The 'Dapper Man Pumping Gas While Smoking' meme features a high-contrast, 'hard' image of a man in a formal suit nonchalantly refueling a vehicle while holding a cigarette—a visual personification of cool indifference and danger. This template rose to prominence as a way for internet users to express intense, often hyperbolic, spite or gatekeeping. By using the caption 'I hate X, X could be here,' creators highlight that they would rather stand alone in a dangerous or stylish situation than associate with the thing they despise. It thrives on the irony of looking sophisticated while expressing petty or niche grievances.