Not really sure of the point your're trying to make Freudiansslipper.
I wouldn't say I use the phrase 'chip on their shoulder' often ...but it is a regularly used phrase, not one that went out in the 70's where I'm from. If you've not heard the term before, maybe it's a regional thing - I'm in South Wales. It's pretty self explanatory really and I'm struggling to think of any other way to describe it...that you have a problem/persecution complex with something that you project onto others.
If I told someone who bumped me to watch it and they said 'you're saying that because I'm tall, you'd never say it to a short person' - I'd think they had a chip on their shoulder about their height.
If they said 'it's because I'm a woman, you'd never say it to a man' - I'd think they had a chip on their shoulder about their sex.
Because the sex/height/race/eye colour in this case was irrelevant. So for someone to bring it up and try to make it relevant - yes, huge chip.