66Kviews

“I Hate It When…”: 30 Of The Worst Literature Tropes And Stock Characters Our Community Can’t Stand

If you like reading, you might also have a list of books that you wish were never written, to put it mildly. As a reader, I got curious about what exactly turns people away from a book. Whether it's the storyline or characters, there has to be something else that accompanies the poor writing.

Some time ago, I asked our community what their least favorite literature tropes and stock characters were and our pandas had a lot to share! Scroll down for the answers. What are your least favorite clichés in books?

This post may include affiliate links.

Sarcastic bad boy that has never loved before, has a troubled past, and hates everyone. Why the hell should the loner, unpopular girl (who usually likes to draw or read because "I'm not like other girls") be any different? But nope, he teases her, makes her think he hates her, then goes and kisses her after saving her life.

Report

Final score:

209points

TMWQ

POST

BlockDog02 3 years ago

Yes. I see that a lot in high school American romances, and is annoying as heck. Though it does give me a little hope ;-;

55points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Female characters who are competent, powerful, and awesome that inexplicably end up with the mediocre dude main character. Did they discover shared interests or chemistry? Did circumstances forge an unbreakable bond between them? Nah, he wanted her. So now she’s into him. Too much work to justify it, she’s a prize for him stumbling through the plot.

Report

Final score:

191points

Kristin Barrett

POST

Dawn Sardella-Ayres 3 years ago

The flip side of "all nerdy and mediocre guys deserve hot chicks with little effort" trope.

60points

View more comments

“A woman arrives at her place of employment; Because reasons, she’s suddenly working with a new Man Employee. Man Employee is actively superior, dismissive, and occasionally starts to mansplain even though she worked there first, because obviously she’s only a woman. Every fiber of her being despises Man Employees, as it should, for he’s an a**h***. Yet something inside her, somehow not a fiber of her being, knows that she will learn to desire this man because that’s how being female works.”

Report

Final score:

186points

David Martin

POST

Katie Fink 3 years ago

Sigh. Sounds like it was written by a man trope

53points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Giving characters a sudden new field of expertise based on some tenuous connection. "My uncle's neighbor's dog's trainer's friend's mom was an auto mechanic, so I think I can to rebuild Optimus Prime."

Report

Final score:

163points

[]

POST

Ozacoter 3 years ago (edited)

The "my dad was a X so I am an expert in the field".My father is a doctor. Dont ask me to operate on you.

73points

View More Replies...

View more comments

When the character that is supposed to be ugly turns beautiful when they realize that beauty is on the inside.

Report

Final score:

153points

Anonymousplease

POST

Aurelia! 3 years ago

Yes. Why can't we just have an 'ugly' character stay 'ugly' and be happy that way?

87points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Probably "Teenage girl who spouts that she's very unattractive but then describes her flowing blonde hair and blue eyes while gazing forlornly into a mirror before getting ready for school"

Report

Final score:

152points

Spinz

POST

A Head 3 years ago

According to "the movies" she just has to take off her glasses, and re-style her hair. Never mind that she was a stunningly beautiful woman to begin with.

100points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Autistic characters almost always being white, cisgender males that are savants and have a special interest in trains.

Report

Final score:

149points

MZ (she/they/he)

POST

Amy Dodds 3 years ago

My god you're right they do love trains!

42points

View More Replies...

View more comments

I don’t like the “Pick-me” girl type/masculine tomboyish main character. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great to have tomboy characters and stereotypically masculine women, however, I don’t appreciate the idea that a woman has to be masculine to be considered strong. I don’t like that a stereotypically strong woman has to have the traits of a man or be “different from other girls” in order to be taken seriously or recognized as anything other than dumb, pretty, and weak. I think it fuels internalized misogyny and only further pushes the idea that anything feminine is wrong and weak while masculine is tough and strong.

Report

Final score:

138points

TTCA Gravity

POST

Emilycookie 3 years ago

i am super feminine, like 10/10 girly girl, pleated skirts and all. could i roast you to tears or make you really guilty though? probably! have i tromped through mud in sneakers on multiple mile hikes? heck yeah!

38points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Women in peril. There is an entire genre of books (and movies) that rely on women being in danger and needing to be saved, either by themselves or by someone else, but nevertheless, they are in peril. The Girl on the Train, the Good Girl, All the Missing Girls, any Ruth Ware book...I could go on. I used to read them on the beach or buy them at airports but I can't stand them anymore!

Report

Final score:

138points

Momo

POST

Marianne 2 years ago

The trope is called "damsel in distress".

51points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#10

The wise cracking nine-year-old kid who is "old for their years" and calls out the adults in situations they should have no experience with or input on. "We need to move again." "You said this was the last time!" "Yes, but things have changed." "You're a liar. I guess THAT didn't change." Just soooo annoying.

Report

Final score:

136points

atheist_cleric

POST

Lee 3 years ago

They’re so annoying! No kid cares or talks like that to their parents unless they want their a** beaten! Wtf?! And it’s often above their ‘intelligence level’ not every kid is going to argue the implications of their parents’ actions like that and they literally do not care. at least, I never did.

42points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#11

This has already been said MANY times, but it is REALLY annoying. The gay BFF. Sure, I have a gay bestie, but it's not the friendship itself, is the girlishness of how the person or character acts. Or how someone expects them to act IRL. It's just, really freaking annoying

Report

Final score:

133points

I is rainbow

POST

Ozacoter 3 years ago

Indeed. We need to see all people the same regarding sexual preference. My best friend is gay but i dont have "a gay best friend". I have a great friend that coincidentally likes men.

54points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#12

Quirky girl in her thirties. Likes to read and has a cat. Had a bad break up and now doesn’t trust love. Will probably get over it by the next nice man she meets!

Report

Final score:

127points

Roni Ingram

POST

Amy Dodds 3 years ago

I have 2 cats actually thank you

64points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#13

I hate it when physical characteristics replace personality - hooded eyes meaning someone (especially a male character) is sexy and deep; long silky hair in an unusally-used color (raven, chestnut, wheat, etc.), especially on a girl, means she's sexy and smart. I don't care about hair or eyes or anything like that. Forward the plot, please.

Report

Final score:

123points

Easily Excitable Panda

POST

Yeah, you heard 3 years ago

Yep, and telling me the colour of people's eyes. I haven't noticed the eye colour of most of my best friends, why would I need to know the eye colour of someone in a novel?

36points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#14

Group of completely different people end up stuck with each other, go through something tough, and then after three days they are all calling each other their “new family”, despite not knowing anything about them.

Report

Final score:

122points

Henry Hagens

POST

Jami Williamson 3 years ago

Trauma Bonding

55points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#15

The stories where a girl has to learn to love herself, and that means ending up dating the Popular Boy, who has never noticed her before. Same as the protagonists who take off their glasses and put a dress and makeup on and end up being the belle of the ball. How can they not have blurry vision with their glasses off??

Report

Final score:

119points

Princess Procrastination

POST

Dawn Sardella-Ayres 3 years ago

The power of love magically fixes their eyesight. (I wish I was kidding, but I've had romance mss rejected because the FMC's disability wasn't fixed/healed by the romantic relationship. Yes, in the 2020s.)

37points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#16

In crime novels: the protagonist does not seek law enforcement assistance for their relatively simple predicament because *insert feeble excuse here*, but by the end of the novel, same protagonist is in a situation that commandeers 17 police officers, 3 crime scene investigators, 2 ambulances (1 for him/her self, another for the dead vilain), a forensic pathologist, doctors and nurses to treat their injuries, a frustrated DA office, an overwhelmed but extremely relieved spouse...

Report

Final score:

115points

Freddie The Sort Of OK

POST

Honu 2 years ago

Though the dead villain has often confessed, being somehow recorded or witnessed by others so the fact that the protagonist has spoiled all the evidence they have found, so it would never be admitted to trial, is irrelevant.

17points

View more comments

#17

Honestly, I love most awful cliché tropes, I'm a sucker for a bad boy, I love a wiseass best friend, and I'm obsessed with a raging badass female lead.
-
But I can't stand the awkward, clumsy, mousy, shy girl who has no self-confidence and no personality and somehow everyone's inexplicably obsessed with her. I like a girl with substance, a Carstairs girl, or someone out of a Marissa Meyer novel. I love a girl that deserves the attention she gets.

Report

Final score:

113points

Rage of Aquarius

POST

BlockDog02 3 years ago

Yes, I am that girl and nobody cares xD. Ok, my confidence got better lately, but still.

24points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#18

In romance teen books, a girl finds a guy, then decides he's too good for her and goes with a nice guy type person instead, but is still drawn towards the first guy, and then at the end of the book returns to him, and finds out he was the one for her all along.

Report

Final score:

111points

BlockDog02

POST

Susan Widomski 3 years ago

Perhaps it is just in classical literature where heroes die more often.

20points

View more comments

#19

The main character's best friend who is better than the main character.

Report

Final score:

110points

(Enter Name Here)

POST

Aurelia! 3 years ago

I'm looking at you, Samwise Gamgee and Hermione!

84points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#20

Like.... this one unpopular girl, with a lovely personality and beautiful hair and eyes, and the popular mean gal who bullies her. Why are all mean people supposedly popular there? Nobody likes a mean peep

Report

Final score:

107points

nephriter

POST

Ozacoter 3 years ago

To be fair not all popular kids are mean but most bullies are popuoar and mean.

27points

View more comments

#21

When a male character is in love with a female character who verbally or physically abuses him.

Report

Final score:

102points

Chaotic Waffle

POST

Kady LaHaie 2 years ago

I've known actual dudes who do that.

2points

View more comments

#22

I'm a Strong Female Protagonist! I look down on things like cleaning, cooking and sewing! I live in filth and if I need to reattach a button I just punch it. I drink straight grain alcohol and eat raw meat! Grrrl Power!

Report

Final score:

101points

Rae Reyn

POST

JustABoredwing 3 years ago

How come nobody in any apocalypse shows likes sewing? I mean, somebody has to know how to sew if everybody is still walking around in clothes, right?

65points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#23

Well, I don't like the token gay friend, there's never just one, in a friend group that has a gay friend, its more likely to have a token straight friend. It's not that the gay friend turns everyone gay, it's just that everyone realizes they have been gay.

And I also don't like the girl who takes off her glasses and puts down her hair and puts on a nice outfit and boom all of a sudden she's the most beautiful girl ever and everybody likes her. Like, no, everyone's beautiful no matter what, let her wear her glasses, let her wear a ponytail, let her wear leggings and a t-shirt, she's beautiful, she doesn't need to change, everyone else needs to change the way they look at her.

Report

Final score:

99points

-logansucrose- (he/him)

POST

I is rainbow 3 years ago

I was, more or less, the token straight friend and then I realized ✨I'm Bi✨

40points

Emilycookie 3 years ago

and i'm gay. i think sarah in my friend group is the token straight friend.

4points

Load More Replies...

Wonder Woman 848 3 years ago

I'm Bi too! BI PRIDE!

4points

HooowlAtTheMoon (Submission author) 3 years ago

Hooray

3points

El Dee 2 years ago

We're all drawn to people who we identify with for one reason or another. We don't always know why that is tho..

1point

Jaime 3 years ago

Me too XD

1point

Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago

I'm part of a queer meetup/friend group, and I'm the only asexual in it. I'm the Token Ace. :p

0points

BlockDog02 3 years ago

With the girl thing, I mostly see it on tv shows and movies, but YES. Because of things like that, loads of my friends were scared to get glasses.

5points

HooowlAtTheMoon (Submission author) 3 years ago

I have glasses and I feel weird without them, I don't like it, and my friends say "oh you're so pretty without your glasses!" but I'm more comfortable with them, so I keep them on

3points

Load More Replies...

Ozacoter 3 years ago

That is ridiculous. The idea of a token best friend in general. Why does it need to be now a token hetero that actually is in the closet? Lets respect all sexual preferences.

1point

HooowlAtTheMoon (Submission author) 3 years ago

Huh?

0points

Load More Replies...

Marco Groot 2 years ago

Grease, anyone?

0points

Ms. Human Being 2 years ago

I have the opposite issue, I have reading glasses, and people say I only look pretty in glasses.

0points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#24

I really don't like the stereotypical Strong Female Character. They are not strong, they are two-dimensional and have no personality. Usually all you get is a fight scene or two without any motivations behind their actions. Usually a man is their superior and they're like nO iM tHe SuPeRiOr ToDaY and you're supposed to be like "yeah!" but then you don't like her enough to care. Oh, and they're always like "I don't need a man to be strong!" but then are in a relationship by the end of the movie and can't do anything by themselves anymore.

Report

Final score:

98points

Nudge

POST

Broken Angel 3 years ago

Okay YES. (Katniss, Tris, we're all looking at you)

44points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#25

Love triangles. The absolute jerk male character who's the alpha type (yes, the word is used at least once), who's an absolute a-hole to the girl, gets aggressive, always at least 7 times says 'you're not my type, or I won't have sex with you' and then does, still is a d**k, as she falls harder in love with him. Her 'changing' him by the end of the book usually frustrates me the most. Does love change people, sure, do people adapt and compromise in relationships, yeah they should, but you're never gonna fundamentally change someone.

Report

Final score:

94points

Roadkill The Brave

POST

Niall Mac Iomera 3 years ago

That's not what a love triangle is

70points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#26

The old good girl + bad boy plotline. Also, the movies and books and tv shows where the character is completely normal and boring, being picked on, maybe being raised in a bad household and wishing things were different, and then BAM BAM BAM it turns out their humanity's only hope to stop evil and save the world!!!!!!!
I mean, don't get me wrong, some people execute this idea pretty flawlessly, but still.

Report

Final score:

91points

GalaxyGriffin

POST

Timothy Ellis 2 years ago

What do the good girl and bad boy have in common? What is it that brings them together? What would they talk about? What do they admire about each other when they have such different values?

9points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#27

Years ago I stopped reading a author when I saw that in every book the main characters were always described as “devastating beauty/rich beyond compare/immortal" I will admit, I did enjoy reading the Interview with a Vampire books when they were first published... but OMG that trope got annoying

Report

Final score:

89points

Mz Phit

POST

Anke Dieken 3 years ago

I remember reading books by Joy Fielding. I used to enjoy them, but after a few I realised that it was somehow always the male partner in the women's life who was the bad one (and giving bad vibes).

8points

View more comments

#28

love triangles, cop falling for the criminal, fatal love story that ends in death, etc.

Report

Final score:

85points

Jocelyn

POST

Analyn Lahr 2 years ago

I got one but I'm kinda into it: grumpy a*****e meets cheery lunatic and they fall in love.

12points

View More Replies...

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#29

The "perfect" girl/boy that has parents that make about a gazillion dollars a day.

Report

Final score:

84points

lainey

POST

Shelp 3 years ago

this is convenient to the plot I guess

11points

#30

The "supposed to be _ but is actually _ whereas friend is supposed to be _ but actually _" or the "I'm different from the other girls".

Report

Final score:

81points

basically_bill_cipher

POST

I is rainbow 3 years ago (edited)

What about "I'm different from other blob fish!" *"hair" flip*

28points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium

Unlimited content

Ad-free browsing

Dark mode

#31

a big fight scene in a hallway

Report

Final score:

48points

Fishwasher

POST

Troux 3 years ago

So what you're saying is.....you wanna take this outside?

21points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#32

1) When someone (or often multiple people) is running down a narrow passageway with villains using guns are never hit by the bullets.

2) People who hide behind a stuffed couch or chair are perfectly safe from gun fire.

Report

Final score:

42points

Bill Pearson

POST

Susan Widomski 3 years ago

Why don't they ever just shoot them in the leg and incapacitate them? Save a lot of boring chases down corridors with always wet pipes and floors and really bad lighting.

11points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#33

My least favorite, most infuriating literature/film trope is exploiting rape as a superficial or voyeuristic plot point. Enough already!

Report

Final score:

39points

KC Lancaster

POST

Aeon Flux 3 years ago

Heartily agree. I wince when violence towards women is used as an accessory to the plot.

22points

View More Replies...

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#34

A character that is nerdy/smart and therefore knows everything and succeeds in all intellectual pursuits.
"This character has a PhD in astrophysics and chemistry, and will also describe great and lengthy details of animal biology, ancient Mongol customs, supersonic propulsion systems, classical French literature and complex economic systems.....in 8 languages, while playing 3 games of chess."

Dr. House and The Big Bang Theory are rampant abusers of this.

Report

Final score:

39points

[]

POST

Ozacoter 3 years ago

And Bones. I know that its stupid but a big part of ny insecurities as a biology student came from that series. It is impossible to be an expert in all, even inside one subject.

16points

View more comments

#35

The dorky, dumpy looking nerdy goof who gets a makeover and ends up wooing the jerky sex-pot who has the personality of a peach pit

Report

Final score:

37points

iblowsheep

POST

Katie Fink 3 years ago

Sex-pot peach-pit Lol!!!

4points

View more comments

#36

I’m not sure if this is a literary trope or just a tv trope, but the military officer not agreeing with a superior officer but say “sir” with the most disdain possible. It doesn’t seem like just the word should be respectful but the tone should be as well.

Report

Final score:

36points

John Montgomery

POST

See Also on Bored Panda

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#37

If the character is a “huge misfit”and “super ugly and shy” but every boy in school has a crush on her

Report

Final score:

33points

Raccoon

POST

J. F. 2 years ago

One of the things that screams "Mary Sue" character

7points

View more comments

#38

Mary/Gary Sue style characters.
Must say One Punch Man is a great satire of this.

Report

Final score:

29points

Virgil Blue

POST

Easily Excitable Panda 3 years ago

Thank you for the rec, I'll check it out!

5points

View more comments

#39

Not a big fan of the heist/detective tropes, I find it hard to follow the story because most of the times it bores me to death.

Report

Final score:

27points

Diana Lopetaitė

POST

Aurelia! 3 years ago

Really? I loooooooove detective fiction

12points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#40

1) The Chosen one (I love HP but this is overused)
2) Damsel in Distress (obvi)
3) That one lady whose cattiness and pettiness are over-exaggerated
4) The gay sidekick (why always a sidekick? Why can't we have more gay main characters?)
5) The token ___(insert identity)___ friend
6) The Angry Black Man/Lady (SO many things wrong with this stupid stereotype don't even get me started)
7) White Savior Trope
8) Magical Negro Trope
9) White Woman Syndrome Trope

Report

Final score:

26points

Aurelia!

POST

Gay Llama 3 years ago

I am planning on writing a lesbian love story. I am not going to focus on homophobia though I'm mostly just gonna make it a regular love story except lesbians instead of straight. I'm probably never gonna finish it though lol. Like most of my stories.

27points

View More Replies...

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#41

People who act like "The cops can't get involved" And "I can handle it myself" attitude. Like, why do this? Do you have suicidal thoughts? (Looking at you max pane)

Report

Final score:

24points

Underscored_

POST

Vorknkx 2 years ago

Max Payne is based on a video game, so the protagnoist is supposed to do most stuff alone (as he would in the game).

0points

#42

Heinlein's women: smart, capable, and sassy, yet, somehow aroused by making their man a sandwich.

Report

Final score:

23points

Dee on bikes

POST

California Jones 3 years ago

Sandwiches are sexy. Meat and pickles, what's hotter?

14points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#43

Oh also- another trope I’m quite sick of- twins being photo-copies of each other or always having something to do with the other. I know it makes for interesting characters and fuels the plot and there are some twin characters in literature that I admire, but in reality (I don’t know how it’s like for identical twins) having a fraternal twin brother is only like having another sibling. There’s nothing so special about it, we don’t finish each other’s sentences, we’re entirely different people, and our interests and friend groups are full on different. I’ve had people ask if I can feel his pain or read his mind. No! It’s actually quite boring!!

Report

Final score:

23points

TTCA Gravity

POST

RUBAYY 3 years ago

My youngest brothers are identical twins and they dont look the same lol

5points

View More Replies...

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#44

The girl meets her boss in the elevator, then scores her boss and a promotion. She "earned" it.

Report

Final score:

22points

Bina Cobbler

POST

#45

A computer "expert" who spends 9 seconds rapidly typing on a keyboard before announcing "I'm in!" as he hacks the Pentagon, UN, Alien Mother ship, or a Denny's in Albuquerque. (Its even better when a complete doofus character figures out a password on the second guess by looking at items on the persons desk.)

Report

Final score:

21points

Martin Kaine

POST

Lee 3 years ago

“*keyboard smash* I’ve hacked the fbi. we have ten seconds before the firewall closes again.” or “we’re gonna need to go into ... the dark web.”

10points

View more comments

#46

When tough cops or something laugh after getting slapped in the face

Report

Final score:

18points

Fishwasher

POST

I is rainbow 3 years ago

Or anyone. Its THE most annoying thing in any book.

6points

#47

The absent minded/klutzy smart person.

Report

Final score:

16points

deletemyaccount

POST

I is rainbow 3 years ago

I don't exist?

38points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#48

The gorgeous, confident, smart heroine who falls for the goodhearted but really homely sidekick of the irresistibly handsome hero, instead of the hero (who, of course, also ends up with a gorgeous woman). I'm still waiting for the handsome hero to find love with the goodhearted but plain and frumpy friend of the gorgeous heroine, but I doubt that will happen anytime soon.

Report

Final score:

15points

Lorraine R

POST

Dawn Sardella-Ayres 3 years ago

THANK YOU! I hate that these kinds of tropes are never gender-flipped or queered in any way. Well, unless she has a makeover and becomes a "hot girl."

8points

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

#49

Comic relief characters.

Report

Final score:

12points

Lara Verne

POST

Easily Excitable Panda 3 years ago

When they're well done, they're magnificent. When they're badly done (which is most of the time), you wish you'd never bothered to learn to read.

20points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#50

For characters here's my list of cliches:
Femme Fatales
Love Triangles
Unreasonable asshat bully/jock.
Antihero-main (usually male) character's family member/love-intrest/child/pet killed so the plot can progress to vengenance.
Supergenius completely evil arch nemisis/overlord.
Save the world from secret weapon/conspiracy.

Report

Final score:

11points

KC Lancaster

POST

#51

I HATE the 'white girl in high school who has blond hair and blue eyes and perfect skin and wears high heels and really short skirts and is snobby'

Report

Final score:

8points

Noelle (he/fae/xe)

POST

Norma 3 years ago

That's because you didn't have to deal with her. Every. Single. Day.

10points

View more comments

#52

1. People "falling in love" in less than 24 hours and/or kissing near-strangers passionately for no apparent reason ("Nerve", I'm looking at you!).
2. Humans engaging in sexual relations with aliens from another planet... uh, hello, b********y? Just no.
3. The romanticizing & glamorizing of vampirism & other spiritually dark themes in teen lit.
4. The way every book or show aimed at kids & teens has to be like a "United Nations of Beneton" ad, and the characters all have to have "relevant issues" & depression & identity crises, etc. What happened to stories about normal, happy kids having adventures?
5. The "hypocritical/repressed Christian" and "narrow-minded/judgmental Christian who's really just ignorant or afraid of what s/he doesn't understand" trope that Hollywood absolutely looooves to throw into movies & tv shows. Usually this is some one-dimensional cartoon-villain character who reflects about a 3rd-grader's understanding of what Christianity actually means, but is supposed to learn an important lesson about tolerance, or whatever. This trope is both incredibly ignorant & incredibly condescending.

Report

Final score:

-3points

Nikki Owens

POST

TS Rhodes 2 years ago

The problem is that so many so-called "Christian" people actually have a 3rd grader's understanding of their own religion, and just use it as an excuse to feel superior and to hurt other people.

8points

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

Internet Gives Unemployed Woman A Reality Check After She Expects Friends To Buy Her A Trip

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

Read less »

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

Read less »

Hi there! I'm Gabrielė, but you can also catch me responding to Gab, Gabi, Gabert, or Gabe – take your pick. Professionally, I'm the senior community manager over at Bored Panda, helping people share their awesome work and connecting artists with a worldwide audience. Beyond work, you'll catch me traveling, listening to vinyl and diving into movies, art exhibitions, and concerts. I'm a culture buff at heart, always eager to explore and embrace the richness of the human experience.

Read less »

What do you think ?

POST

Eunice Probert 2 years ago

He is fat, plain, and rather stupid, but he gets the slim, beautiful woman as his wife. Whereas the fat, plain, and not overly bright woman never get the good-looking man. This is a particularly common trope in so-called comedy TV shows.

15points

Nicholas Yu 2 years ago

"Look man, I'm just a guy who had a terrible upbringing. A kung-fu master next door neighbor took pity on me at a young age, turning me into a killing machine to teach me discipline. And when he was brutally murdered I sought vengeance and made every one of his tormentors pay before moving cross country and changing my identity so I wouldn't face jail time for force feeding gang members their own testicles. In my spare time I spend hours a day shooting guns and doing insane amounts of cardio to maintain this six pack. I'm really not looking for trouble. Those days are behind me. But if you continue to knock on my door every weekend to convince to switch my cable television provider to yours...I promise I will break every oath I've kept to be a peaceful law abiding citizen and..."

11points

MimSorensson 2 years ago (edited)

This one made me laugh me head off! It’s unfortunately way, way too accurate. “Look, I’m a nice, ordinary guy who just happen to have killed five gazillion people because my gut instinct is to turn instant, aggressive vigilante when provoked. The fact that I’ve murdered at least one person with every weapon and method known to man, up to an including strangulation by raccoon, doesn’t make me overly violent or unstable in any, any way - it makes me a catch!”

2points

Load More Replies...

Chich 2 years ago

Although it has nothing to do with the main story, a love interest HAS to get woven in.

8points

Rocky Mom 2 years ago

Right, like of course they're gonna have a thing now. Uff.

0points

Load More Replies...

Will Cable 2 years ago

Women always seem to run and then hurt an ankle. Fat /chubby men/children shown as stupid, Some kid who has a pet that runs off and the kid goes looking for it. No gay heroes. Military personel 'seem' to know more than a scientist in their field of work and treat said scientist as a lunatic. Every time they suddenly need a 'car' it is usually a 4x4/truck, just for once let it be a small hatchback. Action movies where women goes through hell but come out with hair that isn't messy and just a single smudge of dirt but otherwise look ready for a night out. Children with a bottom lip pout that looks like the front of a Tesla.

6points

MimSorensson 2 years ago (edited)

Yeah - what’s the deal with no gay heroes? I mean it’s 2022, come on! Don’t worry, I can root for a homosexual hero even though I’m straight myself - gay people have, after all, managed to root for straight heroes since the beginning of fictional stories, so I’m sure we can handle the equivalence, can’t we?

4points

Load More Replies...

Kate Ylst 2 years ago

That being bisexual atomatically means a person is incapable of monogamy and that's totally ok and even expected.

6points

Bill Evs 2 years ago

Two that drive me crazy are the generic "scientist" who is seemingly an expert in every field of science so one minute they're single headedly finding a cure to an unknown disease and the next they're calculating how to deflect an asteroid (ok, those are extreme examples but you get my drift). Secondly is the hyper intelligent serial killer who loves listening to classical music. Just once I want them to listen to some hip hop or drum & bass.

4points

pusheen buttercup 2 years ago

Pet peeve- main character meets other main character and is instantly attracted and immediately describes their body in detail.

3points

Thenatural 3 years ago

The black world weary police captain who'll only give you 24hrs to solve a case that has puzzled the departments greatest criminologists for months because the mayors on his "ass!"

3points

Papaya Budgie 2 years ago

I hate how there's always some kind of character whether it be a side character or the protagonist that just happens to be depressed and sad and has horrible parents and everyone feels bad for them and they're just looking for love and want the be alone and don't understand people and are depressed and unhappy and has a horrible life and never smiles and just sits in a corner and are depressed and sad all the time and has no friends and isn't popular. Did I mention they're depressed? Like, depression isn't sitting in a corner being all mopey and it's raining and then they find someone who they like and apparently they like them back and give them love and kisses and make them not depressed anymore. That's not depression. Sure, depression is feeling like you don't/can't do anything, but depression is also just putting on a smile because nobody cares about you being depressed.

2points

CD Mills 2 years ago

Mine is the old "monster/dinosaur/critter" chasing people and they NEVER turn down a side street or alley. They just keep running straight in front of it. I have never seen a movie where someone is being chased by a "Creature" and they dash down a side street and then run the opposite way the creature is going. That's what I would do, I'm not going to outrun a dinosaur or werewolf, I have to hope that being out of its line of sight will cause it to forget about me so I can hide and survive.

1point

CalamityOne 2 years ago

Being smart/brilliant in whatever field has to also mean the character is also socially awkward/inept; i.e. "The Big Bang Theory", "Bones", etc.

1point

El Dee 2 years ago

These describe every film I've ever seen. Film writing appears to be lazy, misogynistic, homophobic etc etc..

1point

Anjelika 2 years ago

I really hate the childhood friends to lovers, its been done so many times that some people think that women and men can't simply be friends. The male or female is dating, until they break up and realise they loved the friend all these years. Boring.

1point

JoJo Bautista 2 years ago

Get in touch with HACKWEST at WRITEME dot COM or Whatsapp: +1 424 307 2638 if you want to recover your scammed funds or get some legal counsel on how to go about it. They’re the best and most legit team out there. West helped to recover my lost Bitcoin of about $289k worth. I saw their reviews and reached out, got back all my funds with my return on investment. Superb I must say!

0points

Ronnie Beaton 2 years ago

How about the ever popular "Cop/detective takes most of the rest of the book to work out something you did in chapter 2"?

0points

blatherskitenoir 2 years ago

The geniuses make overly complicated marble run mechanism thingies and spend their time doing rubic's cubes trope is annoying.

0points

Stefan 2 years ago

What kind of mediocre literature do you read ?

0points

Tobias Reaper 2 years ago

man and a woman thrust together in a situation against their will they always argue and at each throats except for intermittent moments of sexual tension inevitably end up together

0points

Iriané Marie Laurentwolff 2 years ago

This happens when you olny read from wattpad😂

0points

Jayne Kyra 2 years ago

I am SO happy none of these fit any of the books I love by my favourite author. For anyone interested: Simon R. Green and his Nightside and Secret Histories series are AMAZING!

0points

Just saying 2 years ago

Disaster movies - the sassy kid and the dog always survive, however improbable. Can't the good boi be nixed by a meteorite or swept away by the flood, or shot on arrival at the compound as there won't be enought food to feed pets? And the sassy kid is going to get shot by the alien as he stands arguing with his mum about why they shouldn't go to that particular shelter.

0points

GFSTaylor 2 years ago

Read the original novel of The Poseidon Adventure. It's very good, and more complex (and less sterotyped) than the film based on it.

0points

Load More Replies...

Jennifer Germain 2 years ago

how about the very old but often there beautiful woman learns to love the unattractive guy by seeing beyond the surface. right, SHE is always the one to look beyond appearances. ... puke, cue many disney movies.

0points

JB 2 years ago

I read a lot of idealized rom-com, paranormal, romance - Twilight may be all sorts of twisted but it is well-written. There’s a reason I refer to my escapism reading as “nauseating drivel”. It requires switching off any form of cognitive function in favour of living in a fantasy world where everyone is attractive and forms “soul-deep” connection with the “one person in this universe who is designed to make the other whole.” Nonetheless, I hate the trope that losing one’s virginity always hurts and there’s always blood. No it didn’t and, no, there wasn’t. It’s disingenuous to tell everyone that “size doesn’t matter, it’s what you do with it that counts” when pretty much every novel written for heterosexual women dwells on how big the male protagonist’s package is and in the paranormal genre, let’s add all the dildo/vibrator enhancements that a human guy will never have unless faced with a life- threatening condition. Last but foremost, DON’T GIVE CATS MILK OR CREAM.

0points

Cindy RS 2 years ago

I stg JB, years ago, I had a cat that would throw up the milk every time. I finally figured it out. Stupid movies. 😑

0points

Load More Replies...

Chill guy havin a chill day 2 years ago

The guy who goes for every girl he meets *cough* Brock *cough* Pokemon anime *cough*

0points

Jodagoatisagoat 2 years ago

How about Adrien Agreste syndrome? When someone is blind to the other person's love and the other person does the same to the other persons alter ego? And it's obvious

0points

Xottel 2 years ago

I know that books inspired movies but I hate it when I read scenes that are clearly meant to be on screen rather than in a book. Additionally writers get the chance to convey emotions, thoughts etc, yet some will still just describe what the reader 'sees'.

0points

DC 2 years ago

The mad scientist. Some are actually well made and stuff, but ... usually, they're just a means to get the heroic main characters unreasonable technology they developed in their spare time, after having automated each and any daily'ing anyway and don't really know what to do with themselves, uh, well, just let's develop something on our own that like safes the world. But, they have some sort of quirky ritual that isn't to be disturbed by anything! The world must wait another day if the last and final screw wasn't screwed in when it was time to pray to Nikola Tesla or something along those lines ... they suck.

0points

POST

Eunice Probert 2 years ago

15points

Nicholas Yu 2 years ago

11points

MimSorensson 2 years ago (edited)

2points

Load More Replies...

Chich 2 years ago

Although it has nothing to do with the main story, a love interest HAS to get woven in.

8points

Rocky Mom 2 years ago

Right, like of course they're gonna have a thing now. Uff.

0points

Load More Replies...

Will Cable 2 years ago

6points

MimSorensson 2 years ago (edited)

4points

Load More Replies...

Kate Ylst 2 years ago

That being bisexual atomatically means a person is incapable of monogamy and that's totally ok and even expected.

6points

Bill Evs 2 years ago

4points

pusheen buttercup 2 years ago

Pet peeve- main character meets other main character and is instantly attracted and immediately describes their body in detail.

3points

Thenatural 3 years ago

The black world weary police captain who'll only give you 24hrs to solve a case that has puzzled the departments greatest criminologists for months because the mayors on his "ass!"

3points

Papaya Budgie 2 years ago

2points

CD Mills 2 years ago

1point

CalamityOne 2 years ago

Being smart/brilliant in whatever field has to also mean the character is also socially awkward/inept; i.e. "The Big Bang Theory", "Bones", etc.

1point

El Dee 2 years ago

These describe every film I've ever seen. Film writing appears to be lazy, misogynistic, homophobic etc etc..

1point

Anjelika 2 years ago

1point

JoJo Bautista 2 years ago

0points

Ronnie Beaton 2 years ago

How about the ever popular "Cop/detective takes most of the rest of the book to work out something you did in chapter 2"?

0points

blatherskitenoir 2 years ago

The geniuses make overly complicated marble run mechanism thingies and spend their time doing rubic's cubes trope is annoying.

0points

Stefan 2 years ago

What kind of mediocre literature do you read ?

0points

Tobias Reaper 2 years ago

man and a woman thrust together in a situation against their will they always argue and at each throats except for intermittent moments of sexual tension inevitably end up together

0points

Iriané Marie Laurentwolff 2 years ago

This happens when you olny read from wattpad😂

0points

Jayne Kyra 2 years ago

I am SO happy none of these fit any of the books I love by my favourite author. For anyone interested: Simon R. Green and his Nightside and Secret Histories series are AMAZING!

0points

Just saying 2 years ago

0points

GFSTaylor 2 years ago

Read the original novel of The Poseidon Adventure. It's very good, and more complex (and less sterotyped) than the film based on it.

0points

Load More Replies...

Jennifer Germain 2 years ago

0points

JB 2 years ago

0points

Cindy RS 2 years ago

I stg JB, years ago, I had a cat that would throw up the milk every time. I finally figured it out. Stupid movies. 😑

0points

Load More Replies...

Chill guy havin a chill day 2 years ago

The guy who goes for every girl he meets *cough* Brock *cough* Pokemon anime *cough*

0points

Jodagoatisagoat 2 years ago

How about Adrien Agreste syndrome? When someone is blind to the other person's love and the other person does the same to the other persons alter ego? And it's obvious

0points

Xottel 2 years ago

0points

DC 2 years ago

0points

Related on Bored Panda

“I Hate It When…”: 30 Of The Worst Literature Tropes And Stock Characters Our Community Can’t Stand

Games

Aurelia!

Aurelia!

Gabrielė Malukaitė

Gabrielė Malukaitė