History PlayingWith / HeadInTheSandManagement

'''Basic Trope''': A high-ranking official refuses to believe that an evil figure poses a threat, or tries to appease or make friends with said figure.

** Alice is being the rational, [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Woman]]. She knows about Emperor Evulz' resources and how it will damage him if he attacks her country, so she will not waste excess resources for an emotional response. Bob is just being too gung-ho and emotional in accusing her of being too passive and ignorant and gets arrested as a result.

** Alice is InstantlyProvenWrong; she actually ''underestimates'' Evulz' resources or even his strategy (see the Exploited section). Or, Evulz simply just doesn't give a fuck about his resources, he'll attack Troperia with minimum resources and win if he damn pleases. Bob ends up as the IgnoredExpert.

** Evulz pretends to be a struggling, not-so-strong Emperor so Alice will think that she doesn't need to bother with Evulz and ignore him. When she least expects it, he strikes.

* '''Exploited''': Evulz spreads propaganda of Alice's government having a habit of this so the populace won't notice that he's actually infiltrated it.

** President Alice has a case of GoodCannotComprehendEvil (or perhaps, more accurately, ''Pragmatic'' Cannot Comprehend Evil). President Alice sees Emperor Evulz simply as another politician, and therefore genuinely believes his frequent public speeches about rearmament and threats against his neighbors are simply political posturing. After all, Alice knows that wars are a horrible waste of life and resources, and assumes that Evulz shares this view beneath what she is convinced is merely his public persona; so there is no way he will actually carry out the invasion he has repeatedly threatened to do, right?

** President Alice has a case of GoodCannotComprehendEvil (or perhaps from a more cynical viewpoint, ''Pragmatic'' Cannot Comprehend Evil). President Alice sees Emperor Evulz simply as another politician, and therefore genuinely believes his frequent public speeches about rearmament and threats against his neighbors are simply political posturing. After all, Alice knows that wars are a horrible waste of life and resources, and assumes that Evulz shares this view beneath what she is convinced is merely his public persona; so there is no way he will actually carry out the invasion he has repeatedly threatened to do, right?

** President Alice has a case of GoodCannotComprehendEvil (or perhaps from a more cynical viewpoint, Pragmatic Cannot Comprehend Evil). President Alice sees Emperor Evulz simply as another politician, and therefore genuinely believes his frequent public speeches about rearmament and threats against his neighbors are simply political posturing. After all, Alice knows that wars are a horrible waste of life and resources, and assumes that Evulz shares this view beneath what she is convinced is merely his public persona; so there is no way he will actually carry out the invasion he has repeatedly threatened to do, right?

** President Alice sees Emperor Evulz simply as another politician, and therefore genuinely believes his frequent public speeches about rearmament and threats against his neighbors are simply political posturing. After all, Alice knows that wars are a horrible waste of life and resources, and assumes that Evulz shares this view beneath what she is convinced is merely his public persona; so there is no way he will actually carry out the invasion he has repeatedly threatened to do, right?

** President Alice sees Emperor Evulz simply as another politician, and therefore genuinely believes his frequent public speeches about rearmament and threats against his neighbors are simply political posturing. After all Alice knows that wars are a horrible waste of life and resources, and assumes that Evulz shares this view beneath what she is convinced is merely his public persona; so there is no way he will actually carry the invasion he has repeatedly threatened to do, right?

** Emporer Evulz has [[TheMole infiltrators]] in Alice's government, who quash reports of his actions and insist they are lies.
** Alice feels the need [[ObstructiveBureaucrat to go through the "official channels"]] before she can make a move.

* '''Exaggerated''': Alice responds to Bob's pleas by actually decreasing military spending, spreading propaganda that Evulz is [[VillainWithGoodPublicity on their side]] (this in spite of Evulz having made several public speeches and statements in which he very unambiguously has declared his intent to invade and annex Troperia at the first convenient opportunity, enslave and/or kill its citizens, plunder its riches, and destroy its culture) and generally doing the exact opposite of what needs to be done.
* '''Downplayed''': President Alice doesn't think that Evulz is yet ready to begin an invasion, before she is attacked by an assassin sent by Evulz.

** General Bob is paranoid and delusional, and thinks that Prime Minister Edward of the neighboring country of Wikitopia is actually Emperor Evulz. Alice doesn't take action because she can see quite well that Edward is no threat.

** Alice is skeptical, but she listens to Bob and considers taking action.
** Alice and Bob have been feigning the rift between themselves. By pretending to ignore Bob's warnings, Alice gets Evulz to think she is off guard when she is quite prepared.

* '''Double-Subverted''': Then she changes her mind upon listening to her adviser, Lady Charlotte, argue against it.

* '''Zigzagged''': Alice cannot make up her mind on what course of action to take.
* '''Averted''': Alice takes Bob seriously and takes action to overthrow Evulz, preventing him from doing anything against Troperia.

* '''Lampshaded''': "Ms. President, we can't sit here and expect some miracle will happen!"
* '''Exploited''': Evulz spreads propaganda of Alice's government having a tendency for this so the populace won't notice that he's actually infiltrated it.

%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
%%
%%* '''Implied''': ???
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???

* '''Deconstructed''': Alice and Charlotte actually know just how much of a threat Evulz is, [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption and that they don't stand a chance against him.]] [[LetThemDieHappy She'd rather let Troperia]] [[WhenRomeBurns enjoy the last of its life while it can.]]

%%* '''Deconstructed''': ???
%%* '''Reconstructed''': ???

* '''Exaggerated''': Alice responds to Bob's pleas by actually ''decreasing'' military spending, spreading propaganda that Evulz is [[VillainWithGoodPublicity on their side]] (this in spite of Evulz having made several public speeches and statements in which he very unambiguously has declared his intent to invade and annex Troperia at the first convenient opportunity, enslave and/or kill its citizens, plunder its riches, and destroy its culture) and generally doing the exact opposite of what needs to be done.

** Bob assumes Alice is simply passively ignoring Evulz, when she is [[TheMoleInCharge actively aiding him and his invasion of her own country]].

** Alice feels the need [[ObstructiveBureaucrat to grow through the "official channels"]] before she can make a move.

* '''Exaggerated''': Alice responds to Bob's pleas by actually ''decreasing'' military spending, spreading propaganda that Evulz is [[VillainWithGoodPublicity on their side]] (this in spite of Evulz having made several public speeches and statements in which he very unambiguously has declared his intent to invade and annex Troperia at the first convenient opportunity, enslave and/or kill its citizens, plunder its riches, and destroy its culture) and generally doing the exact ''opposite'' of what needs to be done.

** Alice is actually TheMole for Evulz, sent to infiltrate the government and then be as much of an ObstructiveBureaucrat as possible to weaken Troperia.
** "Alice" is actually Evulz in disguise; he's kidnapped the ''real'' President Alice because he knows she would believe Bob and take effective action against him.
** ObstructiveBureaucrat

** TheQuisling
* '''Subverted''': Alice is skeptical, but she listens to Bob and considers taking action.
* '''Double-Subverted''': Then she changes her mind upon listening to her advisor, Lady Charlotte, argue against it.
* '''Parodied''': Alice doesn't listen to Bob because she ''literally'' has her head stuck in a bowl of sand.

* '''Invoked''': Alice rubbishes the idea of fighting Evulz in favour of negotiations.

* '''Exaggerated''': Alice responds to Bob's pleas by actually ''decreasing'' military spending, spreading propaganda that Evulz is [[VillainWithGoodPublicity on their side]] (this in spite of Evulz having made several public speeches in which he unambiguously has declared his intent to invade Troperia, enslave and/or kill its citizens, plunder its riches, and destroy its culture) and generally doing the exact ''opposite'' of what needs to be done.

* '''Exaggerated''': Alice responds to Bob's pleas by actually ''decreasing'' military spending, spreading propaganda that Evulz is [[VillainWithGoodPublicity on their side]] (this in spite of Evulz having made several public speeches in which he unambiguously has declared his intent to invade Troperia, kill and/or enslave its citizens, and plunder its riches) and generally doing the exact ''opposite'' of what needs to be done.

* '''Exaggerated''': Alice responds to Bob's pleas by actually ''decreasing'' military spending, spreading propaganda that Evulz is [[VillainWithGoodPublicity on their side]], and generally doing the exact ''opposite'' of what needs to be done.

* '''Straight''': [[BigBad The evil Emperor Evulz]] is threatening the benevolent Republic of Troperia, and the Generals want outright action to stop him. However, the President does not give the go-ahead to launch an expedition to stop Evulz. Later, Evulz arrives in Troperia's capital, or another of its major centers, and [[CurbStompBattle his forces easily defeat the army in the city.]]
* '''Exaggerated''': He even attempts to have Bob arrested or executed for trying to pressurise him. Evulz detonates a nuclear bomb over Troperia's capital.
* '''Downplayed''': The President simply thinks the Generals are joking, until an assassin sent by Evulz attacks.

** The President is under the influence of Evulz.
** Or alternatively, he is Evulz's brother, father or [[TheManBehindtheMan secret puppet.]]
** Or he's actually Evulz in disguise.

** Emperor Evulz does nothing to destroy the resistance against him until it's too late.
** The President wants to fight Evulz, but the Generals won't allow it.

* '''Subverted''': The President seriously considers sending an expedition.
* '''Double-Subverted''': He decides against it.
* '''Parodied''': The President does not listen because he literally has his head in a bowl of sand.
* '''Zigzagged''': The President cannot make up his mind whatever to send an expedition.
* '''Averted''':
** The President takes his Generals seriously and sends his expedition. It fights Evulz and wins, and Troperia is saved.
** Emperor Evulz genuinely does not exist.
* '''Invoked''': The President rubbishes the idea of fighting Evulz in favour of negotiations.
* '''Enforced''': The writer wants the President to be a reluctant leader, or one who makes bad decisions.
* '''Lampshaded''': "Mr President, we can't sit here and expect some miracle will happen!"
* '''Exploited''': The President is under Evulz's mind control.
* '''Defied''': ???
* '''Discussed''': The Generals decide that they should threaten to resign if the President does not take action.
* '''Conserved''': "Why does the President think we could do a deal with Evulz? Such a deal would fall through any second!"

* '''Exaggerated''': He even attempts to have Bob arrested or executed for trying to pressurise him. Evulz detentes a nuclear bomb over Troperia's capital.

'''Basic Trope:''' A high-ranking official refuses to believe that an evil figure poses a threat, or tries to appease or make friends with said figure.
* '''Straight:''' [[BigBad The evil Emperor Evulz]] is threatening the benevolent Republic of Troperia, and the Generals want outright action to stop him. However, the President does not give the go-ahead to launch an expedition to stop Evulz. Later, Evulz arrives in Troperia's capital, or another of its major centers, and [[CurbStompBattle his forces easily defeat the army in the city.]]
* '''Exaggerated:''' He even attempts to have Bob arrested or executed for trying to pressurise him. Evulz detentes a nuclear bomb over Troperia's capital.
* '''Downplayed:''' The President simply thinks the Generals are joking, until an assassin sent by Evulz attacks.
* '''Justified:'''

* '''Inverted:'''

* '''Subverted:''' The President seriously considers sending an expedition.
* '''Double-Subverted:''' He decides against it.
* '''Parodied:''' The President does not listen because he literally has his head in a bowl of sand.
* '''Zigzagged:''' The President cannot make up his mind whatever to send an expedition.
* '''Averted:'''

* '''Invoked:''' The President rubbishes the idea of fighting Evulz in favour of negotiations.
* '''Enforced:''' The writer wants the President to be a reluctant leader, or one who makes bad decisions.
* '''Lampshaded:''' "Mr President, we can't sit here and expect some miracle will happen!"
* '''Exploited:''' The President is under Evulz's mind control.
* '''Defied:''' See the first entry of "Averted" above
* '''Discussed:''' The Generals decide that they should threaten to resign if the President does not take action.
* '''Conserved:''' "Why does the President think we could do a deal with Evulz? Such a deal would fall through any second!"

Back to HeadInTheSandManagement

Back to HeadintheSandManagement