I was thinking about this at work yesterday...and I figured I'd share it here.

There is a phrase that people tend to use around me that really annoys the heck out of me:

"You clean up so well."

This is what is known as a backhanded compliment. Yes, it is technically a compliment, but it has a negative effect on the person receiving it.

My well-off uncle likes to use this one a LOT.

sits down

See, I like to be a little relaxed in my appearance at times. I am a jeans/t-shirt/leggings/tunic top kind of girl...but, when the situation calls for it, I can do fancier things.

And, every time I have to WEAR the fancier things, I hear THAT phrase.

And it pisses me off.

It makes me think that the person is perpetually looking down their nose at me, unless I wear the fancier apparel and work to meet THEIR standards of appearance and beauty.

It makes me feel very devalued and insignificant...which, in turn, makes me angry, as I also feel that I am being disrespected (a big no-no, for those of you reading this. Don't do this thing. It is on the Very Bad Things list).

It's why, as a person who respects others, I do my best to stay away from phrases like this...since I know how much hearing them hurts me and I don't want to cause someone else to feel as I have felt.

So, yeah...I may "clean up well"...but I prefer to be me instead. ^.^