Mainstream compliments & phrases that can TOTALLY blow up in your face.....
By James72
@James72 (26790)
Australia
January 26, 2009 1:03am CST
There are a number of well know compliments and phrases we would all use from time to time and we would usually do so with little or no negative consequences. But what about those times when we use a standard term and then have it totally misread or blow up in our face?
For example, If you were to look Stephen Hawking in the eyes after a fierse debate about the Big Bang Theory and say - "Well Stephen, you talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?" 
I would consider this to be something that is likely to be taken the wrong way!
Or if you're having a conversation with a hearing impaired person and say - "I hear ya buddy! True that!" or "Listen up, this is VERY important!" Are these actually potentially offensive things to say? Or turning to Stevie Wonder and saying - "Lookin' good Stevie!" or "I see..... Really?" Is this dangerous ground?
Can you think of any more situations where a common term could be completely taken the wrong way? (And no I am not trying to offend anyone, this is all in fun so calm the heck down any wowsers out there!)
I would consider this to be something that is likely to be taken the wrong way!
Or if you're having a conversation with a hearing impaired person and say - "I hear ya buddy! True that!" or "Listen up, this is VERY important!" Are these actually potentially offensive things to say? Or turning to Stevie Wonder and saying - "Lookin' good Stevie!" or "I see..... Really?" Is this dangerous ground?
Can you think of any more situations where a common term could be completely taken the wrong way? (And no I am not trying to offend anyone, this is all in fun so calm the heck down any wowsers out there!)9 people like this
12 responses
How cruel riya! lol.
what about those who started it first???
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
27 Jan 09
When I was teaching in a secondary school, a new boy joined the class. I asked him his name & he replied 'Carrot'. Well, he had a mop of bright ginger hair so I asked what his REAL name was. He continued to say 'Carrot' to all requests for his name until, in desperation I said, 'Yes, I am sure that's what people call you because of your hair but what is your real, full name...' You're ahead of me here aren't you...'Carret, miss. John Carret' - my face was redder than his hair!!
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
27 Jan 09
I don't know what's funnier actually. Is it your own persistence with an embarrassingly amusing outcome; or is it the fact that a family with this surname probably have quite a few redheads in their midst! 
I knew a family in Australia whose surname was Lamb and they named their son Sean! Why on earth would you do that???2 people like this
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
27 Jan 09
Hah... Sean Lamb... there was also a Theresa Green in Mr Carret's class & I promise I really did know someone called Diana Soar. I also worked with someone whose husband was called John Thomas Allcock - now those are some pretty cruel parents!! (or maybe in the latter case, a very proud father??)
2 people like this
@balasri (26537)
• India
26 Jan 09
This reminds me of me saying to my wife other day that we have to keep our eyes and ears opened as we won’t be knowing what we may learn from anyone, anywhere. I could learn something from you too. I realized the next moment that I have stepped on a land mine. ‘Me too she shot back. Am I that stupid to say me too’? I really had a tough time convincing her that I never meant to offend her. I don't think that she is convinced till today.
"Spread a smile"
"Spread a smile" 2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
26 Jan 09
I think there comes times with our Wives bala where it doesn't matter WHAT we say, 'cos it's still gonna be taken the wrong way! For no apparent reason whatsoever, even "Good morning" can have us running for our lives once in a while! lol. Ain't it fun! 
For no apparent reason whatsoever, even "Good morning" can have us running for our lives once in a while! lol. Ain't it fun! 1 person likes this
@cyberfluf (4996)
• Netherlands
26 Jan 09
I think most of these things are expressions and it all depends how well the person has accepted their disabiliy. If you are at peace with your disability you are more likely to be able to take a joke about it or cope with sayings that are not intended to offend you but might sound harsh due to the context.
I have a blind kitty and I tried to warn him because he was about to run into something, and I said (naturally): LOOK OUT! Even though he can't do that, he was shocked by my shout and he turned the other way. So I did get the effect I hoped for and prevented him from danger. Now the odds are slim he is offended by this, but if he were human and I would've shouted this to him to prevent him from walking in front of a bus I think they would prefer to have at least something shouted at them 
.
Bottom line: it all depends how a person copes with their disability whether or not this will blow up in your face.
.
Bottom line: it all depends how a person copes with their disability whether or not this will blow up in your face.@cyberfluf (4996)
• Netherlands
26 Jan 09
I could give you some backlash on that one, but I won't.. you want it too bad . Yes, I had to go all serious on this one because I haven't got any spare pants left so if I am about to contribute in any more of your discussions I will have to be a bit more serious whaha 
.
. Yes, I had to go all serious on this one because I haven't got any spare pants left so if I am about to contribute in any more of your discussions I will have to be a bit more serious whaha .2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
26 Jan 09
Oh you just HAD to go and get all serious on me now didn't ya cyberfluf! Yes, I agree that a person who is at peacve with their affliction or disability is likely to take any comments with a grain of salt that could possibly be misconstrued by someone that was overly sensitive instead. As for the kitten, you are far more kind than I am! I probably would have let the cat smack into the couch just the once to prove a point! lol. (I am bracing myself for the backlash on that one)
Yes, I agree that a person who is at peacve with their affliction or disability is likely to take any comments with a grain of salt that could possibly be misconstrued by someone that was overly sensitive instead. As for the kitten, you are far more kind than I am! I probably would have let the cat smack into the couch just the once to prove a point! lol. (I am bracing myself for the backlash on that one)2 people like this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
26 Jan 09
Pass the salt, lend me a hand, or, so, you don't want to hear it, put your hands over your ears....to someone with no hands.
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
27 Jan 09
I've had the type of cuts you're talking about. Why is it that the smallest of cuts seem to hurt the most??? Your friend sounds like a wonderful person! I love it when people can face any challenge or affliction in life with a sense of humour. It not only makes them shine as a person, but it also makes everyone around them feel so much less self conscious about everything. 
2 people like this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
27 Jan 09
One day I was sitting, talking to a friend. I had a cut in that piece of skin between the thumb and forefinger. I said something about it felt like when you cut too far into something and cut that area with a pair of scissors. My friend said, I wouldn't know what that felt like. I just looked at her like, yeah right. I said, YOU have NEVER cut between your thumb and finger? Never?
She sat there for a minute, then raised her two nubs in the air and shook her head. Nope, never have, she said.
She has no hands and only nubs for arms. I tend to see her as a whole person, physically, because in other ways she is. I just don't think about those things when I talk to her.
I said something about, give me your hand, I want to see something. She held out her little arm and laughed at me.
She is always laughing at me because I say things like that. Fortunately, for me, she has a great sense of humor.
2 people like this
@SaintAnne (5453)
• United States
26 Jan 09
One of our guys at work is blind. One day, on a hike, a co-worker got excited, pointing out a horse to everyone. She said, "Look, guy's name, a horse!" There were three of us on that hike and we all realized what was said at the same time and the other co-worker teased her that she was being mean. I have never understood braille signs on walls though... like there is a theater here that has a braille sign for restrooms on the wall.
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
27 Jan 09
I heard once that George W. Bush waved to Stevie Wonder! lol. Your co-worker must have felt like a right tosser! I've often wondered about the braille on signs too actually. Same goes for road crossings with signs high up on poles saying "Blind cross here". How do they know to cross there?
I've often wondered about the braille on signs too actually. Same goes for road crossings with signs high up on poles saying "Blind cross here". How do they know to cross there? 2 people like this
@SaintAnne (5453)
• United States
27 Jan 09
I do not know what a right tosser is but I am sure you will enlighten me, James.
So that makes two of us that do not quite understand the high-up-where-you-really-can't-reach-them braille signs.
2 people like this
@arkansos (545)
• India
26 Jan 09
I think a particularly funny one would be to say "Comon buddy, let your hair down" to a bald person. Infact. it might keep him from dancing in the first place. Funny, but makes an awkward situation. Then I once asked a girl to buckle up and keep pace. I started running, taunting her that she was a delicate darling only to learn that she'd had a chest operation and was not allowed to Run. I spent the rest of the day apologising and finding her chairs at the function and getting her water whenever I got the slightest intution she was thirsty
2 people like this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
27 Jan 09
Well it COULD be taken the wrong way but those are pretty common things and for the MOST part I don't think people would get offended. I mean when someone makes comments like 'look here' or about 'hear me now' or walking, I do not think those are meant literally. Because they are just expressions, there's no reason to be sensitive as if it was meant literally.
Obviously though people can make something THEY think is a compliment and it isn't.... I think people need to be more careful about that than worrying about mainstream phrases.
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
27 Jan 09
More times than not I would think that people would also see the funny side, even if it could be taken a number of ways. The tone used in how it's said can play a big part too. Some people though are just overly sensitive and it doesn't really matter WHAT you say to these types of people really, as they're likely to take most things the wrong way. I have met a number of people like this and it can be quite a challenge!
1 person likes this
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
5 Apr 09
Fun huh? That's right. You all think it's fun till someone gets hurt, then it's just hilarious.
"Well, I'm off home to the little woman" at a feminist conference.
"Jesus wept! Well, he would if he was here." at a revivalist meeting.
Lash
1 person likes this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
5 Apr 09
I HAVE noticed this, yes. I've personally had 2 discussions that were 3 years old suddenly spring back to life again in the last month and it was quite a surprise! One of them was the very first discussion I ever started. This is not such a bad thing I guess because there are many decent discussions in the archives that never went too well back then for some reason or another and at least they get a second wind and keep things interesting.
By the way, ANY insult or comment taken the wrong way, has the chance of achieving a desired retaliation at a BDSM party, yes? lol.
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
5 Apr 09
My variation is a favourite at kinky BDSM parties.
I noticed after I responded that this is an old thread revived, which makes it about the sixth or seventh I've come in on this week, including a couple I revived myself. Have you noticed that there is considerably less action here lately, so that we are reduced to trolling the archives for subjects to post on?
Lash
1 person likes this
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
3 Apr 09
The phrase that always gets to me is "see what I'm saying", and the people who use this one seem to punctuate every other sentence with it. Or another of my all time favorites is the person who precedes every comment with the phrase "also, too". I guess they don't realize that both words mean the same thing.
1 person likes this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
3 Apr 09
Ah yes, the double negative! "I ain't got no" is yet another example and I have to admit that I cringe whenever I hear someone say this. But the see what I'm sayin'/know what I'm sayin' one gets me too. Maybe we WOULD have a chance to see or know what they're sayin' if they actually stopped saying it!
"I ain't got no" is yet another example and I have to admit that I cringe whenever I hear someone say this. But the see what I'm sayin'/know what I'm sayin' one gets me too. Maybe we WOULD have a chance to see or know what they're sayin' if they actually stopped saying it! 
@TheCasualReporter (283)
• France
27 Jan 09
I remember someone telling me they were working at a carnival on a ride. The ride stopped and he started shouting for the next group of people on. They wouldn't move. He started yelling at them, "Go, people! Let's go! Time to get on the ride." They just stared at him. Finally he got a bit frustrated and yelled, "Get the heck on the ride! What's wrong are you deaf!!??" And then one of them started signing to him... he felt like a schmuck.
2 people like this
