History Main / PleaseDumpMe

* This was the entire plot of the movie ''Film/HowToLoseAGuyIn10Days''. Well, Addie's half of the plot, anyway. Ben's half consists of doing the exact opposite (being charming enough that Addie falls in love with him). Watching them manipulate and sabotage each other at almost every turn is...''interesting'' to watch.

* This was the entire plot of the movie ''Film/HowToLoseAGuyIn10Days''.

* This is the justification many caught-in-the-act suspects on ''Series/{{Cheaters}}'' give when pressed about why they're cheating. Apparently, they don't want to really break up the relationship, but are fine spending lots of time pissing off their partner...

* In ''PennyAndAggie'', Karen advises Stan on what to say to drive Michelle away. However, he considers her advice--"Start ordering for her at restaurants. Ask...for a diet salad, and put a little emphasis on the word 'diet'"--[[EvenEvilHasStandards too cruel]] even for the {{Jerkass}} he is at this point in the story.

* Drake does it in ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'', when he finds out his girlfriend is the daughter of his SadistTeacher and had an annoying laugh. Said teacher says she'll treat him even more harshly in class if he breaks up with her, so he tries to make her break up with him instead.

** George Costanza also had the same rotten luck using similar tactics in an attempt to get fired from his job. Even publicly insulting his boss just earned him praise for refusing to be a YesMan.

[[TruthInTelevision Happens in]] RealLife, and let's leave it at that.

* Benio Hanamura from ''Manga/HaikarasanGaTooru'' deliberately screws up with her YamatoNadeshiko training so her [[ArrangedMarriage arranged fiancé]] Shinobu Iijuin and his family will put an end to an engagement that she really, ''really'' doesn't want to go through [[note]](it's half because she scoffs at boys, half because Benio's best friend Tamaki also has a crush on Shinobu)[[note]]. It fails since Shinobu himself is a NiceGuy and keeps forgiving everything... ''and'' upon realising this, [[PerfectlyArrangedMarriage she ends up falling for him as well.]]

* Benio Hanamura from ''Manga/HaikarasanGaTooru'' deliberately screws up with her YamatoNadeshiko training so her [[ArrangedMarriage arranged fiancé]] Shinobu Iijuin and his family will put an end to an engagement that she really, ''really'' doesn't want to go through. It fails since Shinobu himself is a NiceGuy and keeps forgiving everything... ''and'' upon realising this, [[PerfectlyArrangedMarriage she ends up falling for him as well.]]

* In Myth/JapaneseMythology, some versions of the [[WorldMostBeautifulWoman Princess]] [[YamatoNadeshiko Kaguya]] tale state that several noblemen asked for her hand in marriage. She knew that she'd never be able to marry either of them since she had to return to the Moon, but she also knew that she couldn't afford to openly blow them off without getting herself and her parents in trouble, so she [[TakeAThirdOption took a third option]] and gave each potential husband pretty much impossible to fulfill quests as conditions. Some tried to cheat their way out, but the GenreSavvy Kaguya wasn't fooled.

* In UsefulNotes/JapaneseMythology, Princess Kaguya had several noblemen asking for her hand in marriage. She knew that she'd never be able to marry either of them since she had to return to the Moon, so she gave each one pretty much impossible to fulfill quests as conditions.

* Drake does it in ''DrakeAndJosh'', when he finds out his girlfriend is the daughter of his SadistTeacher and had an annoying laugh. Said teacher says she'll treat him even more harshly in class if he breaks up with her, so he tries to make her break up with him instead.

-->-- ''ThirdRockFromTheSun''

Reasons for this vary. Bob might know the relationship has to end, but he doesn't want to be the bad guy, especially if what's turning him off could be seen as shallow or insignificant by others. He might genuinely want to spare Alice's feelings, and figures that she won't be heartbroken if she's the one who initiates the breakup. He might realize that [[RomanticFalseLead he's not the one she belongs with]], and does this to make her see that. He might be afraid of what her [[OverprotectiveDad father]] or big brother [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer might do to him]]. If they're married, they might have a prenup that makes it desirable for Bob not to be the one to request a divorce. Or perhaps they aren't even ''in'' a relationship to begin with, and Alice is a ClingyJealousGirl who [[MadLove refuses to accept that "her man" isn't quite as enamored with her as she thinks]].

[[SpringtimeForHitler Almost always backfires]], especially if played for comedy. Acting like a [[JabbaTableManners total slob]] will just make Alice overjoyed that Bob feels he can be so comfortable around her, at which point he will start behaving similarly. Acting like a {{Jerkass}} will just result in Alice saying that Bob's new aggressive attitude [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys really turns her on]].

Reasons for this vary. Bob might know the relationship has to end, but he doesn't want to be the bad guy, especially if what's turning him off could be seen as shallow or insignificant by others. He might genuinely want to spare Alice's feelings, and figures that she won't be heartbroken if she's the one who initiates the breakup. He might realize that [[RomanticFalseLead he's not the one she belongs with]], and does this to make her see that. He might be afraid of what her [[OverprotectiveDad father]] or big brother [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer might do to him]]. If they're married, they might have a prenup that makes it desirable for Bob not to be the one to request a divorce. Or perhaps they aren't even ''in'' a relationship to begin with, and Alice is a ClingyJealousGirl who [[MadLove refuses to accept that "her man" isn't quite as enamored with her as he thinks]].

[[SpringtimeForHitler Almost always backfires]], especially if played for comedy. Acting like a [[JabbaTableManners total slob]] will just make Alice overjoyed that Bob feels he can be so comfortable around her, at which point he will start behaving similarly. Acting like a {{Jerkass}} will just result in Alice saying that Bob's new aggressive attitude [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys really turns her on]]. Success typically results in NoReallyItsOkay if Bob hasn't pissed off Alice too much.

Alice and Bob are in a relationship, but Bob knows something's wrong, to the point where he decides it's better to just end things. He could just sit Bob down and tell her, "You know, this isn't working out. I don't think we should be together anymore."

Alice and Bob are in a relationship, but Alice knows something's wrong, to the point where she decides it's better to just end things. She could just sit Bob down and tell him, "You know, this isn't working out. I don't think we should be together anymore."

So Alice tries to get Bob to break up with her first, [[JerkassFacade usually by engaging in unattractive behavior.]]

Reasons for this vary. Alice might know the relationship has to end, but she doesn't want to be the bad guy, especially if what's turning her off could be seen as shallow or insignificant by others. She might genuinely want to spare Bob's feelings, and figures that he won't be heartbroken if he's the one who initiates the breakup. She might realize that [[RomanticFalseLead she's not the one he belongs with]], and does this to make him see that. Shee might be afraid of what his [[OverprotectiveDad father]] or big brother [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer might do to her]]. If they're married, they might have a prenup that makes it desirable for Alice not to be the one to request a divorce. Or perhaps they aren't even ''in'' a relationship to begin with, and Bob just [[MadLove refuses to accept that "his woman" isn't quite as enamored with him as he thinks]].

[[SpringtimeForHitler Almost always backfires]], especially if played for comedy. Acting like a [[JabbaTableManners total slob]] will just make Bob overjoyed that Alice feels she can be so comfortable around him, at which point he will start behaving similarly. Acting like a {{Jerkass}} will just result in Bob saying that Alice's new aggressive attitude [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys really turns him on]]. Success typically results in NoReallyItsOkay if Alice hasn't pissed off Bob too much.

Alan and Barbara are in a relationship, but Alan knows something's wrong, to the point where he decides it's better to just end things. He could just sit Barbara down and tell her, "You know, this isn't working out. I don't think we should be together anymore."

So Alan tries to get Barbara to break up with him first, [[JerkassFacade usually by engaging in unattractive behavior.]]

Reasons for this vary. Alan might know the relationship has to end, but he doesn't want to be the bad guy, especially if what's turning him off could be seen as shallow or insignificant by others. He might genuinely want to spare Barbara's feelings, and figures that she won't be heartbroken if she's the one who initiates the breakup. He might realize that [[RomanticFalseLead he's not the one she belongs with]], and does this to make her see that. He might be afraid of what her [[OverprotectiveDad father]] or big brother [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer might do to him]]. If they're married, they might have a prenup that makes it desirable for Alan not to be the one to request a divorce. Or perhaps they aren't even ''in'' a relationship to begin with, and Barbara just [[MadLove refuses to accept that "her man" isn't quite as enamored with her as she thinks]].

[[SpringtimeForHitler Almost always backfires]], especially if played for comedy. Acting like a [[JabbaTableManners total slob]] will just make Barbara overjoyed that Alan feels he can be so comfortable around her, at which point she will start behaving similarly. Acting like a {{Jerkass}} will just result in Barbara saying that Alan's new aggressive attitude [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys really turns her on]]. Success typically results in NoReallyItsOkay if Alan hasn't pissed off Barbara too much.

** In another episode, [[TheIllegal Catalina]] has entered into a CitizenshipMarriage with Randy so she could leave [[BananaRepublic Guadelatucky]] and go back to Camden. Randy has had a crush on this SpicyLatina all series long, and he is very excited about consummating the marriage. Catalina, however, finds Randy repulsive. So (on the advice of Joy), she makes herself purposely unappealing by not shaving her armpits, getting sweaty, rubbing onions and dead fish on herself, and not brushing her teeth...and [[ParentalSexualitySquick making mention of Randy's parents having sex]]. It turns out that as repulsed as he was, Randy was the best lover she'd ever had! BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor

Reasons for this vary. Alan might know the relationship has to end, but he doesn't want to be the bad guy, especially if what's turning him off could be seen as shallow or insignificant by others. He might genuinely want to spare Barbara's feelings, and figures that she won't be heartbroken if she's the one who initiates the breakup. He might realize that [[RomanticFalseLead he's not the one she belongs with]], and does this to make her see that. He might be afraid of what her [[OverprotectiveDad father]] or big brother [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer might do to him]]. Or if they're married, they might have a prenup that makes it desirable for Alan not to be the one to request a divorce.

[[SpringtimeForHitler Almost always backfires]], especially if played for comedy. Success typically results in NoReallyItsOkay if Alan hasn't pissed off Barbara too much.

* Godai tried this with Kozue several times without success in ''MaisonIkkoku''.
* ''RanmaOneHalf'' had Ranma trying to do this to Ukyou in the "Secret Sauce" arc by pretending to be even more coarse and callous than he actually was. She saw right through his pathetic acting.
* ''{{Karin}}'': Karin can't get DoggedNiceGuy Winner to understand that she's not interested in him. So she tries going on a date with him and acting like a total demanding bitch so he will lose interest. It doesn't work.
* ''KeroroGunsou'': When [[WideEyedIdealist Karara]] started crushing on [[DeliberatelyCuteChild Tamama]], he acts very crude and coarse, getting the others to back him up by talking about all his faults. ...This also doubled as BrutalHonesty, as he ''does'' have all the same flaws they were "lying" about, but he didn't realize that he was telling her exactly what was ''really'' wrong with him.

* Benio Hanamura from ''HaikarasanGaTooru'' deliberately screws up with her YamatoNadeshiko training so her [[ArrangedMarriage arranged fiancé]] Shinobu Iijuin and his family will put an end to an engagement that she really, ''really'' doesn't want to go through. It fails since Shinobu himself is a NiceGuy and keeps forgiving everything... ''and'' upon realising this, [[PerfectlyArrangedMarriage she ends up falling for him as well.]]