Recently, I’ve been pondering something, and I’ve come up with two hypotheses:
- Sexual harassment has scared people so much they’re afraid to compliment a woman’s eyes, hair, etc.
- I have the arms of a god.
I really want it to be #2. Here’s my proof:
- It all began years ago when a guy tried to pick me up by complimenting my arms. Seriously.
- Then JM complimented my arms at BlogHer.
- More arm compliments by Jules, Darla, and Jess in last month’s comments.
Ladies, this is for you. I’ve been a slacker lately, so they’re not muscular as they usually are. And sorry about the bruise. Damn blood draws.
But now I have a new hypothesis. What if I’m just a very dull person? What if my arms are my only attractive trait? The only other things I receive compliments on are fake.
The other day at the gym, this conversation happened:
Gym Guy: You’re looking beautiful today. As always. You have the most perfectly shaped eyebrows.
Now seems like a good time to mention I don’t take compliments well. I end up (A) blushing and changing the subject, or (B) oversharing. Just saying, “Thank you” rarely happens.
Me: That’s because I pluck like crazy. Seriously, my real eyebrows are just short of a unibrow. ::face-palm::
Gym Guy: And your lashes are so long!
Me: They’re fake. I glue the extra eyebrows to the lashes. It’s all fake!
At least my hair is real. I might try brushing it this morning to see if anyone says anything.
Favorite Comment From Last Post: “Caption: I will cut you.”—Katie and a Blog
Thoughts Appear 
July 15th, 2013 at 7:46 am
Well, if you would stop wearing sleeveless Ts and taking pics of your boobs, I mean arms, then maybe people would notice other things! It’s all your fault, Thoughtsy. Quit being so damn buff. :p
July 15th, 2013 at 8:03 am
I completely agree with you on the first point. I think that the fact that the threat of sexual harassment has made guys very cautious of complimenting a female, and furthermore that has made it more difficult for women to realistically know how to take a compliment. I’ve had to learn how to give and take compliments from XKCD.
July 15th, 2013 at 8:52 am
We guys have had it drilled into our heads (those of us that have been paying attention,) that complimenting a woman at work, or even just being nice, is grounds for a harassment complaint. So we talk about weather, TV and sports instead.
But since I don’t work with you, and I want to give you a compliment on something that’s not fake, let me say that you have a gift for brevity and patience to which I can only someday aspire.
What? HR’s on the phone? Hold on, I have to take this…
July 16th, 2013 at 12:28 pm
I didn’t call them!
July 15th, 2013 at 9:16 am
I like this angle
July 15th, 2013 at 9:41 am
Nice armpit!
July 15th, 2013 at 10:51 am
Oh sure, those aren’t your ‘most toned’ arms, suuure. Rub it in.
I think when men go for the uber-random compliment, they’re REALLY trying to stand out/get your attention. How were HIS brows/lashes?
July 16th, 2013 at 12:28 pm
I can’t believe I didn’t notice his brows. I bet he was fishing for a compliment.
July 15th, 2013 at 10:59 am
I’m totally like you when it comes to compliments. I usually ignore them. I think I come off as stuck up. I need to say thank you… but talking about me is sooooo uncomfortable! Lets talk about Nutella and different things to eat it with!
July 15th, 2013 at 11:34 am
I always take compliments the same way, but I love a good overshare!
July 15th, 2013 at 11:49 am
It’s powerful enough gym dude complimented you- i’m glad he did, even if it was just being polite. Certainly he’s not afraid to comploment your powerful arms 🙂
Kat-
July 15th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Maybe your arms are your best asset, but that doesn’t mean everything else is dull.
The eyebrow compliment is weird, though.
July 15th, 2013 at 12:32 pm
I like that shade of green…. meaning your bruise. It is sexy. I am not a vampire with a lust for blood. I am not.
July 15th, 2013 at 3:35 pm
I think guys like you so much they are trying to be different and special, commenting on places you haven’t already been praised one 😉
Dem arms!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
July 15th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
trending, coming up with something new in a world that is so banal, we look at our iphones while in conversation, maybe your arms were a new route for them to take, with these arms i hold my (dreams) iphone
July 15th, 2013 at 6:36 pm
Did you do something different with your hair?
July 16th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
I got a new brush.
July 15th, 2013 at 6:48 pm
At this point in my life, I’ll take ANY compliment I can get even if it’s about how beautiful my knuckles are! 🙂
July 15th, 2013 at 7:38 pm
I turn into a mush ball when I get compliments. I may as well run face first into a wall, I look just as awkward.
July 15th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Thoughtsy’s beauty secrets – “I glue my left over monobrow to my eyelashes” brilliant.
July 18th, 2013 at 11:04 am
Love this! I’m glad it’s not just me who doesn’t know what to say when faced with a compliment!
July 19th, 2013 at 5:20 pm
I can definitely relate to the blushing and oversharing except I usually also throw in excessive nervous laughter just to round out the awkwardness.
July 26th, 2013 at 6:34 am
Make sure the knife isn’t sharp