Talk:pantomime villain

Pedro Porro quotation
I've removed a quotation that was first added for use #2, and then re-added for use #1. In my reason (both removals), I indicated that the wordplay in the quote drawing on both uses makes it not just non-indicative as a reference quote, but also harmful to understanding, in that it obfuscates both uses. It should be clear that different users thinking it can apply to both the different usages supports this.

Source: "Scott McTominay earns place in history as Scotland stun Spain" Quotation: Pedro Porro was a pantomime villain on the night in the eyes of both home and visiting fans - more of that later - slipping on a patch of wet turf to allow Andy Robertson to steal in and scarper to the byline.

Use #1 ("A person who has become a designated villain, often seen as cartoonishly villainous.") is common in sport, often referring to arrogant players or chaotic referees. A key part is that they are genuinely unliked but seen as harmless. Use #2 (A character archetype in pantomime entertainment.) simply refers to this type of character. Pedro Porro is a Spanish footballer, so it would seem like we are dealing with #1 - however, the quotation doesn't indicate actually being disliked, just a goof, so it can't be that. He slipped, probably in the way a stage performer playing a pantomime villain character (#2) would. But he's not actually playing a character, so it can't be that.

Some sport journalist got creative here, subverting the use of #1 by bringing in elements of #2, and it is not an example of either. Kingsif (talk) 21:33, 16 April 2023 (UTC)


 * I don't particularly agree with the removal of the sports citation (because seeing how things moved, or are moving, or in the future will move, into various figurative senses, is interesting and sometimes citation-valuable). But I don't care enough to dig it up and re-add it. (Wonderfool loves to put sports citations in every entry anyway.) I do think Kingsif's changes are a net positive. Hooray! Equinox ◑ 02:35, 20 April 2023 (UTC)