# Self deprecating statements you use **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 21, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768 "2009-07-21T19:41:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/1 "2009-07-21T19:41:00Z")
Being called some names in another thread made me think of some self deprecating statements I have used for myself. I’ve called myself a **cheap ass Polack** many a time. In recent years I’ve more readily referred to myself as a **fat old man**. And I’ve referred to myself as a **Luddite** more than once _(tho I’m not entirely sure how much of an insult that necessarily is.)_ Anyone else ever publicly insult themselves? ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/2 "2009-07-21T19:44:56Z")
I frequently refer to myself as a useless artist when I say, “I have a degree in Creative Writing… that’s why I’m working in a totally different field!” I often call myself fat, but then follow it with, “It’s obvious that I’m marrying a chef, huh?” ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/3 "2009-07-21T20:03:13Z")
I often say that _my grammar is a crime against nature_, as English is my second language. That being said, it is fun to almost see the brain gears of very extreme posters grind to a halt in their heads trying to process the fact that other posters agree with me after presenting convincing evidence on a subject. (Extreme posters usually dismiss the evidence and assume that others will also dismiss it after demonstrating with no effort that I have problems with English.) But it is true; your grammar can make others, especially in this board, assume that you are not even at their level. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/4 "2009-07-21T20:47:22Z")
Oh boy, self-deprecation! That’s where I’m a Viking! Mostly I stick with the flat-chested jokes. Got a feeling those will always be with me. 🙂 I’m also technologically impaired trailer trash. Woo-hoo! ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/5 "2009-07-21T20:50:46Z")
“Sorry, I’m blonde.” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/6 "2009-07-21T21:06:14Z")
“Sorry - Trivia is my life” (said when I toss off a random factoid in the middle of a normal back-and-forth conversation - I’ll toss it out to see if they bite and self-identify as trivia-minded) “Pardon my geekiness” (said regularly during discussions that veer into work and play areas I am passionate about when I dig in a bit too deep) ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/7 "2009-07-21T22:06:18Z")
When I am having difficulty understanding something being explained to me: “If you haven’t already done so, assume I’m an idiot. Now please tell me that again slowly.” ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/8 "2009-07-22T00:34:29Z")
“I’m a dumbass” Never claimed to be clever about it… ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/9 "2009-07-22T00:37:10Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > “Sorry, I’m blonde.” I say that I’d be having a blonde moment, if I had hair. FTR, what I have left is salt and pepper. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/10 "2009-07-22T01:21:26Z")
I’m sorry that I’m not attentive to your emotional needs; I’m just an engineer. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/11 "2009-07-22T01:24:39Z")
“I’m color-blind.” I’m actually only a little bit color-blind. I’m mostly just unobservant. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/12 "2009-07-22T01:35:48Z")
Sorry about that, I’m suffering from incipient decrepitude. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/13 "2009-07-22T01:47:22Z")
I often refer to myself as a short, fat man, but only because I’m short and fat (and a man). ---
**Author:** ![PotLuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@PotLuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PotLuck)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/14 "2009-07-22T01:49:42Z")
My boneheaded moves are generally followed with a sheepish “good thing I’m so pretty, 'cause I’m not that bright”. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/15 "2009-07-22T01:53:33Z")
I often use a partially-remembered Simpsons line, “God help me, I’m just not that bright.” I also sometimes make joking references to my “surface-of-the-moon complexion” (As a teenager, I inadequately addressed my acne issues. Don’t be like me, kids!) In one of my friend’s wedding photographs, I appear in an odd orange light – I think it was on a dance floor. I remarked to him that I looked like an old, hammered copper pan. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/16 "2009-07-22T02:46:04Z")
When I mess something up, I ususally say, in a very sarcastic voice, “Wow. Go me.” ---
**Author:** ![ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/17 "2009-07-22T03:02:39Z")
“old, fat and ugly” ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/18 "2009-07-22T04:01:26Z")
I’m an artist; I majored in Studio Arts with a minor in “…would you like fries with that?” ---
**Author:** ![hroark2112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hroark2112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hroark2112)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/19 "2009-07-22T04:53:05Z")
When I’m at work, my favorite is “What do I know, I’m just a dumb plumber?” Elsewhere, it’s “I’m short, fat, ugly and hung like a bull gerbil!” Life’s too short to be too serious. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768/20 "2009-07-22T06:07:44Z")
“I couldn’t have said it better myself”. _“He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again”_–“I couldn’t have said it better myself!” _“She walks in beauty, like the night of cloudless climes and starry skies; and all that 's best of dark and bright meet in her aspect and her eyes”_–“I couldn’t have said it better myself!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-deprecating-statements-you-use/503768.md?page=2)