Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Main / CompensatingForSomething

Go To

1%% Image kept on page per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1640013110052093800
2%% Previous thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1357487587055740100
3%% Please do not change or remove either without starting a new thread.
4%%
5[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_jvpiq4u_4648.jpg]]]]
6[[caption-width-right:350:It's not the size that counts, it's how you use it!\
7[-[[http://www.deviantart.com/art/Final-Fantasy-7-Wallpaper-23867253 Image]] by [[http://snafudave.deviantart.com/ SnafuDave]]]]-]
8%%
9%% Caption selected per above IP thread. Please do not replace or remove without discussion here:
10%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900
11%%
12
13->''"How come you park a tank outside the studio?"\
14"'Cause I got a really small penis?"''
15-->-- '''[[Creator/JagexGamesStudio Mark Gerhard]]''' during an interview
16
17Like building an EvilTowerOfOminousness or wielding a {{BFS}} or {{BFG}}, there are just some things that have to make other characters wonder if a male character must be compensating for certain [[TeenyWeenie other inadequacies]].
18
19Despite the joke, sometimes [[BiggerIsBetter bigger really is better]], in a non-Freudian way, especially in fights. In these cases, you're not Compensating for Something, you're ''sane''. [[CrazyPrepared Usually.]]
20
21[[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory Theorized by some]] to be the reason HeroesPreferSwords.
22
23If you actually ''have'' a [[TeenyWeenie small penis]], it would unfortunately make you an {{Acceptable Target|s}}.
24
25See also PhallicWeapon, MidlifeCrisisCar. This can be GenderInverted, though rarely, if a woman is trying to compensate for something like ACupAngst by padding her breasts to invoke BuxomBeautyStandard or [[MyBiologicalClockIsTicking a ticking Biological Clock]]. And of course, a similar phenomenon can occur with male ''or'' female examples of TheNapoleon, who often try to compensate for [[HeightAngst lack of inches in a different context]] (cf. SmallGirlBigGun).
26
27The examples are limited to InUniverse. '''Please do not add your own speculations.'''
28----
29!!Administrivia/InUniverseExamplesOnly
30
31[[foldercontrol]]
32
33[[folder:Advertising]]
34* You see those tossers and hoons on the road and think, "Gee, are they compensating for something?" Well one New South Wales [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgV9Oa6z5wY ad]] indicates yes, they do.
35[[/folder]]
36
37[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
38* It's explicitly stated by the narrator. K (Vice's master) from ''Manga/KarakuridoujiUltimo'' buys impressive vehicles and weapons to make up for his low intelligence and lack of physical power.
39* Uzu Sanageyama of ''Anime/KillLaKill'' wears a uniform with three large metal spikes jutting from the belt, and his [[spoiler:Nudist Beach]] attire has three suggestively placed guns instead of the usual one. Now combine that with his canonically confirmed [[TeenyWeenie "size"]], and you got a guy covering for some obvious insecurities.
40* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'': The war veteran in "NIGHT CRUISE" appears to be a potential "lone gunman" assassin, brandishing a [[HandCannon Desert Eagle]] and fantasizing about killing a politician. When he's thrown out of a brothel after failing to perform with a prostitute, his pistol is taken off him by a Yakuza thug whom he cowers in front of. At the end of the episode, we discover that his lower regions are prosthetic thanks to a nasty STD virus he caught during the war, and he'll never carry out his assassination fantasies.
41* In the ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' spin-off prequel ''To Rule Flame'', the prostitute Yumi mocked Shishio, Soujirou, and Houji when she first met them, implying they used their swords to compensate for something.
42* Female example in ''Literature/SwordArtOnlineAlternativeGunGaleOnline''. Karen Kohiruimaki is explicitly ashamed of her [[HeightAngst unnatural height]] and [[NoGuyWantsAnAmazon lack of feminine charm]], so when she fires up GGO, LLENN is deliberately made to be as small, cute, and pink as possible.
43* ''Manga/CityHunter'' has a variation with a one-shot character who, upon seeing Ryo's [[GagPenis giant erection]], reacts by hypnotizing him and ''everyone in town'' into believing he has a ''bigger'' penis... And then, once Ryo realizes the truth, hypnotizes him into [[TheLoinsSleepTonight impotence]]. [[GroinAttack He got a snapping turtle in his throusers pocket]] for this.
44[[/folder]]
45
46[[folder:Comedy]]
47* In ''AudioPlay/TheUnfinishedSpellingErrorsOfBolkien'', Martin Pearson notes that Saruman's EvilTowerOfOminousness is completely hollow, and wonders if he could be compensating for something.
48* In his "We Like War" routine, Creator/GeorgeCarlin says that this is the whole reason for wars.
49-->'''George Carlin:''' Men are terrified that their pricks are inadequate and so they have to compete with one another to feel better about themselves and since war is the ultimate competition, basically men are killing each other in order to improve their self-esteem. You do not have to be a historian or political scientist to see the "bigger dick foreign policy theory" at work. It sounds like this: What? They have bigger dicks?! BOMB THEM! And off course the bombs and the rockets and the bullets are all shaped like dicks. It is a subconscious need to project the penis into other peoples' affairs. It is called FUCKING WITH PEOPLE!
50* Creator/ChristopherTitus briefly discusses this mindset in ''The Voice In My Head'':
51-->'''Titus:''' I don't even know-- what is your deal with that, ladies? What is your problem with that? "Oh my god, look at his car, he's gonna be like that!" Does that mean anyone driving a Prius is hung like a bear, is that what that means? You better be, you're driving a Prius.
52[[/folder]]
53
54[[folder:Comics]]
55* ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} once had a gun [[LampshadeHanging actually called]] "The Compensator", as per the quote:
56-->'''Deadpool:''' Hey, y'know what money can buy? A [[BlingBlingBang solid gold gun]]. That shoots diamond bullets. I call it "The Compensator". Whatta ya think?
57* Herr Starr from ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'' develops an obsession for large handguns [[spoiler:after he gets his junk bitten off by a trained dog]]. He poses in front of the mirror holding one in front of his crotch and goes: Doom cock. DOOM COCK! DOOOOOOM COOOOOOCK!!!!!!!!!
58* In ''Comicbook/DoomPatrol'', one minor villain was an impotent man with a... size problem... who designed a phallus-shaped multi-purpose crotch weapon and dubbed himself "Codpiece" before a short-lived crime spree. He was defeated by Coagula, a woman with the power to turn liquids to solids ''and vice versa''. Guess how?
59* Subtly [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the second issue of Volume 4 of ''ComicBook/AtomicRobo''. Japan's real-life Franchise/SuperSentai team has a giant rail gun, and this exchange occurs in the same panel as a shot of it being delivered by an equally-giant helicopter:
60-->'''Pilot 1:''' <Careful, wind's acting up.>\
61'''Pilot 2:''' <Compensating.>
62* Megatron denies it in ''ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'':
63-->'''Megatron''': Enough's enough. Two hours listening to you tell my why I used to wear a giant weapon on my arm. I hate to disappoint you, Rung, but sometimes a fusion cannon is just a fusion cannon.
64* ''X-Men 2099''
65** Suicide King is a dwarf who loves huge {{Hand Cannon}}s. X-Man Metalhead asks if he's compensating for his "size", but the King takes it in stride -- apparently he's heard that one before.
66** Broken Haiku's bodyguard Ulysses is very similar in stature and armament. Xi'an calls him a "tired cliché": little man with a big gun,
67* Minor ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' villain Barrage constantly gloats about his massive ArmCannon. Maxima asks, "Why do so many Earth males measure their masculinity by the size of their weapons?"
68* [[https://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2020/09/11 This]] ''Comicstrip/PearlsBeforeSwine'' strip implies Rat is compensating for something.
69* A non-sexual example in ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen''. [[Characters/MarvelComicsSabretooth Sabretooth]] has a reputation as the "poor man's ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}" and feels deeply insecure about being compared to his rival. As such he had ''four'' adamantium claws implanted in each arm.
70[[/folder]]
71
72[[folder:Fan Works]]
73* Sad variation in ''Fanfic/{{Hivefled}}''; Eridan was sleeping around as much as possible with the fleet to compensate for the fact that [[spoiler:he found sex repulsive and terrifying, and if anyone suspected he wasn't perfectly normal he would be killed]].
74* Trixie likes to take potshots at the villain, Lord Umbra, with this remark in ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/166203/unlikely-allies Unlikely Allies]]'', referring to his imposing fortress and the immense beast he commands, respectively. [[spoiler:He has plenty to compensate for, actually.]] She also thinks that Twilight is compensating for something else with her massive magic power.
75* In the Someguy Series of mods for ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', there is a character named Charlie Halfcocked. It's an apt name, as he's prone to fits of anger, but also because he literally has half a penis; the other half got shot off. His weapon of choice is an absurdly large, seven-foot long Antimaterial rifle named The Penetrator.
76* In ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItxeFoAM8a0 Every Class is Different]]'', the Spy accuses the Engineer of this, citing the Engie's [[TheTurretMaster "ridiculously overpowered guns"]].
77* ''[[Creator/DetsniyOffSkiword Kid Icarus Uprising 2: Hades Revenge]]'' makes this joke in relation to [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud Strafe's sword]], to the point of calling it a "dicksword".
78* In ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'', Makarov's airship is absurdly huge and looks like it is made of solid gold, causing Princess Cadance to make this joke when she sees it.
79* In Xanauzumaki's ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]: [[AbridgedSeries the Abridged Series]]'', Ganondorf wishes to take over the kingdom [[spoiler:to compensate for his [[TeenyWeenie unbelievably small penis]]. His logic behind this is that if he can't have a big dick, then he shall '''BECOME''' one! To quote the Great Deku Tree, "You see, Ganondorf's penis is so small that the only way to compensate for it would be to obtain the powers of a god and [[TakeOverTheWorld conquer the entire kingdom of Hyrule]]."]]
80* ''[[http://tantagreen.deviantart.com/art/Compensation-156790992 Compensation]]'' by [=TantaGreen=] on Website/DeviantArt, about them ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}''. Because, what if [[HumongousMecha Mecha]] isn't [[HumongousMecha Humongous]] enough?
81* In ''Fanfic/ThisBites'', Soundbite tells a variation of this to "Big Knife" Sarquiss; that his knife isn't big enough for him to compensate with. Even [[EtTuBrute members of Bellamy's crew]] [[ActuallyPrettyFunny thought that was funny]].
82* In the ''FanFic/{{Dangerverse}}'', Draco Black discusses this trope with Lucius Malfoy in regard to the 18-inch Malfoy Family Wand.
83* Fanfic/ThePalaververse: {{Invoked|Trope}} with the names of the three new enormous, top-of-the-line and very heavily armed dreadnaughts of the Asinial navy: the ''Fear Nowt'', the ''Actually, Fear Lots'' and the ''No,'' You're ''Compensating''.
84* ''Captain Proton and the Planet of Lesbians''. After Queen Sapphia reveals how the [[LadyLand women of Venus got rid of all their men]], Proton accuses them of having "a classic case of [[{{Pun}} Venus Envy]]."
85* {{Discussed|Trope}} in ''Fanfic/WilhuffTarkinHeroOfTheRebellion'', in which Tarkin uses it as evidence that [[EvenEvilHasStandards the Emperor is not a paedophile]]: according to him, a paedophile is trying to compensate conscious or unconscious doubts about themselves by dominating their victims, " and if Palpatine has one ''uncorrupted'' virtue that is an unshakeable belief in himself".
86* In ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'', Raditz unzips his fly after Goku and Piccolo remove their weighted clothes because he concludes that nudity makes you stronger on Earth. Piccolo observes, "So [[BarbarianLonghair that hair]] does compensate for something."
87* Outright admitted in ''WebVideo/RealTimeFandub''[='=]s ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' Team Dark run. Eggman is [[LousyLoversAreLosers unable to sexually satisfy his wife]] due to his oddly-shaped (and painful) penis. When he finds out that she's been cheating on him with [[SleepsWithEveryoneButYou nearly everyone in the cast but him]], he [[EmasculatedCuckold snaps]], summons a KillSat he directly refers to as his penis, and declares he's going to "fuck the Earth" with it.
88* In ''Fanfic/IgnitedSpark'', upon finally meeting Katsuki at the entrance exam, Itsuka notes that she had thought that Ochako was overstating it, but then realizes that Katsuki really did have 'small dick energy'. Katsuki does not take that well.
89* ''Fanfic/VowOfNudity'': One of the many insinuations Haara uses to get under Petrichor's skin. The older titan in one story also suggests that his younger brother's tyranny comes in part due to size insecurities.
90* ''Fanfic/TruePotential'': During their first meeting, Etoro smirks and asks Hidan if the latter's scythe is compensating for something or if it's just 'absolutely necessary' for the Akatsuki member to have something like that for his fighting style. This does not put Hidan in a good mood.
91[[/folder]]
92
93[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
94* In the original ''WesternAnimation/IceAge1'', Manny is introduced going in the opposite direction of the migrating herd. A ''Moeritherium'' shouts at him to "MOVE YOUR ISSUES OFF THE ROAD!" Manny responds "If my trunk was that small, I wouldn't draw attention to myself!"
95* ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'':
96** The [[WesternAnimation/Shrek1 first movie]] includes this exact phrase as a joke, with Shrek talking to Donkey about Lord Farquaad's giant castle. Kids take away the meaning of [[TheNapoleon compensating for being short]], and [[ParentalBonus adults take away]] the [[TeenyWeenie other]]. The less innocent interpretation is apparently how Donkey understood the comment, as when he later reports it to Fiona he adds "which I think means he has a really--" before Shrek silences him mid-sentence.
97** Shrek later reprises this joke in ''WesternAnimation/ShrekFourD'' (the UsefulNotes/ThreeDMovie that plays at Ride/UniversalStudios) upon seeing Lord Farquaad's particularly massive grave site.
98[[/folder]]
99
100[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
101* In ''Film/StrangerThanFiction'', this trope is invoked in reference to a double-necked guitar.
102* There's a rather long monologue in ''Film/MButterfly'' (a {{Deconstruction}} of ''Theatre/MadameButterfly'' and many Asian Stereotypes that's very vaguely based on a true event) related by the protagonist that his ex-girlfriend said that boils down to this: "Big Cars, Big Buildings, and all the great, big inventions are done by the guys with the smallest dicks."
103-->"Say I'm a guy with a small weenie. I'm gonna take over this BIIIIIIIG country, or build this really TALLLLLL building, or write this really LOOOOOOOOONG book, so the other guys don't know, right? But the problem is, you're still wearing clothes, so you conquer the country or whatever, but you're still wearing clothes, so no one can prove who has the bigger weenie."
104* Discussed in ''Film/ImGonnaGitYouSucka'', when a {{Mook}} questions why the heroes have such bigger guns than they do; his compatriot replies, "It's a phallic thing, I dunno."
105* ''Film/Titanic1997'': Ismay brags that the ''Titanic'' is the largest manmade mobile object in history, and says he named her so to express her "sheer size". Rose is unimpressed and asks "Do you know of [[UsefulNotes/SigmundFreud Doctor Freud]], Mr. Ismay? His ideas about the male preoccupation with size might be of particular interest to you".
106* In ''Film/UndercoverBrother'', after noticing the size of Undercover Brother's car, hair, and jewelry, Sista Girl believes that he is "overcompensating for something." And of course, there's the matter of his "big, black, fuzzy balls" hanging from his car's rear view mirror.
107* From ''Film/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime'':
108-->'''Amar:''' ''[to a Hashansin warrior with a huge sword]'' You know what they say about men with big swords... ''[bends pinky finger]''
109* In the pre-credits sequence from ''Film/{{Goldfinger}}'', a girl asks Film/JamesBond why he always carries a gun. He just shrugs and says he has a "slight inferiority complex".
110* Averted in the 1987 movie version of ''Franchise/{{Dragnet}}'':
111-->'''Connie Swail:''' ''[who has just been rescued from becoming a virgin sacrifice]'' How come his is so much bigger than yours?\
112'''Officer Joe Friday:''' Miss?\
113'''Connie Swail:''' The gun.\
114'''Officer Joe Friday:''' I've never needed more.
115* In the first sequel to ''Film/PoliceAcademy2TheirFirstAssignment'', it is revealed that gun-obsessive Tackleberry is still a virgin.
116* In ''Film/{{Taken}}'', Creator/LiamNeeson's character implies this is what his ex-wife's new man is doing when pointing out all the ways to rescue the girls that involve him utilizing his wealth.
117* ''Film/Interceptor2022''. While threatening to unleash his stolen nuclear missiles, RogueSoldier Alexander Kessel tries during his MotiveRant to get Corporal Shah to say something bad about the United States. Shah responds that he's seen Kessel in the base showers and can guess where his obsession with missiles came from. So thanks to Kessel pulling a DoNotAdjustYourSet the entire world knows he has a TeenyWeenie.
118* In ''Film/IronSky'', The absurdly large Götterdämmerung moon fortress, as pointed out by Vivian.
119--> '''Vivian:''' [Klaus] must sure have the smallest dick in the universe.
120* The entire message of ''Film/DrStrangelove'' in one sentence: "Men make war to prove they have big dicks and it'll destroy the world now that there are nuclear weapons." In particular, GeneralRipper launches WorldWarIII specifically to compensate for his own sexual impotence, which he has blamed on the Soviets using InsaneTrollLogic.
121* In ''Film/FreddyVsJason'', Kia tries to distract Freddy by trash talking him. Among other things, she says that the knives on Freddy's glove are probably his way of compensating for the obvious. She also notes that in contrast to him, Jason wields [[BiggerIsBetterInBed a huge machete]] instead. [[spoiler: She meets said machete a few moments later]].
122* What Tony thinks about all the guns strapped on the War Machine armor in ''Film/IronMan2''.
123* Adrian from ''Film/PainAndGain'', who gets involved to pay for ways to make his penis work again.
124* ''Film/DeathProof''. Lee and Abernathy watch Stuntman Mike burn rubber out of the service station in his Dodge Charger R/T 500 and conclude, "Little dick." Given that he gets his kicks by [[PhallicWeapon killing women with his car]], and is later shown sitting with the hood ornament between his legs, they may be right.
125* Joey, the resident {{Jerkass}} in ''Film/TenThingsIHateAboutYou'', drives a very flashy large car, and is revealed to have a very small penis.
126* A chase scene in ''Film/NeedForSpeed'' begins with Julia (who's driving) and Tobey getting boxed in on a narrow road; a car carrying a shotgunner is pressing them forward, while two big off-road vehicles come at them head-on, blocking the road. Tobey advises Julia to drift onto the shoulder, but [[GameOfChicken Julia aims at the more blinged-out off-roader]], pointing out various mods the driver uses to make up for his "inferiority complex". She's proven right when the off-roader swerves at the last second to avoid getting hit and runs into a cliff.
127* Colonel Richard Strickland from ''Film/TheShapeOfWater'' is a veritable study in Freudian overcompensation; he is driven to depravity by his bland, mediocre home life; he conforms obsessively to societal standards of masculinity (namely regarding [[ARealManIsAKiller violence]], [[AManIsAlwaysEager sexuality]], and [[SmallNameBigEgo "being in charge"]]); he's [[GeneralRipper aggressively preoccupied with asserting his dominance over others]] and [[HeManWomanHater proving his superiority to women]] (even having a perverse sexual attraction to women who don't talk); he [[PhallicWeapon carries around a long cattle prod]] as his weapon of choice (even calling it a "dingle" at one point); he [[MidlifeCrisisCar buys a fancy new Cadillac to feel better about himself]]; and he [[ProfessionalButtKisser desperately craves the approval of his superior officer]].
128* In a Russian GagDub of ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheTwoTowers'', when Sarumian (his name was changed to make him seem Armenian) is looking at Sauron's house via a spy satellite. He notes how much bigger it is than his own and references this trope.
129* ''Film/CharliesAngels2000'': Corwin says some people accused him of compensating for a weak libido when he entered the racing business and he fired them for it. The people he tells about it laugh until he explains it wasn't a joke.
130[[/folder]]
131
132[[folder:Jokes]]
133* There is a joke about a man who wants to buy a gun. He tries every model in the shop, but always finds something wrong --not big enough, not shiny enough, wrong balance... In the end, the shop owner gives him a note and says "Here is my brother's address, he can help you." Once the man leaves, the assistant asks "Who's your brother, a private armorer?" The owner says "Nah, he's a sexopathologist."
134* It's a common joke, both online and in real life, that men in ownership of [[HummerDinger a very large souped-up truck]] is doing this.
135* The bigger the car, the smaller the penis. The bigger the shoes, the bigger the penis. No wonder people are so [[MonsterClown terrified of clowns]].
136[[/folder]]
137
138[[folder:Literature]]
139* Erik Scott de Bie once mentioned a trend in his books: "[[http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12551#267416 I just got why all my annoying NPC wizard villains carried around blasting scepters... compensating, you know.]]"
140* Used hilariously in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Harry has a standard revolver (it's really the only gun he can use due to being a WalkingTechbane), while PsychoForHire Kincaid has an entire trunkful of weapons of all different sizes, all clearly built for this exact sort of mission. Harry looks at Kincaid's guns, looks at his gun, then looks Kincaid in the eye and says "[[InvokedTrope My dick is bigger than your dick.]]"
141** In ''Literature/WhiteNight'', Harry questions Elaine's use of a [[ChainPain chain]] as her magical focus; Elaine responds by joking that wizards who use traditional staffs are just obsessed with phallic imagery.
142* Invoked in ''Literature/ADanceWithDragons''. In [[Literature/AFeastForCrows the previous book]], Cersei burned down the Tower of the Hand after her brother Tyrion killed their father, believing he might still be hiding in it. Upon being informed that Mace Tyrrell, the new Hand and head of her family's archrivals, is going to rebuild the tower twice as tall as the old one, she jokes that maybe he's hinting at something.
143* In ''Literature/{{Shibumi}}'', we have this passage:
144-->In his experience, [[AntiHero Hel]] had found that only older North American drivers, with the long distances they habitually travel on good roads with competent machines, have become inured to the automobile as toy and as manhood metaphor. The French driver's infantile recklessness often annoyed him, but not so much as did the typical Italian driver's use of the automobile as an extension of his penis, or the British driver's use of it as a substitute.
145* ''Literature/{{Jingo}}'': Angua says "[[YouKnowWhatTheySayAboutX You know what they say]] about men who like big weapons." Her boyfriend Carrot says he doesn't know what they say, and Angua says, "They're, er, rather small." Carrot still doesn't get it and thinks she's referring to their height, since [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame dwarfs]] and short watchman Nobby love big weapons. (Specifically, he says dwarfs love a big "chopper"... one of those points where the reader wonders if Carrot is really as naive as he lets on.)
146* ''Literature/MarginPlay'':
147** At Thom Cullens's, Amber compares his skill with his weapon to his ability with his, ah, gun.
148** Later, Amber makes a reference to this to Vadim ...and then Kasey [[CallBack repeats it later,]] just to [[JerkAss be a dick.]]
149* In ''Literature/{{Noob}}'', the second novel only MauveShirt Shaadö has a two-meter long BFG. Later, Omega Zell, while asking about him, refers to him as (paraphrasing) "the guy with a big gun who, if you want my opinion, must have been compensating for something."
150* ''Literature/TheManWithTheGoldenGun'': M reads a psychiatric report on Scaramanga speculating that he uses a HandCannon because of his [[AmbiguouslyGay ambiguous sexuality]]. Which explains why the manly Literature/JamesBond only has a Beretta .25 at this point in the novels. Bond does keep a long-barreled Colt .45 in his glove box though; does that imply he might "come out of the glove box" some day?
151* ''Literature/AMagesPower'': Because Culmus carries around a {{BFS}}, he is subject to many of these jokes. When Tiza makes fun of him for joining a joust (and using a lance), Basilard tells her to knock it off.
152* The SteamPunk sales catalog ''Doctor Grordbort's Contrapulatronic Dingus Directory'' has a lot of fun with this, implying that [[UpperClassTwit gentlemen of leisure]] who feel a lack of masculinity can easily solve the problem via the acquisition of the various [[{{BFG}} Exterminators of Prodigious Dimension]] on offer.
153* In one ''Literature/AnitaBlakeVampireHunter'' novel, Anita looks at the HandCannon a male associate is carrying and accuses him of overcompensating. He claims that it's needed for counterweight.
154* ''Literature/{{Friday}}'': The title character on seeing a policeman (who's come to arrest a member of the family she's staying with) notes that he's a big guy in appearance but that he has a "little soul". She {{Neck Snap}}s him and takes his RayGun--noting that it's "powerful enough to kill a mastodon", she wonders why men with little souls have to have big weapons.
155[[/folder]]
156
157[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
158* In one episode of ''Series/BarneyMiller'', Wojo finds out that he's sterile after being hit with a paternity suit, and then gets sent out on a call to deal with an armed suspect. As usual for the show it's described after the fact, by Dietrich, who starts the story of Wojo running into an alleyway and ''throwing a full trash can'' at the suspect like this:
159-->''"...and then the Wojo Express rolls in."''
160* ''Series/Batwoman2019'': Tommy Elliot has a lifelong jealousy towards Bruce Wayne. In "[[Recap/Batwoman2019S1E3DownDownDown Down Down Down]]", Tommy steals a handheld railgun that Bruce Wayne developed to kill him, knowing that he's Batman. When Kate discovers this Tommy pulls a Glock on her, whereupon Kate quips that Bruce's gun is clearly bigger.
161* One episode of ''Series/ABitOfFryAndLaurie'' has a hospital patient who has just had his genitals removed. The doctor, in order to help him cope, gives him a pet Doberman, a rusted white van, a subscription to ''Guns and Ammo'', and a lot of camouflage clothing, telling him that it's standard policy. This joke doubles up when the patient complains about needing to urinate. The Doctor's response? If he drives around in that car, in those clothes, with that dog, people will be taking the piss out of him all the time.
162* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
163** Averted when Spike fights Buffy for the first time in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E3SchoolHard School Hard]]". They're both holding weapons and Buffy asks if they're really necessary. Spike replies "I just like them. They make me feel all ''manly''." He then tosses his weapon aside.
164** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E13TheZeppo The Zeppo]]", Xander, trying to establish a cool identity for himself, shows up at school in his uncle's flashy '57 Chevy convertible, referring to it as "my thing". Buffy asks "Is this a penis metaphor?"
165** Giles gets the MidlifeCrisisCar version in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS5E2RealMe Real Me]]" when he replaces TheAllegedCar with a red BMW M3 convertible.
166--->'''Giles:''' I don't know, I just -- I was so at loose ends, I found myself searching for... some way of feeling more...\
167'''Buffy:''' Shallow?
168** Vampire Spike gets a RestrainingBolt that prevents him from attacking humans, and a RunningGag involves this situation being compared to impotence. In one episode he tries out a pistol, but finds he can't even aim it at someone. He responds by demanding a bigger gun.
169** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E19SeeingRed Seeing Red]]", [[StrawMisogynist Warren]] gains strength and power via [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything two magic orbs that he wears on his waist]]. After [[FeministFantasy Buffy]] beats him by breaking his balls... err, orbs, Warren then goes and [[MundaneSolution buys a gun to take her on]].
170* In the ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' episode "[[Recap/CheersS4E9FromBeerToEternity From Beer To Eternity]]", Diane confronts Gary, the arrogant rival of Sam's who has made it an obsession to prove his own bar as superior to ''Cheers''. In a polite and classy TheReasonYouSuckSpeech which for the most part consists of rebuking him for choosing "silly competition" over art and music, Diane innocently throws in a speculation that "perhaps you are compensating for some physical shortcoming"...
171* In ''Series/{{Cybill}}'', Cybill refers to a sportscar as a "driveway penis".
172* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
173** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS12E1Robot Robot]]", the Doctor, speculating about what the robot's motivation could be, starts talking about Freudian psychology and "compensation". Cut to the Brigadier [[PhallicWeapon blasting the robot with a disintegration ray by firing from the hip]], causing the robot to get taller.
174** In the reboot series, the Master's "Laser Screwdriver", longer, thicker and more dangerous than the Sonic Screwdriver. It's never brought up in the show, but the producer claims that on the first day the prop was brought on set, he received a text message from David Tennant saying "His screwdriver is bigger than mine."
175** When the Eleventh Doctor meets his earlier incarnation in "[[Recap/DoctorWho50thASTheDayOfTheDoctor The Day of the Doctor]]", they whip out their sonic screwdrivers to establish [[IconicItem each truly is the Doctor]]. Ten is disconcerted to see that Eleven's sonic screwdriver is bigger and fancier than his, even after he [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything extends the tip]].
176--->'''Tenth Doctor:''' Compensating?\
177'''Eleventh Doctor:''' For what?\
178'''Tenth Doctor:''' Regeneration -- it's a lottery.
179** In "[[Recap/DoctorWho2021NYSRevolutionOfTheDaleks Revolution of the Daleks]]", Yasmin Khan (having [[SeenItAll been the Doctor's companion for a while]]) regards Jack Harkness' square gun as an UnusuallyUninterestingSight. When he acts miffed, she asks if he's feeling insecure, "'cause you do seem to need a lot of praise".
180* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'': In "[[Recap/FarscapeS03E08GreenEyedMonster Green-Eyed Monster]]", Aeryn gets annoyed over the TestosteronePoisoning between Crais and Crichton and asks the LivingShip they're on: "Talyn, you've seen them both naked. Perhaps you can tell us who's bigger?"
181* In the ''Series/FatherTed'' episode "[[Recap/FatherTedS3E7NightOfTheNearlyDead Night of the Nearly Dead]]", the character Eoin [=McLove=] is an arrogant manchild who gets what he wants regardless of the effect it has on other people. Eventually, his PA makes him apologize and he confesses to Ted and Dougal: "I haven't got a willy."
182* Series/{{Frasier}} gets into an argument with his neighbor and SitcomArchNemesis Cam Winston when Cam parks his [[HummerDinger Humvee]] in the space next to Frasier's BMW and blocks him in. Cam accuses Frasier of using the car as a "substitute for masculinity". When Frasier insinuates that Cam's doing the same thing, Cam simply replies that his is still [[BiggerIsBetterInBed bigger]].
183* In the ''Series/{{Friends}}'' episode "[[Recap/FriendsS7E14TheOneWhereTheyAllTurnThirty The One Where They All Turn Thirty]]", Ross buys himself a sports car:
184-->'''Ross:''' How hot do I look in this? Huh?\
185'''Chandler:''' Ross, a sports car? Wouldn't it be cheaper to just stuff a sock down there?
186* In the second season of ''Series/{{Krypton}}'', when Lobo isn't threatening, mocking, and/or trying to kill Seg-El and Adam Strange, he's complaining about Brainiac. One of his rants mentions Brainiac's "massive, clearly overcompensating for something, ship".
187* In [[Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS1E1Payback the pilot]] of ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'', Elliot makes an offhand comment on the witness stand that suggests this as the motive for a defendant accused of exposing himself in public. This enrages the flasher, who promptly decides to [[Funny/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit disprove this notion]] in open court.
188* Mentioned by Wayne in ''Series/{{Letterkenny}}''.
189-->'''Wayne:''' You drive a jacked-up truck but not so jacked that people start to question the size of [[UnusualEuphemism Big Jim and the Twins]].
190* ''Series/NoahsArc'': This exchange between Noah and Wade in the first episode:
191-->'''Noah:''' Wow, Wade, that's one big truck. Hope you're not compensating for anything.\
192'''Wade:''' Nah, playa, it's all good in my hood.
193* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'':
194** Detective Carter is threatening a wife-beater.
195--->'''Kovacks:''' You come after me, and I will exercise my Second Amendment rights. ''[looks her up and down and smirks]'' [[DoubleEntendre I promise you, I've got a pretty big gun]].\
196'''Carter:''' Man as angry and bitter as you are, I got a feeling it isn't that big.
197** In "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS02E22 God Mode]]", our heroes break into a lockup to find a [[CoolCar Ferrari]]. Shaw promptly hands her SPAS-12 shotgun to Reese.
198--->'''Reese:''' What's this for?\
199'''Shaw:''' To help you feel less inadequate [[CallingShotgun while I drive this thing]].
200* The ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' recurring character Guy Who Just Bought a Boat is some sort of strange hipster who, in-between loads of nigh-incomprehensible slang and misogynistic plans for dates and whatnot, [[FreudianSlip constantly says how small his penis is]]. He says it so much and so casually it makes you wonder if he has some sort of mental condition.
201* ''Series/StargateSG1'': Shortly after returning as a regular cast member, Vala makes an accusation of this [[spoiler:to the chairman of the [[HauledBeforeASenateSubcommittee Senate Committee on Appropriations]]]]. General Landry is not amused.
202* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
203** Happens in the episode "[[Recap/SupernaturalS02E11Playthings Playthings]]".
204--->'''Dean:''' Of course, the most troubling question is, why do these people assume we're gay? \
205'''Sam:''' Well you are kind of butch, they probably think you're overcompensating.
206** On another occasion, Dean implies that Cas is doing this when Cas boasts to another character about how large his true form is.
207* ''Series/{{Titus}}'' has Ken take child Titus into a sporting goods store, where Christopher is in awe at the gun another customer is holding.
208-->'''Titus:''' Dad, I want a gun!\
209'''Ken:''' You don't need one of those, Christopher. The men in our family have ''penises''!
210* ''Series/TopGear'':
211** They stick nearly all flashy supercars in the "Uncool" section of the Cool Wall for this very reason:
212--->'''Jeremy Clarkson:''' Let me put it to you this way: you would have to have literally no penis at all to buy a car like that. [...] The flashiness of your car is inversely proportional to the size [of your penis].\
213'''James May:''' Is that right? And you're saying that to a man with a 1.2 litre Fiat Panda? Mister swollen-wheel-arches Mercedes CLK Black.\
214'''Richard Hammond:''' He does have a point there. He does...\
215'''Jeremy Clarkson:''' You've got a Ford Mustang!\
216'''Richard Hammond:''' [[ChangeTheUncomfortableSubject Let's move on!]]
217** Hilariously, the Hummer H3, one of the most flashy and preposterous cars they ever had on the show, ended up being an exception to this rule because it is a giant middle finger to political correctness and it pisses off environmentalists.
218** More hilariously, the H3 is just a soccer-mom's Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon cosplaying as a military vehicle. It has about as much in common with a military Humvee as a Prius does.
219[[/folder]]
220
221[[folder:Music]]
222* Exaggerated by dance duo Captain Ahab on "I Don't Have a Dick", in which the singer brags wildly about his material possessions (all of which have WebComic/AxeCop [[AwesomeButImpractical levels of awesomeness, but lack in terms of practicality]]) in between shouts of the TitleOnlyChorus. Subverted in the studio version, which features a monologue in which the singer points out [[spoiler: that there is absolutely no connection between his lack of genitalia and his ridiculous levels of awesomeness.]]
223* The song "Gibt's Das Auch In Groß" ("Does That Come In Large") by German singer Barbara Schöneberger is basically about this. The lyrics describe a man who's always asking the store assistant for the biggest in whatever they sell; and then in the end, she herself is asking him the same question in a different context.
224* Music/{{CAKE}}'s song "Race Car Ya Yas", a sarcastic critique of obnoxious drivers:
225-->The land where large fuzzy dice still hang proudly like testicles from rear view mirrors
226* Music/ChristinaAguilera's song "Can't Hold Us Down", featuring Music/LilKim, contains the following line:
227--> "You must talk so big, to make up for smaller things"
228* Music/HoboJohnson: Discussed in "Subaru Crosstrek XV" where Hobo justifies ''not'' getting a fancy car by imagining himself and his future family:
229--> "Why does Dad have a Lambo? He was insecure about himself son, let it go."
230[[/folder]]
231
232[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
233* In ''TabletopGame/LowLife'', this is the name of an Edge which grants a bonus to Spirit rolls whenever the character in question is wielding an oversized weapon.
234* Averted in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' as far as Orks are concerned: True, they fervently believe BiggerIsBetter applies to every aspect of their lives, including ridiculously oversized guns and vehicles, but seeing as they reproduce asexually, there's nothing to compensate for (indeed, they reproduce by dying, so their oversized guns tend to help with that by making them priority targets).
235* In ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' the City of Lux is a GeniusLoci whose prior life was a woman. When he became a city, he decided that it was vitally important that his design incorporate a 3 mile tall golden tower surrounded by rounded plates.
236* ''TabletopGame/BigEyesSmallMouth'': A piece of art in the ''Hot Rods Gun Bunnies'' suppliment humorously referenced this trope by depicting a woman wielding a massively scaled-up revolver (about the size of a bazooka) that has "[[Main/VerbThis Freud this!]]" written on the side.
237[[/folder]]
238
239[[folder:Theater]]
240* The TowerOfBabel sequence from ''Theatre/TheBibleTheCompleteWordOfGodAbridged'':
241-->'''Nimrod:''' We're of one tribe and one language and we can do anything! ''That'' is why we're building a tower to God!\
242'''Caphtorim:''' Oh please! You're building that tower because you have a teeny weenie.
243* In classic Greek play ''Theatre/{{Lysistrata}}'', the men of Sparta and Athens are portrayed as fighting with each other because of this, and all the women decide to hold a sex strike to get them to stop. Notably, the original play called for all the male characters to wear oversized phalluses as part of their costumes, the implication being that they're doing all their thinking below the belt.
244[[/folder]]
245
246[[folder:Video Games]]
247* ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyZombies'':
248** When looking at Richtofen's portrait in the Kino Der Toten map of ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' Zombies, if you are playing as Dempsey, he will say, "His portrait's bigger than anyone else's. Must be trying to compensate for somethin'."
249** ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII Black Ops II]]''[='=]s Zombies mode has Marlton make jokes along these lines when he receives the [[RevolversAreJustBetter Colt Python]] from the Mystery Box, directly calling it a "penile substitute" and noting that "I have reproductive organs of my own" or [[TakeThat claiming Russman would have better use for it]].
250* [[CasanovaWannabe Admiral Vigoro]] in ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' just oozes this trope. His flagship, The Draco, has a ''[[{{BFG}} gigantic]]'' cannon on it that looks sort of like... Yeah. His main taunt before his ship boss fight starts is that said gun, in his own words, is "bigger than yours." Aika loudly suggests that he has a complex and is obviously compensating for something.
251* In the ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'' series, a giant truck called "The Compensator" is used by two "macho" gangs, first The Brotherhood gang of ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'', fans of excessive tattoos and demo derbys, and then by the Luchadores of ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'', a gang of muscled masked wrestlers. Apropriately, it's a HummerDinger. The Compensator has sluggish acceleration, low top speed, terrible handling, and it's rather fragile.
252* If you choose to upgrade The Ravager spear in the ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'' expansion Cespenar wonders if this is why.
253* ''Franchise/BlazBlue'': "That is quite an impressive body you've built. But I believe only 30% of it is truly necessary. Are you perhaps, compensating?" -- [[LittleMissBadass Rachel Alucard]] on defeating [[{{Cyborg}} Iron Tager]].
254* Orlok the Eternal from The Hierarchy in ''VideoGame/UniverseAtWar'' will frequently decree "[[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial I compensate for nothing.]]"
255* One of the more expensive cars in ''VideoGame/TheSims3'' is called the "VFN Kompensator".
256* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', [[HardDrinkingPartyGirl Rose of Sharon]] [[SirSwearsALot Cassidy]] thinks that [[BigBad Caesar's]] choice of a Bull for his insignia means he's compensating for something. She also thinks the Two Rangers Shaking Hands statue at Mojave Outpost is this as well.
257* In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'', if you're carrying a large weapon the Diamond City guards will occasionally ask you if you're compensating for something. Even if you're a woman.
258* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'', Joker seems to make a snarking comment about it when his tiny ''Normandy'' passes the absolutely humongous ''Destiny Ascension'' by saying that "size isn't everything". But he then clears it up that he didn't meant to imply that he was feeling inadequate, but that the Ascension's firepower is even more impressive.
259* ''Franchise/DragonAge'':
260** Creator/BioWare also hit this one with ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', where [[TokenEvilTeammate Morrigan]], [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Sten]], and [[TheAlcoholic Oghren]] may all comment on how the [[MageTower Circle Tower]] is a giant phallic symbol. Sten will actually say "Humans, overcompensating as always."
261** Party banter between Anders and Carver in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'':
262--->'''Anders:''' You've got a real chip on your shoulder, you know.\
263'''Carver:''' I've got a [[{{BFS}} big blade]] on my shoulder, magey.\
264'''Anders:''' Right. Wonder what you're compensating for?
265** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' has a humorous example with regards to the dwarves. While exploring a series of tombs in the Hissing Wastes, Varric remarks on the fact that, despite being unable to use magic themselves, dwarves incorporate a lot of magic into their technology and are capable of making very powerful runes. He thinks they're compensating for something. The fact that Varric himself is a dwarf only makes it funnier.
266** In the ''Inquisition'' DLC ''Trespasser'', this is Blackwall's suggestion when Sera wonders why dwarves make their tunnels so tall. Sera asks what that says about Blackwall's big sword.
267--->'''Blackwall:''' That's not compensation. That's a counterweight. ''(Sera, of course, [[ActuallyPrettyFunny finds this hilarious.]])''
268* And another Creator/BioWare example: One of the story quests in ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' has a OmnicidalManiac causing widespread madness on a city-world, and the player character has to distract the abomination and get him to focus on the player character and not on the people he's holding hostage. Most of the classes do this by laying out some BadassBoast or professional intent to take him down. But the Smuggler (a squishy {{Muggle}} criminal and RefugeInAudacity incarnate) can get the world-devouring monster's attention with:
269-->'''Smuggler:''' Now see here's my thing. You go around acting all big and scary, but look at what you're scaring! Slim pickings, you ask me! Even I'm not scared of you. How pathetic is that? I dunno... maybe you're overcompensating for something?
270* Likewise, ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' has Kreia commenting that males seem to want lightsabers for some reason.
271-->'''Kreia:''' There is much weight, much craving attached to such a tiny thing of light. For the male, it seems to have inordinate importance. But we shall leave such male preoccupations for philosophers and cultural historians.
272* In ''VideoGame/ExitFate'', Trevor's ridiculously-huge sword is mocked by both Daniel and Sick for this reason.
273-->'''Daniel:''' And what's with that ridiculous sword anyway? It's like a huge slab of iron!\
274'''Sick:''' He's compensating.
275* Naoto of ''VideoGame/Persona4'' is a rare example. [[spoiler:Naoto is actually a girl, who both dresses up and acts like a boy as she feel that her being a private detective would be ridiculed by the authorities due to gender bias. Her shadow manifests as her desire to be accepted for who she is, and attempts a (possibly fatal) gender change operation on Naoto. It doesn't help that her Persona, Sukuna-Hikona and its evolutions, Yamato Takeru and Yamato Sumeragi, have ''extremely'' long swords compared to their small bodies. Not to mention they are based on male legendary figures, making her the only one in the game that has Personas ''not'' in the same gender.]]
276* Salvador, the vicious "Gunzerker" of ''VideoGame/Borderlands2'', stands at a tiny 5'4" due to steroid abuse stunting his growth. His ability to wield GunsAkimbo is called "gunzerking", and he knows ''exactly'' what it looks like. "TIME TO COMPENSATE!" Whether he's compensating for his height or that other thing is open to interpretation.
277-->"SCREW YOU FREUD!"
278* In ''VideoGame/Halo4'', [[AwesomePersonnelCarrier The Mammoth]] is the size of an ocean liner, with wheels the size of houses, and the biggest gun right on top of it. Cortana being [[DeadpanSnarker Cortana]]...
279-->'''Cortana:''' Well. Someone's overcompensating.
280* Randy from ''VideoGame/DeadRising2'' uses a giant pink chainsaw. He revs it when he gets excited about losing his virginity, he occasionally screams "Mine's bigger than yours!" when you fight him... The only way it could be more obvious is if the game told you it.
281* In Creator/ZapDramatic[='=]s ''Move or Die'', Wilma suggests that the nursing home guy needs a gun to compensate for "a lack of firepower elsewhere." Predictably, he attempts to shoot them for it.
282* In ''VideoGame/JetsNGuns'', there is a spaceship shaped like a long cylinder with a dome on the end opposite the engines. Its name is the USS Impotence.
283* Whenever you destroy a statue of Di Ravello in ''VideoGame/JustCause3'', Rico may say that "You know what they say about a guy with a big statue."
284* One of the group victory quotes of ''VideoGame/TalesofXillia2'' has its resident BFS wielders Alvin and Gaius perform [[SwordBeam Demon Fangs]] one after another with Gaius' being larger. Alvin immediately says he feels inadequate, and Gaius informs him that the difference is in the size of the blade.
285* Examining the Emir's throne in Al Kharid in ''VideoGame/RuneScape'' generates the message "Someone's compensating for something!"
286* In ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'''s story mode, Iron Man notices Arthur's lance and mockingly asks the small knight if he's compensating for something.
287* ''VideoGame/Destiny2'':
288** During the Arm Dealer raid, Hawthorne jokingly psychoanalyzes Bracus Zahn by suggesting that the reason [[FlunkyBoss he has so many underlings]] is because he has to surround himself with others like himself to feel important. [[AwesomeEgo Cayde-6]] immediately chimes in that this is true for all insecure men, [[BadassBoast which is why he works alone]].
289** Xol, the smallest and weakest of [[EldritchAbomination the Worm gods]], feels the need to give himself grandiose titles like "the Will of Thousands" (in contrast to his siblings, who mostly use simple titles like "Honest Worm"). He also picks up Nokris as his [[TheDragon Dragon]], mirroring Hawthorne's above-mentioned joke about insecure men surrounding themselves with similar people.
290* In ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}'', Shelley Godwin implies that this is precisely why Jr. is so fond of his gunslinger heroics.
291* While the various ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' games aren't exactly subtle with the indications that Laharl is overcompensating for his [[TheNapoleon short height]], the guidebooks are quite explicit that the whole reason he styles his AntennaHair so high and wears such a billowing scarf is to present himself as bigger than he is. While not as explicit, it's worth noting that his weapon of choice in official artwork is a {{BFS}} (though he's equally adept with axes and fists in the game itself).
292[[/folder]]
293
294[[folder:Web Animation]]
295* This idea permeates just about everything to do with the sleazy stripclub owner/porn czar Mars from ''WebAnimation/BrokenSaints'', from the way he talks to (surprise) his gun.
296[[/folder]]
297
298[[folder:Webcomics]]
299* ''Webcomic/KevinAndKell'' has had fun with the [=SUV=] and this trope on a couple of occasions, including one that was owned by a flea (don't ask how it could reach the wheel and the pedals at the same time, please), prompting a comment about "The bigger the car, the smaller the man", and Ralph Dewclaw, who was obviously compensating for his complete lack of hunting-ability.
300* ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge'':
301** [=ObviouslyCompensatingForSomething Man=] of the subcomic ''Jailhouse Blues'' sports [[BlasphemousBoast "More Ammunition than God"]] as his special power, and was defeated by [[strike:Yo Momma Man's]] Jazz's Smack Talk power regarding his... deficiencies.
302** Done in the main comic, also; upon seeing Wily's gigantic fortress, a character remarks that he must be compensating for something. When he targets them with an absurdly large laser cannon (shaped suspiciously like a phallic symbol), one says "He IS compensating for something!"
303** After the character Dive Man destroys the cannon, he says something along the lines:
304--->'''Dive Man:''' Did I symbolically castrate you now?
305* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'':
306** The comic implies this about the Wulfenbach household [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080829 here]], in particular taking note of the [[AirborneAircraftCarrier giant floating Castle]]. There are lots of jokes about this in general, involving "death rays" or "tool belts".
307** One of participant brought to the assault on Mechanicsburg troops riding [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111116 something]] between a WalkingTank and the lower half of PoweredArmor. That is, "vehicles" looking like wide pants... with a big gun set on the fore end.
308* Is mentioned once in ''Webcomic/BeyondReality'' in regards to Orion's {{BFS}}, as well as having much of the fanart (especially about the time a dragon snapped it in half) talk about it in a certain way.
309* Lampshaded in [[https://web.archive.org/web/20130316080142/http://antihero.keenspot.com:80/d/20080111.html this]] ''Webcomic/AntiheroForHire'' strip.
310-->"Wow, that gun is pretty accurate for its size."\
311"Well, I don't have to compensate for things like some people."
312* In ''Webcomic/TheLastDaysOfFoxhound'', Vulcan Raven has a pet peeve for "Compensation" jokes made at him because of his weapon of choice. Later on, Grey Fox outright asks him if he's got a small penis, to which Raven responds that he's officially made his death 25% more painful.
313* In a rare female example, one furry comic called ''Vitaboob'' has this as the punchline. The main, female fox girl in it (selling some kind of [[BreastExpansion breast enhancement]] drug which she gleefully tells you she uses regularly) has '''ENORMOUS''', perfectly spherical breasts bigger than her head, a '''HUGE''' poofed out tail twice as long and big as her body, and '''MASSIVE''' feathered Farrah Faucett '80s hair, and you kind of wonder why she needed her breasts enlarged in the first place... except she's like a tiny, little, itty-bitty thing about 4'10" tall. See, she's really small, and [[BuxomBeautyStandard wants to make up for it by being as big as possible]]. What was that Rev. Lovejoy said? "To compensate for my own smallness"? Yeah, she's got you beat there Reverend.
314* The comic ''Webcomic/ChaosCampus'' has a similar female example, in the character Jamie Schaffer, a goth poser who is unusually short and compensates by having massive, cartoonish, 72"-of-inadequacy breast implants.
315* ''Webcomic/ExterminatusNow'' in the strip named after one stunt from ''Film/{{Predator}}'':
316-->'''Eastwood:''' [[http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2010-06-27/comic/voiding-your-warranty/firing-blanks-at-10000-rounds-per-minute/ What in the bloody fucking hell]] is ''[[{{BFG}} THAT]]'', and how small do your man parts need to be to justify using it?
317* In a ''Webcomic/{{Fanboys}}'' page lampooning the DoomedHometown trope, the generic RPG hero complains that he has a sword that can "compensate for the entire village's manhood".
318* Iceland in ''Webcomic/ScandinaviaAndTheWorld'' has [[http://satwcomic.com/the-collection disturbing ways]] of [[http://satwcomic.com/brand-new-equipment dealing with]] a severe insecurity complex related to his small... population. His severed penis collection is based on a RealLife phallus museum in Iceland.
319* ''Webcomic/SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal'':
320** {{Parodied|Trope}} and {{deconstruct|ion}}ed, then played straight in [[http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1918 this]] strip.
321** In the [[http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2860#comic 2860th strip]], one guy tries to bring up this trope about someone with a big car, but another argues through a bunch of statistical correlations that the opposite is more likely.
322* One of the villains in a recent arc of ''Webcomic/{{Fans}}'' was a Middle-Eastern property developer who had a tendency to build extremely tall structures emblazoned with his initials on them. When time comes to battle him in the climax, the heroes have difficulty until they hit upon the idea of taunting him for his obvious efforts at compensation. [[VillainousBreakdown He doesn't take this so well.]]
323* [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in the bottom panel of [[http://ea.snafu-comics.com/?comic_id=8 this]] ''Webcomic/EverAfter'' comic.
324* In ''Webcomic/MeatShield'', Ch'p wonders if the [[http://www.meatshield.net/archive/welcome-to-scenic-vedris-city-of-serpents/ two huge snake statues at the entrance of the port of Vedris]] means the city is compensating for some shortcoming.
325* In ''Webcomic/{{Curtailed}}'', some random guy tries to compensate for the fact that he drives a Prius by plastering it with a bunch of "[[TestosteronePoisoning manly]]" [[http://curtailedcomic.com/comic/compensation/ bumper stickers]]. Now, notice that the comic is tagged "[[TruthInTelevision really happened]]."
326* In [[http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/archives/comic/im-sure-people-are-going-to-complain-at-me-about-this this]] ''Webcomic/ManlyGuysDoingManlyThings'' strip, [[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins Sten]] dismisses [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Dante]]'s {{BFS}} as "scrap metal on a stick", before asking him if it is supposed to fulfill this trope.
327* Done subtly in [[http://www.the-whiteboard.com/autotwb1577.html this]] ''Webcomic/TheWhiteboard'' strip. During a zombie apocalypse, one fireman asks another why the latter's gun is bigger than his. The second fireman's reply? "Genetics."
328* Parodied in the ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'' strip "[[https://xkcd.com/1615/ Red Car]]". A character comments on someone driving a bright red car that he's compensating for his cyan penis (red and cyan being on opposite ends of the color wheel). The AltText provides another parodied example:
329-->''That guy only drives an alkaline car to overcompensate for his highly acidic penis.''
330
331[[/folder]]
332
333[[folder:Web Original]]
334* ''WebVideo/EmpiresSMP'' Season 2: Being an 11-foot god who is almost twice as tall as the average player, Joel has a tendency to build ''enormous'' builds, likely to accommodate his great height. However, several of his server-mates do not believe this to be the case.
335** On his ''very'' large empire portal on the Nether roof hub:
336--->'''Scott:''' Joel, like, everyone else has nice, little-sized portals, and then there's this man. I don't know what you're compensating for, but it's very obvious.
337** On his [[FloatingContinent empire in the sky]], Stratos, albeit in a tamer sense:
338--->'''Oli:''' This is a joke! Whoever built this is making my megabase feel very inadequate. ''(to Joel; towards Stratos)'' You're overcompensating!
339* ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'' has this line from [[Literature/HarryPotter Dumbledore]] to [[Literature/LordOfTheRings Gandalf]]:
340-->'''Dumbledore''': Nice staff –- you compensating for something?
341* LetsPlay/{{Gronkh}} discussed this in his [[LetsPlay Let's Test]] ''VideoGame/AtlanticaOnline'', where he called the [[{{BFG}} cannnon]] "compensation cannon".
342* The Pandora Boxx song "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XkTtyDcSAA Nice Car! (Shame About Your Penis)]]". 'Nuff said. (Not Safe For Work)
343* ''Roleplay/WeAreOurAvatars'': Whether it is true or not, Levin is ''[[RunningGag constantly]]'' mocked in this way, particularly by Longram.
344* ''WebVideo/AnalystBroniesReact'': One of the analyst wonders, if a dragon is using a smaller lava surfboard than the other dragons, is he undercompensating?
345* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': During her first job as a [[PhantomThief art thief in training]] acting as lookout for her mentor, [[TheTrickster Imp]] spots a SuperHero called The Ram, whom she'd had to run away from previously. In order to lure him away from the gang that had adopted her, she taunts him into chasing her instead with:
346--> "You know what they say about a man with big horns," she called back, trying to distract herself just as much as she was him. The Ram started to puff up a bit and smirk at that, but then she added, "The bigger they are, the more he's compensating for. And wow, with the size of those horns, you must be compensating a LOT."
347* Brazilian website ''http://www.kibeloco.com.br/'' has a "Portal do Futuro" [[note]]Portal of the Future[[/note]] segment where they predict that in 2030, [[http://www.kibeloco.com.br/portal-do-futuro-47/ the cure for impotence will make the sales of luxury cars decrease]].
348* Used as a joke while WebVideo/TBSkyen was playing ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'' and used a double-{{BFS}} setup to kill two enemies who each also had a {{BFS}}:
349-->''You're not the only one who has a big sword to swing around! You're not the only one overcompensating for their penis size, [[VerbalBackspace I mean]], who...have a...good taste in weaponry!''
350* Podcast/RiffTrax[='s=] AlternateDVDCommentary for ''Film/SpiderMan3'' suggests this is why Harry bought M.J. a bigger bouquet of flowers than Peter.
351* WebVideo/ScottTheWoz opens his ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty (for UsefulNotes/{{Wii}})'' video by suggesting an alternate title for the franchise:
352-->'''Scott:''' The ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' series, also known as "Hey Guys, My Crotch Is Huge, I Swear!"
353* When Andrew Tate tried to brag about his polluting cars to Greta Thunberg on Twitter, the young environmentalist [[https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/status/1608056944501178368 responded that he was clearly compensating for something.]]
354* This [[https://me.me/i/look-like-youre-packing-but-dont-look-like-youre-packing-1000206 Tacsoup meme]] (NSFW) for "The Bulge" concealed carry holster. Apparently FreudWasRight. Might have been {{Defictionaliz|ation}}ed, but this is not yet confirmed.
355* Played straight and inverted in the Website/CollegeHumor skit [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV9Uu2T0q0E Guys With Crappy Cars Must Have Huge Dongs]]. First, a group of three women see a man in a business suit getting out of a sports car, causing one of them to quip that he must have "shortcomings in other departments," Then, they see another man with an ''extremely'' banged up car (inlet for gasoline is duct-taped closed, screeching noise when turning, and much more), which the three take to mean he must be ''under''compensating.
356-->'''Alexis:''' Do you hear that screeching? That man doesn't need to prove ''anything''. That noise is just a high-pitched jumbo-wang alarm.\
357'''Sienna:''' He's gonna need that screeching to block out all of my ''moaning''.\
358'''Rhonda:''' And check out the ''windshield!''\
359'''Sienna:''' He must have cracked it with his colossal junk!
360[[/folder]]
361
362[[folder:Western Animation]]
363* The series ''WesternAnimation/ClickAndClacksAsTheWrenchTurns'' milks this joke for all it's worth in one episode with an SUV that's literally ''called'' the Compensator, which looks more like a tank than anything else.
364* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'':
365** The episode where Peter discovers that Chris is well-endowed has an absolutely beautiful riff on this. Peter gets a MidlifeCrisisCar that is decidedly phallic, taunts a motorist with a normal car[[note]]"Hey, when you park that thing, does your garage ask 'Is it in yet?'[[/note]], then upon coming to a tunnel [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything repeatedly backs in and out of it]]...until it gets flattened by an oncoming bus. Which is full of bikini models who laugh at him, causing Peter to hurtfully say "Ow, my pride." The same episode also suggests that [[TakeThat everyone in the NRA is a member for this reason]].
366** Also in the episode "Peter's Progress", Stewie (who is a baby) is King Stewart of England. When someone asks Brian why the King is so nasty (which is normal for Stewie), Brian replies it is due to Stewart having an extremely small penis. He describes it as "that one grape in a group of grapes that never really became a grape."
367* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'':
368** In an episode, the crew visits Washington, D.C. We see them fly by the Washington Monument, and the Clinton Monument, which looks just like Washington's except twice the size.
369** "Into the Wild Green Yonder" has a television advertisement for the [=MagnaPhallix=] three hundred two inch TV. "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK76j8sdVaw It's bigger!]]"
370** Lrrr is given horn extensions when he informs a plastic surgeon that Omicronian horns [[ExoticEquipment house their testes]].
371* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'', 3rd Street School's identical cross-town counterpart 98th Street School has a 50-foot flagpole installed, intentionally trying to "outsize" 3rd Street, as part of an ongoing rivalry between 3rd Street principal Peter Prickly and his brother Paul, principal of 98th Street.
372-->'''Peter Prickly''': A flagpole that high is unseemly.
373* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Rev. Lovejoy just comes right out and says it.
374-->'''Marge:''' Why do we need a church steeple that big?\
375'''Rev. Lovejoy:''' To compensate for my own sense of smallness.
376* Used openly on ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'', when a dweeb who's shopping for a new vehicle demands something appropriate for a guy with an extremely small penis.
377* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' episode "The Guy", Gumball encourages Josh to rag on the fat purple cowboy by saying he wears a big hat to compensate for... Josh doesn't guess right.
378* A rare female version in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': All of the Diamonds have personal murals/symbols depicting themselves surrounded by worlds they've conquered and with a sphere behind them. Pink Diamond's background sphere is almost three times bigger than the others, obviously to draw attention away from the fact that Pink only had ''one planet'' (for comparison, Yellow and Blue have about a dozen each). Pink was a RoyalBrat who was obsessed with making the other Diamonds respect her, so the insecurity subtext is pretty blatant. She was also significantly smaller than the other Diamonds (Though still large by human standards).
379* A rather dark female example occurs in ''WesternAnimation/MoralOrel'': Ms. Censordoll's obsession with eggs is her compensating for the fact that [[spoiler: her AbusiveParents made sure her own eggs got [[GroinAttack scrambled]] when she was a child.]]
380* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': Stan drives a [[HummerDinger big black SUV]] because he's "a big man who needs a big SUV so everyone will know how big he is". An episode from 2010 parodying the changing car market had Francine telling the family to cut back on expenses because the economy has caused the family to lose all its savings in the market. Roger tells Francine that Stan spends over $400 a day fueling his SUV, and so Francine demands that Stan trade it in for a hybrid. Stan refuses and the rest of the episode focuses on him trying to come up with the money to keep his SUV, [[FailureIsTheOnlyoption only to end up deeper and deeper in debt]].
381[[/folder]]

Top