History Main / BerserkButton

If nearly everything seems to be a person's BerserkButton, they have a HairTriggerTemper. A MotivationalLie may involve pushing this intentionally in order to produce UnstoppableRage.

You have just pressed the BerserkButton.

The BerserkButton is one type of UsefulNotes/{{Trigger}}, where the response is one of extreme anger.

In comedic works, the Berserk Button tends to be a physical feature that the character is insecure or in denial about, like his [[TheNapoleon height]]. Animals also don't seem to like having their [[IAmNotWeasel species misidentified]]. Comedic {{Berserk Button}}s are often used to make an otherwise unflappable character lose his or her cool and go off on a hilarious rant. In cartoons, you can usually tell when a Berserk Button has been hit when the character who has it turns bright red and [[BurningWithAnger steam starts shooting out their ears]].

* CantTakeCriticism: This character hates it when you point out his/her mistakes, even justifiably.
* ComicalOverreacting: The common result of hitting a BerserkButton in comedy.

* FelonyMisdemeanor: You don't want to piss off a character for doing crimes that isn't really that offensive to begin with.

* InternetBackdraft: What happens when you push an online community's BerserkButton.

* LawOfDisproportionateResponse: {{Berserk Button}}s have a tendency to be rather minor in comedy, and the response to them to be rather extreme.

* ThisIsUnforgivable: When somebody does something that pisses the character off in a certain way, s/he lets them know of this in no uncertain terms that this is [[MoralEventHorizon beyond forgiveness]] and/or even vows to make them pay for what they've done.
* UnstoppableRage: Once the BerserkButton is pushed, there's no off switch.

* ThisIsUnforgivable: When somebody does something that pisses the character off in a certain way, he/she lets it know of this in no uncertain terms and/or even vows to make them pay for what they've done.

In short, some characters almost always gets enraged when given a certain trigger.

So you're dealing with a character who seems perfectly normal. He's a {{nice guy}}; friendly, sociable, and well-adjusted, saving stray kittens and helping old ladies cross the street on the way to his day job of working at a soup kitchen.

* BerserkButton/FanFic

* CantTakeCriticism: Criticizing this character isn't such a good idea.

[[quoteright:330:[[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/berserk_button_FMA_3_3156.png]]]]

[[DescribeTopicHere Describe Berserk Button Here.]]

''How '''dare''' you say the word "here"! I HATE IT when people say that word! I'm gonna kick your ass!''

* CantTakeCriticism: Criticizing this character isn't such as good idea.

''How '''dare''' you say the word "here"! I'm gonna kick your ass!''

* PervertRevengeMode: Looking at women in a perverted manner is not a good thing whatsoever.

Contrast against CornerOfWoe, where the offended person ends up depressed instead of enraged. If nearly everything seems to be a person's BerserkButton, they have a HairTriggerTemper. A MotivationalLie may involve pushing this intentionally in order to produce UnstoppableRage.

[[caption-width-right:325:This is why people usually only call him that once. Well, except for those who REALLY want to piss him off.]]

* ThisIsUnforgivable: When somebody does something that pisses the character off in a certain way, he/she lets it know of this in no uncertain terms and vows to make them pay for what they've done.

But then you make a mistake. You happen to mention in passing what you think is a fairly innocuous observation, maybe pointing out that he could stand to lose a little weight, or is [[TheNapoleon a little on the short side]], or maybe could use a girlfriend, or you do something that you think is no big deal in their presence, like question {{who names their kid dude}}. And the character instantly goes ''ballistic'', flying into a screaming, frothing, sometimes [[BerserkerTears tearful]] UnstoppableRage, from which you will be lucky to escape with your life.

* PervertRevengeMode: Looking at men in a perverted manner is not a good thing whatsoever.

* TheNapolean: It's not polite to mock this character's short stature.