Compliments are really instrumental in increasing a person’s self-esteem. However, backhanded compliments are an attack or an insult to a person, and must be avoided at all costs. You may not have used a backhanded compliment with the intention of insulting the other, but to be honest, once the damage is done, no one really looks into your intentions. Here are some backhanded compliments you should avoid-
“Your hair looks amazing. Is it real?”
Never ever say this compliment to people of color. Well, you may think that there’s nothing wrong with it, but hair is a sensitive topic for them. When you use this ‘compliment’, it indirectly indicates that you don’t find their real hair beautiful, which can be insulting to the whole community. If you think that someone’s hair looks amazing, don’t go into the details. You can just say “Your hair looks amazing” or “I love your hair”.
“You have really strong features”
Well, you may not notice the insulting character of this ‘compliment’ because it’s deeply hidden. When you say that someone has strong features, you are implying that they don’t fall into the traditional standards of beauty and that they have unconventional features. You don’t really need to add the word ‘strong’ here. You can just go with “I love your eyes or nose”.
“Your skin looks so much better”
Well, yes, their skin may look a lot better after they have treated their acne or improved their diet. But, just don’t use this ‘compliment’ for it may harm their self-esteem and make them conscious of their skin. You can just say that their skin is glowing or that they have really healthy skin.
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To Compliment Or Not To Compliment – A List Of Compliments You Should Avoid