History Main / HelpingWouldBeKillstealing

* This is one of the main solutions to the Problem of Evil, the question of how {{God}} can be [[GodIsGood Good]], [[TheOmniscient Omniscient]] and [[InvincibleHero Almighty]] and still allow the world to become as horrible as it is. One answer is God is able to make the bad go away, and He does want the bad to go away -- but this desire is counterbalanced by His desire that we will learn to solve our own problems and grow stronger in our free will and virtue.

[[folder:Literature]]
* Aahz in ''Literature/MythAdventures'' taught Skeeve on an "as the need arises" basis and allowed him to deal with everything they met, keeping his interference as slight as possible unless the situation was very life- and [[strike:purse]] reputation-threatening.
* In ''Literature/TallTaleAmerica'', Myth/PecosBill says that, when he revamped cattle ranching, he
-->"[M]ade some of this work tougher than I had to, just to make sure we'd weed out the cry-babies. But I figured that with all these hardships to overcome, the cowpunchers would develop in time into a bunch of rootin'-tootin' heroes. It'd be enough of a challenge, you see, so we'd have a line of work a man could be proud to do. (...) It'll be a fine life, you see, if you have the good luck to live through it."
* Over the course of ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'', Tash's more studious nature and [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands growing grasp]] of [[HowDoIShotWeb her own Force-Sensitivity]] gradually start to prove more useful than her brother Zak's BookDumb brashness, technological skills, and minor physical advantage. Aware of this, by the last book Zak feels like TheUnFavorite. When they meet Yoda, the Jedi Master holds Tash back and makes Zak confront the [[VillainOfTheWeek terror of the book]] by himself - Tash could have managed more easily, and of course Yoda could have effortlessly resolved everything, but Yoda wanted Zak to regain confidence in himself and discover his own Force-Sensitivity.
* A conversation between Father Joe and God in ''Literature/ThePhantomOfManhattan'' has God explaining that the sinfulness and suffering of mankind is InherentInTheSystem; God has given Man free will and directly changing people from bad to good would violate it.
* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Tasio the Trickster, with all his godly power and wisdom, could remove any obstacle in Eric's path and defeat any enemy he encounters. He doesn't because he put Eric on that path specifically so he would overcome both on his own and grow as a result. [[spoiler: At the end of both ''A Mage's Power'' and ''Looming Shadow'' he expresses frustration at such a hands-off role, but continues to do so because to do otherwise would stunt CharacterDevelopment and prevent chaotic change.]]
[[/folder]]

* This is one of the basic principles of teaching martial arts in ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'': it's repeatedly said that a martial arts mentor must not interfere in his (or her) disciple's fight with a non-master fighter, even when the disciple's life is in danger. However, mentors sometimes ''break'' a sparring (i.e. friendly) match when a disciple is in a serious danger. (It happened once to Takeda and once to Kenichi.) However, they will avert this trope should the situation truly warrant their intervention, such as if a different disciple's master attacks Kenichi. Or when Kenichi is in a real life-or-death situation, such as when he's attempting to save his sister Honoka from some sharks and is unable to do much about it on his own.

* When ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' was active, for the most part players respected the rule but it wasn't uncommon for a higher level character to stumble on a lower-level character battling one of the random mobs on a map and hang around watching and if the player looked like they were going to be defeated, intervening by either buffing the other player to give them a chance to continue, trying to pull some of the attackers away, or using some kind of non-damage ability to distract the attackers to give the other player some breathing space. In situations where the other player was obviously so outclassed and outleveled they didn't have a hope of defeating the NPCs, the higher level players would simply rush in to make the save, even if the difference in levels between the rescuer and mob was so much the rescuer wouldn't get any XP out of it at all. In other words, in a game where you played as a superhero, many players actually acted like heroes.

* ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'':
** Once the Rangers' commanding officer becomes a SixthRanger, they start feeling that [[HoldingOutForAHero they can slack off and let him do the dirty work]]. Once he discovers this he refuses to bail them out of trouble until they wise up.
** Completely averted in an episode, where a returning character ([[Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger Fuuraimaru]])'s BigDamnHeroes moment includes completely destroying a MonsterOfTheWeek who was curb-stomping Gokai Silver. Of course, in the very next episode Fuuraimaru becomes a permanent addition to the team.

* In ''Literature/TallTaleAmerica'', PecosBill says that, when he revamped cattle ranching, he

[[folder:Anime And Manga]]

* This is basically Yoda's argument for why Luke should not rush off to save his friends in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' [[spoiler:although he qualifies it by claiming that it's a test Luke just isn't ready for]].

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* Giles in the sixth season of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. [[spoiler: He chose to abandon Buffy because he feels that she's making herself smaller than she is by clinging to him in a immature way.]]
** In principle he had good reasons, but the fact that he chose to make his stand right in the middle of a crisis, and forbade everyone else from helping Buffy as well, can only vaguely be justified by him following musical logic at the time. When he returns at the end of season six and finds out about every f'ed-up thing that had happened to the Scoobies in his absence, he apologizes to Buffy and states that leaving her was a mistake.
* In ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'' and ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'', once the Rangers' commanding officer becomes a SixthRanger they start feeling that [[HoldingOutForAHero they can slack off and let him do the dirty work]]. Once he discovers this he refuses to bail them out of trouble until they wise up.
** Completely averted in an episode of ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'', where a returning character ([[Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger Fuuraimaru]])'s BigDamnHeroes moment includes completely destroying a MonsterOfTheWeek who was curb-stomping Gokai Silver. Of course, in the very next episode Fuuraimaru becomes a permanent addition to the team.

[[folder:Mythology/Religion]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'':

[[folder:Visual Novel]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* In ''WebVideo/DragonballZAbridged'', this is why Goku arrives late to the battle instead of using his instant transmission ability to teleport home.
--> '''Yamcha''': Why didn't you teleport to Freeza's ship and stop him.
--> '''Goku''': I kinda wanted to give you guys a chance.
** He is immediately called out on this by Piccolo as it is an incredibly stupid idea.
--> '''Piccolo''': Please don't make a habit of doing that.
--> '''Goku''': No promises.
[[/folder]]

** In a darker twist, this is how Comicbook/VandalSavage characterizes [[LegionOfDoom the Light]]'s motives.
-->"[[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld Fifty thousand years of life]], and nothing ever troubled me as much as the founding of the Justice League. Dedicating to maintaining society's calcified status quo, the League would protect mankind from disaster, crime, tragedy of any kind. [[TheSocialDarwinist Had you never heard of the survival of the fittest]]? In essence, you ''heroes'' sought to protect humanity from its own glorious evolution."

** This trope actually kicks off the show: Celestia could keep teaching and supporting Twilight normally, as she has for the past few years, and Twilight would naturally grow into a famous mage, beloved by Equestria's ruler and goddess. But then she would become dangerously isolated from other ponies, unable to ask for help or work in a group, and she would forget how to relax and have fun. Hence, Celestia sends her to study in the peaceful country town Ponyville, away from Celestia, where Twilight will basically ''have'' to bond with ponies in order to get anything done- and certainly to fight off the evil, ''other'' goddess-pony, who is breaking out of her prison...
** This is the reason the [[FanWank fans wanked out]] for why Celestia never directly helps the Mane 6 take on any villain in the series. [[spoiler:The Season 3 finale more or less implies this to be [[IKnewIt the actual reason]].]]

--> [[spoiler:'''Discord:''' And rob you of a valuable lesson of being Princess? What kind of friend would do a thing like that, hm?]]

-->'''Lord Chumley''': NO! He was ''MINE''!

* As a meta-example, this is why [[CrutchCharacter Crutch Characters]] are so looked down upon by the ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' fandom. While attacking and defending alone give modicum experience, you get much more from kills. Also, experience gained scales by a mix of level and rank; a lvl 5 paladin only gains a fraction of experience a lvl 3 cavalier would. Units that start at low levels also have greater potential than their veteran counterparts, so using nothing more than that paladin or general the game [[SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity literaly hands you]] for the first few chapters will leave you woefully unprepared for the larger scale battles later in the game.

* When ''CityOfHeroes'' was active, for the most part players respected the rule but it wasn't uncommon for a higher level character to stumble on a lower-level character battling one of the random mobs on a map and hang around watching and if the player looked like they were going to be defeated, intervening by either buffing the other player to give them a chance to continue, trying to pull some of the attackers away, or using some kind of non-damage ability to distract the attackers to give the other player some breathing space. In situations where the other player was obviously so outclassed and outleveled they didn't have a hope of defeating the NPCs, the higher level players would simply rush in to make the save, even if the difference in levels between the rescuer and mob was so much the rescuer wouldn't get any XP out of it at all. In other words, in a game where you played as a superhero, many players actually acted like heroes.

** Averted however in "Downtime" when the team was [[CurbStompBattle curbstomped]] by Clayface and Batman [[DynamicEntry arrived]] to [[BigDamnHeroes save them.]]

** Of course, there is the counterarguement: God is actively doing something about Evil: [[MundaneMadeAwesome He created everyone with purpose,]] [[SecretTestOfCharacter but gave us the Free Will to ignore that purpose, again going back to an argument above.]] [[WhatYouAreInTheDark By the way... you gave some loose change]] [[AnglesUnaware to that homeless man you passed earlier today,]] [[ArmorPiercingQuestion right?]]

** Of course, there is the counterarguement: God is actively doing something about Evil: [[MundaneMadeAwesome He created everyone with purpose,]] [[SecretTestOfCharacter but gave us the Free Will to ignore that purpose, again going back to an argument above.]] [[WhatYouAreInTheDark By the way... you gave some loose change]] [[AngelsUnaware to that homeless man you passed earlier today,]] [[ArmorPiercingQuestion right?]]

Although this trope is about passively letting bad things happen rather than actively setting them up, it can apply to a StealthMentor or other TricksterMentor that has set things in motion and then remain in the background while reminding himself that he mustn't step in. Might become a very reluctant DeusExMachina that is really sorry he gave the protagonists that vital information instead of letting them find it themselves, or regrets that he removed [[ThatOneBoss That One Obstacle]]. One of main tools of the SinkOrSwimMentor.

* [[spoiler:Jacob]] in ''Series/{{LOST}}''. [[spoiler:Played straight on the island: He doesn't interfere, because he wants everyone to figure out the right thing to do on their own. Subverted in the outside world, as Jacob seeks out Kate in her childhood and saves her from a problem that would likely have been a important life lesson.]]

* The premise of ''Series/TheTwilightZone2002'' episode "Azoth the Avenger is a Friend of Mine''. A young boy dealing with bullies and an abusive father manages to bring his favorite comicbook hero to life. Azoth defeats the bullies, but loses against the father. Azoth explains to the boy's mother that he could have defeated the father with ease, but if the boy always relies on others to solve his problems for him, he'll never grow up. The boy and his mother stand up to the father and manage to defeat him.

* [[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame MMORPGs]] such as ''EverQuest'' are the TropeNamer. In these games, killing monsters is a main source of personal growth for your character. If a monster attacks you and hurts you, you normally do NOT want someone to save you. If someone else attack the monster before you do, then that person has "stolen your kill".
* Averted in the MMO ''GuildWars2'' though, where everyone gets full EXP and loot when a monster dies. In this case, helping becomes ''actually helping'' even if you're only in it for yourself. As a result, having the BigDamnHeroes come charging over the hill to save your beleaguered arse is the rule, not the exception. Considering that some end-game zones are positively overrun with GoddamnedBats, this is most welcome indeed.

* In VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft, the first person to attack a monster and deal damage (this is called "tapping" the target) gets the experience and loot. However, the game automatically reduces the experience award if a majority of the damage was dealt by another player, such as a much more powerful player, specifically to encourage this trope.

* As a meta-example, this is why [[CrutchCharacter Crutch Characters]] are so looked down upon by the FireEmblem fandom. While attacking and defending alone give modicum experience, you get much more from kills. Also, experience gained scales by a mix of level and rank; a lvl 5 paladin only gains a fraction of experience a lvl 3 cavalier would. Units that start at low levels also have greater potential than their veteran counterparts, so using nothing more than that paladin or general the game [[SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity literaly hands you]] for the first few chapters will leave you woefully unprepared for the larger scale battles later in the game.

* While present in the VideoGame/WorldOfTanks, with the usual experience for kills and damage, the ''players'' subvert it. The huge bonus for winning a battle outweighs individual kills so much that most players have no problem with another player finishing off the tank they were shooting at. A small exception where that kill might offer a medal, but even that is fairly mild.

* VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncients and the following games of the MultiplayerOnlineBattleArena genre have heroes that benefit differently from getting money and experience: some (called ''supports'') can get by with an inexpensive item or two, relying mostly on their abilities, while other (''carries'') require thousands of gold to be somewhat effective. This difference encourages use of the trope with support players giving up everything they have for the carry's growth, to hitch a ride to victory on the back of a [[OneManArmy farmed carry]]. This also explains why good support players are valued as much as good carries: they can stay in fight without taking any extra experience or gold and still benefit the team.

** Subverted by Alder in [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Black/White]] who actually DOES take on N. [[spoiler: Since N had captured [[OlympusMons Reshiram/Zekrom]] and Alder was out of practice due to having been retired, it doesn't go so well.]]
** In [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Ruby/Sapphire]]/Emerald, neither Wallace nor Steven step up to help you against the BigBad, despite being Champion-caliber trainers.

* ''Manga/KoufukuGraffiti'':