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Originally Posted by cylon  This is why I've mentioned that I hope someday this term "nice guy" is seen for what it really is. It has two meanings. |
Gender specific meanings are ANOTHER irritating fact of life.
Consider the innocuous word "interesting" -
When a man uses it, it generally has a positive, promising frame around it.
Man 1: "What did you think of Gary's new boots?"
Man 2: "Interesting!"
When used by a woman, especially TO another woman, it means something entirely different....
Woman 1: "What did you think of Sarah's new boots?
Woman 2: "They were... Interesting."
Same word, basically the same structure - OPPOSITE meanings.
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Originally Posted by cylon A guy will genuinely say of another guy "he's a really nice guy" and it's meant as a compliment. |
Yes - and, actually, a woman will often say the same about a guy whom she believes is genuinely nice. BUT when the TERM "Nice Guy" is bandied about, it normally comes in two varieties:
A woman might says "He's such a 'Nice Guy'" as a way of apologizing for her not finding him compelling, or sexy.
A MAN self-describes as "I'm a "Nice Guy" overwhelmingly when he is ACTUALLY a self-serving prick. (Ladies, am I right on this one? Have you discovered that NO MAN who described himself as a Nice Guy was ACTUALLY nice?)
Johnny Soporno
Cunning Linguist