History Main / BewareTheNiceOnes

The sweeter, gentler, more polite, [[IntroversionTropes more peaceful]], and overall [[NiceGuy nicer]] a character is, the worse it will be for whomever is in the vicinity when they're subject to one round too many of BreakTheCutie, or DudeWheresMyRespect, a RantInducingSlight, or hitting their BerserkButton or RageBreakingPoint. What was once a sweet and nice individual suddenly ''snaps'' and becomes something far worse than the BigBad could have expected.

Although any Nice One can make you wish you were never born, there are certain tropes which act as a sort of force multiplier. Check any of the following tropes to see just what is most likely in store for whomever set off the Nice One: BadassAdorable, DeathGlare (which should ''never'' be brushed off), MamaBear (or TeamMom, or PapaWolf, depending), TheQuietOne, TheSoCalledCoward, TeachHimAnger (a ''[[TooDumbToLive suicidal]]'' idea with the GentleGiant) and TranquilFury. Especially bad when dealing with a TechnicalPacifist, and even worse when dealing with an ActualPacifist (for whom this is not an unusual trait). Combine all at once and there may not ''be'' a minimum safe distance to escape their wrath.

Although any Nice One can make you wish you were never born, there are certain tropes which act as a sort of force multiplier. Check any of the following tropes to see just what is most likely in store for whomever set off the Nice One: BadassAdorable, DeathGlare (which should ''never'' be brushed off), MamaBear (or TeamMom, or PapaWolf, depending), TheQuietOne, TheSoCalledCoward, TeachHimAnger (a ''[[TooDumbToLive suicidal]]'' idea with the GentleGiant), and TranquilFury. Especially bad when dealing with a TechnicalPacifist, and even worse when dealing with an ActualPacifist (for whom this is not an unusual trait). Combine all at once and there may not ''be'' a minimum safe distance to escape their wrath.

Also compare {{Yandere}}, CuteAndPsycho, KillerRabbit, DidYouThinkICantFeel, BadassSanta.

->''"Ho ho, when the nice ones snap, it's always a good show."''
-->-- '''Moe Szyslak''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''

-->-- '''Moe''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''

->''"When the nice ones snap, it's always a good show."''

->''"There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man."''
-->-- '''Kvothe''', ''Literature/TheNameOfTheWind''

More TruthInTelevision than you think - [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_gratification deferring gratification]] with regards to expressing one's anger tends to make the end result... [[DisproportionateRetribution less than pretty]]. Also, it's generally more frightening when a more mellow person starts acting up because [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness it's so unexpected]]. Even when it's not scary, it can [[HeelRealization make a character feel great shame]], as it's when they realize they were such a {{Jerkass}}, even the nicest person they know couldn't deal with their shit anymore.

* BewareTheNiceOnes/WebComics

Cultures that have a reputation for being polite, non-confrontational, and passive-aggressive usually have a history of being very warlike in the past; think Scandinavia, Canada, Minnesota, USA & neighboring Midwest States, or Japan. These cultures developed polite, non-confrontational, passive-aggressive characteristics to keep from killing one another off; push them too far, however, and they can and will remember their heritage.

More TruthInTelevision than you think - [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_gratification deferring gratification]] with regards to expressing one's anger tends to make the end result... [[DisproportionateRetribution less than pretty]]. Also, it's generally more frightening when a more mellow person starts acting up because [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness it's so unexpected]]. Even when it's not scary, it can [[HeelRealization make a character feel great shame]], it serves as a WhatTheHellHero moment when they realize they were such a {{Jerkass}}, even the nicest person they know couldn't deal with their shit anymore.

More TruthInTelevision than you think - [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_gratification deferring gratification]] with regards to expressing one's anger tends to make the end result... [[DisproportionateRetribution less than pretty]]. Also, it's generally more frightening when a more mellow person starts acting up because [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness it's so unexpected]]. Even when it's not scary, it can [[HeelRealization make a character feel great shame]], it serves as a WhatTheHellHero moment when they realize they were such a JerkAss, even the nicest person they know couldn't deal with their shit anymore.

Cultures that have a reputation for being polite, non-confrontational, and passive-aggressive usually have a history of being very warlike in the past; think Scandinavia, Canada, Minnesota, USA & neighboring Midwest States, or Japan. These cultures developed polite, non-confrontational, passive-aggressive characteristics to keep from killing one another off; push them too far, however, and they can and will remember their heritage; also see RealLife instances of MeanCharacterNiceActor.

More TruthInTelevision than you think - [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_gratification deferring gratification]] with regards to expressing one's anger tends to make the end result... [[DisproportionateRetribution less than pretty]]. Also, it's generally more frightening when a more mellow person starts acting up because [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness it's so unexpected]].

->''"
There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man."''

->''"When one person who is hardly ever upset about something, suddenly raises their voice, the world turns upside down and seems to come to an end...it is often the quietest lamb that can have the roar of a lion."''
-->-- '''[[WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb Ferb]]''', ''Fanfic/TheSeerPhineasAndFerb''

Can also result from being repeatedly subjected to the losing end of the MiseryPoker trope when their combined traumas far outweigh any single problem another character has because of feeling like a ButtMonkey due to their very problems repeatedly being ignored.

Compare/contrast KnightTemplar. Compare BewareTheQuietOnes if they are known for their silence more than their kindness. Compare KillerRabbit for when you need to beware the ''cute'' ones. Compare BewareTheSillyOnes when they're known for clowning around. Compare SilkHidingSteel, for when you should beware the ''proper'' ones.

Cultures that have a reputation for being polite, non-confrontational, and passive-aggressive usually have a history of being very warlike in the past; think Scandinavia, Canada, Minnesota, USA & neighboring Midwest States, or Japan. These cultures developed polite, non-confrontational, passive-aggressive characteristics to keep from killing one another off; push them too far, however, and they can and will remember their heritage.

Compare {{Yandere}}, CuteAndPsycho, MamaBear, PapaWolf, KillerRabbit, DidYouThinkICantFeel, BadassSanta.

More TruthInTelevision than you think - [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_gratification deferring gratification]] with regards to expressing one's anger tends to lead to the end result being... [[DisproportionateRetribution less than pretty]]. Also, it's generally more frightening when a more mellow person starts acting up because [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness it's so unexpected]].

-->-- '''[[PhineasandFerb Ferb]]''', ''Fanfic/TheSeerPhineasAndFerb''

See also GoodIsNotSoft, when a normally nice character realizes that nice won't always get things done in a situation. They can coincide, if the realization and the outrage are triggered at the same time. An ActualPacifist subjected to the same stresses will turn into a BadassPacifist instead (unless this becomes a WhamEpisode in which pacifism is renounced.) The results are quite similar if they MaddenIntoMisanthropy, the difference being the new misanthrope isn't so much a violent dynamo as a care free {{Jerkass}}.

->''"Beware the fury of a patient man."''
-->-- '''John Dryden'''

!!Examples:

* BewareTheNiceOnes/{{Anime}}

* BewareTheNiceOnes/{{Film}}

* BewareTheNiceOnes/{{Mythology}}
* BewareTheNiceOnes/ProfessionalWrestling

Cultures that have a reputation of being polite, non-confrontational, and passive-aggressive usually have a history of being very warlike in the past; think Scandinavia, Canada, Minnesota, USA & neighboring Midwest States, or Japan. They developed this to keep from killing one another off; push them too far, however, and they can and will remember their heritage.

* BewareTheNiceOnes/WebAnimation

This is not to be confused with a character being a frumious bandersnatchInSheepsClothing (or even FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon). While the latter trope's 'nice' image is usually just a facade for their genuinely callous personality, this trope involves a genuinely nice character submitting to a rare act of malice. Repeated subjection of a nice character to this trope, though, may result in [[{{Flanderization}} Flanderizing]] them to such a degree that it's impossible to tell the difference.

Cultures that have a reputation of being polite, non-confrontational, and passive-aggressive usually have a history of being very warlike in the past; think Scandinavia, Minnesota, USA & neighboring Midwest States, or Japan. They developed this to keep from killing one another off; push them too far, however, and they can and will remember their heritage.

More TruthInTelevision than you think - [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_gratification deferring gratification]] with regards to expressing one's anger tends to lead to the end result being... [[DisproportionateRetribution less than pretty]]. Also, it's generally more frightening when a more mellow person starts acting up because it's so unexpected.

This is not to be confused with a character being a BitchInSheepsClothing (or even FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon). While the latter trope's 'nice' image is usually just a facade for their genuinely callous personality, this trope involves a genuinely nice character submitting to a rare act of malice. Repeated subjection of a nice character to this trope, though, may result in [[{{Flanderization}} Flanderizing]] them to such a degree that it's impossible to tell the difference.

Cultures that have a reputation of being polite, non-confrontational, and passive-aggressive usually have a history of being very warlike in the past; think Scandinavia (including Minnesota & neighboring Midwest States), or Japan. They developed this to keep from killing one another off; push them too far, however, and they can and will remember their heritage.