You know. Those compliments that are really papercuts garnished with lemon juice? The favorite one I’ve heard is:
“Wow, racerx! You look great! I barely recognized you!”
But a close runner up is:
“That’s a great dress! Whose is it?”
I also get alot of comments using “interesting” and “unique” to describe my appearance." These usually come from uncomfortablely polite Midwesterners.
Anyone else get these “compliments?”
Does this count?
“You know I hated you when I first met you, but I like you now!”
Ummm. Thanks? 
You look just like my neighbor - she’d be really pretty if she weren’t such a hillbilly.
Uh, thanks.
What an interesting and unique thread topic racerx. 
“oh wow, I like your blouse. It’s so different from what you usually wear…”
Ummm, thanks.
Hey, racerx!
Nice boobs, I barely recognized them! Whose are they?
The two biggies are responses to a new beard…
People think my growing a beard gives them carte blanche to insult my looks–“Hey, you’re looking really scruffy today.”
They think I’m growing it as some sort of atavistic caveman reflex–“Growing a beard for winter?”
I once had a dream that I was a woman, and when I told my girlfriend about it, she assured me that I’d make an ugly woman. Gee, thanks, I think…
Last year while purchasing beer I receive such a “compliment”. I was carded and when I presented my ID the kid behind the counter said “You are getting to the age where this is a compliment huh?” I was only 24! It certainly wasn’t a compliment that he thought I looked under 30. (In NC they are suppose to card anyone who “looks” under 30.)
In my family we call ugly babies “A Lert” As in “My, he is certainly A Lert for such a young baby”. This is said in place of cute or pretty or all the other things you are suppose to say about babies.
Wow! You look good today!
Zumba, the cat,
The wonderful, wonderful cat!
You’ll laugh so hard, your sides will ache,
Watching Zumba, the wonderful cat!
You look great! You should wear makeup all the time!
This potato salad is almost as good as mine!
I dread parties.
Gazoo Yeah, half smiles and nods thanks.
ChiefScott Yeah. winks They’re mine.
One year I got the “Most Improved Dancer” award. Does this mean I’ve gotten really, really good, or just that I don’t suck quite as bad as I used to.
However, when I saw who got the award the next year, I felt a lot better. (Some of the best dancers in the class)
Self-esteem? Who needs self-esteem?
“I had no idea you could sing. Wow, I can hardly believe that you can actually sing. Man, I just can’t get over it…” (at which point I interrupted and changed the subject.)
“Well, your father always said he thought you were smart. I guess I have to agree with him.” (Gosh Mom, stop already. I’m getting all teary-eyed.)
“That’s why I love being around you, b. It’s not all about being beautiful. You’ve got that great sense of humor.”
(Ah-yeah.)
And the best is…
“You’re just fine. You’re beautiful…but not in the classic sense. You’re exotic…no,no,no…unique.”
Zumba- as promised. How yew doin? Wanna come over some time & discuss “capital”? We can confirm your great ‘assets’- I promise I can 'withhold" until full “amortization” sets in.
I’ve got another ID one.
“Can I see some ID please?”
“Omigod! I am SO sorry! I didn’t realize…”
Didn’t realize what? How ancient I am???
I’ve had quite a few left handed compliments. I’ll have to try to remember some more of them. I usually erase them from my memory.
As a long-ago ex-boyfriend used to say, “Thanks or f**k you, whichever applies.” I wanted to respond that way when his mother said I was a hot item. I mean ?
One time, shortly after I turned 21, a friend (who was 25 at the time) went into a convenience store to buy beer. She was carded and couldn’t find her ID. Half an hour later, I went back to the store with her (I knew where my ID was!) Same clerk. Keep in mind, I’m newly 21, and four years younger than my friend. I DIDN’T GET CARDED!
Geez.
I once had a Boston woman tell me that she knew I wasn’t from there because I looked like one of those, “Corn-fed Midwestern girls.”
I asked her if that was supposed to be a compliment and she swore it was.
What-f-ing-ever.
From one of my co-workers back when I worked in retail:
“I wish I could have worn something like that to work. But of course I had to look nice today.”
A male friend of mine and I both showed up wearing our new favorite thermal shirts and he said he’d worn his pretty much every day that week and I said that so had I. Then he noticed that I had sauce on the sleeve or something and he said:
“You’re not into all that gilrie stuff like pretty clothes. It’s cool, you’re such a boy!”
Watch it buddy, I’m a boy with PMS!!