Let me rephrase that...
Misunderstandings occur. That's inevitable. And when they do occur, the results can often turn out to be quite humorous. It should come as no surprise that the MSPA authors act like tiny, malevolant genies, twisting the commands given to them in whatever way they can - either by accident or intentionally. Hilarity usually ensues. Often followed by the person who gave the misunderstood command backtracking and clarifying what they meant.
Examples[]
- Archipelago - When told to "call out", Alex actually calls "OUT!"
- Blank Slate (Adventure) - A rare role reversal. In response to a vague command, the author says "ERROR - DEFINE X". A smart-alecky reader gives an official dictionary definition of the letter.
- Careers in Religion - The trope-namer. Jean is commanded to "hit the stairs", and does so literally.
- Complexity 101 - Similar to the title case, the protagonist is told at one point to "hit the elevator". Instead of trying it, he subverts it with a You Can't Do That, Stupid! and uses the elevator instead.
- Hoofstuck - When someone wrote for Fluttershy to "feint from shock", other forumgoers voted that it be taken at face value.
- Leak - "You try to walk through the entrance. Unfortunately you may have taken that a little bit too literally. The wall seems to mock you with its solidity."
- Mirror Image - A reader tells Kyle to "flip" a sheet of paper, and he gives it the finger.
- Mechanism - "Tap on the floor and walls." The suggester was NOT referring to tap-dancing.
- Overtime - "Take a gander at the bookshelf." "You cannot take a gander, it is still but a gosling!"
- Pulp Archaeologist Adventure - "Fire moustached Nazi!" Obviously meant "Fire at the moustached Nazi", but Franz states that his gun shoots only bullets, not moustached Nazis.
- Scribblenauts Adventure - Many examples where there's a difference between what you expect to summon with a given word and what you actually do summon. For example, "BOAT" can refer to an actual nautical vessel... or to a gravy boat.
- Snow! - When told to listen to a CD, Jainy actually puts it to her ear. (Although, to be fair, the fact that she had no access to a CD player may have contributed to this action.)
- Threnody - Riley is given a big, long sentence to say ("Look at him, just sitting there..."). Instead of saying it, he does it. (In this particular case the trope was invoked by accident.)
- Vague and Uninteresting Adventure - The radio is told to "flip off" the duck. He uses the duck as a pommel horse and makes a beautiful flip. He even sticks the landing.
- You Are Here - "Look in chest for KEY." The reader was referring to the treasure chest in the room, but instead Spiff takes off his shirt and looks at his own chest. Arguably one of the adventure's most famous moments.