History Main / BullyingADragon

* In Leslie Fish's Creator/RudyardKipling-inspired FilkSong "Bashing the Balrog", a low-level adventuring party attempts to take on a balrog (basically a powerful demon that is much more suited for a much higher-level party), with [[TotalPartyKill predictable results]].

* In Leslie Fish's Creator/RudyardKipling-inspired FilkSong "Bashing the Balrog", a low-level adventuring party attempts to take on a balrog, with [[TotalPartyKill predictable results]].

TheFettered especially have it bad, because they ''choose'' not to fight back, and often protect their tormentors from the Forces of Evil. Sometimes the bully in question knows this, and we're back to them being cowards who pick on those who can't/won't retaliate.

Also see FantasticRacism. A popular FreudianExcuse and backstory for a StartOfDarkness. This [[JustForFun/TVTropesWillRuinYourVocabulary trope doesn't usually]] have anything to do with TheDragon who's the BigBad's second-in-command ([[FreudianExcuse although,]] [[StartOfDarkness it might]]). VideoGame examples where the AI keeps trying to bully you despite the power difference because it's not programmed to back down has a special trope, SuicidalOverconfidence. The CorneredRattleSnake is weaker than the 'Dragon' and may not appear powerful or willing to fight back, but can be dangerous if pushed too far.

* PaperTiger: An inversion in which the target ''looks'' powerful, but is only putting up a facade.

->'''[[TheStinger Tony:]]''' And there's [[ComicBook/IronMan one other person]] you pissed off!

Please note: the trope need not require actual bullying (though it is a popular method). As long as the provoker or provokers intentionally and excessively antagonize someone much more powerful than they are, ''knowing full well'' beforehand just what they are screwing with, then it's Bullying a Dragon. Also just because a person ''can'' beat up or kill a person doesn't mean they are evil or bad unless it's the villain (AsYouKnow, [[OffingTheAnnoyance blowing someone's head off for a minor insult]] [[DisproportionateRetribution is kind of a dick move]], although insulting them to begin with is a dicker move, so serves you right anyway). Also, if the Dragon suffers abuse ''because'' [[BewareTheSuperman they're massive jerks]], then we may be dealing with CapeBusters instead. If this trope is done with the likely outcome as the goal, it's SuicideByCop or maybe StrikeMeDownWithAllOfYourHatred.

** Act I, Scene IV. After [[DisproportionateRetribution seeing Cyrano dealt with the bore]], De Valvert mentions Cyrano nose.

* The video for Music/BulletForMyValentine's "Waking the Demon" is all about this.

* The subject of not one but ''two'' Music/JimCroce songs, "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "You Don't Mess Around With Jim". (A subversion in both cases, as the supposed tough guys [[AlwaysABiggerFish either wind up badly beaten or dead at the hands of the instigator]].)
** "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" contains multiple examples in the chorus.

This is the [[TemptingFate fate-tempting]] and [[TooDumbToLive suicidal]] tendency of characters to bully, persecute or otherwise provoke people or things they ''really'' shouldn't be messing with. That weird [[LonersAreFreaks loner]] who sits in a corner reading? [[KidsAreCruel Fine, douchebag]]. That [[WhiteMagicianGirl beautiful lady]] who can heal people? If [[HumansAreBastards you're that much of an asshole]], go for it (but keep in mind that [[LaserGuidedKarma you may find yourself in a position later where you need her to heal you]]). The [[BlindSeer blind kid]] that somehow knows what you're about to do and is powerless to stop you? [[BullyingTheDisabled Go for it]], [[{{Jerkass}} you piece of shit]]. Whatever floats your boat.

If [[BreakTheCutie the victim snaps]], they ''will'' [[WhosLaughingNow turn]] [[BewareTheNiceOnes the]] [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds tables]] (if not [[ChainsawGood turn the table into a buzzsaw]], [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning set it spinning at hurricane-level speeds]], and [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill shove their tormentors' intestines into the spinning blades]]… [[{{Metaphorgotten}} literal tables need not be involved]]). Also, don't lie. [[CatharsisFactor It is very cathartically awesome]] when the bullies are [[AssholeVictim finally]] [[KarmicDeath killed]] [[KickTheSonOfABitch off]] or subjected to a FateWorseThanDeath as [[BestServedCold Revenge]]. (And, if they have not done anything remotely objectionable up to this point, this could well be taken as a case of DarkIsNotEvil.) Unfortunately, many of the times a bully attempts to go after someone of this ilk is because they are ''trying'' to elicit a response, which, in turn, would prove everyone's point about [[IResembleThatRemark how much of a freak they truly are]]. Then again, in many cases, this makes them even stupider, as they don't seem to consider anything particularly awful happening to themselves as a result of their actions.

** ''BullyingADragon/ThePunisher''

If the [[BreakTheCutie victim snaps]], they ''will'' [[WhosLaughingNow turn]] [[BewareTheNiceOnes the]] [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds tables]] (if not [[ChainsawGood turn the table into a buzzsaw]], [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning set it spinning at hurricane-level speeds]], and [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill shove their tormentors' intestines into the spinning blades]]). Also, don't lie. It is very cathartically awesome when the bullies are finally [[AssholeVictim killed]] [[KickTheSonOfABitch off]] or subjected to a FateWorseThanDeath as [[BestServedCold Revenge]]. (And, if they have not done anything remotely objectionable up to this point, this could well be taken as a case of DarkIsNotEvil.) Unfortunately, many of the times a bully attempts to go after someone of this ilk is because they are ''trying'' to elicit a response, which in turn, would prove everyone's point about [[IResembleThatRemark how much of a freak they truly are.]] Then again, in many cases, this makes them even stupider, as they don't seem to consider anything particularly awful happening to themselves as a result of their actions.

Please note: the trope need not require actual bullying (though it is a popular method). As long as the provoker or provokers intentionally and excessively antagonize someone much more powerful than they are, ''knowing full well'' beforehand just what they are screwing with, then it's Bullying a Dragon. Also just because a person ''can'' beat up or kill a person doesn't mean they are evil or bad unless it's the villain (AsYouKnow, [[OffingTheAnnoyance blowing someone's head off for a minor insult]] [[DisproportionateRetribution is kind of a dick move although insulting them to begin with is a dicker move so serves you right anyway]]. Also, if the Dragon suffers abuse because [[BewareTheSuperman they're massive jerks]], then we may be dealing with CapeBusters instead. If this trope is done with the likely outcome as the goal, it's SuicideByCop or maybe StrikeMeDownWithAllOfYourHatred.

Also see FantasticRacism. A popular FreudianExcuse and backstory for a StartOfDarkness. This [[JustForFun/TVTropesWillRuinYourVocabulary trope doesn't usually]] have anything to do with TheDragon who's the BigBad's second-in-command ([[FreudianExcuse although,]] [[StartOfDarkness it might]]). VideoGame examples where the AI keeps trying to bully you despite the power difference because it's not programmed to back down has a special trope, SuicidalOverconfidence. The CorneredRattleSnake is weaker than the 'Dragon' and may not appear powerful or willing to fight back but can be dangerous if pushed too far.

* PaperTiger: An inversion in which the target ''looks'' powerful but is only putting up a facade.

* ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'': Although the Phantom has the previous day dropped a heavy backcloth on the Opera House's Prima Donna, the [[WhatAnIdiot managers]] still think it's be a really great idea to completely ignore his demands that Christine is cast, and instead choose a singer who is much inferior to her. The Phantom promises that "if these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur." Let's just say these aren't empty words... They do wise up by the second act, however, when the Phantom crashes the MasqueradeBall and says, in effect, "Hey, here's the score for this opera I just wrote; I think you guys will know what to do with it. Oh yeah, that FallingChandelierOfDoom a few months back? That was me ''being nice''." The managers, albeit ''very'' reluctantly, realize open defiance is not the safest of options.

* [[https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/004/126/340/10ba830ba45f9c8425b0413b628d94ce_original.png?w=680&fit=max&v=1436523407&auto=format&lossless=true&s=f991ee77fc94828877b288ef34cdfe90 Nightfall Nod]] from ''WebAnimation/MidnightMares'' who is essentially an Expy of Nightmare Moon as a teenager pony sums this trope up nicely:
-->'''Nightfall Nod:''' I get to be the bully now.

* While LetsPlay/HatFilms are fairly competent ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' players, their two efforts to harass LetsPlay/LewisBrindley and LetsPlay/{{Sjin}} at [[Machinima/YogscastMinecraftSeries the latter's farm]] have ended in failure, after [[LetsGetDangerous Lewis and Sjin decided to fight back]]. The first time ended with one of the Sirs falling to their death in a ravine, the second ended with a group of [[DemonicSpiders captive beasts]] hacking them to pieces.

->'''Tony:''' Let's do a head count here: your brother, the demi-god; the super-soldier, a living legend who kinda lives up to the legend; a man with ''breathtaking'' anger management issues; couple of master assassins — and ''you'', big fella, you've managed to piss off every single one of them.\\

-->'''Tifa''': I'm going to beat the f*ck out of you ''so badly'', your face is going to be the new bowl I eat my Tankceratops cereal out of. And yes, your blood ''will'' be the milk.

** A strange example of the trope being both played Straight and Inverted in his Final Fantasy Reviews. Spoony spends hours ranting and raving about the poor quality of the games' writing and animation, only for a Character from the game (including Special Ops soldiers, professional athletes and accomplished terrorists) to turn up in his bedroom and try to murder him with guns, gunblades, magic, blitzballs and brutal wrestling moves. Despite this, he has so far killed all of them in increasingly gory ways, but neither side seems to be taking the hint... He was defeated by The Black Knight. Though The Black Knight had no intention of killing Spoony. Just permanently annoying him.

** J. Robert Oppenheimer mocks Thanos' bizarre appearance, speaking style, abusive childhood, rejection by Mistress Death, and defeats at the hands of Iron Man and Squirrel Girl.

A SubTrope of AllOfTheOtherReindeer, where the character is surrounded by tormentors even though they are ''known'' to have some incredible power conducive to being a PersonOfMassDestruction, and most of the time ''because'' of this. This frequently crops up in KidsAreCruel (in which case it would be "Kids Are Cruel [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb And Also]] [[TooDumbToLive Too Stupid To Deserve To Exist]]"). It's usually a way of getting us to sympathize with the main character, but, really, bullies should be smart enough not to mock the "freak" CursedWithAwesome and SuperStrength. Even when logically--or at least using the basest level of human decency and the smallest inkling of self-preservation--these bullies should find a weaker target or cut the poor kid some slack. So, in a sense, [[StrawCharacter Straw Bullies]]. Then again, YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb and the {{Pride}}ful.

If the [[BreakTheCutie victim snaps]], they ''will'' [[WhosLaughingNow turn]] [[BewareTheNiceOnes the]] [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds tables]] (if not [[ChainsawGood turn the table into a buzzsaw]], [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning set it spinning at hurricane-level speeds]], and shove their tormentors' intestines into the spinning blades.) Also, don't lie. It is very cathartically awesome when the bullies are finally [[AssholeVictim killed]] [[KickTheSonOfABitch off]] or subjected to a FateWorseThanDeath as [[BestServedCold Revenge]]. (And, if they have not done anything remotely objectionable up to this point, this could well be taken as a case of DarkIsNotEvil.) Unfortunately, many of the times a bully attempts to go after someone of this ilk is because they are ''trying'' to elicit a response, which in turn, would prove everyone's point about [[IResembleThatRemark how much of a freak they truly are.]] Then again, in many cases, this makes them even stupider, as they don't seem to consider anything particularly awful happening to themselves as a result of their actions.

Please note: the trope need not require actual bullying (though it is a popular method). As long as the provoker or provokers intentionally and excessively antagonize someone much more powerful than they are, ''knowing full well'' beforehand just what they are screwing with, then it's Bullying a Dragon. Also just because a person ''can'' beat up or kill a person doesn't mean they are evil or bad unless it's the villain (AsYouKnow, [[OffingTheAnnoyance blowing someone's head off for a minor insult]] [[DisproportionateRetribution is kind of a dick move although insulting them to begin with is a dicker move so serves you right anyway]]. Also, if the Dragon suffers abuse because [[BewareTheSuperman they're massive jerks]], then we may be dealing with CapeBusters instead. If this trope is done with the likely outcome as the goal it's SuicideByCop or maybe StrikeMeDownWithAllOfYourHatred.

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This is the [[TemptingFate fate-tempting]] and [[TooDumbToLive suicidal]] tendency of characters to bully, persecute, or in some other way provoke people or things they ''really'' shouldn't be messing with. That weird [[LonersAreFreaks loner]] who sits in a corner reading? [[KidsAreCruel Fine, douchebag]]. That [[WhiteMagicianGirl beautiful lady]] who can heal people? If [[HumansAreBastards you're that much of an asshole]], go for it (but keep in mind that [[LaserGuidedKarma you may find yourself in a position later where you need her to heal you]]). The [[BlindSeer blind kid]] that somehow knows what you're about to do and is powerless to stop you? [[BullyingTheDisabled Go for it]], [[{{Jerkass}} you piece of shit]]. Whatever floats your boat.

* ComicStrip/{{Garfield}} on more than one occasion has made the mistake of picking fights with dogs who are much bigger than him, resulting in him getting severely beaten. The August 23, 1981 strip even went so far as to imply that the dog that was picked on ''ate'' Garfield.

Please note: the trope need not require actual bullying (though it is a popular method). As long as the provoker or provokers intentionally and excessively antagonize someone much more powerful than they are, ''knowing full well'' beforehand just what they are screwing with, then it's Bullying a Dragon. Also just because a person ''can'' beat up or kill a person doesn't mean they have the ''right'' to (AsYouKnow, [[OffingTheAnnoyance blowing someone's head off for a minor insult]] [[DisproportionateRetribution is kind of a dick move]]). Also, if the Dragon suffers abuse because [[BewareTheSuperman they're massive jerks]], then we may be dealing with CapeBusters instead. If this trope is done with the likely outcome as the goal it's SuicideByCop or maybe StrikeMeDownWithAllOfYourHatred.

* The subject of not one but ''two'' Music/JimCroce songs, "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "You Don't Mess Around With Jim". (A subversion in both cases, as the supposed tough guys [[NotSoHarmlessVillain either wind up badly beaten or dead at the hands of the instigator]].)

* ''Animation/RunningMan'': Charming Gold of the Pikok Tribe has his own [[ADayInTheLimelight episode]] which revealed the truth of his past. [[spoiler: Thousands of years ago, Charming Gold is bullied by the other Pikok Tribe residents for looking ugly to be called enough as a 'Monster' to them. Even his parents thought that he was cursed by the Gods, and questioned his existence while he's standing near their room. When the bully tried to mock him in the forest, Charming Gold snapped and indirectly discovered his powers by ''sucking the bully's life force until he turns into dust''. His powers grant him youth, which ables him to become near immortal. The look on his face probably shows that he knew about his powers and he has enough of the bullying]]. The shocking part is when he [[spoiler:absorbed his fellow tribe's life forces, which possibly caused a [[GenocideFromTheInside genocide]] of his own species until he's the only one left from his tribe. This became one of the reasons why he wants to rebuild a new race — because he killed them]].

Please note: the trope need not require actual bullying (though it is a popular method). As long as the provoker or provokers intentionally and excessively antagonize someone much more powerful than they are, ''knowing full well'' beforehand just what they are screwing with, then it's Bullying a Dragon. Also just because a person ''can'' beat up or kill a person doesn't mean they have the ''right'' to (AsYouKnow, [[OffingTheAnnoyance blowing someone's head off for a minor insult]] [[DisproportionateRetribution is kind of a dick move]]). Also, if the Dragon suffers abuse because [[BewareTheSuperman they're massive jerks]], then we may be dealing with CapeBusters instead. If this trope is done with the likely outcome as the goal it's SuicideByCop.

* MuggingTheMonster: If you thought ''you'' were the badass and they were an easy victim. Can evolve into BullyingADragon if you find out the hard way that you're outclassed but still [[TooDumbToLive persist in provoking further attacks]]. It can also exist simultaneously when the obviously intimidating and dangerous person is hiding something that makes them even ''more'' intimidating and dangerous.