History Main / SelfDefenseless

Within ''VideoGame/DeusEx1'', one shot with the stun gun will only temporarily stun an opponent. A second (sometimes a third) is required to actually knock them unconscious. The pepper spray is even worse with the effect fading seconds later. The tranquilizer darts, on the other hand, can deliver InstantSedation if aimed at the head.

* Within ''VideoGame/DeusEx'', one shot with the stun gun will only temporarily stun an opponent. A second (sometimes a third) is required to actually knock them unconscious. The pepper spray is even worse with the effect fading seconds later. The tranquilizer darts, on the other hand, can deliver InstantSedation if aimed at the head.
** Averted in ''[[VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution Human Revolution]]'': one stun gun dart instantly renders unconscious any human enemy but one of the bosses, including augmented and heavily armored enemies that can survives dozens of gunshots. Even the bosses are temporarily disabled by it, as are security cameras, turrets, and ''[[HumongousMecha robots the size of cars.]]'' With enough darts for the thing you can even defeat the bosses by just [[{{Whoring}} using the thing over and over again.]] It's quite a useful weapon even for someone not explicitly going for a PacifistRun, though it may randomly kill some people (probably a bug, though maybe not considering how ridiculously powerful it would have to be).

* In an episode of ''Series/{{CSI}}'', a man was hit with some potent mace, yet kept running. Of course, the show does a 180 when he catches on fire after being tased, and of course dies.

* The original concept (and indeed an early stunt) for {{Jackass}} had JohnnyKnoxville hit with pepper spray, a taser gun and an electric prod. He states that the pepper spray is by far the worst.

* Averted in season one of ''Series/{{Daredevil}}'', when [[NonActionGuy Leland]] hits Matt with a stun gun to the neck and leaves him spasming on the ground. Played straight when he tries this again on [[ComicBook/TheKingpin Wilson Fisk]], since Fisk is a [[GeniusBruiser large man]] and so hopped up on UnstoppableRage that it only stuns him for a second or two.

Compare MyCarHatesMe and CellPhonesAreUseless, for other times when technology fails for the sake of drama.

* In ''VideoGame/MortalKombat'', Stryker's taser does minor damage and really only makes the opponent stumble back a bit. Though, frankly, when dealing with a cast who routinely shrug off missiles to the face, even that is pretty impressive.

* In the "Battle for Mahora" arc of ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'', Ku Fei is tased by a Chachamaru replica, only to shrug off the effects a few seconds later.

* [[RealityIsUnrealistic This trope]] has unfortunately given rise to numerous {{flame war}}s and debates as to whether tasers/pepper spray/etc are even effective for self defense. The fact that some companies willingly cut corners in the products order to save a little cash doesn't help.

* Averted in VampireTheRequiem. The Daeva clanbook has a mortal escape a vampiric pursuer with pepper spray.
* NightsBlackAgents explicitly carves out a special rule that specifically says vampires are immune to tasers. It even has a piece of art depicting a vampire shaking it off to accompany it. Although non-vampires can be beaten by self-defense weapons as per normal.

* Averted in season one of Daredevil, when [[NonActionGuy Leland]] hits Matt with a stun gun to the neck and leaves him spasming on the ground. Played straight when he tries this again on [[ComicBook/TheKingpin Wilson Fisk]], since Fisk is a [[GeniusBruiser large man]] and so hopped up on UnstoppableRage that it only stuns him for a second or two.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', a woman tries to use Pepper Spray on [[TheGrimReaper Grim]] out of fear, only for it to have no effect due to his [[DemBones undead nature]].

* In ''Anime/PsychoPass'': Nobuo Okura continued his violent actions despite getting tased by Kagari.

* ''Anime/PsychoPass'':
** Nobuo Okura continued his violent actions despite getting tased by Kagari.

* ''WesternAnimation/DanVs'': Dan is immune to not only mace, but also tear gas (he doesn't even notice it when he's covered with so much that it's causes other people to have trouble seeing and breathing).

* In the season one finale of Daredevil, Leland jabs a stun gun into [[ComicBook/TheKingpin Wilson Fisk's]] neck, but Fisk is such a big guy and so hopped up on UnstoppableRage it only stuns him for a second or two.

* In ''Film/CrankHighVoltage'', protagonist Chev Chelios is tasered by police officers, which does absolutely nothing in preventing him from turning around, stealing their guns, and beating them all down. [[VoodooShark Questionably]] [[JustifiedTrope justified]] in that [[YouFailBiologyForever Chev's heart was removed and replaced with a high-powered electronic battery]], and the [[FeedItWithFire taser blast only powered him up]].

* On ''Series/ShamelessUS'' hears a ScaryBlackMan claim that he can stay on his feet after being tasered. Frankly does not believe him (most likely because he has been tasered a fair bit himself) and bets him $10,000 that he will go down if Frank tasers him. The man is able to withstand the taser and Frank is forced to make a run for it since he has no money.

* Averted in ''Film/IronMan2''. After the [[ActionGirl Black Widow]] mopped the floor with most of Justin Hammer's goons, she effectively dispatched the last one with a spray of mace. PlayedForLaughs.

-->'''Thor:''' You dare threaten the god of thunder with such a puny weap--" ''[*TZZZZZ* *WHUMP*]''

* ''Anime/Psycho-Pass'':