Why the mystery!?

[Crescent Pulsar S]

This is about something used in fiction in general, not just fan-fiction, though I usually see it used in original fiction. I wasn't sure which forum to put this in, since it's so general, so...

Anyway, I often encounter this plot device when a character is bound to experience some kind of change (like a physical transformation, or gaining some kind of power) at a significant/particular time: those who know about it and/or expect it (usually family) never bother to prepare them for it or inform them about it until after the fact, at which point it only serves as an explanation rather than anything remotely helpful. Where is the logic in that? What harm would there be in preparing them for it, if not years in advance then hours away?

I just can't make sense of it. It seems like a glaringly artificial way to have the character experience something unexpected, or get into certain situations that could have otherwise been avoided entirely with a little common sense, and often from people who should have enough intelligence (and possibly experience) to know what to do in order to prevent said situation from happening.

[Yando]

The way I see most of those situations is that the family isn't 100% sure that they will go through the change/get the power due to any number of reasons that they saw or didn't see while they where younger. In not telling them about what might happen they let the kid think they are perfectly normal. Instead of if they told them what to expect and it didn't happen they run the risk of the child seeing themselves as a disappointment to the family. But if they do end up receiving whatever it is that they might get it opens up a can of worms about the child not trusting what the rest of the family says.

It in my mind is the same as if you expect your child to have a health issue that will almost certainly kill them at a certain age. do you tell them and have them live life with the clock running out or do you not tell them and have the thing sneak up on them. Both have good and bad to them but you can't know what would be the best choice until it is too late to make it.

[Ellen Kuhfeld]

When it comes time to give The Talk, most parents approach slowly, with great nervousness and caution, until their hand is forced. I don't think I ever got The Talk. Why should it be any different for superpowers or werewolfism?

[PCHeintz72]

This is about something used in fiction in general, not just fan-fiction, though I usually see it used in original fiction. I wasn't sure which forum to put this in, since it's so general, so...

Bah... this is used in anime/manga all the time. Some examples:

Tenchi Muyo: The Grandfather could have really told Tenchi he was part alien from the start, would have saved some trouble.

Ranma 1/2: Did Soun and Genma have to wait until the day of the engagement to tell their kids about it? No consideration was given at all to potential they might have had boyfriends/girlfriends already.

Evangelion: Gendo had 10 years in which to tell/prep his son to be an Eva pilot, for sure that is what was done with Asuka/Rei... So why wait until the ceiling was collapsing on the day of the attacks...

Love Hina: Why did Granny Hina have to be an old manipulative battle axe in entrapping Keitaro into the position of manager at the Hinata dorms...

Full Metal Panic... did they *really* believe a girl would not suspect a clandestine spy operation centered on her after all the evidence she came across?

Mahoromatic or Jinki Extend or Hanaukyo Maid Team anyone?

Yes, most of these all have in series explanations, good or bad... my point was they were done. Other examples exist.

Some series go out of the way to lay it all down up front: Look at Maburaho or Sukiban Deka.

[Spica75]

It seems like a glaringly artificial way to have the character experience something unexpected, or get into certain situations that could have otherwise been avoided entirely with a little common sense

It is.

Or worse, it´s just another case of writer lazyness.

(edit: damnit i really should get a better keyboard, it´s amazing how many typos i´m doing today)

When it comes time to give The Talk, most parents approach slowly, with great nervousness and caution, until their hand is forced. I don't think I ever got The Talk. Why should it be any different for superpowers or werewolfism?

Now THAT is actually a logical explanation. It´s just a pity that most authors ruins that by specifically telling "us" that it was a choice made rather than .

Bah... this is used in anime/manga all the time. Some examples:

Tenchi Muyo: The Grandfather could have really told Tenchi he was part alien from the start, would have saved some trouble.

Can´t say i know the series THAT good, but didn´t he expect the heritage to effectively "not matter much"?(at least for much longer)

Ranma 1/2: Did Soun and Genma have to wait until the day of the engagement to tell their kids about it? No consideration was given at all to potential they might have had boyfriends/girlfriends already.

Yeah, REAL smooth...

Evangelion: Gendo had 10 years in which to tell/prep his son to be an Eva pilot, for sure that is what was done with Asuka/Rei... So why wait until the ceiling was collapsing on the day of the attacks...

Because he´s such a genius that he HAS to plot behind everyones back to make things happen like he want them, or he wouldn´t feel like such a badass evil overlord!

Love Hina: Why did Granny Hina have to be an old manipulative battle axe in entrapping Keitaro into the position of manager at the Hinata dorms...

IIRC, she did seem to expect him to simply do the job.

Full Metal Panic... did they *really* believe a girl would not suspect a clandestine spy operation centered on her after all the evidence she came across?

No, really?

[Crescent Pulsar S]

When it comes time to give The Talk, most parents approach slowly, with great nervousness and caution, until their hand is forced. I don't think I ever got The Talk. Why should it be any different for superpowers or werewolfism?

In many instances, these powers and/or transformations are supposed to remain secret to others at large, and not preparing them could potentially be asking for things to blow up in their face. Like, say, someone reaches the age of sweet sixteen (I don't know why that's a trend...) and gets access to magic, but without proper training and understanding they use magic unintentionally and cause all sorts of grief. Or, say they become some mythical creature and freak out, and end up exposing themselves to the public.

I think I can accept the, "well, you wouldn't believe me," excuse, but in many of the cases I came across there was a means of providing adequate proof, yet -- to my utter disbelief -- said proof was never issued. It's just unbelievable. And when it comes down to something that will have a large impact on someone's life, it's irresponsible and only gets worse from there.

[PCHeintz72]

Can't say i know the series THAT good, but didn't he expect the heritage to effectively "not matter much"?(at least for much longer)

In regards to Tenchi... depending on the continuity no, the grandfather was hiding out on earth, and simply did not feel about informing even his kin of what he and they were. So in one continuity, lack of knowledge and training caused tenchi to loose his mother Atchika

In another, he did not know anything was up until Kagato attacked and stole Ryoko. Even then the Grandfather did not help but told him it was omething he must do.

Yeah, REAL smooth...

Well... that was Genma and Soun for you. Sadly Soun tends to get overlooked, despite knowing of Ryogas curse and setting up multiple engagements for his daughters like Genma...

Because he's such a genius that he HAS to plot behind everyones back to make things happen like he want them, or he wouldn't feel like such a badass evil overlord!

The in canon explanation was Gendo and Fuyutski wanted Shinji to fail, so the Evangelion would go berserk... They bet the fate of humanity on the idea Yui cared enough to intervene directly, rather than train him to fend off the angel.

IIRC, she did seem to expect him to simply do the job.

Granny Hina is a sore point with me, as I view her as the most evil and backstabbing character in the Love Hina story due to her manipulations and entrapment... but fanon rarely calls her out on it, as she is generally safely gone when the fireworks begin...

I can PM my notes on it, but i'll not post all that here as it would be too off topic.

In many instances, these powers and/or transformations are supposed to remain secret to others at large, and not preparing them could potentially be asking for things to blow up in their face. Like, say, someone reaches the age of sweet sixteen (I don't know why that's a trend...) and gets access to magic, but without proper training and understanding they use magic unintentionally and cause all sorts of grief. Or, say they become some mythical creature and freak out, and end up exposing themselves to the public.

It should be noted Tenchi lost his mom in the first Tenchi movie due to that. Katuhiko decided never to inform his daughter of her abilities, her family history, or train in anything other than Kendo... she was unprepared for Kains attack and very nearly died... Washu erased the memories, but the huge untrained outpouring of her Jurai energy shortened her life so she lived long enough to only see Tenchi born and get to a few years old.

[Noy Telinú]

First, DRAMA! If things go off smoothly, then people won't watch. (LIES!)

Secondly, procrastination. Why do it today?

Third, nervousness. Not only of how to say it, but the awkwardness, when should it be done, will they tell others, etcetera.

And lastly, because people are stupid.

[Pale Wolf]

Evangelion: Gendo had 10 years in which to tell/prep his son to be an Eva pilot, for sure that is what was done with Asuka/Rei... So why wait until the ceiling was collapsing on the day of the attacks...

The in canon explanation was Gendo and Fuyutski wanted Shinji to fail, so the Evangelion would go berserk... They bet the fate of humanity on the idea Yui cared enough to intervene directly, rather than train him to fend off the angel.

This one actually makes sense. It wasn't the plan. He was trying to keep Shinji away from that crap until his hand was forced by the Angel attacking while Rei was injured.

Gendo was never a chessmaster, he's a con man who just rolls well with the punches.

That explanation is fanon, not canon - it's never actually shown outright what the reasoning was, but the implication of 'I was trying to keep him away from this' is pretty plain.