The condition of your character in a video game (such as Rainbox 6 or Call of Duty) where your character is blinded and/or stunned by a flashbang. This causes you to:
1. See the world as if it's moving slowly
2. Hear a ringing in your ears
3. Have an image burned in your eyes
4. Have general disorientation and confusion
The phrase comes from Tom Hanks' role in Saving Private Ryan, in which his character is "stunned" by the battle (explosions, deadmen, etc) during the invasion of Normandy in which he displays the above symptoms. In addition to calling this experiece "Tom Hanks Mode" you may also refer to this as "getting Tom Hanksed".
Gamer 1: Dude, you didn't back me up!
Gamer 2: Sorry, man. I was in Tom Hanks Mode.
Gamer 1: You're just standing there, shoot someone!
Gamer 2: I just got Tom Hanksed, give me a break!
This is typically associated with the gay Hanky Code and if worn on the left, it means that you like to fist guys; if worn on the right, it means that you like to get fisted. UNLESS there is a white stripe and then it just means that you like to shave or get shaved or a black stripe denotes you are or like bears.
I caught Mark at the bar last night with a red hanky on his right arm; I had no idea he was into fisting.
The act of attacking a superior enemy with an ineffectual weapon, usually in a video game. In reference to the scene in Saving Private Ryan where Tom Hanks fires his pistol at an oncoming tank.