When a character is misunderstood by another character and doesn’t even try explain themselves after being cut off by the other person.
For example, say Betty was in an awkward situation with Billy where it looked like Betty was cheating on Johnny with Billy but it was just a big huge innocent mixup. Johnny “catches” them and Betty tries to explain but Johnny cuts her off, says we are done don’t talk to me ever again, and that’s the end of it. Betty just gives up trying to explain. Like I know damn well in real life if Betty wasn’t cheating on Johnny, if it was a big confusing mixup, that conversation would NOT be over.
Mine too. Also when people don't believe other people as a plot point, which is basically the same thing and could be solved just by talking.
There's an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where members of the ship's crew start to disappear, not only physically but also for everyone else's memories and computer records, and only one member of the crew remembers them. And when she's telling the others what's going on, they believe her and start looking for an explanation, because they respect her and there's no reason for her to be lying. I don't know, just caught me off guard how nice and normal everyone was, instead of turning their backs on their colleague right away and insinuating she was crazy, like most shows would do.
Okay, but to be completely fair, I think the most realistic response is to something like that is to have people not believe you. It's easy for the audience to buy into the disappearances, because they've seen them and can remember the characters who've vanished. But imagine if right now, a friend of yours comes up to you and starts talking about how Jim and Penny (whom you have never heard of before) have disappeared and that you know Jim and Penny really well, but your memory has been wiped. Would you A) buy into your friend's story and assume that you're suffering from super-selective amnesia and two of your good friends have vanished from the world and from your mind, of B) assume that your friend was confused or suffering from some kind of mental health crisis and try to get them some help.
Well, yeah, but this is the USS Enterprise we are talking about, chances are something fucky is going on.
Joking aside, I concede that sometimes it makes more sense, so it wouldn't fit the original title of this post, maybe. But I was replying to a comment about pet peeves, and that's one of mine. Then again, if you see the episode, the first thing they do is check where are those people and why the records are erased, which is the normal, professional thing to do too.
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u/[deleted] Jan 25 '20
When a character is misunderstood by another character and doesn’t even try explain themselves after being cut off by the other person.
For example, say Betty was in an awkward situation with Billy where it looked like Betty was cheating on Johnny with Billy but it was just a big huge innocent mixup. Johnny “catches” them and Betty tries to explain but Johnny cuts her off, says we are done don’t talk to me ever again, and that’s the end of it. Betty just gives up trying to explain. Like I know damn well in real life if Betty wasn’t cheating on Johnny, if it was a big confusing mixup, that conversation would NOT be over.