History Main / DontTouchItYouIdiot

-->'''Spongebob''': Wow! It's Dr. Man-O-War! The man who got stung by Big Lenny and lived!\\
''[cuts to a man with a very large welt on his face]''\\
'''Dr. Man-O-War''': -and now it only hurts when you touch it.\\
''[Patrick touches the welt, causing Dr. Man-O-War to cry out in pain]''\\

'''Numbuh One:''' Numbuh Five says, don’t touch anything!\\
'''Numbuh Four:''' Numbuh One says, don’t punch a thing!\\
'''Numbuh Three:''' Numbuh Four, says, try the onion rings!\\
'''Numbuh Two:''' Well, you don’t have to tell me twice!\\

* In the ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'' episode "Down the Mine", Thomas spies a "Danger" sign warning that locomotives must not proceed past it at a local mine. Naturally, he resolves get past it anyways--and when he does, he promptly falls into a mineshaft due to the ground not being strong enough to support the weight of a locomotive.

** This is a staple of fairy tales. It usually falls into two categories: The good vs. evil sibling stories and the husband and wife stories. In the former, the good child/sibling is told not to do or touch something and obeys while the wicked child/sibling does not and suffers some form of punishment. In the husband and wife stories, the protagonist (either the husband or the wife) finds a spouse through magical means and is given some sort of order, like not to hit them with iron or to sit on a rock without moving. The order is inevitably ignored or disobeyed, causing said magical spouse to be forced to leave the protagonist. In some fairy tales, the spouse is gone for good, but in others they are found again after several years of searching and trials. This kind of fairy tale goes way back to the myth of Psyche and Eros, when she was told not to look at her husband when he came to her at night.

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'', where she flips the switch BEFORE seeing the "Do Not Flip" sign. What she thought was a light switch was actually the electricity in the room that her dad's computer was in... while he was still using it.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'' episode "Down the Mine", Thomas spies a "Danger" sign warning that locomotives must not proceed past it at a local mine. Naturally, he spends most of the episode trying to get past it anyways--and when he does, he promptly falls into a mineshaft due to the ground not being strong enough to support the weight of a locomotive.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'' episode "Down the Mine", Thomas spies a "Danger" sign warning that locomotives must not proceed past it at a local mine. Naturally, he spends most of the episode trying to get past it anyways--and when he does, he promptly falls into a mineshaft due to the ground only being strong enough to support the weight of a locomotive.

[[WhoWouldBeStupidEnough Who would be stupid enough]] to [[WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong touch any of that]]? [[RuleOfDrama Fortunately for the plot]], ''plenty'' of GenreBlind characters are, all the while ignoring their [[TheCassandra companion's]] warning of "Don't touch it, you idiot!" They ''never'' listen to them. Cue the rolling boulder/erupting volcano/invasion of {{Mooks}}/release of the SealedEvilInACan/ticking [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking stink bomb]] and all their complications/a snarky "IToldYouSo."

* In the ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'' segment "Bootman", the leader of the [[SuperTeam Astounding League of Super People]] tells Johnny not to push a certain button. Johnny's response? "Aw, now I got to!"

* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0118.html Castle Self-Destruct. (Do not touch ever.) (No, not even then.)]]

* In ''Webcomic/WapsiSquare'', Bud [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/let-me-see/ warned Monica that she shouldn't touch an artifact]] because it had frightened a group of Nazis enough to make them kill each other. Naturally, Monica touched it, but not before TemptingFate. Bud expected this, and had even taken bets on whether or not Monica would touch it.
* [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in ''Webcomic/ExterminatusNow'': The MadScientistLaboratory has a BigRedButton for the SelfDestructMechanism labeled "Do Not Push". Of course, the Mobian Inquisition '''wants''' to destroy the base, so they [[http://exterminatusnow.comicgenesis.com/d/20050909.html push the button]]. It turns out that [[spoiler:it was a decoy that just set off the alarms]].
* In one ''Webcomic/{{Nodwick}}'' story (the first appearance of Baphuma'al, in fact) the heroes are hired to get a pillow from an old wizard's house. They are given these explicit instructions by their employer: "You must not disturb any objects other than the pillow, as most items are cursed, trapped, or both. Touching ''anything'' may jeopardize your mission... As well as three nearby fiefdoms, a monastery, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and a winery I am quite fond of]]." Naturally, Yeagar doesn't believe this, and convinces Nodwick to try to steal a fancy and valuable "Elysium Barcalounger"; this leads to a GoryDiscretionShot where Piffany and Arthax require a ''squeegee'' to collect their remains in order to restore them.

* ''Webcomic/{{Vexxarr}}'' does not want anyone touching his ship's fearsome and unpredictable main weapon. Unfortunately...
-->'''Vexxarr:''' Do not fix the zorp weapon. Do not touch it! Do not allow stray photons to glance off its valence cloud! If you find yourself ''thinking'' about the zorp weapon you are being far too interactive! Do I make myself clear?
-->'''Mahakalosian engineer:''' So...you're saying we should put it back?

-->'''Reverend''': Tam, how did you keep people from touching the painted wall? Every time I do I have to touch up for fingerprints.
-->'''Tam O'Shanter''': What kind of sign did you put up?
-->'''Reverend''': Just "Wet Paint: Do not touch."
-->'''Tam O'Shanter''': Oh, that's why. That's really not good enough. A 'wet paint' sign is practically an invitation saying 'please touch.' I used a stronger one.
-->'''Reverend''': What did yours say?
-->'''Tam O'Shanter''': "Notice: This wall is the edge of the Most High Shrine of God. Touching will result in irrevocable damnation for eternity."
* In a ''Webcomic/BreakingCatNews'' [[http://www.breakingcatnews.com/comic/the-new-plant-is-armed-and-dangerous/ strip]], the cats repeatedly sniff at a cactus even though this leads to the needles pricking their faces. Tommy asks if anyone has tried leaving the cactus alone, but Elvis stubbornly refuses to do so.
* Subverted in ''Webcomic/{{Digger}}'', when a mysterious man asks the wombat main character what she would do "if I gave you a box that must not be opened, ever, under any circumstances?" She promptly launches into a description of encasing it in concrete and using it as a foundation block for a long-lifespan public works project, with allowances for extra measures depending on the specifications of the box itself, without even bothering to ask why.
-->'''Trader Manuel:''' Heh heh heh. Excellent. Why did I never consider a wombat before?

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'''s Church, upon discovering that "the stupidest being in the universe" will be responsible for a prophesied apocalypse, attempts to warn the team [[TheDitz ditz]], Caboose: "Don't touch anything, don't look at anything, don't ''breathe'' on anything!" By then, though, it's already too late.

* ''Film/BabePigInTheCity'': A tag labelled "DO NOT PULL" can be seen on the back of the pants of Fugly's clown costume. During the film's climax in the ballroom, it accidentally gets pulled off by a waiter, which activates the suit's inflatable pants, which creates more problems for Esme who's forced to wear it.

** ''ComicBook/TheGirlWithTheXRayMind'': When Lena Luthor was a girl, she went into her brother Lex's lab and touched one of his experiments despite Lex explictly telling her to not touch it. Lena was zapped with energy but fortunately she was not harmed.

* In ''Fanfic/TheWritingOnTheWall'', Daring Do is called in to invesigate a mysterious structure in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by ominous spikes and with [[TitleDrop writing on the wall]] saying "Do not enter this place or you will die a horrible death". Daring [[WrongGenreSavvy concludes that this structure is full of riches and all the warnings are a bluff meant to scare away grave robbers]]. [[spoiler: Nope, the warnings are 100% accurate, complete with a simplified description of the nature of radioactive waste.]]

*** Ponder Stibbons realises the best way to deter fellow Wizards from interefering with anything which is potentially dangerous, hangs signs, warning that magic for chartered accountants and insurance actuaries is being tested here and lots of unresolved accountancy postulates are flying around. Wizards tend to read things like this, lose interest, and wander away.

* In ''FanFic/TheWritingOnTheWall'', Daring Do is called in to invesigate a mysterious structure in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by ominous spikes and with [[TitleDrop writing on the wall]] saying "Do not enter this place or you will die a horrible death". Daring [[WrongGenreSavvy concludes that this structure is full of riches and all the warnings are a bluff meant to scare away grave robbers]]. [[spoiler: Nope, the warnings are 100% accurate, complete with a simplified description of the nature of radioactive waste.]]

** Also shows up in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in [[Film/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy the film adaptation]] with Arthur trying to work an escape pod's controls.

* Basically what the bird in the Literature/TalesOfTheFiveHundredKingdoms book ''Sleeping Beauty'' tells Siegfried about the Niebelung ring. Unusually for this trope, he actually had the sense to listen.

* ''Series/TheMuppets:'' When Kermit's away, Scooter takes over the show production, and the first thing he does is touch the thermostat, which Kermit (being a frog) keeps warm so he doesn't dehydrate. The result? Beaker gets a full blast of freon to the face, then Miss Piggy's wardrobe is destroyed by condensation... then the entire studio wiring is blown out.

* At least two separate pieces of fluff text in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' books list "Don't touch tha-" as the last words of a Sergeant or squad leader regarding [[HordeOfAlienLocusts Tyranid]] [[ActionBomb Spore Mines]].

* In one of the ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' games, there's a "Do Not Press" red button inside a butcher's shop in a warehouse district. Pushing it release a giant spider to attack you.

* The VideoGame/DumbWaysToDie video game has a level asking you "[[SchmuckBait Don't touch the]] [[BigRedButton red button.]]" Doing so [[spoiler:grants you an EarthShatteringKaboom.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}} II'': Marius finds himself venturing into the tomb of Tal Rasha alongside the Dark Wanderer, eventually finding the [[SealedEvilInADuel shackled mage]] in the flesh. Before the Dark Wanderer can release him, Tyrael involves himself and the two duke it out. Marius approaches (under the belief Tal Rasha wants to be released from his miserable fate), only for Tyrael to call out to him not to do it. [[TooDumbToLive Marius doesn't listen.]]

** Common with the wizards. In fact, at one point Ridcully had to put up another sign to specifically deter other wizards, which in effect says "No, don't do it even to see what would happen". In ''Literature/{{Hogfather}}'', Ridcully finds a bathroom that has been boarded up, had a sign put up warning not to open the room, and the door hidden behind a bookcase. So, of course, he opens it to see why it was closed up. At the end of the book he orders it closed up again, and the guy who does it is careful not to bang the nails in too securely in certain knowledge he'll be ordered to reopen it under the next Archancelor.

** Susan Sto Helit reflects at one point that if you put a switch in a remote cave and painted a sign saying something like "End of the World Switch Do Not Pull", the paint wouldn't have time to try.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfZelda'' cartoon, Link tells Zelda not to touch the Armos statues while they explore a labyrinth. Guess what Zelda does while asking "Why?". In the ensuing battle, she accidentally touches another and Link is thrown into touching a third.

* Told countless times to Dee Dee by Dexter in ''WesternAnimation/Dexters Laboratory'', the former being the TropeNamer of WhatDoesThisButtonDo. The results are just as you would predict.

* Told countless times to Dee Dee by Dexter in ''WesternAnimation/Dexter's Laboratory'', the former being the TropeNamer of WhatDoesThisButtonDo. The results are just as you would predict.

* ''Series/BozoTheClown'' played this [[PlayedForLaughs for laughs]] in a confrontation involving Bozo, Oliver O. Oliver, and a big, cartoon lever.

Not to be confused with ''Videogame/PleaseDontTouchAnything''

** Of course, there is also the [[http://findingmickey.squarespace.com/indiana-jones-adventure/single-gallery/7929179 rope you're not supposed to pull]].