Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2018 April 12

= April 12 =

Code on an iPhone charger?
I recently noticed that on my old iPhone 4 charger, there seems to be Braille coding on it, but I couldn't properly translate it. I was curious to know if anyone has figured out the coding? Or if it even is Braille? — Preceding unsigned comment added by WanderingLostHeart (talk • contribs) 15:06, 12 April 2018 (UTC)
 * If there's Braille, there is text, if there's no text, it is not Braille.Gidev the Dood(Talk) 17:02, 12 April 2018 (UTC)
 * Perhaps you can upload a photo of this coding? --69.159.62.113 (talk) 05:27, 13 April 2018 (UTC)

Men who take offense at receiving a compliment about how they look.
is that a common phenomenon? I guess that's uncommon among women. 185.27.105.157 (talk) 18:32, 12 April 2018 (UTC)
 * For many men, it would depend on who the compliment is from. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.218.14.51 (talk) 19:10, 12 April 2018 (UTC)
 * Is there a difference between men and women (who receive the compliment)? If there is, then why? Additionally, how would it depend on who the compliment is from? 185.27.105.157 (talk) 20:39, 12 April 2018 (UTC)
 * It would very much depend on the context, but some men might be a little (or more) uncomfortable receiving a compliment from another man. But then, most men would know to anticipate such a reaction, unless the recipient was known to be gay. --  Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  21:14, 12 April 2018 (UTC)
 * Maybe he's British?   Alansplodge (talk) 22:04, 12 April 2018 (UTC)
 * Yes, I'm British. I had in mind a recent occasion in the pub when a male acquaintance complimented my (extremely ordinary) shirt. Now, bearing in mind I'm not gay: if an overtly gay stranger makes such a remark I'm mildly flattered, can gracefully decline any further advance should there be one, and am not uncomfortable because there'll be no ongoing situation. If a gay friend (aware of my orientation and I of his) ditto because our relationship is already established and we both find the ambiguity amusing. However, this particular acquaintance is sufficiently autistic as to be registered disabled, I don't know his sexuality, nor if he has grasped mine, so I couldn't be sure how he intended the remark (or why he made it), and as we regularly meet socially I wouldn't welcome him pursuing a misplaced hope, so felt uncomfortable. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.l230.195} 2.218.14.51 (talk) 18:48, 13 April 2018 (UTC)
 * Context matters. There are many situations where statements that are technically complements are inappropriate, and therefore offensive.
 * This is especially true in professional situations, or when the complement might indicate an unwanted sexual interest. ApLundell (talk) 03:47, 13 April 2018 (UTC)
 * The response would also vary widely depending on what sort of culture this occurs in, though I'm assuming that the OP is approaching this from the perspective of Western/U.S. cultural norms.--WaltCip (talk) 11:18, 13 April 2018 (UTC)
 * It might depend on whether or not the compliment is in reference to something the person paying the compliment could conceivably adopt for their own being. Compliments in reference to qualities that cannot possibly be incorporated into one's own person might fall into the realm of flattery. If I say I like that shirt, where did you get it, I am inquiring about something I could incorporate into myself. But if I say I like your ripply muscles, that is flattery with no conceivable self-interest and it is likely an invasion of privacy. Bus stop (talk) 11:33, 13 April 2018 (UTC)
 * Also, complimenting women doesn't work both ways. It's fine for a woman to compliment another woman on the way she looks, but it is absolutely not fine for a man to compliment a woman on her appearance. --Viennese Waltz 11:49, 13 April 2018 (UTC)
 * My wife has never complained when I compliment her on her appearance, and last I checked (which is not as often as I like), she's a woman, and I'm a man... -- Jayron 32 12:23, 13 April 2018 (UTC)
 * I'm not talking about between partners. I'm talking about between acquaintances, work colleagues, strangers... --Viennese Waltz 12:37, 13 April 2018 (UTC)
 * It would likely be considered a come-on, which is why women and men might both react defensively when a man compliments them, unless maybe they know them well. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 13:24, 13 April 2018 (UTC)
 * Viennese Waltz: ... it is absolutely not fine for a man to compliment a woman on her appearance. In what universe is this the case? From time to time I have complimented females on their appearance, and it has never been received negatively. --   Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  13:09, 14 April 2018 (UTC)
 * It totally depends on the circumstances. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 22:47, 14 April 2018 (UTC)
 * That is a faulty generalization.--WaltCip (talk) 23:11, 14 April 2018 (UTC)
 * Viennese Waltz: ... it is absolutely not fine for a man to compliment a woman on her appearance. I have to reply in the same way as User:JackofOz. Do you really mean that it's never OK for a man to compliment a woman on her appearance? I understand there can be circumstances where it is not OK but I think you're making a faulty generalisation here. As far as I understand, men have complimented women on their appearance for millennia. Surely it can't always have been bad? Men generally are sexually attracted to women, that's a given fact. Is displaying this somehow wrong? J I P  &#124; Talk 00:03, 15 April 2018 (UTC)
 * I'm not talking about between partners. I'm talking about between acquaintances, work colleagues, strangers... Well how do people become partners, then? Surely it must involve one party becoming attracted to another. Surely there must be situations where it is inappropriate, but that can't be generalised. Your partner is necessarily a person you must meet for the first time some point in your life. There must be some kind of progress to get the partnership going. J I P  &#124; Talk 00:08, 15 April 2018 (UTC)
 * But it may be nonverbal, rather than "I've reviewed your female aesthetic qualities and that you compare favorably to your peers." Some women might feel that is an unacceptable level of objectification. Bus stop (talk) 01:02, 15 April 2018 (UTC)
 * I think anyone would object to such judgement-laden phraseology, as if the speaker were comparing cuts of meat. One can compliment another by talking about the (absolute) pleasure the speaker feels at the sight of the other, rather than by any sort of (relative) comparison with third parties.  --   Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  00:11, 16 April 2018 (UTC)
 * That is true. You make a valid point. Bus stop (talk) 06:15, 16 April 2018 (UTC)