History Main / BerserkButton

-->-- '''Touko Aozaki''', ''LightNovel/KaraNoKyoukai''

[-[[caption-width-right:330:"[[ComicalOverreacting Who's little? Come here and say that to my face I dare you!"]]-]

[-[[caption-width-right:330:"[[ComicalOverreacting Who's little? Come here and say that to my face I dare you!]]!"]]-]

[-[[caption-width-right:330:"[[ComicalOverreacting Who's little? Come here and say that to my face I dare you]]!"]]-]

[-[[caption-width-right:330:"[[ComicalOverreacting Who are you calling so short that he drowned when he stepped in the creek]]?!"]]-]

If a person seems to get angry over anything and everything, they have a HairTriggerTemper. For the negative effects of hitting the Berserk Button, see YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry. For the trope's opposite, see KindnessButton. See also TraumaButton and MiseryTrigger. Compare and contrast RantInducingSlight and RageBreakingPoint, where it's a series of events that disables them from holding back anymore. If a person gets angry that other people aren't taking a (very unimportant) thing seriously, see SeriousBusiness.

[[/index]]
----

----

''This is not about anger in response to something that would reasonably enrage someone. [[DisproportionateRetribution Extreme reactions to minor provocations]] may still qualify, however. Also, this doesn't apply if the worst that happens is if the character scowls or frowns at the provocation.''

* BerserkButton/WebComics

->'''Banzai:''' Hey, who's the pig?\\
'''Pumbaa:''' Are you talking to me?\\
'''Timon:''' Uh oh, they called him a pig.\\
'''Pumbaa:''' Are you talking to ''me''?\\
'''Timon:''' You shouldn't have done that.\\
'''Pumbaa:''' ''Are you talking to'' '''''me!?'''''\\
'''Timon:''' Now they're in for it!\\
'''Pumbaa:''' ''[[Film/InTheHeatOfTheNight THEY CALL ME MR. PIG!]] ARRRGGHHHHH!!''
-->-- ''Disney/TheLionKing''

->'''Banzai''': Hey, who's the pig?
->'''Pumbaa''': Are you talking to me?
->'''Timon''': Uh oh, they called him a pig.
->'''Pumbaa''': Are you talking to ''me''?
->'''Timon''': You shouldn't have done that.
->'''Pumbaa''': ''Are you talking to'' '''''me!?'''''
->'''Timon''': Now they're in for it!
->'''Pumbaa''': ''[[Film/InTheHeatOfTheNight THEY CALL ME MR. PIG!]] ARRRGGHHHHH!!''

** BerserkButton/TrueCapitalist

* BerserkButton/{{Theater}}

** BerserkButton/{{BlazBlue}}

* BerserkButton/{{Comics}}

->'''Pumbaa''': ''THEY CALL ME MR. PIG! ARRRGGHHHHH!!''

If a person seems to get angry over anything and everything, they have a HairTriggerTemper. For the negative effects of hitting the Berserk Button, see YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry. For the trope's opposite, see KindnessButton. See also TraumaButton and MiseryTrigger. If a Berserk Button is related to the fandom, see FandomBerserkButton. Compare and contrast RantInducingSlight and RageBreakingPoint, where it's a series of events that disables them from holding back anymore. If a person gets angry that other people aren't taking a (very unimportant) thing seriously, see SeriousBusiness.

''This is not about anger in response to something that would reasonably enrage someone. [[DisproportionateRetribution Extreme reactions to minor provocations]] may still qualify, however. Also, this doesn't apply if the worst that happens is if the character scowls or frowns at the provocation. If you see such an example on the page, or were linked here by such an example, please remove it.''

If a person seems to get angry over anything and everything, they have a HairTriggerTemper. For the negative effects of hitting the Berserk Button, see YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry. For the trope's opposite, see KindnessButton. See also TraumaButton. If a Berserk Button is related to the fandom, see FandomBerserkButton. Compare and contrast RantInducingSlight and RageBreakingPoint, where it's a series of events that disables them from holding back anymore. If a person gets angry that other people aren't taking a (very unimportant) thing seriously, see SeriousBusiness.

'''This trope is not about anger in response to something that would reasonably enrage someone, like being hurt or threatened, having a loved one hurt or threatened, [[FisticuffProvokingComment being seriously insulted and disrespected]], etc -- anger in those situations is a reasonable response. ([[DisproportionateRetribution Extreme reactions to minor provocations]] may still qualify, however.) Also, Berserk Button does not apply if the worst that happens is if the character scowls or frowns at the provocation. It's "''Berserk'' Button", not "Mildly Put Out Button".''' If you see such an example on the page, or were linked here by such an example, '''please remove it'''.

'''This trope is not about anger in response to something that would reasonably enrage someone, like being hurt or threatened, having a loved one hurt or threatened, being seriously insulted and disrespected, etc -- anger in those situations is a reasonable response. ([[DisproportionateRetribution Extreme reactions to minor provocations]] may still qualify, however.) Also, Berserk Button does not apply if the worst that happens is if the character scowls or frowns at the provocation. It's "''Berserk'' Button", not "Mildly Put Out Button".''' If you see such an example on the page, or were linked here by such an example, '''please remove it'''.

->'''Pumbaa''': ''[[RuleOfThree Are you talking to]]'' '''''[[RuleOfThree me!?]]'''''

->'''Pumbaa''': ''[[PreAsskickingOneLiner THEY CALL ME MR. PIG! ARRRGGHHHHH!!]]''

.

[[quoteright:330:[[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/berserk_button_FMA_3_3156.png]]]]
[-[[caption-width-right:330:"[[ComicalOverreacting Who are you calling so short that he drowned when he stepped in the creek]]?!"]]-]
%% Image Pickin' discussion: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=ueov36bk4apgjmg4qrkktg38

->'''Banzai''': Hey, who's the pig?
->'''Pumbaa''': Are you talking to me?
->'''Timon''': Uh oh, they called him a pig.
->'''Pumbaa''': Are you talking to ''me''?
->'''Timon''': You shouldn't have done that.
->'''Pumbaa''': ''[[RuleOfThree Are you talking to]]'' '''''[[RuleOfThree me!?]]'''''
->'''Timon''': Now they're in for it!
->'''Pumbaa''': ''[[PreAsskickingOneLiner THEY CALL ME MR. PIG! ARRRGGHHHHH!!]]''
-->-- ''Disney/TheLionKing''

%% only one quote please, others can be added to the Quotes page


Some characters always get enraged when given a certain, ''minor'' trigger.

Say you're dealing with a character who seems perfectly normal. They're a [[NiceGuy nice person]]; friendly, sociable, and well-adjusted, saving stray kittens and helping old ladies cross the street on the way to their day job of working at a soup kitchen. [[BewareTheNiceOnes But then you make a mistake]]. You happen to mention in passing what you think is a fairly innocuous observation, maybe pointing out that they could stand to [[YouAreFat lose a little weight]], or is [[HeightAngst a little on the short side]], or maybe could use a girlfriend or boyfriend, or you do something that you think is no big deal in their presence, like question WhoNamesTheirKidDude. 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.

You have just pressed their Berserk Button.

The Berserk Button is one type of UsefulNotes/{{Trigger}}, where the response to a minor or generally insignificant thing is one of extreme anger. That is, engaging the trigger turns an ordinary character into TheBerserker.

In comedic works, the Berserk Button tends to be a physical feature that the character is insecure or in denial about, like their {{height|Angst}}. Animals don't seem to like having their [[IAmNotWeasel species misidentified]]. Comedic Berserk Buttons are often used to make an otherwise unflappable character lose their 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]]. Dramatic Berserk Buttons tend to be reserved for things that strike a bit too CloseToHome for a character.

If a person seems to get angry over anything and everything, they have a HairTriggerTemper. For the negative effects of hitting the Berserk Button, see YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry. For the trope's opposite, see KindnessButton. See also TraumaButton. If a Berserk Button is related to the fandom, see FandomBerserkButton. Compare and contrast RantInducingSlight and RageBreakingPoint, where it's a series of events that disables them from holding back anymore. If a person gets angry that other people aren't taking a (very unimportant) thing seriously, see SeriousBusiness.

'''This trope is not about anger in response to something that would reasonably enrage someone, like being hurt or threatened, having a loved one hurt or threatened, being seriously insulted and disrespected, etc -- anger in those situations is a reasonable response. ([[DisproportionateRetribution Extreme reactions to minor provocations]] may still qualify, however.) Also, Berserk Button does not apply if the worst that happens is if the character scowls or frowns at the provocation. It's "''Berserk'' Button", not "Mildly Put Out Button".''' If you see such an example on the page, or were linked here by such an example, '''please remove it'''.

For other related tropes, see AngerTropes, ProtectiveTropes, ObsessionTropes and PrejudiceTropes.

[[noreallife]]
----
!!Examples:

[[index]]
* BerserkButton/AnimeAndManga
* BerserkButton/{{Comics}}
* BerserkButton/FanWorks
* BerserkButton/{{Film}}
* BerserkButton/LetsPlay
* BerserkButton/{{Literature}}
* BerserkButton/LiveActionTV
* BerserkButton/ManhwaAndManhua
* BerserkButton/{{Music}}
* BerserkButton/NewMedia
* BerserkButton/ProfessionalWrestling
* BerserkButton/{{Radio}}
** BerserkButton/TrueCapitalist
* BerserkButton/TabletopGames
* BerserkButton/{{Theater}}
* BerserkButton/{{Toys}}
* BerserkButton/VideoGames
** BerserkButton/{{BlazBlue}}
* BerserkButton/WebComics
* BerserkButton/WebOriginal
** BerserkButton/YouTubePoop
* BerserkButton/WesternAnimation
[[/index]]
----

----

->''"Anyone who calls me by that name dies. That is the policy."''
-->-- '''Touko Aozaki''', ''LightNovel/KaraNoKyoukai''

In comedic works, the Berserk Button tends to be a physical feature that the character is insecure or in denial about, like their {{height|Angst}}. Animals don't seem to like having their [[IAmNotWeasel species misidentified]]. Comedic Berserk Buttons are often used to make an otherwise unflappable character lose their 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]].

Say you're dealing with a character who seems perfectly normal. They're a [[NiceGuy nice person]]; friendly, sociable, and well-adjusted, saving stray kittens and helping old ladies cross the street on the way to their day job of working at a soup kitchen. [[BewareTheNiceOnes But then you make a mistake]]. You happen to mention in passing what you think is a fairly innocuous observation, maybe pointing out that they could stand to lose a little weight, or is [[HeightAngst a little on the short side]], or maybe could use a girlfriend or boyfriend, or you do something that you think is no big deal in their presence, like question WhoNamesTheirKidDude. 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.

If a person seems to get angry over anything and everything, they have a HairTriggerTemper. For the negative effects of hitting the Berserk Button, see YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry. For the trope's opposite, see KindnessButton. See also TraumaButton. Compare and contrast RantInducingSlight and RageBreakingPoint, where it's a series of events that disables them from holding back anymore. If a person gets angry that other people aren't taking a (very unimportant) thing seriously, see SeriousBusiness.