Something just hit me. What's the difference between Phlebotinum and Green Rocks? Both are pretty much defined as "A substance that does what the plot needs it to."
Edited by Graven_Image Hide / Show Replies
Green Rocks are more of a substance that is commonly used on it's own, Phlebotinum is something made up to allow fixing/construction of a device, or just to explain it.
CrypticMirror
Okay, reading the description it seems that Applied Phlebotinum is pretty much a magi-tech plot device. I'm not sure how Ambiguous Disorder fits in on this, Fast Eddie says it does though, and I'm not going to argue with him because that is a no-win scenario if ever there was one, but I honestly don't understand how someone having a bizarre, pseudo-mental-disorder in the name of comedy fits in with magi-tech device that makes the sci-fi-fantasy plot work. Can someone explain it to me please, Eddie thinks it is obvious, but it isn't to me I'm afraid. This is probably me not understanding it properly though.
Hide / Show Replies
Ambiguous Disorder is something that you wouldn't find in real life, so the use of blaming something on some kind of condition is kinda like using Phlebotinum to explain quirky or weird behaviour.
I wonder whether the name has to do anything with "Phlebotomy".
Fuhrmann, es kostet dir noch dein Leben
Perpetually Confused
I removed the following:
CSI and its spinoffs come with phlebotinum by the liter. Their favorite kind appears to be Luminol, the substance that reveals traces of blood. Luminol is real, though it's not nearly as convenient as it is on TV.*
It's an example that was in the middle of the description for no reason. Why in particular note one show's example of Phlebotinum (Especially when it's worded more as a example would than a demonstration of the trope for definition purposes)? Furthermore, it is voiced in a rather complaining manner (Tropes Are Not Bad) and borders on Artistic License – Chemistry.
Edited by Ghilz
Nerdy. Weird. AWESOME.
Test to see if old discussion topics can still be opened.
Hyperforce Go! http://vmkid.me/
Just to say that, at first, I read this trope as Applied Plotonium (As in Plot plus -onium
EDIT: Now on a Troper Tales Page. (So Mods, do with this post as you will.)
Edited by DonaldthePotholer Ketchum's corollary to Clarke's Third Law: Any sufficiently advanced tactic is indistinguishable from blind luck. Hide / Show Replies
I'm guessing this isn't likely, but if anyone likes the idea of changing this trope's name to Valmorification, I'm 100% behind it.
Hide / Show Replies
The current name is memetic right now. The one you propose isn't gonna be gotten by people who haven't seen the film you PotHoled to.
There is a fine line between recklessness and courage — Paul McCartney
What happened to the old page image (with Superman and radium)? It seemed pretty appropriate and I think the non-English versions still have disappeared without reason from the English page.
Edited by Hatman1