an aunty that dosn’t know your mum?
Just wanted to throw it out there that it’s actually quite common in Taiwan for guys to tell other guys that they are “handsome” It’s not meant to be a come on or a “gay thing” at all. For the Taiwanese culture it’s not a big deal at all like it is for us americans. It still surprises me as well but I find this happens a lot in Taiwan.
an aunty that dosn’t know your mum?[/quote]
Ummm in India everyone is an Aunty…we were at a social gathering and she had seen my mum around (and my mum is dark sois automatically labelled ugly in the women’s circle), so when the ‘aunty’ saw me, she was trying to figure out who’s daughter I was, me thinks it was someone’s engagement party or something. After that, I was very sensitive, to all the comments my mom had to endure “You are lucky your daughter looks like her papa”. :bluemad:
For the records, I ain’t pretty, just a shade fairer than my mom. 
When I first went to the first school I taught at in Taiwan, there was already another foreign English teacher working there. I was introduced to him by one of the Chinese teachers from the department, who said: “This is David. Doesn’t he look just like that famous movie star?” Naturally, I asked which one, and she expanded: “You know, the ugly one.” (She meant Gerard Depardieu.)
(Actually, his students used to nickname him MacGyver.)
[quote=“ironlady”]When I first went to the first school I taught at in Taiwan, there was already another foreign English teacher working there. I was introduced to him by one of the Chinese teachers from the department, who said: “This is David. Doesn’t he look just like that famous movie star?” Naturally, I asked which one, and she expanded: “You know, the ugly one.” (She meant Gerard Depardieu.)
(Actually, his students used to nickname him MacGyver.)[/quote]
Hmph! I think Gerard Depardieu is handsome!
A long time ago, I said I didn’t think a certain girl liked me and her friend said, “You know what kind of guy she likes? Handsome.”
some of my grade 10 students are on my facebook page and after checking out my photos from various travels thru the years, one common comment I got from them was “gee teacher, you used to be good looking when you were younger…” ouch… serves me right 
Lady trying to sell me cosmetics:
“You’d look so pretty if you wore more make-up!” hmmm…
You’re a woman saying it to a man, so it’s OK.
You’re a woman saying it to a woman, so it’s OK.
They’re men complimenting a woman on her looks, so it’s OK.
They’re women complimenting a man on his looks, so it’s OK.
Depends on the sex and sexual orientation of the parties involved.
In the culture where I come from (US), men don’t usually call other men “handsome” unless they’re gay. If a man calls another man handsome, the homoerotic connotation may make the “target” of the compliment feel rather uncomfortable if he’s not gay.
I myself would much rather be called “handsome” by a woman. I’m comfortable enough with my sexuality that I don’t mind being called “handsome” by a man, but to me, if it comes from a man it just sounds insincere (unless he’s gay, in which case I feel flattered, but then have to stress to him that I’m not interested!).[/quote]
Do you believe that a gay man in the US would only tell you he thinks you are handsome as a come on? Otherwise, why else would you stress you are not interested?
Straight men are uber-touchy to gay men coming on to them. Not sure why, really.
I remember for a short time in Australia there was a large amount of anti-gay sentiment in New Farm, Brisbane (a suburb with a large LGBT population). Apparently the gay men were wolf-whistling, tooting horns as they went past, and (shock horror) asking for numbers occasionally. The straight men were furious and starting spray painting cars and a whole lot of other stuff.
I know a lot of women who looked at the article and went: but that’s how the straight guys act towards us… O.o;
Guess they can dish it out but not take it. I don’t get it.
[quote=“tsukinodeynatsu”]Straight men are uber-touchy to gay men coming on to them. Not sure why, really…
[/quote]
Not all of course. I have absolutely no problems with any people coming on to me, a compliment is a compliment.