Many years ago when I worked on Base, I had a boss once try to compliment me by saying “You know, for somebody from Ridge, you are a pretty good writer.” I wasn’t quite sure how to respond to her. However, because I was always taught that when someone is trying to compliment you, it is the same as someone trying to give you money – you thank them and take it. Accordingly, I thanked my boss and moved on.
This came to my mind the other day when a radio announcer I was listening to told his fellow disc jockey about going to a work-related event the previous night. He talked of how a coworker introduced him to someone by saying: “This is Ed and although you might not be able to tell it, he is actually really very smart.”
As Ed relayed this story, his DJ partner laughed and said “Now that’s a backhanded compliment if there ever was one.” Ed responded “Well, I called it a left-handed compliment, but it did feel like he had backhanded me.” That led to the two of them having an extended discussion of other examples of not-so flattering compliments.
Their discussion made me curious about what, if any, difference there is between the terms “left-handed compliment” and “backhanded compliment.” I hit up the trusty google machine to learn that these terms are used interchangeably and mean pretty much the same thing (click here)
However, to avoid any confusion or discussion about what to call these type of compliments in the future, I propose that we simply refer to them as what they really are – “half-assed compliments.”
Meanwhile at Buzzy’s Country Store, a day after I had heard all this talk of misguided compliments, a good friend of mine told me about his daughter’s reaction to him after having been on the Buzzy Podcast. She told him “Dad I liked your Buzzy Podcast so much that I listen to it every night when I go to bed.” My friend told her “Well, that’s nice to hear.” She replied “Yeah, the sound of your voice puts me right to sleep.” Proves once again that your kids always have a way of keeping you humble, compliments or no compliments.
Not real sure what’s going on in this music video, but I do like this song from the Strokes:
Since it is a twofer Tuesday, how about something a little more down to earth from Steve Marriott/Humble Pie and backup singers the Blackberries:
Speaking of mixed messages, check out this FB comment from my friend Joe Norris talking about Sister Agnes (subject of the two previous Buzzyblog posts.)
Words to live by – always try to remember something good. Thank you, Joe!