5 Types of Compliments that Are Actually Insults
Even if your intention is good, some can backfire
Compliments are double-edged swords.
While carefully worded genuine compliments can brighten up even the darkest of someone’s days, others can backfire and ruin their mood.
Sadly, the latter can happen even if the intention is good. I want to go over 5 such types of compliments.
You Are ‘X’, how Are You Still ‘Y’?
The most common variant of this is “You are so pretty/handsome, how are you still single?”
While the first part is a compliment, the last isn’t. The unsaid yet clearly implied part is — “You are single despite being good-looking, so there’s definitely something wrong with you.”
It’s like inflating someone’s self-esteem balloon and then bursting it with a violent pinprick.
Other variants I frequently see are “You are so successful, how are you still unsatisfied?”, and “You are so rich, how are you still living in such a tiny apartment?” And one I’m tired of hearing is, “You are so fit. How are you still insecure about your body?”
There are always underlying reasons and most aren’t comfortable being reminded of them. That successful man feels…
