Basically, the trope is (in the first instance) about attitudes commonly felt/displayed e.g. by vampires and related monsters, and those who actually know them (including their enemies) towards Vampire Wannabes, Big Bads towards aspiring big bads (perhaps especially the Big Bad Wannabe), real heroes towards Heroic Wannabes - you get the drift. Also has a number of Real Life and less fantastic counterparts, not least because of the (minor) distinctions differentiating those who would admit (if reluctantly) that yes, We ARE Struggling Together!. See also Never Be a Hero.