Missed the bus to work today, which really sucked. No matter, I’ll drop 2000 yen on a taxi. I get into the cab and tell the driver where to go. He then looks at me in the rear view mirror and says (translated for your convenience):
“Wow, you’re really pretty. Like a girl. I mean, you look so stylish.”
So, um, creepier morning than most, I suppose.
At least I met him in Japan instead of along a river in Northern Georgia
Maybe it misses something in the translation. If you are a girl, he’s saying that you look like a girl? Wouldn’t that be obvious? 
If you’re a guy, then even more
“You’re real pretty. You look like my wife.” [pause] “She’s dead.”
Spoken to me by a police officer while I was waiting at my car outside the airport to pick someone up. Totally creeped me out.
I am definitely a boy. I didn’t even shave this morning so I’m a little scruffy on the chin. I’m almost sure he didn’t mean to come off as disturbing as hell, but that’s sure how it came across.
Campion, that is pretty eek. I hope you are at least a lady.
Zac Efron is pretty like a girl
Egads!! :eek:
OK, making my skin crawl creepy. Calling a guy pretty with a 5 o’clock shadow. Ewww.
But now I’m curious, why did he say that? Any ideas?
Remember that thread in which you asked whether you should get a hair cut? Well, this is why pretty much all the men recommended you get it chopped. 
You live in Japan and the taxi driver told you that!? Perhaps he was just surprised that a foreigner was so pretty. Lets face it, foreigner dudes are usually pretty scruffy, unlike their perfumed and be-mulleted Japanese counterparts. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I am a big fan myself.
Admittedly, that is still pretty creepy.
Oh, Illumi, keep it up with that mouth of yours and I just might rescind my invitation.
Tanaqui, the bemulleted guys aren’t quite as common out here in the sticks, so I am beginning to wonder if my long hair and long winter coat confused the guy.
ETA: By the way, Illumi, how was work? I see you’ve at least managed to not throw yourself under any trains.
Did he say that in English? 'Cause, I’m thinking, there may be a slight translation error.
He said it in Japanese, but there was no translation error, I can assure you.
I don’t know why, but I am now curious what you look like. Do you have a pic of yourself you are willing to share? Also, there is nothing wrong with taking it as a complement.
Oh, I did find it just as flattering as I would find any random compliment from a stranger. Just the wording of it, and the fact that it was the very first thing out of his mouth, was jarring.
There is a thread somewhere along here with pictures of me that, as Illumi points out, show how I probably could be confused for a girl (if longish hair is all it takes). Here’s one of the pictures shown in the aforementioned thread. I am, of course, the boy.
I love the whole switch that some Japanese people’s brains do when they see gaijin. It’s like you can actually hear the verbal filter shifting to the off position.
Can’t remember if I’ve mentioned it here, but I had a gas station attendant tell me that he was an S, and I looked like an M. I was less disturbed by the comment than by the implication that he may have believed that the entire sexual spectrum actually came down to that one dichotomy.
Let’s see, so your on the… right then? 
I kid. You look nice. Your hair is sweet, don’t cut it.
Haha, yes. The whole S vs M thing is pretty standard getting-to-know-you chit-chat. Maybe not the kind of thing you ask your coworkers or boss, but I know it was always one of the early conversation topics with the other students at Daitodai.
And, after dating a few Japanese, I more and more get the feeling that (among the 'mos, at least) S-vs-M is more or less the sexual dichotomy. The M boys are all pretty much maguros and the S boys are all little jackhammers. Not a whole lot in between.
Also, StinkyBurrito, thank you.
Well, you *are *kinda pretty…Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
Indulge an old lady…what does this mean? Sadist looking for Masochist???
ETA: I don’t think you look like a girl…just young.
“Thanks. You’re really creepy. Like a creep.”
