History Main / AcceptableTargets

!This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16749697730.54005700 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.

And as is shown by the negatively portrayed groups and individuals on this index's sub-indexes, pretty much '''ANY''' person in the world is someone's possible Acceptable Target. It should also be noted that each of these groups are also someone's UnacceptableTarget. That a group is listed here does ''NOT'' automatically mean that it ''should'' be an acceptable target, nor that it should not be: most people can agree that many groups on this list are victims of [[PrejudiceTropes prejudice and undue ridicule]], while other groups may [[AssholeVictim very well deserve what they get]]. This is NOT a consensus about which groups are okay to mock but rather a list of how various media portray certain groups. Also note that examples are added by all kinds of people and for all kinds of reasons. No consensus will be expressed on these pages.

Which groups are okay to ridicule, and which ones are not? This can vary by a lot from year to year, from culture to culture, from subculture to subculture, and so on: If a group is listed here, it does ''not'' mean that the group is universally considered an acceptable target, and it most definitely doesn't mean that the group ''should'' be targeted. While these lists might contain some truly legitimate targets, they are on the most part lists of prejudice - real as well as interpreted. In fact, Acceptable Targets are nasty consequences of the stereotypes that flow in our society.

It's also worth noting that in general, [[Main/NationalStereotypes most countries have a particular part or nearby country that they mock]]. For instance, the French usually mock the Americans, while United States locals love to mock the French. The English, Canadians, Australians, and New Zealanders each persist in claiming that the other country [[BestialityIsDepraved has a tradition of sodomizing sheep]], as well as overall national bigotry. There's no particular reason for this, other than thousands of years of wars. And, of course, the fact that the sheep are apparently sluts. The sheep thing shows up between the Scots, Welsh, and northern English and in Italy between continental Italians and Sardinians, too. When in doubt, of course, one can always go for the Russians, who are still depicted as shadowy villains despite the Cold War having ended decades ago (though since the invasion of Crimea, it seems to be more or less back).

And as is shown by the huge number of groups listed on the pages below, pretty much '''ANY''' person in the world is someone's possible Acceptable Target. It should also be noted that each of these groups are also someone's UnacceptableTarget. That a group is listed here does ''NOT'' automatically mean that it ''should'' be an acceptable target, nor that it should not be: most people can agree that many groups on this list are victims of [[PrejudiceTropes prejudice and undue ridicule]], while other groups may [[AssholeVictim very well deserve what they get]]. This is NOT a consensus about which groups are okay to mock but rather a list of how various media portray certain groups. Also note that examples are added by all kinds of people and for all kinds of reasons. No consensus will be expressed on these pages.

!!Sub-tropes:
[[index]]
* AcceptableEthnicTargets: Mockery of [[NationalStereotypes ethnic/national/racial groups]], or certain aspects of one's physical appearance or other inborn qualities.
* AcceptableHardLuckTargets: Mockery of [[ButtMonkey people who tend to have very unfortunate lives]].
* AcceptableHobbyTargets: Mockery of [[HobbyAndPastimeTropes personal hobbies, interests, and pastimes]], especially those outside the social norm.
* AcceptablePoliticalTargets: Mockery of [[StrawPolitical political ideologies, social movements, and activists or politicians]] that one disagrees with.
* AcceptableProfessionalTargets: Mockery of [[OccupationTropes certain careers, jobs, occupations, and professions]] that many people feel contempt for.
* AcceptableReligiousTargets: Mockery of [[ReligiousStereotype people who hold specific types of religious beliefs]] (or lack of them).
* OnceAcceptableTargets: While they were [[ValuesDissonance frequently mocked in the past]], you'd need a time machine to get away with mocking them again.
* UnacceptableTargets: Pretty much the [[InvertedTrope inversion of this trope]]. If you try to mock these people, you'll suffer their wrath and massive public backlash.
[[/index]]

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* OnceAcceptableTargets: [[ValuesDissonance While they were frequently mocked in the past]], you'd need a time machine to get away with mocking them again.
* UnacceptableTargets: Pretty much the {{inversion}} of this trope. If you try to mock these people, you'll suffer their wrath and massive public backlash.

* AcceptableEthnicTargets: Mockery of physical appearance or other inborn qualities.
* AcceptableHardLuckTargets: Mockery of people who tend to play the ButtMonkey.
* AcceptableHobbyTargets: Mockery of... well, hobbies.
* AcceptablePoliticalTargets: Mockery of political entities, be they established groups or types of individuals.
* AcceptableProfessionalTargets: Mockery of doing what you have to do every day in order to keep on living.
* AcceptableReligiousTargets: Mockery of spiritual/religious (or non-religious) beliefs and who they do or don't worship.
* OnceAcceptableTargets: You'd need a time machine to get away with mocking these groups.
* UnacceptableTargets: If you try to mock these groups, you'll incur their wrath and backlash.

It's also worth noting that in general, [[Main/NationalStereotypes most countries have a particular part or nearby country that they mock]]. For instance, the French usually mock the Americans, while United States locals love to mock the French. The English, Canadians, Australians, and New Zealanders each persist in claiming that the other country [[BestialityIsDepraved has a tradition of sodomizing sheep]], as well as overall national bigotry. There's no particular reason for this, other than thousands of years of wars. And, of course, the fact that the sheep are apparently sluts. The sheep thing shows up between the Scots, Welsh, and northern English and in Italy between continental Italians and Sardinians, too. When in doubt, of course, one can always go for the Russians, who are still depicted as shadowy villains despite the Cold War having ended decades ago.

* AcceptableLifestyleTargets: A catchall category for the targets we couldn't fit anywhere else.