Backhanded compliment? - Wordsmith.org

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Many years ago I showed a silverware pattern I admired to a friend.
I took her reply to mean that she thought me to be straightforward and
uncomplicated. But later I wondered. She said,"Oh, Jodie,it's just like you --perfectly plain and simple!"

Definitely a compliment.

Only if she is a very dear friend. Otherwise she is likely to take offense

-Or perhaps if never having heard the term 'simpleton'.

Guys--now dang it, I was trying to make her feel better! And I still think I'm right; I think it meant...not always easy to read, necessarily, but that one never had to worry about hidden agendas or sneakiness. [get back in line e]

Laverne, who is far savvier than I in matters of etiquette (as well as in many other venues) says that the phrase constitutes an insult no matter who says it

Quote:

... the phrase constitutes an insult no matter who says it

Unless Amish or one of the many other simple folk.

Fal: I believe you have reference to a recent case where Amish victims expressed sorrow for the execution by the Establishment of an evildoer captured in their midst

or something like that

However in the present ambience of Political Correctness and unrelenting reprehension and reproach, my first reaction was: I'll bet Fal will be taken down for religious bigotry...

...but another tempest in the proverbial

For some simple is admirable. No bigotry involved at all.

Fal: You are quite right. However, I was not endorsing my reaction, only reporting it

"'tis a gift to be simple..."