# Left-handed compliments **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 16, 2008, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824 "2008-09-16T12:04:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/41 "2008-09-16T21:41:06Z")
“Wow, you look really nice for a change.” ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/42 "2008-09-16T22:08:32Z")
> [@Sublata](#): > > “You’ve lost **so much** weight! Look at Sublata, everyone! Hasn’t she lost a **WHOLE LOT** of weight?” I don’t know about you, but I _never_ tire of hearing this 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/43 "2008-09-16T22:14:27Z")
I like that sweater more every time I see it. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/44 "2008-09-16T22:19:55Z")
From a coworker: “You know, you look a little better with makeup on.” Also, any time someone sees me without glasses and they tell me I look good without them. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/45 "2008-09-16T22:38:54Z")
Someone looking at my wedding photograph, and then too me, not realizing the picture with my husband in it was of ME and not his sister ( whom I supposedly look alike.) “You were really pretty…what happened.” ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/46 "2008-09-16T22:40:29Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > Someone looking at my wedding photograph, and then too me, not realizing the picture with my husband in it was of ME and not his sister ( whom I supposedly look alike.) > > “You were really pretty…what happened.” Wait, I had trouble following that… ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/47 "2008-09-16T22:40:48Z")
Interesting. I’ve only ever heard them described as back-handed compliments. ---
**Author:** ![Lyanthya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/aca169/32.png) [@Lyanthya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyanthya)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/48 "2008-09-16T22:47:34Z")
“Before I really talked to you, I thought you’d be a total bitch!” I’m sometimes shy, and people tend to assume I’m stuck-up. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/49 "2008-09-16T22:48:01Z")
> [@jali](#): > > You’re so well spoken… One of my longest friends pulled the same sort of thing on me accidentally when we were very young. We were about 13 and met through a series of circumstances that warrant a different thread, but we only knew each other over the phone for quite a while. At one point during a conversation, the topic of race came up, and her response was, “Oh wow, I would NEVER have guessed you were black! Um, I mean…” You could practically hear the embarassment oozing through the phone. I’ve never let her forget it, either, 20 years later. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/50 "2008-09-16T22:57:00Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Then statistics show about 9 percent of the population is gay. And 9 percent of the population is left handed. Nice that god makes it so easy to pick them out. Hmmm… I’m left handed _and_ gay. I’m 18 percent of the population! 😃 I’ve been told my house does not look like it was decorated by a gay man. I’m not real sure if I should feel complimented or insulted… ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/51 "2008-09-16T23:19:44Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > When I saw the title of the thread I wondered what kind of compliments are given to left-handed people (such as myself) because I have never received one (except indirectly, when people say things like “Lefties are better cricket players”) But I am flattered when somebody at least _acknowledges_ that I am left-handed. Well, it’s been said that which hand you write with and which part of the brain you use is usually opposite. So Left-handed people are the only ones in their right minds 🙂 Or, as my coffee mug used to say, “lefties do it right!” ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/52 "2008-09-16T23:20:59Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > Interesting. I’ve only ever heard them described as back-handed compliments. That too. Did I mention I’m blonde? ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/53 "2008-09-16T23:22:56Z")
I was anorexic during my sophomore year of college. Years later I was telling my brother how hard that time had been for me, and how difficult it had been to get over the anorexic mindset. Trying to be sympathetic, he said “well, you’re recovering very nicely.” The look on his face when he realized what he’d said was priceless. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lynxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e99b99/32.png) [@lynxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynxie)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/54 "2008-09-17T00:41:22Z")
> [@Ms.Pumpkin](#): > > Also, any time someone sees me without glasses and they tell me I look good without them. My Aunt once told me that I looked better with my glasses on! ---
**Author:** ![Moment\_Slayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Moment\_Slayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moment_Slayer)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/55 "2008-09-17T00:54:22Z")
“You’d be lucky to get Joe to work for you” Recommendation lines with possible double meanings… ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/56 "2008-09-17T00:57:11Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > One of my longest friends pulled the same sort of thing on me accidentally when we were very young. We were about 13 and met through a series of circumstances that warrant a different thread, but we only knew each other over the phone for quite a while. > > At one point during a conversation, the topic of race came up, and her response was, “Oh wow, I would NEVER have guessed you were black! Um, I mean…” > > You could practically hear the embarassment oozing through the phone. I’ve never let her forget it, either, 20 years later. 😃 You’re **Black?** 😃 ETA: I guess I should add: “That Pipe makes you smell JUST like my grandfather.” “Really?” “He’s dead.” ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/57 "2008-09-17T01:06:15Z")
Shortly after I got my first pair of glasses, my mother said, “well, I guess you’re like me. You only look good with glasses!” Seriously, I’ve been ugly for like, 20 years? Thanks! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/58 "2008-09-17T01:29:42Z")
Several times people have said to me “You’re a Christian? Gee, I’m surprised. You don’t act like one.” The friendly tone of voice indicated that they thought they were complimenting me. ---
**Author:** ![Incensed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Incensed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incensed)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/59 "2008-09-17T03:22:11Z")
“You’re the dumbest smart guy I know.” I still take it as a compliment, and a grand one at that, because basically in context ‘dumbest’ meant ‘most contrary’. ---
**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 17, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824/60 "2008-09-17T03:40:11Z")
I had acne in junior high. It was treated over the summer and when I started 9th grade it was gone. Random acquaintance: ‘‘Oh my god you look so great!’’ ‘‘Thanks!’’ ‘‘I used to look at your face and feel so sorry for you.’’ :dubious: I don’t get so many compliments as a left-hander, but I do get a lot of quiet awe. My best friend has known me since 4th grade and she still utters, ‘‘You’re left handed!’’ every time she sees me write, as if she’d just forgotten and the wonderful secret had once again been revealed. People look over my shoulder with interest. Is it really THAT fascinating? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-compliments/463824.md?page=4)