# Damning with faint praise **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 4, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889 "2012-11-04T22:15:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/21 "2012-11-05T20:31:10Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > When asked about a play another peron had written, Oscar Wilde replied “Marvelous, isn’t the word!” “A funny little tune, but it yielded some good things.” ---
**Author:** ![solosam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@solosam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solosam)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/22 "2012-11-05T20:58:36Z")
I had a subordinate Sergeant one time, who wasn’t very good at leading Soldiers. He was “satisfactory” in every respect, never did anything wrong, but never showed initiative and only did the minimum. When it came time for an evaluation, I had to phrase it carefully. I couldn’t say anything bad, because he hadn’t technically done anything wrong… he was just totally unremarkable in every respect. The thing about military evaluations is that they have been subject to inflation over the years, so that people expect to see glorious and effusive hyperbole. To see a Soldier or Officer described as merely satisfactory is sometimes an insult. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/23 "2012-11-05T21:09:47Z")
Many years ago (30, in fact), my parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. My sister wanted to make it really special for them. She got them a cake just like the one at their wedding, she found their original bride and groom cake topper, and she organized a party. She spent a good deal of money on the whole thing. She asked for my help, but I was in college at the time and living on $5 a week that I got from my parents. And I was far from home, so I couldn’t lend any physical help. I felt pretty helpless. At the actual party, a family friend said “Thank you for all your help with this party.” I replied “Thanks, but I didn’t really do very much.” She said “I know, I was only kidding.” She could be pretty caustic sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![solosam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@solosam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solosam)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/24 "2012-11-05T21:20:45Z")
I think that crossed the line into straight-up sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/25 "2012-11-05T21:22:27Z")
> [@solosam](#): > > I think that crossed the line into straight-up sarcasm. The thing was, the way she said it sounded really sincere. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/26 "2012-11-05T21:42:02Z")
“The author’s book is suitable for reading in the tub. If it falls down the drain, it falls down the drain.” When I quit smoking, Mama Plant told me, “You don’t smell like an ashtray anymore”. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/27 "2012-11-05T22:07:59Z")
Any employer would be lucky to get drewtwo99 to work for them. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/28 "2012-11-05T22:59:22Z")
A new friend once responded to something I said with, “See! People think you’re dumb but you’re not dumb at all!” Nobody fucking thinks I’m dumb, but thanks, dude. Then I got a super complimentary insult once. This will sound like stealth bragging but it’s not, because it came from my psycho ex who is just obsessed with me because he’s nuts. He said \*so \*hatefully, “You’re so pretty and smart and witty, but you can be so COLD!” He thinks “cold” is about the worst thing to be, but I’m actually okay with it. ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/29 "2012-11-06T03:30:34Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Any employer would be lucky to get drewtwo99 to work for them. - golf clap \* Very well done. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/30 "2012-11-06T05:33:57Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > - golf clap \* > > Very well done. I’m so confused ☹ and hurt… I should feel hurt, right? Edit: Just after leaving the thread, I got it! Haha!!! ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/31 "2012-11-06T09:18:03Z")
“…irreverent life force.” Sticks fixedly in my craw. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/32 "2012-11-06T09:29:46Z")
You mean like the “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” speech in Julius Caesar where Mark Anthony keeps calling the conspirators honorable men? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/33 "2012-11-06T10:55:46Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > To the OP: What kind of things does an educator say when they don’t want to write a letter of recommendation for a student? I’ve always wanted to know. > > “So and So isn’t completely worthless…” I can answer that since I’ve done it. “X took my course in math abc, linear calculus and got a mark of C.” Often there is nothing more I can say, so I don’t. I have also written enthusiastic references and I can do that too. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/34 "2012-11-07T17:58:08Z")
There was a thread here on the subject a while ago. Damn the previous poster with faint praise … ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/35 "2012-11-07T18:39:18Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > When asked about a play another peron had written, Oscar Wilde replied “Marvelous, isn’t the word!” So not Eva or Juan? ---
**Author:** ![Dublin11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Dublin11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dublin11)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889/36 "2012-11-07T19:07:50Z")
A woman I think is rather stupid said to me just last night “God, you really are funny. I don’t think you realise quite how hilarious you are” Eh? I beg your pardon? I’ve known for a while that I have a comical turn of phrase. People tell me that a lot, and I admit that I work at it. I also know that she’s never actually understood any of my one liners until last night. The fact that Miss Dim could understand the joke can only mean means my standards must be slipping. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damning-with-faint-praise/639889.md?page=1)