Talk:Backhanded compliment

Other usage
"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
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. 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
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
79.249.115.226 (talk) 17:34, 31 July 2011 (UTC)
 * 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?