History Main / TheBroCode

*** They had a more serious issue before, when Ross kisses Chandler's ''mother''.

** Chandler falls hard for Joey's girlfriend Kathy. Would be normally ok, but Joey is serious about her too...

* One episode of ''Series/BurnNotice'' introduces [[RecognizeTheNewGuy an old friend of Sam's]] who Sam punches on first sight. And then again. Because he slept with Sam's wife after Sam left her. Sam eventually reconciles with and forgives his friend, recognizing that he left his wife in the lurch and his friend was there for her and never intended to hurt Sam.

* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': The TropeNamer. Barney has a long list of rules governing how male friends (or "bros") are to act towards each other when there's a woman involved, which he claims was created by his 18th century ancestor Barnabus. (It's worth noting that The Bro Code has subsequently been [[{{Defictionalization}} defictionalized]]; it's available at bookstores around the world, with the e-book read by Creator/NeilPatrickHarris.) This particular rule is only one of many (specifically, Article 150), but it forms the focus for the episode "The Goat" and several episodes that follow, after Barney sleeps with Robin, Ted's ex-girlfriend.

* In real life, it's fairly concrete as "[[TwoTimingWithTheBestie current significant other]], [[IBangedYourMom mother]] and [[MySisterIsOffLimits sister]] off limits, exes are a complicated issue." Beyond that it gets pretty nebulous. And despite the name, the basic premise is applicable regardless of your sex, gender, or orientation.

* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'': Clark and [[JerkJock Whitney]] start off as enemies, but at the end of season one, they reconcile their differences and parted on friendly terms. Clark refuses to go after Lana until after she formally breaks things off with Whitney.

Another facet of the Bro Code is that, if your Bro is into someone, he absolutely gets to make the first move. . . [[CannotSpitItOut no matter how long that may actually take.]] [[SexualEuphemism "Jumping" another Bro's "claim"]] is just bad manners.

* In real life, it's fairly concrete as "current significant other, mother and [[MySisterIsOffLimits sister]] off limits, exes are a complicated issue." Beyond that it gets pretty nebulous.
** Despite the name, the basic premise is applicable to ''both'' sexes. Breaking it is considered a taboo regardless of your sex, gender, or orientation.

Another facet of the Bro Code is that, if your Bro is into someone, he absolutely gets to make the first move. . . [[CannotSpitItOut no matter how long that may actually take.]] [[IsThatWhatTheyreCallingItNow "Jumping" another Bro's "claim"]] is just bad manners.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'', Harry gets a big crush on Ron's sister Ginny, and spends a lot of time worrying about how he'll react. [[spoiler: Not only is Ron fine with it, he trusts him far more than any of the other boys she dated]].

Just punched your best friend in the face? Put some ice on it and he'll be fine. Just wrecked his car? No prob, he's got insurance. Slept with his ex? Whoa ''momma'', you're in for a world of hurt!

** Another notable violation -- also concerning a footballer -- was when Ryan Giggs was revealed to have had an eight-year affair with ''his brother's wife'', leading several family members to decide that they wanted nothing more to do with him.

** Its most famous violation and discussion came in 2010 when Chelsea and England footballer John Terry slept with Vanessa Perroncel, the former girlfriend of Terry's former team-mate Wayne Bridge. Since Terry was married at the time, he'd committed adultery -- but most of the media focus was on the fact that he'd been with his teammate's ex (that and the fact that his lawyers had tried to impose a super-injunction which prevented the press from reporting about the relationship, which [[StreisandEffect only served to make people more interested]]). Things were further confused by the fact that most people thought that Bridge was still in a relationship with Ms. Perroncel, although they had in fact separated.

* In the UK it's normally called "the Guy Code", and beyond "bros before hos" and not sleeping with your mate's girl, the rest comes off as more as a subconscious knowledge that men share and know automatically and without question when it has been violated.
** Its most famous violation and discussion came when footballer John Terry slept with national teammate Wayne Bridge's ex. John Terry was also married, so legally he committed adultery. While some would have ignored that, it was coupled with the fact it was his teammate's ex that got the attention (not to mention the fact most people were confused and thought that Bridge was in fact still seeing the woman in question, whereas they had indeed separated).

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* PlayedForLaughs in ''Webcomic/EnnuiGo'' as an explanation for how [[http://ennuigo.thecomicseries.com/comics/78/ Chad ended up in a gay relationship]] (NSFW).

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