| abstract | - This trope is about that scene where someone is receiving, or has found, some important piece of information only to have --connection lost-- --connection reestablished-- then the battery gets plugged into --connection lost-- --connection reestablished-- then I said "But you're the second one!!" Man, everyone was so --connection lost-- --connection reestablished-- but undoubtedly, the most important part is when --connection lost-- There are a couple of variations on this trope: Type 1a: Some list of important information is being conveyed. Whether because of technical reasons (network failure, radio static, the tape breaks, the computer has experienced a psychotic break from reality, etc) or unintentional stupidity, some of the information is lost. Inevitably it is going to be the most important piece of information. It's the one single piece required to complete the task you are being given, or prevent you from being killed while performing the task. The last clear part of the message will invariably be something like "Under no circumstances should you ever..." or "It's vitally important that you..." Type 1b: There's a variation of this where it's the audience that's left in the dark, but in-universe everyone is clued in. The Planet Terror example below is this type. (Similar to Relax-O-Vision, but where that is obviously intentional, this is made to look purely accidental.) Type 2: You have some kind of communication or tome of information, part of which is missing or has been either intentionally or unintentionally redacted, leaving something much more mysterious, suggestive and/or humorous than the original could possibly have been. What you're left with is an accidental list of Noodle Implements with no instructions. Or a non-sequitur without the information that would have naturally linked Point A to Point Z and you are left wondering just exactly how the heck Point A and Point Z could possibly be connected. The SCP Foundation example below is this type. There is no reason not to mix the two in the same instance, as with the article intro. The keys to identifying this trope and distinguishing it from others are:
* You aren't simply missing necessary information to be discovered as with a puzzle or in context of a mystery.
* It's not a case of misunderstanding what was said or a translation error.
* The most important is that the recipient knows there is another piece and there is no way for them to get it; communication has effectively become a one-way street and they are getting all they are going to get without the chance to ask "Can you please repeat yourself?"
* It's nearly always used for the funny. Be sure your example meets the above qualifications before adding it. If it's a misunderstanding or if the recipient doesn't realize they don't have the full message, it's not this. In a best-case scenario you are left going "Huh?" in a worst-case scenario you are left holding a pair of wire snips and a dead cellphone saying, "Hello? It's still ticking. You just said 'Never ever do...' Never ever do what? Are you still there? It's started to make beep-beep noises now. Hello?" Can be caused by Sound Effect Bleep if there is No Fourth Wall. If people involved in a Noodle Incident reminisce, you can wind up with a Type 2 for outsiders listening in. Compare: Orphaned Punchline and Noodle Implements. His Name Is and Conveniently Interrupted Document are subtropes. Contrast: Lost in Translation where the information is all there, just interpreted wrongly. See also Distress Call, Electronic Speech Impediment, Translation: "Yes". Oh, and when using this trope, never, ever -- MySQL error A113 -- dbconn() -- unable to reestablish network connection. Please try again later Examples of Lost in Transmission include:
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