension of the series, it looks like Schlock is attempting to avert this by selling Riff's robot design to the Department of Defense.

** Riff gets called out on this (albeit inadvertently) by a character where Riff devoted his time and brainpower to building devices to help the disabled (among other things) rather than just building cool weapons for his own use.

* When Big Killhuna, a [[Mad Scientist]] from ''[[Super Stupor]]'', hears that his favourite writer, [[Terry Pratchett]], has Alzheimer's, he wants to help him by... building a doomsday device and threatening the world with it until all scientists on Earth agree to work towards a cure.

** Because he flunked out of "Useful Sciences 101"...

* ''[[~~Xkcd (Webcomic)|~~Xkcd]]'' [http://xkcd.com/102/ points out the problem] in the context of time machines.

* ''[[Xkcd]]'' [http://xkcd.com/102/ points out the problem] in the context of time machines.

* In the [[Whateley Universe]], there are two types of inventor mutants. The first are Devisors, who warp reality slightly to allow for physically impossible inventions, which can then never be reproduced by anyone else (or sometimes even by them) and often don't even work for other people in the case of extremely impossible stuff. Some of them sell their tech, but since only a single person can produce it, it's generally extremely expensive and supply is very limited. The second are Gadgeteers, who have a variant of psionics that allow them to intuitively understand how to make things, but can't do anything that's literally impossible. Some of them have changed the world, but apparently being good at engineering leads to being incompetent at interpersonal relations, resulting in most of them getting ripped off by the companies they sell their inventions to and either not having the resources to do any inventing, being suppressed by people who don't want the world to change because a lack of that particular technology is profitable to them, or turning evil to get back at society.

== [[Western Animation]] ==

* ''[[Batman ~~the~~ Brave And The Bold ~~(Animation)~~|Batman the Brave And The Bold]]'' has the seemingly retired, former Blue Beetle convincing the current Blue Beetle to help put the alien technology that gives him his powers to greater use via a fleet of perpetual-energy machines and robots that'll irrigate the Sahara, end world hunger and turn the world into a paradise. Of course it doesn't work out that way, but neither Batman nor the Blue Beetle stops to wonder if such a plan really wouldn't be better than just using it to beat up crooks. {{spoiler|Note that the former Blue Beetle was actually dead, this guy was an impostor, and he planned to use the robots to conquer the world.}}

* ''[[Batman: The Brave And The Bold|Batman the Brave And The Bold]]'' has the seemingly retired, former Blue Beetle convincing the current Blue Beetle to help put the alien technology that gives him his powers to greater use via a fleet of perpetual-energy machines and robots that'll irrigate the Sahara, end world hunger and turn the world into a paradise. Of course it doesn't work out that way, but neither Batman nor the Blue Beetle stops to wonder if such a plan really wouldn't be better than just using it to beat up crooks. {{spoiler|Note that the former Blue Beetle was actually dead, this guy was an impostor, and he planned to use the robots to conquer the world.}}

* In ''[[Captain Planet and ~~The~~ Planeteers]]'' the Planeteers fly around in the "Geocruiser" a smallish VTOL aircraft which was designed and built by by Gaea (who knew she had a machine shop on that island?) and is stated to run entirely on solar power and to produce no pollution whatsoever. It can apparently fly anywhere in the world in a few hours at most without ever producing a sonic boom and is so simple to control that a teenager can operate it without any training whatsoever. Yet even when one of the antagonists builds an equally impossible super-aircraft that runs on smog and makes even more smog Gaea never once considers she could do more good with her own ubertech than she could by keeping it exclusive to five self-righteous idiots who use it for nothing but getting to the next poor sap they feel like preaching to.

* In ''[[Captain Planet and the Planeteers]]'' the Planeteers fly around in the "Geocruiser" a smallish VTOL aircraft which was designed and built by by Gaea (who knew she had a machine shop on that island?) and is stated to run entirely on solar power and to produce no pollution whatsoever. It can apparently fly anywhere in the world in a few hours at most without ever producing a sonic boom and is so simple to control that a teenager can operate it without any training whatsoever. Yet even when one of the antagonists builds an equally impossible super-aircraft that runs on smog and makes even more smog Gaea never once considers she could do more good with her own ubertech than she could by keeping it exclusive to five self-righteous idiots who use it for nothing but getting to the next poor sap they feel like preaching to.

** Of course, it was gloriously subverted when Dr. Blight managed to [[Freaky Friday Flip|switch bodies with Gaia]]. While Dr. Blight began causing ecological disasters [[For the Evulz|for shits and giggles]], Gaia fought back by using Dr. Blight's inventions to reverse the damage the not-so-good Doctor was causing (which had the added bonus of teaching Gaia [[An Aesop]] about how technology can be used for good in the right hands). Needless to say, Blight was not amused. Sadly, [[Plot Technology|Blight presumably got a hold of her technology by the next ep and Gaia didn't copy any details of her invention to help clean up any future oil spills]].

* Professor Membrane of ''[[Invader Zim]]'' can more or less do what he wants, suggested throughout the series that his genius is the only thing actually sustaining what is otherwise a civilization in severe decay because it's populated entirely by morons/jackasses. He only seems to create things on the basis that they interest him, pose an intellectual challenge or that he finds it utterly flabbergasting nobody else has already solved the problem in question, and the fact that he's probably the most powerful and wealthy man in the entire world seems to mean absolutely nothing to him. He once created ''perpetual energy'', then decided not to implement it after all (which was probably a good thing, considering what the rest of humanity could have done with it).

Line 361:

** They arguably [[Averted Trope]] this trope in some ways---several of their inventions get used for "mundane" purposes, such as helping their friends or family with something. It's just they never bother trying to fix any ''big'' problems, quite possibly just because they're young and don't know about much beyond their neighborhood.

* Examples of this trope being averted in the [[DCAU]] continuity.

** In the ''[[Batman ~~the~~ Animated Series]]'' episode "Paging The Crime Doctor" Crime Boss Rupert Thorne's thugs are shown stealing futuristic looking lasers destined for a hospital.

** In the ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' episode "Paging The Crime Doctor" Crime Boss Rupert Thorne's thugs are shown stealing futuristic looking lasers destined for a hospital.

** In the pilot episode of ''[[Justice League]]'' NASA finally lands a man on Mars.

** In ''[[Justice League]]'', the immortal [[Vandal Savage]] sent a laptop containing current technology to himself, allowing him to depose Hitler, creating a present in which Savage rules the world under the Nazi banner. However, after the good guys beat him, Hitler was dethawed from [[Human Popsicle|cryogenic suspension]], putting WWII back on track. <ref> [http://jl.toonzone.net/episode12/episode12.htm According to Stan Berkowitz], part of the reason Savage's Germany was winning was because Savage directed Germany's resources and manpower toward the war, rather than genocide. So when the Justice League defeated Savage, that resulted in a timeline where WWII was fought but the Holocaust was cut short or never happened at all.</ref>

** In ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'', two Thanagarian law officers used advanced alien science to transform ancient Egypt from a barren desert into lush agricultural land when they crashed on Earth. After all, their ship was not going anywhere, so the least they could do was [[Benevolent Alien Invasion|make a nice home out of the hellish Sahara and attempt to improve the lives of the natives]]. The problem is that they only educated their people to the level of tool ''users'', never progressing to tool ''makers'' (This is, in Real Life, a critical sociological point), and the humans had no experience or training when it came to the maintenance or construction of the advanced alien technology. When the aliens themselves died, their wonderful utopia vanishes in a generation.

** Another aversion was in the episode "A Better World," where the Justice League decided to stop just being heroes and did solve all the worlds problems... by conquering the planet and being it's dictators.

* In one episode of ''[[Dungeons and Dragons (~~Animation~~)|Dungeons & Dragons]]'', Dungeon Master grants one of the adventurers his powers. The newly uber-powered member uses his power to bring forth water for the thirsty teammates. Dungeon Master responds that by using the powers to generate that water, water from another area had to be deprived.

* In one episode of ''[[Dungeons and Dragons (animation)|Dungeons & Dragons]]'', Dungeon Master grants one of the adventurers his powers. The newly uber-powered member uses his power to bring forth water for the thirsty teammates. Dungeon Master responds that by using the powers to generate that water, water from another area had to be deprived.

* On ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'', a parody of Reed Richards is shown to be a sociopathic arm of the military-industrial complex, abandoning Dr. Venture in the arctic wilderness for procrastinating and flirting with his oppressed wife; later, he withholds alien technology, needed to save the world, that was left to Venture by his father, claiming it's because Venture is not responsible enough to have it (which is a quite reasonable argument) but most likely due to him wanting all the credit. In general, there's lots of other super-science doo dads floating around in the series that the general public never gets a chance with.

** Also lampshaded on occasion: in "Tag Sale, You're It!", one of the items in the titular sale is an actual lightsaber which Rusty couldn't sell because "The Army told me they don't fight with swords, and Hasbro wasn't interested in a toy that cost $20 million in parts alone". To add insult to injury, it doesn't even work.

* On ''[[The Fairly Odd Parents]]'' Timmy is always running into issues with Da Rules, yet he never actually reads them nor wishes he knew all of them as this would save him a world of trouble and cost the writers a ton of [[Idiot Plot|plot]].

** Unlike Timmy, Chester tries doing this after he's granted Norm, the temporary ex-genie, as his fairy godparent. Of course having a [[Jackass Genie]] as a fairy godparent predictably doesn't turn out well for him. When he wishes the deserts would have enough water for everyone to drink or make the ice-caps warmer to make the penguins less chilly, he ends up flooding the deserts and <s>creating boiling pools of water</s> ''[[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|causing global warming]]''.

* In ''[[~~Xiaolin Showdown (Animation)|~~Xiaolin Showdown]]'', an item said to possess infinite power, and could solve pretty much any energy related problem, is used to power a time machine. So yeah.

* In ''[[Xiaolin Showdown]]'', an item said to possess infinite power, and could solve pretty much any energy related problem, is used to power a time machine. So yeah.

** To be fair, [[Set Right What Once Went Wrong|that could be an excellent use of the power source.]] [[You Already Changed the Past|Or]] [[Hitler's Time Travel Exemption Act|not.]] [[Make Wrong What Once Went Right|Depends on who got it.]]

* An episode of the ''[[Michel Vaillant]]'' animated series had the team participating in a special race for environmentally friendly vehicles only. Their [[Gadgeteer Genius]] mechanic builds a car that not only is pollutant free, but can actually ''hover above the ground'' via electromagnetism. Regardless of how much the thing cost, it would revolutionize transportation forever. Instead, it's used to win ''that one race and is never seen again''.

* Averted - sort of - on ''[[G.I. Joe]]'', the ''[[X-Men (~~Animation~~)|X-Men]]'' animated series, and any other cartoon where the animators realized that having soldiers or police officers carry energy weapons would let them get around the problems of having to depict bullet wounds and the [[Family-Friendly Firearms|taboo against showing realistic guns]] in American cartoons.

* Averted - sort of - on ''[[G.I. Joe]]'', the ''[[X-Men (animation)|X-Men]]'' animated series, and any other cartoon where the animators realized that having soldiers or police officers carry energy weapons would let them get around the problems of having to depict bullet wounds and the [[Family-Friendly Firearms|taboo against showing realistic guns]] in American cartoons.

* There's a retrospective inversion of this in the 1980s ''[[The Transformers (~~Animation~~)|Transformers]]'' cartoon, where the later series, set in the early 21st century, depict humanity as having energy weapons and spaceships and being on friendly terms with lots of alien species. When the ''real'' early 21st century [[I Want My Jetpack|turned out to be a bit different]], fans rationalised this as being down to the Autobots sharing their technology.

* There's a retrospective inversion of this in the 1980s ''[[The Transformers (animation)|Transformers]]'' cartoon, where the later series, set in the early 21st century, depict humanity as having energy weapons and spaceships and being on friendly terms with lots of alien species. When the ''real'' early 21st century [[I Want My Jetpack|turned out to be a bit different]], fans rationalised this as being down to the Autobots sharing their technology.

* Homer Simpson's brother Herb became rich after inventing and selling a device that translates baby talk. After that episode, the device was never seen again on ''[[The Simpsons]]''.

** In "Treehouse of Horror XVII" a meteor with some living blob crashes into the Simpsons back yard. Lisa says how humanity could possibly learn about interplanetary transportation from the creature. Homer decides that it is more important to eat the creature.

* Averted in the Young Justice cartoon, where the combined efforts of the titular characters and Lex Luthor preventing the assassination of representatives from Captain Erastz duplicates of North and South Korea lead to the two countries signing a peace treaty that can "lead to eventual unification"

* In ''[[Ben 10 Ultimate Alien]]'', the [[Cult|Flame Keeper's Circle]] wants to avert this by using alien technology to bring Earth into a golden age. Ben and the other Plumbers ''enforce'' this since introducing alien technology to a world that isn't ready for it is just a recipe for disaster. Julie tries to call out Ben (who uses a piece of powerful alien technology to make the universe a better place as a superhero) on the hypocrisy of this policy, but Ben points out that recklessly accelerating a planet's development via alien technology will usually lead to the planet's doom.

* In ''[[Ben 10: Ultimate Alien]]'', the [[Cult|Flame Keeper's Circle]] wants to avert this by using alien technology to bring Earth into a golden age. Ben and the other Plumbers ''enforce'' this since introducing alien technology to a world that isn't ready for it is just a recipe for disaster. Julie tries to call out Ben (who uses a piece of powerful alien technology to make the universe a better place as a superhero) on the hypocrisy of this policy, but Ben points out that recklessly accelerating a planet's development via alien technology will usually lead to the planet's doom.

* [[The Magic School Bus|Ms. Frizzle]] could make ludicrously large piles of money working for, say, NASA. Just for starters, her [[Magic Bus|school bus]] can travel from Earth to the Sun to Pluto and back in the space of a day, and comes stocked with spacesuits capable of withstanding the conditions on Venus.

** Also in the E/I ask the director bit afterwards they mention that this was simply done for the story.

* Averted in ''[[Recess]]'' - Gretchen comes up with something that is promptly seized and erased by the FBI.

* In ''[[~~Archies~~ Weird Mysteries]]'', Dilton invents some rather...advanced things. Why the heck he's still in a public school is ''beyond'' anyone's guess.

* In ''[[Archie's Weird Mysteries]]'', Dilton invents some rather...advanced things. Why the heck he's still in a public school is ''beyond'' anyone's guess.

Line 397:

== [[Real Life]] ==

* It's one thing to invent something. On the other hand, it's much harder to find sponsorship, do expensive safety tests, deal with any side effects, find a way to mass produce it, and be prepared for potential backlash if [[Spanner in ~~The~~ Works|something completely outside your control]] goes wrong...

* It's one thing to invent something. On the other hand, it's much harder to find sponsorship, do expensive safety tests, deal with any side effects, find a way to mass produce it, and be prepared for potential backlash if [[Spanner in the Works|something completely outside your control]] goes wrong...

* [http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Gauss.html Carl Friedrich Gauss], called "the prince of mathematics", had a habit of coming up with brilliant mathematical proofs and not publishing them. Considering the numbers of [[wikipedia:List of topics named after Carl Friedrich Gauss|things already named after Gauss]], this may be just as well.

* The sheer number of people who are not organ or tissue donors. This is mostly an issue in nations where the system for donation is opt in (where about 25% are donors) rather than opt out (where about 25% are ''not'' donors, while some opt out countries like Belgium or Austria only have 2% not being donors). Even if the DMV asks you if you want the pink dot on your license (as in California), most just automatically say no due to the way its asked and many others forget even being given the choice. Add to that that the family still gets final say and that most are too distraught at losing someone to be amenable to cutting them up.