# Insults that are more like compliments. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 21, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383 "2013-09-21T15:21:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/41 "2013-09-23T09:16:55Z")
“You look really good for a fat person.” Um, thanks? ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/42 "2013-09-23T10:57:06Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Actually, I think she said I was the “prettiest ugly person” she’d met. Which is still kinda bad, but not AS bad. 🙂 I remember when one of the pretty girls in high school told me “You’ve got a really nice body. It’s too bad your face is so ugly.” I’ve never known quite how to feel about that, but it stuck with me. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/43 "2013-09-23T11:58:09Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I’ve been called a feminist more than once, by people who meant it as an insult. The tag line on my blog is “proven feminist” which some neanderthal hurled at me like it was going to hurt. Proven! All right! I still recall being told “see ya never, self-righteous goody-goody” by a kid as we left our high school graduation. By age 20 he was in prison for grand theft auto and statutory rape of two 15 year olds, both of whom he impregnated. I guess by comparison I was (and am) a goody-goody and I’m okay with that. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/44 "2013-09-23T13:36:27Z")
In seventh grade, a girl who lived down the street from me called me “too sophisticated.” In seventh grade. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/45 "2013-09-23T14:45:36Z")
When I was in college, a frat-boy type called me weird. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/46 "2013-09-23T14:49:22Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I always take bitch as a compliment. Whenever anyone calls me that, I say “I do what I do best.” ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/47 "2013-09-23T15:22:37Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I always take bitch as a compliment. > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Whenever anyone calls me that, I say “I do what I do best.” It bugs me that I can’t remember where I read it, because this line always stuck with me: “When men call women “bitch,” it means she’s expected to be treated with the same respect as a man.” I read that in my teens, and ever since I’ve done a head-check when I hear the word, asking myself “How would they react if a guy said that?” It’s almost always true (the exception most often being relationship behavior, ime). ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/48 "2013-09-23T15:49:55Z")
A neighbour once said to me that when she first saw my then-boyfriend and I together she thought “What is a good-looking guy like that doing with _that_ little young thing?” (I was 19, he was 20.) When I was younger I got plenty of snide comments about how “skinny” I am. Damn straight I’m “skinny” - because I take care of myself. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/49 "2013-09-23T17:27:38Z")
Years ago, I knew this guy who was a heavy drug user who pulled out a handful of assorted mystery pills and offered me some. I said, “No thanks.” He said, “Your AFRAID of them, aren’t you?” I said, “Yes.” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/50 "2013-09-23T17:44:41Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > When I was in college, a frat-boy type called me weird. That comment, from that type of guy, is indeed a high compliment. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Years ago, I knew this guy who was a heavy drug user who pulled out a handful of assorted mystery pills and offered me some. I said, “No thanks.” > > He said, “Your AFRAID of them, aren’t you?” > > I said, “Yes.” He sounds like the kind of guy who would say “your” instead of “you’re.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/51 "2013-09-23T17:51:44Z")
“Brainiac” in a culture rich with anti-intellectualism. Right up there with “acting white.” ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/52 "2013-09-23T17:54:06Z")
I had a law clerk many years ago who was one of prickliest women I’d ever met. She took umbrage at practically everything. My way (usually) is to just let slide what other people say, unless they are debliberately trying to provoke me. Something had happened in the office – I don’t even remember clearly now what it was but it wasn’t directed at me or her – but she was in high dudgeon. My response was, “meh, let it go. Someone must be having a bad day.” Her “insulting” response? “You are such a goody two-shoes!” Hmm. Why don’t I feel bad about that? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/53 "2013-09-23T18:35:18Z")
“Oh, you aaaaaaaaaalways look so cute in that [whatever - sweater, dress, etc.]” Translation: Could you wear something else for a change? ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/54 "2013-09-23T19:22:41Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > I remember when one of the pretty girls in high school told me “You’ve got a really nice body. It’s too bad your face is so ugly.” > > I’ve never known quite how to feel about that, but it stuck with me. You wouldn’t happen to have written a mildly popular 80s song by [The Monks](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7r5RYThiHM) would you?😉 My favourite, was “You just think you’re so smart, don’t you!” Yes; yes I do. It was mentioned upthread about being arrogant. If you say you can and you do, that’s not arrogant, it’s just stating a fact. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/55 "2013-09-23T20:05:55Z")
I sometimes get “You always think you’re right.” I mean, that’s a good thing. It’s kind of scary to believe you’re wrong, but you’re going to argue the point anyway. People should say things because they think it’s right. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/56 "2013-09-23T20:22:36Z")
‘‘You think too much.’’ Years ago when I was travelling in Mexico, my house mother told me this. At the time I was sitting at the kitchen table writing in my travel journal. Some people don’t know what to make of my introversion, my comfort with silence, my comfort with aloneness. It’s absolutely true that I think too much, often to my own detriment, but there are worse characteristics to have. Every time someone called me bleeding-heart or a goody-goody I’ve taken it as a compliment. Tree-hugger too. What’s wrong with hugging trees? Or when people say I’m sensitive - damned right I am, and I like it that way. On this very board there are people who think calling me ‘‘emotional’’ about a subject is a legitimate argument. They must labor under the delusion that emotion and reason cannot co-exist. In fact, emotion is a requirement for reason. Just because I feel strongly about a thing doesn’t mean I’m not thinking clearly. ---
**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@BrianJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianJ)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/57 "2013-09-23T23:53:35Z")
“Nerd” Really? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/58 "2013-09-24T00:49:00Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > You wouldn’t happen to have written a mildly popular 80s song by [The Monks](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7r5RYThiHM) would you?😉 “Nice legs, shame about the face?” {Checks link}Yes! I win! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/59 "2013-09-24T02:33:15Z")
“If you had a brain you’d be dangerous.” ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383/60 "2013-09-24T04:17:50Z")
This was a long time ago, but it stuck with me -“Every company should have a guy like you. But not more than one” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insults-that-are-more-like-compliments/669383.md?page=4)