Talk:Backhanded compliment
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Other usage
[edit]"It is generally used to belittle or condescend, or often one uses a backhanded compliment when one wants to insult someone in a subtle way." - erm, no, that may be the American usage, but in Scotland where it is traditional not to praise certain things too highly, or even do them down, a backhanded compliment is a means of praising something but not in a particularly obvious way. And they say Americans don't understand irony...--MacRusgail (talk) 15:54, 16 February 2008 (UTC)
Text is fine, references aren't
[edit]I really feel folks have done a good job on the text of this article. However.
Urban Dictionary is not anything like a reliable source -- practically the opposite -- and should never appear in Wiki: Anyone can add a definition, any number of definitions can be added, and public voting only establishes which (unvetted) online readers like a definition, not which one is held to be correct by any authority.
The Reference from www.joe-ks.com by-and-large doesn't agree with the Wiki article. And it's just as unreliable a source as Urban Dictionary. (Yes, I just bookmarked it, and plan to go back and enjoy it, no it's not a reliable source.)
Reliable sources aren't filled with anonomously contributed material, unsourced material, material which changes on a daily basis without any explanation or justification.
Instead, quote one of the major dictionaries, or a published encyclopedia. Then you'll have one very tidy little article, here.
24.130.14.173 (talk) 14:21, 3 April 2008 (UTC)
- I agree. I removed the link to Urban Dictionary in January; User:Evrik reverted my change. We discussed the issue briefly here: User_talk:Phoenixrod#Urbandictionary.com_link. I have since then seen several editors remove the link; it is always re-instated. How about a discussion here? -Phoenixrod (talk) 15:44, 10 May 2008 (UTC)
Political
[edit]Regarding the uncited example by Barack Obama... is it really necessary to attempt to score political points in a completely non-political article? (Note, I am from outside the US and have no interest in US politics) 217.45.238.49 (talk) 14:12, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
Small problems
[edit]- There are five examples, but only four of them are explained
- The third example mentions men, but the explanation refers to women
- The text uses the term "criticism", would "insult" perhaps be better?
- There is this sentence "In some cultures, backhanded compliments are considered a genteel or polite way of expressing disdain." Which cultures, for example?