"I really wish I was as *insert positive adjective* as you..." Gee thanks...

[Bulletinmybrain]

As far as schooling goes, I took a biology semester test in 15 minutes. I scored the highest in class. Everybody groaned when they heard my name at the top.


I recite a poem by Maya Angelou and pretty much everybody says good job.


Fuck society.

 

[ace_of_something]

Positive pronoun? Perhaps you mean adjective?

Erm... Yes. I am not gifted wit h teh english.
And how did this get into gaming discussion? *facepalm*

the irony.

I often get people that wish they were as tall as me. They always say it in a weird kind of hinting manner. Like I'll give them tips on how to grow? I usually say something like "Eat more vegetables" or "Kill a midget and then you will get to add his height on to your own."

 

[captain awesome 12]

I once got an "Effort" and a "Citizenship" award. It basically means I'm nice, and I tried.

Gee, thanks Principal Davies.
... you prick.

My Principal's name is Davies, and he's a prick as well. How strange...

 

[captain awesome 12]

So, I got one of those comments again today.
I'm sorry, but what am I supposed to say to that? I mean, I apply myself in school. How the Hell does that prove or disprove anything about actual ability or intelligence? I mean, are they trying to make me feel bad, or are they making excuses for their own shortcomings?
It can't be a genuine compliment, can it?
There are two different types of gifted: the talented people and the people with outstanding drive and diligence. If they aren't naturally talented, they can work hard. And from what I've seen, the naturally talented often don't learn to apply themselves, making them fall behind those with extraordinary perseverance, in whatever activity these people are doing.

And considering the people at the Escapist, I bet yall've also gotten these sorts of comments. What do you do about it?

Yep, I fall into the "naturally talented" category, which really turns out to be a disadvantage. As in, I have no work ethic, and I don't think I've ever studied for a test. Right now, as a matter of fact, I'm on the Escapist in order to procrastinate.

yeah im basically in the same boat buddy, my laziness is epic but i still get A's

hooray for procrastination!!!!!

May I board this "boat"? It sounds like a fun place, and also one where I spend most of my time.

 

[Berethond]

if a girl reaches out and touches your manly locks of grizzled roughness on top of your head, she likes you lot, SHE'S A KEEPER!.

Oh no. Why must all the creepy weird girls like my hair?

But, a lot of girls touch my hair....
And most of them are weird and creepy.

 

[ace_of_something]

if a girl reaches out and touches your manly locks of grizzled roughness on top of your head, she likes you lot, SHE'S A KEEPER!.

Oh no. Why must all the creepy weird girls like my hair?

But, a lot of girls touch my hair....
And most of them are weird and creepy.

It doesn't count if you have 'ethnic' hair it just means their ignorant. If you do not have said hair; yes it means they want your man-seed so they can propagate Weirdlets that will have your hair.

 

[GPScorpio]

You're complaining about a ..compliment..?

 

[Berethond]

if a girl reaches out and touches your manly locks of grizzled roughness on top of your head, she likes you lot, SHE'S A KEEPER!.

Oh no. Why must all the creepy weird girls like my hair?

But, a lot of girls touch my hair....
And most of them are weird and creepy.

It doesn't count if you have 'ethnic' hair it just means their ignorant. If you do not have said hair; yes it means they want your man-seed so they can propagate Weirdlets that will have your hair.

So afros don't count?

Good. I have five-inch long platinum blonde hair.

 

[WolfThomas]

"I really wish I was as sexy as you..." - oh well shucks

 

[Valiance]

And the sad thing is that they are shocked with a genuine compliment.
If someone is being at their best, I am sure to compliment the person genuinely, even if I really dislike the person.
Its that I rarely get genuine compliments for my being me... I don't need others to tell me my worth, but it makes me sad that I inadvertently make others feel uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, I do the same thing and feel the same way. And they always say some shit like "lololol I'm not so great" or "lololol, you can be better than me," or some garbage.

Mostly because every girl I've met has a self-esteem problem, and it seems only girls work for anything like that at all in school, from what I've seen.

However, I do comprehend and identify with the bolded section.

I start to feel shitty about it, and then I remind myself that if they were half as awesome as I thought they were, they wouldn't feel bad, and that they probably don't feel bad, because if they felt bad when someone told them they were good? They'd probably be scared and ashamed to be good.

However, they continue to be awesome, so yeah.

And yeah, I get this type of compliment all the time, especially with video games and playing guitar. But that's about the only two things I'm decent at. Video games I'm actually very good at, playing guitar is...eh, I feel mixed about it. I have less technical skill than I should, but I can make things sound very nice with what I do have.

Making music, I get compliments like that too, like "wow I wish I could make this...ur stuff shud be on the radio" and I really don't know what to say. "It's okay, it never will be." seems wrong and like I'm breaking someone's dreams. If they really feel that way, they'll start feeling bad about how it's true. If they don't they'll think that I didn't want the compliment.

My advice?

I think it's best to just smile and say thanks. Maybe remind them that they too can achieve such greatness if they knew their own capabilities more (ie: I know I can get an A on math tests if I study FUCKING FOREVER for them, but things like English come naturally).

Of course you could do what I do. Like, be in disbelief that you did that well at whatever it was too. Because most of the time, I am. Like thinking "Wow, that was really damn awesome. I didn't realize that until I looked back at it" in my head...

Doesn't help much though. I do hate that type of compliment, I'll be honest. Because if I accept it, I feel like a pompous piece of shit. If I reject it, I make the person who tried to give me a compliment feel like a piece of shit. It's a lose/lose situation. Just tell people to stop giving you compliments. ;o

 

[Khedive Rex]

I get complimented a lot but I'm good at brushing them off. In general I try to cover up my own successes with ridiculous statements likely to move conversation in a different direction.

Ex: "I wish I was as smart as you."
"I wish I was as smart as the disembodied voices that tell me the answers. *stare off into space creepily*"

Generally they laugh and the conversation moves on.

That's the one thing people do very badly with compliments in my opinion. They're supposed to be slipped in carefully between topics, not made topics of their own. If you say "Wow, you're really cool." and then wait for a response all you do is make the person you're talking to uncomfortable. If however, you say "Wow you're really cool, have you ever considered becoming a spy?" you deliver your compliment without derailing the conversation.

 

[Bofus Teefus]

Congrats on applying yourself and doing well. I don't know what type of people you get to interact with, but it seems like most of the time, when I get a compliment, it's genuine. Might as well soak it up graciously, and if it's really a fake, who cares?

 

[Higurashi]

And considering the people at the Escapist, I bet yall've also gotten these sorts of comments. What do you do about it?

Mm.. always been the naturally gifted type who did not have to work barely anything in school. As I got to university, that changed, though only to an extent. I accept the comments, as I know it is true; I should work harder. IF I had an ambition, which I do not anymore. I am pleased with the little things in life, and have understood it is about understanding the questions, not striving to know the answers.

Us naturally gifted are quite often lazy, yeah, for obvious reasons. Those that have both attributes of diligence and talent rise to greatness, but I have to desire to end up there.

I do not think they are trying to make you feel bad, but perhaps more want to highlight the reasons. It does not prove anything, no, and nor should there exist a reason to. Their own shortcomings are nothing to excuse for, as they are inevitable.

And the sad thing is that they are shocked with a genuine compliment.
If someone is being at their best, I am sure to compliment the person genuinely, even if I really dislike the person.
Its that I rarely get genuine compliments for my being me... I don't need others to tell me my worth, but it makes me sad that I inadvertently make others feel uncomfortable.

I agree completely. Most people can not receive a compliment, because they believe less in themselves than you might. I spread compliments perhaps a bit too widely, but I am always honest, and they are always genuine. Few believe me though, and it does not have anything to do with them being many, for they are not, de facto.
Hm.. I had the same problem in junior high. Everyone hates the one with the knowledge. Perhaps you need to meet more open-minded and honest people who are not too proud. They are rare indeed, when you look at younger individuals.

 

[Loiosh91]

So, I got one of those comments again today.
I'm sorry, but what am I supposed to say to that? I mean, I apply myself in school. How the Hell does that prove or disprove anything about actual ability or intelligence? I mean, are they trying to make me feel bad, or are they making excuses for their own shortcomings?
It can't be a genuine compliment, can it?
There are two different types of gifted: the talented people and the people with outstanding drive and diligence. If they aren't naturally talented, they can work hard. And from what I've seen, the naturally talented often don't learn to apply themselves, making them fall behind those with extraordinary perseverance, in whatever activity these people are doing.

And considering the people at the Escapist, I bet yall've also gotten these sorts of comments. What do you do about it?

Yep, I fall into the "naturally talented" category, which really turns out to be a disadvantage. As in, I have no work ethic, and I don't think I've ever studied for a test. Right now, as a matter of fact, I'm on the Escapist in order to procrastinate.

yeah im basically in the same boat buddy, my laziness is epic but i still get A's

hooray for procrastination!!!!!

May I board this "boat"? It sounds like a fun place, and also one where I spend most of my time.

BYOB dude, but the food's free

 

[savandicus]

I'm in the naturally talented group where i do absolutely no work and get full marks at the start of the year, slowly drop down and then actually do some work and go back up again.

 

[Beetlejooce]

I only apply myself to things that are important.

For example: Throughout the school year you have little practice tests, and exams that mean NOTHING. I don't see why i should spend my free time studying for these little nuisances which don't count towards anything.

So instead, i take notes in the class, fail everything, then at the end of the year I study and get a really good mark. And all the teachers are 'OMG'ing and 'WTF?Thatguyisanidiot'ing but I end up with the same results as somebody who's busted his ass all year revising for everything, but because the teachers expected me to fail, I in fact get more praise and last year I got an 'outstanding improvement' certificate.

And to go to the point of the topic - All the teachers are giving me the 'Well.. done..' through clenched teeth because they were all placing bets with bookies on how i'd fail or something.

(I actually think teachers place bets with other teachers on the results of their students)

 

[AdjectiveAnimal]

I get that in my world history class, although I'm not all that smart. My parents have access to an online gradebook and if I miss an assignment or something similar they will make my life as miserable as it has to be to keep me on track. Plus that class isn't made up of the gene pool's finest specimens so I would look good just out of comparison anyhow.

I once got an "Effort" and a "Citizenship" award. It basically means I'm nice, and I tried.

Gee, thanks Principal Davies.
... you prick.

In elementery school I got the "Raising the Sails in Mercy" award for, and this is an exact quote off of the paper, "Showing daily acts of mercy".

I still have it hanging on my wall.

 

[Silva]

There is simply no reason to hate a compliment. The only people who should have a lot of enemies. Unfortunately, in reality others who hate compliments believe that they are perfect and thus the fact that someone thinks good of them is not a relief.

My frank advice to the OP is to get the maturity to remember that you have flaws. Compliments are essentially a useful indication that one part of your personality is positive. If they are useful, make use of them. If there are many, ask what you can improve.

That may sound harsh, but it is good career advice.

 

[SharPhoe]

Yep, I fall into the "naturally talented" category, which really turns out to be a disadvantage. As in, I have no work ethic, and I don't think I've ever studied for a test. Right now, as a matter of fact, I'm on the Escapist in order to procrastinate.

That's what got me kicked out of college.