General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What the heck is a microaggression, anyway? [View all]Behind the Aegis
(53,833 posts)"Michelle Obama is pretty for a black woman."
Conclusion: Black women aren't typically attractive; she is an exception.
"Thank you for your donation. That was very generous for someone who is Jewish."
Conclusion: Jews are stingy.
"You are so good looking. It's a pity you are gay."
Conclusion: The gay person's attractiveness is "wasted" because only same-sex people will "enjoy" it.
All three examples are easily proved to be bigoted, yet all three come across as compliments, which are usually meant to be sincere. The last two have actually been said to me. Do they rank up there with being called a "faggot" or a "kike"? Nope. However, they do chip at one's feeling of self-worth, especially when it is done repeatedly and when the minority explains how and why it is offensive, the majority speaker becomes the "victim" and the minority the "bully" for being too sensitive and not being able to take a compliment.