You know you're a tryhard when...

[物の哀れ]

I try very hard just to look like I don’t try very hard.

 

[Waldo Jeffers]

the idea of trying hard and “tryhard” if I’m to understand the distinction could apply to all things, as you’ve mentioned. Trying hard implies an honest effort at achieving an ideal. The “tryhard” is a vapid and superficial effort meant more for show than any honest and vested effort toward that ideal.

I’ll offer my opinion.

Trying hard:

tryhard:

trying hard:

tryhard:

It’s more basic than this

look at it as a plumage

if you’re a peacock in the wild, you either have the feathers or you don’t

now imagine male peacocks could order feathers on the internet and strategically apply them to their asses

female peacocks would see this and be like, WTF, who does this guy think he is

 

[Waldo Jeffers]

I try very hard just to look like I don’t try very hard.

this is the refined tryhard strategy

I do this

I tryhard to accept my limitations and then try hard to maximize my plumage within a boundary that will appear natural

it is quite insane, but that’s where I am

 

[comrade]

Horse feathers !!