The 'Painfully Thick' meme, often visualized through the 'Thick Book vs. Thin Book' template, highlights the disproportionate relationship between two related concepts. It typically features one extremely thin pamphlet and one massive, overflowing encyclopedia to represent a simple idea versus its unnecessarily complex reality. Whether it is used to mock the complexity of video game lore compared to its gameplay or the difference between a syllabus and actual homework, this meme perfectly captures the overwhelming nature of certain subjects. It gained massive traction across Reddit and social media for its versatility in academic, gaming, and lifestyle humor.