History Main / WithUsOrAgainstUs

* ''Series/BlakesSeven''. In "Star One", the MasterComputer that runs the Terran Federation has been sabotaged, causing chaos across the galaxy. Supreme Commander Servalan uses this as a pretext to [[MilitaryCoup seize power]], declaring that anyone who opposes her is part of the sabotage conspiracy. Ironically it was [[DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans Servalan's self-centred scheming]] that lead to Star One being compromised in the first place.

*** Note that Goh also sees ''Chloe'' as a traitor because she doesn't ''want'' to return home. She was ''miserable'' in Vermillion, feeling overlooked and bogged down by everyone's presumptions and expectations... and Goh decides that ''he doesn't care HOW she feels about it'', [[NeverMyFault blaming her for the whole situation]]. He even fantasizes about ''forcing'' her back into her old role, deciding that if she suffers for it, that's a ''perk'' rather than a problem -- proper payment for 'betraying' him.
** Parker, meanwhile, grows frustrated with how the bullies' LaserGuidedKarma after having their cruelty exposed doesn't feel as though it was enough to make up for how much they hurt his sister. He also worries about the potential of the adults [[AdultsAreUseless breaking their promises again]] and letting things slip back to the way they were before, potentially causing him to lose his sister ''again''... if she even makes it back in the first place.

-->'''Sera:''' Take your elves. I'm just people.

--> '''Good!Cole''': You're either gonna help me, or I'm gonna stop you... here.

* ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil'': The Crime Syndicate deals with any dissenters with extreme prejudice. [[spoiler: Including their former alternate universe]].

TruthInTelevision, as anyone who has gone to a FlameWar on a political or religious (or anti-religious) MessageBoard can attest. Wiki/TheOtherWiki [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_either_with_us%2C_or_against_us can attest, too]]. The phrase "if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem" is frequently used as a more polite-sounding version that nonetheless amounts to the same thing. With that said, Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease. TheFundamentalist is in every kind of belief that can be named, so they're all as bad as non-belief, [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment so there's no need to pick out the crazies who think anyone who has or does not have pineapple on pizza should die or anything]].

In a nutshell, this is a form of extremism that does acknowledge that there's a [[GreyAndGrayMorality gray]] area between {{black and white|Morality}}, but that everything that isn't white is ''still'' as bad as black.

* ''Series/IronFist2017''. Once he gains the power of the Iron Fist, Davos goes round [[VigilanteMan killing members of the Triads]]. Joy Meachum argues that this will make him a HeroWithBadPublicity, so Davos approaches Mr. Yip, a local businessman who was being shaken down by the Triad gangs, and offers his protection free of charge. Yip however is afraid of taking sides in the conflict and refuses the offer, so Davos decides he's with the Traids and kills him, to the shock of his own gang.

%% Please see thread to discuss a new image.

''Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease'''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/with_us_or_against_us_page_pic_4.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[Film/TheLastJedi Amazing, every word of what was said on this sign here is WRONG.]]]]

SubTrope of FalseDichotomy.

See also BlackAndWhiteInsanity, ActivistFundamentalistAntics, and WeAreStrugglingTogether. May lead to NeutralityBacklash.

[[noreallife]] %% No Real Life Examples, please. %%

* This happens in the final battle in ''WesternAnimation/IceAge'' when the saber-toothed tigers have Manny the mammoth cornered. However, Diego, having realized what wrong he's done, suddenly blocks in the tigers' path, stunning their leader, [[BigBad Soto]].

* Gaston in ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'', when he's roused the villagers into a TorchesAndPitchforks mob against the Beast while Belle is trying to talk some reason into them ("If you're not with us, you're against us!").

* ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'': When Vader throws that line at Obi-Wan, he simply responds, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes" (which, ironically, is itself an absolute) and ignites his saber.

->''[[BlatantLies Science has conclusively proven that there are only two possible stands on the issues, and that nobody mentally competent is capable of honest doubts about the means.]]

* Inverted in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8907405/1/Aegis Aegis]]'' where [[Film/{{Underworld}} Amelia]] declares that if [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Xander]] isn't with the lycans, then he's with the vampires. He agrees when he realizes the other option is to be killed by one faction or the other.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AladdinAndTheKingOfThieves'' (third movie), the song "Are You In or Out?" is devoted to this trope.

--> "Hey, Sully, how does it feel to betray your own race? You think you're one of them? It's time to wake up."

--> '''Harry:''' I'm afraid you've misjudged me.

-->'''Pirate:''' You're either with us or against us!
-->'''Philiip:''' [[TakeAThirdOption I am neither with you, nor am I against you]]!
-->'''Pirate:''' Can he do that?
-->'''Jack:''' He's religious; I believe it's required.

** Kira himself shares this view to a point. Or at least this is what he tells Athrun after he repeatedly tries to justify his siding against Orb, and Kira promptly shuts him down by saying regardless of how he wants to view it, he's still attacking soldiers of their nation and that makes him an enemy. He doesn't kill Athrun though, and in fact is largely forgiving of anyone fighting against him, unlike most of the other factions.

* ''Anime/DeathNote'': Outright [[MotiveRant declared]] by [[KnightTemplar Light Yagami]] in the 2nd episode before killing the death row inmate posing as L.
->You think.... [[BerserkButton I'm evil?!]] ''I am Justice!'' I protect the innocent and those who fear evil! I'll become the [[AGodAmI God]] of [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans the new world]] that everyone desires! All those who oppose that God... ''they are the ones who are truly evil!''

* PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/StreetFighterTheMovie'' when tensions arise between Bison and Sagat's men after Bison welshes on a debt by paying with his worthless "Bison dollars" which he believes will be valuable after kidnapping Britain's queen, and Sagat in turn presses Bison's BerserkButton by calling him a raving lunatic and throwing it in a fire. Ryu and Ken wander in at the absolute worst possible time, with Ryu grabbed by Sagat and Ken grabbed by Bison, and we get this exchange:

The KnightTemplar and TheFundamentalist are characters prone to holding this particular belief due to their belief that they are "right" and the other people are "wrong." An EvilOverlord is also a likely candidate seeing all who surround him as either pawns to serve their purpose for him, or obstacles that must be removed at all costs. Totalitarian regimes ''love'' this trope, if your subjects have this mentality they will beg for your [[BigBrotherIsWatching protection]], thus a common theme in {{Dystopia}}n fiction.

TruthInTelevision, as anyone who has gone to a FlameWar on a political or religious (or anti-religious) MessageBoard can attest. Wiki/TheOtherWiki [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_either_with_us%2C_or_against_us can attest, too]]. The phrase "if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem" is frequently used as a more polite-sounding version that nonetheless amounts to the same thing. With that said, Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease. TheFundamentalist is in every kind of belief that can be named so they're all as bad as non belief, [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment so there's no need to pick out the crazies who think anyone who has or does not have pineapple on pizza should die or anything]].

* Victor Saltzpyre of the [[''Videogame/VermintideII Vermintide'' series]] subverts the trope somewhat by playing it far more compassionately. He is an ardent believer that everyone is either with [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Chaos]] or against them.... but in his case, it means that he is willing to [[EnemyMine join forces with factions the Empire is usually on bad terms with]], so long as the end goal harms their mutual enemy.

* In ''Discworld/{{Thud}}!'', the narrator discusses the increasing dwarf/troll conflict and its effect of causing dwarfs and trolls to resign from the watch: