Fishing For Compliments: A Rant

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The Urban Dictionary defines fishing for compliments as "making statements that encourage others to give you compliments." And while that I agree with the definition, I would have to add "considered by some to be one of the most annoying habits on earth," and I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way.

You probably all know someone who does it on an almost-daily basis. You know, the Cindy Crawford look-alike at the gym who whines a little too loudly about how chubby her ankles are until someone on the machine next to her says, "You're crazy - you have the cutest, tiniest ankles I've ever seen." Or the handsome, has-it-all guy at the water cooler who constantly complains about how much his life sucks until a co-worker has to chime in with "Your life doesn't suck - you just bought a new lake house, you just got a promotion, and you have a beautiful wife, a new car, a newly remodeled kitchen and you just won the lottery."

Fishing for compliments is not only a childish was to boost your obviously lackluster self-esteem, but it's also a way to make the people forced into reciting your amazing characteristics back to you actually feel bad about themselves in the process. Who does the modelesque bimbo fish for a "you're amazingly skinny" compliment with? Usually, a frustrated new mom trying to work off the baby weight. And who does the meathead at work fish for a "you are an amazing specimen" compliment with? The poor guy next to him who just crashed his car, got passed up for the promotion and had his house repossessed. You compliment-fishers are just plain sick.

It's even worse when you have to lie in response to a compliment fisher. Most of the time, you're forced into lying when the lady in the dressing room next to you asks "Do these jeans look OK on me?" I won't go into specifics, but you can't say "Actually, this wash went out in 1990 and the jeans make your butt look massive." So instead, you lie and tell her they're slimming and compliment her hip, young physique. Or when you have to lie to a new acquaintance who asks "What do you think of my new shoes?" Sure, you'd love to tell him that red crocodile in a size 13 isn't a good look for anyone, but you'll take their cue - hook, line and sinker - and respond with "I love those shoes! Where did you get them? Because I'd love to get a pair just like them!"

So once and for all, I'm taking a stand against all those who frequently fish for compliments. You will get no more compliments from me unless I give them willingly on my own accord. Instead, I'm going to tell you the truth; your life does suck, your breath does smell, your hair line is receding, those pants look horrible on you and no, your pet turtle isn't the cutest thing I've ever seen.