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4 | |
5 | ->''"Good is not nice, polite, well-mannered, self-righteous, or naive, though good characters may be some of these things."'' |
6 | -->-- ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', ''The Book of Exalted Deeds'' |
7 | |
8 | AffablyEvil is when a villain is polite, friendly and genuinely kind, even while plotting evil. Good Is Not Nice is the inverse: characters who are rude, unfriendly, and mean, but still firmly on the side of good. |
9 | |
10 | They [[ThouShaltNotKill won't kill (if they can help it)]], nor would they turn a blind eye to human suffering. They are always willing to go out of their way [[IncorruptiblePurePureness to save the town and complete strangers]]. When the call comes, [[ResignedToTheCall they answer it, usually with little protest]]. They often help people in need who can't pay them back. In almost every way, they act like the IdealHero, except... |
11 | |
12 | ...they are [[IWorkAlone asocial]] and sometimes [[SociopathicHero downright rude]]. They [[FigureItOutYourself may refuse to explain]] ''anything'' or listen to ''anyone''. They actively refuse offers of [[ThinkNothingOfIt gratitude]], [[ThePowerOfFriendship friendship]], [[ThePowerOfLove love]], and/or [[DontYouDarePityMe support for their own emotional problems]]. Yes, they'll always be there for you. But they don't always seem to ''like'' you. |
13 | |
14 | '''There are a few reasons these people may act like this''': |
15 | # They may [[ItsAllAboutMe want to be selfish and arrogant]] or just [[HeroicNeutral unbiased to either side]], but [[ConscienceMakesYouGoBack their morality keeps on getting in the way]], even if it is to their detriment. [[HiddenHeartOfGold They may put on "jerkass/bitch mask" to try to counter it]]. |
16 | # They ''do'' consider themselves as better than everyone else, and their attitudes range from SmugSuper to InsufferableGenius to [[{{Jerkass}} flat-out prick]]. After all, it is difficult for them to be nice to people when they do not even respect them. However, they still feel compelled to help these lower creatures on a regular basis. |
17 | # They are [[IWorkAlone natural loners]]. Their senses of duty force them to perform heroic acts, but they do not consider chitchat or politeness to be parts of their obligations. |
18 | # They may want to be [[NiceGuy affable people]], but they believe that [[GoodIsNotSoft being nice does not always get things done]], and that doing good requires them to be [[CruelToBeKind harsh and cruel]], [[TricksterMentor particularly if they]] [[ToughLove have to teach something]]. (This may be an intermittent effect, applied only when necessary; contrast BewareTheNiceOnes, where such outbursts result from break-down. On the other hand, emotional trauma ''can'' coincide with the realization that nicety won't cut it.) |
19 | # [[ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies They cannot afford to let others get close to them because their enemies will use others against them]]. |
20 | # They might wish to be nice but live so far outside normal human experience that they have no idea how to go about it; similarly, the hero might be autistic, or a non-human alien. |
21 | # [[UsedToBeMoreSocial They weren't always like this]]. They had [[MayflyDecemberFriendship friends]] and/or even [[MayflyDecemberRomance romantic relationships]], but time kept taking their friends and family from them. So, at some point, they decided never to have any relationship deeper than acquaintance. |
22 | # [[CrapsackWorld The world the heroes live in]] is operated [[BlackAndGrayMorality through cynical ends]], so Strict Good Guyism does not work - either in the eyes of the author or in a literal in-universe sense. |
23 | # They operate on BlueAndOrangeMorality, their unpleasant actions can be seen as “nice” in their worldview. |
24 | # They [[TerrorHero intimidate enemies through harsh demeanors]]. |
25 | # They [[HeelFaceTurn used to be a villain]] before warming up to the heroes. While they may have renounced their evil ways, [[ReformedButNotTamed they retain their bad attitude]]. |
26 | |
27 | Note that when handled well, this can create an interesting, complex character. When done poorly, you can end up with an UnintentionallyUnsympathetic character or even a DesignatedHero. |
28 | |
29 | Compare NobleDemon, who will likely fall into this if not too morally ambiguous. Often a KnightInSourArmor, MrViceGuy, JerkWithAHeartOfGold, JerkassWoobie, or sometimes just a {{Jerkass}} who does good things. The term AntiHero is sometimes used to cover this trope. Sister trope to CreepyGood. {{Naive newcomer}}s may be surprised to learn they [[WartsAndAll are not the idealized hero everyone thinks they are]]. The hero's meanness will result with him becoming a HeroWithBadPublicity. |
30 | |
31 | Why Light powers can be the HolyHandGrenade even when LightIsGood. |
32 | |
33 | LawfulGood versions of this trope may be strict, humorless and serious. In other cases, they will put more emphasis on "Lawful" than "Good". This is fairly often used as a personality flaw for ThePaladin. ChaoticGood versions will often see politeness and good manners as useless rules and are only concerned about doing good. |
34 | |
35 | See also HiddenDepths. Also see the KnightTemplar, who goes beyond merely not being "nice" into darker territory. |
36 | |
37 | Contrast GoodIsNotDumb. May overlap with GoodIsNotSoft, but the key difference is that a character can be nice but ruthless, which makes them GoodIsNotSoft, or they can be mean but not necessarily ruthless, making them this trope. |
38 | |
39 | See also AffablyEvil, a trope that could be called "Evil Is Not Mean." Contrast both with FauxAffablyEvil, for when the villain is a far bigger asshole than any hero under this trope while acting superficially nice. |
40 | |
41 | This is what the KnightTemplar and the ObliviouslyEvil tend to think they are. |
42 | |
43 | [[folder:Types of heroes who will often have an edgy streak]] |
44 | * AdaptationalJerkass: Heroic characters can be jerks in another adaptation. |
45 | * AloofLeaderAffableSubordinate: When the leader isn't nice. |
46 | ** CaptainSmoothAndSergeantRough: When the subordinate isn't nice. |
47 | * AntiHero: They're heroic, but are willing to do not very nice actions to save the day. |
48 | * BeatTheCurseOutOfHim: The only way to free someone from mind control or possession is through physical violence. |
49 | * BreakHisHeartToSaveHim: A hero acts like a jerk to someone they love (usually their love interest) so they'll leave them and stay out of danger. |
50 | * BrutalHonesty: A good character telling the truth, no matter how painful it may be. |
51 | * ByronicHero: Troubled and brooding, with a passion that inevitably causes trouble. |
52 | * CompassionateCritic: Being critical of others because you want them to excel. |
53 | * CruelMercy: Sparing someone's life [[FateWorseThanDeath to a worse fate]] isn't really nice at all. |
54 | * CruelToBeKind: A hero's hurtful act is kinder than it seems, better than the alternative, or at least is intended to benefit the victim. |
55 | * CynicalMentor: A mentor who doesn't care much about the hero, but tries to teach them anyways. |
56 | * DarkShepherd: Where a character gets moral behavior out of others through threat of punishment. |
57 | * DrillSergeantNasty: If they are heroically aligned or their superiors are not GeneralRipper. |
58 | * DrJerk: A physician who isn't very nice to the patients he treats. |
59 | * ExaltedTorturer: Torture is presented as heroic. |
60 | * ForgivenButNotForgotten: Forgiving others doesn't mean this hero has to be nice about it. |
61 | * ForYourOwnGood: A statement a character makes to explain their "not nice" actions towards another character. |
62 | * GentleTouchVsFirmHand: While the former is about guiding others tenderly, the latter is about guiding others harshly. |
63 | * GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: When a character gets another character out of a [[HeroicBSOD depressed state]] by shaking or slapping them. |
64 | * GodIsDispleased: A benevolent deity withdraws their protection. |
65 | * GoodCopBadCop: While the good cop is respectful, the bad cop deals with suspects harshly. |
66 | * HairTriggerTemper: A hotheaded hero has a bad temper, but is still good to the core. |
67 | * HardBoiledDetective: A stereotypical tough, cynical, hard-drinking detective. |
68 | * HolyIsNotSafe: Holy powers are just as dangerous to bystanders as infernal powers. |
69 | * HonestAdvisor: Good advisors give unpleasant advice. |
70 | * HypocriteHasAPoint: Someone manages to provide valid points on a subject in spite of his/her hypocrisy. |
71 | * JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: Good (or at least lawful) characters using torture on captives for information. |
72 | * JerkassHasAPoint: A {{jerkass}}, if they're heroically aligned, manages to provide valid points. |
73 | * JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Outwardly mean, inwardly good. |
74 | * KindRestraints: A character restricts another character's movement to prevent them from harming other persons or themselves. |
75 | * KnightInSourArmor: A cynical and sarcastic (and sometimes openly misanthropic) character in a [[CrapSackWorld cruel and brutal world]], who has no real hope of changing anything but continues to do good because it is right. |
76 | * LovableAlphaBitch: When they're heroically aligned. |
77 | * MentorInSourArmor: A stoic, snarky mentor who cares about their students but is too [[BrokenBird world-weary]] to express it much. |
78 | * TheNapoleon: When a hero is too [[HairTriggerTemper hostile]] to be "nice", due to being short stature with an [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex aggressive façade]]. |
79 | * NobleBigot: A good person who holds prejudiced beliefs. |
80 | * NobleBigotWithABadge: Same as above, but they are aligned with the law enforcement. |
81 | * OmniscientMoralityLicense: Someone does whatever they want with the heroes, but is still considered good because they know it will turn out alright. |
82 | * PayEvilUntoEvil: Doing villainous things to villainous characters. |
83 | * PercussivePrevention: Physically attacking someone to keep them out of danger. |
84 | * PerpetualFrowner: A good person who looks angry all the time. |
85 | * PoliteVillainsRudeHeroes: Heroes are mean while villains are nice. |
86 | * PoliticallyIncorrectHero: The good guy who holds racist, sexist, or controversial beliefs. |
87 | * PragmaticHero: Whereas a {{Pragmatic Villain|y}} will do good deeds because it will benefit them in the long run, a Pragmatic Hero will do terrible things for the same exact reason. |
88 | * RedEyesTakeWarning: If they're the good guys. |
89 | * RedIsViolent: If the hero is colored red, it associates with anger, violence, and aggression. |
90 | * ReformedButNotTamed: A character goes from villain to hero, but their bad attitude or behavior remains. |
91 | * RefuseToRescueTheDisliked: These heroes won't be willing to save those who aren't deserving of it. |
92 | * RejectedApology: Don't expect these heroes to be the forgiving types, no matter how apologetic you are. |
93 | * RightlySelfRighteous: Being good doesn't stop the character from expressing how morally superior they are compared to others. |
94 | * RudeHeroNiceSidekick: The hero is horribly rude, but their sidekick isn't. |
95 | * ScareEmStraight: Deterring people from misbehavior by claiming that terrible things will happen to them if they don't keep their noses clean. |
96 | * SergeantRock |
97 | * ShootTheDog: A good character doing an evil deed because it's the only option, or at least the most morally expedient one. |
98 | * SinkOrSwimMentor: When mentors don't go easy on newcomers. |
99 | * SmitingEvilFeelsGood: It isn't ''nice'' to feel satisfied when punishing evil, but... |
100 | * TheSnarkKnight: A world-weary hero who snarks at everyone, even themselves. |
101 | * SparedButNotForgiven: The hero won't seek vengeance for what you did, but he won't forgive you either. |
102 | * SternTeacher: When a teacher is strict and no-nonsense. |
103 | * TerrorHero: The hero who seeks to strike fear in evildoers. |
104 | * ThreateningMediator: Making peace between two characters through threats of punishments. |
105 | * ToBeLawfulOrGood: The hero chooses the former option if they are more concerned about upholding principles than being compassionate. |
106 | * TokenEvilTeammate: If they're not evil, they'll be most likely jerks in a group of kind heroes. |
107 | * ToughLove: Treating other characters harshly as a means to make them better. |
108 | * TricksterMentor: They troll others, sometimes to the point of coming off as antagonizing, to teach a lesson. |
109 | * TheUnfettered: Some heroes are willing to do ''anything'' in order to achieve their goals. |
110 | * WasTooHardOnHim: The character who deals with others harshly may feel bad about doing so. |
111 | * WhatTheHellHero: People call TheHero out and blame them for their actions. |
112 | * WellIntentionedExtremist: When you put more emphasis on the "well-intentioned" part than the "extremist" one. |
113 | [[/folder]] |
114 | ---- |
115 | !!Examples: |
116 | [[index]] |
117 | * GoodIsNotNice/AnimeAndManga |
118 | * GoodIsNotNice/ComicBooks |
119 | * GoodIsNotNice/FanWorks |
120 | * GoodIsNotNice/{{Film}} |
121 | * GoodIsNotNice/{{Literature}} |
122 | * GoodIsNotNice/LiveActionTV |
123 | * GoodIsNotNice/VideoGames |
124 | * GoodIsNotNice/WesternAnimation |
125 | * GoodIsNotNice/OtherMedia |
126 | [[/index]] |
127 | ---- |
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